Despite her many doubts, Su Xiaoqi did not wish to see the Crown Prince, who, despite his handsome appearance, was notoriously difficult to get along with.
However, she had nowhere to retreat.
She merely regretted not staying longer with Liang Jingchen, knowing the Crown Prince would be visiting.
It was all Li Cefei's fault for choosing that opportune moment to summon her.
No, it couldn't be that coincidental; perhaps Li Cefei knew the Crown Prince was coming and deliberately brought her back.
Did she know about the friction between herself and the Crown Prince?
A woman who could serve by Prince Duan's side for so many years, outlast the former Crown Princess, witness Prince Duan's reinstatement, and see her own son become the heir apparent.
How could such a woman be simple?
Li Cefei was startled by the look Su Xiaoqi gave her.
She wondered if Su Xiaoqi had seen through her.
Indeed, she had heard that Su Xiaoqi had clashed with the Crown Prince during the dragon boat race.
Therefore, upon hearing the news of the Crown Prince's arrival from the front courtyard, she immediately thought of Su Xiaoqi, who was at the Prince's manor.
She could tell that Su Xiaoqi had a close relationship with Liang Jingchen and would never stand with them in the future.
It would be better to deal with her now, to let her know who not to provoke.
However hard her intentions, she still had to maintain a smile.
Li Cefei did not expect Su Xiaoqi to see through her now.
She pretended as if nothing had happened and warmly welcomed the Crown Prince.
The Princess Royal reluctantly rose to pay her respects to the Crown Prince.
Liang Qiye also had to struggle to get up.
Liang Qiran's complexion was also somewhat pale, but his face was full of smiles, indicating he was quite pleased.
He accepted the Princess Royal's bow but stopped Liang Qiye from doing the same.
"Imperial Brother, you were injured saving me, how can I possibly accept your bow."
As he spoke, Liang Qiran waved his hand, and over a dozen people entered behind him, led by six eunuchs with white beards.
They carried brocade boxes, which were said to contain the great tonics he had gathered from the palace.
Centuries-old ginseng, millennium-old ginseng, the thousand-year snow lotus, antler velvet, lingzhi, golden bird's nest...
The six charming young maids behind them were specifically brought from outside to serve him during his recovery.
"Imperial Brother currently only has Li Cefei by his side; I fear you may not have enough attendants, so I specifically sought these out for you."
These words sounded quite infuriating.
Liang Qiye endured it, but ultimately couldn't hold back.
Liang Qiran's smile was simply too irritating, and he was so angered that he coughed violently: "Cough cough... cough cough..."
"Your Highness, Your Highness..." Li Cefei was startled.
Looking at Liang Qiran, her intention to curry favor immediately vanished.
No matter how much she wanted to please, she had to consider the current situation.
Su Xiaoqi sighed inwardly: Liang Qiran was truly ruthless, wanting to anger Prince Duan to death.
He must have known about his previous condition from the Imperial Hospital.
With his life hanging by a thread, he couldn't even wait for this time; he had come with his injuries specifically to provoke him.
However, he was likely destined to be disappointed.
Liang Qiye also saw through his Crown Prince brother's true intentions.
His initial anger was genuine, but the subsequent display was feigned. He angrily and mournfully pointed at Liang Qiran, accusing him of having no brotherly affection.
He had risked his life to save him, and now Liang Qiran was treating him like this.
"Cough cough..." The deafening cough startled everyone in the room.
Liang Qiran thought, "Does such a loud cough sound like someone who is dying?"
He turned to inquire about Liang Qiye's condition.
Li Cefei's eyes darted, thinking that she hadn't yet found an opportunity to mention Su Xiaoqi, and here it was, by chance.
She pointed at Su Xiaoqi and said, "Your Highness's condition has worsened and is very dangerous. Fortunately, Madam Shen is here and helped resolve the situation, but whether she can recover now is uncertain."
As Li Cefei spoke, she wiped away tears, her emotions expertly controlled.
Su Xiaoqi rolled her eyes, "Fine, this woman has truly plotted against me."
"Wuwu, if something happens to Your Highness, what will this concubine do?" Li Cefei continued her act.
Su Xiaoqi lowered her head; it was now difficult for her not to attract the Crown Prince's attention.
Liang Qiran had already noticed Su Xiaoqi.
After all, she was exceptionally beautiful, and standing in the room in a blue dress, she was quite striking.
With Li Cefei's repeated reminders, how could he ignore her?
"Madam Shen? Could she be the wife of the Zhuangyuan scholar?" Liang Qiran asked.
"She is indeed my husband," Su Xiaoqi replied, acting humbly and submissively before Liang Qiran with great reluctance.
The Princess Royal liked her; she was straightforward and amiable, only offering a bow upon meeting, and never put on airs when chatting.
Before Liang Qiran, she truly understood what pretense meant.
However, with his status, she couldn't say anything.
She could only play along.
"I heard you can treat illnesses; why don't you accompany me back to the Eastern Palace later and examine me."
Su Xiaoqi hadn't quite grasped the implication of these words, but the Princess Royal frowned deeply.
She reminded him, "Your Highness, although Xiaoqi does not hold a noble title, Shen Xiuzhuan is an official of the sixth rank. His wife is not a medical woman."
How could she be summoned at will?
Hearing the Princess Royal's words, Su Xiaoqi finally understood that Liang Qiran was humiliating her.
Although she didn't have a noble title, she was a proper official's wife.
In the Great Liang Dynasty, people were divided into ranks; medical women were considered of a lower status.
The Crown Prince speaking this way clearly meant no good.
Su Xiaoqi frowned.
She looked at Liang Qiran with disbelief.
Was this the Crown Prince of a nation?
So petty-minded, even worse than a woman.
No wonder he was a foolish and incompetent ruler after inheriting the throne in his previous life, being deposed within a few years.
No matter how much disdain she felt, Su Xiaoqi had to bow her head in his presence.
A higher official could suppress a lower one.
He was the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, the ceiling of power below the Emperor.
She didn't need to flatter him, but she certainly had to show outward respect.
After all, disrespecting a member of the royal family was a violation of Great Liang law and could be punished for great disrespect.
Su Xiaoqi lowered her head and remained silent, knowing the Princess Royal had just signaled that she would help mediate.
"Imperial Sister, I was asking this medical woman... oh, I meant the wife of this minor Xiuzhuan.
She is merely a commoner, yet she is worthy of Imperial Sister protecting her so much."
The Princess Royal replied displeasedly, "Xiaoqi is kind and pure. Not only do I protect her, but the Old Madam of the Duke of Yu's manor also protects her."
The current Duke of Yu had once served as the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. Liang Qiran, with Emperor Xingzhao's favor and Consort Huang's indulgence, was fearless in everything, except for his martial arts master, the Duke of Yu.
Because while Emperor Xingzhao doted on him, he also knew that as a future ruler of the Great Liang Dynasty, certain skills were necessary.
However, Consort Huang was overly doting in the palace.
She frequently interfered with the Duke of Yu's teaching process.
She always criticized him for teaching too strictly, treating a perfectly good prince like a soldier being trained on the battlefield.
This annoyed the Duke of Yu so much that he no longer wanted to enter the palace.
Finally, Emperor Xingzhao, unwilling to part with such a capable person as the Duke of Yu, compromised and sent his favored prince to the Duke of Yu's manor. This way, Consort Huang could not interfere even if she wanted to.
Once in the Duke of Yu's manor, the Old Madam, due to her general disapproval of his lax nature, was quite strict with him.
Therefore, Liang Qiran also felt apprehensive when he saw the Old Madam.
However, he didn't study for long. The Northern Di invaded, and the Duke of Yu, as the commanding general, led his troops on campaign, which lasted for several years.
The Crown Prince's studies could not be neglected, so he returned to the Eastern Palace.
But none of the teachers Emperor Xingzhao had found could teach or dare to teach as well as the Duke of Yu.