At precisely noon, most of the guests had arrived.
Feng Jiangduo, accustomed to doing as she pleased, did not join the others.
She was among the last to arrive.
As she approached the entrance of Cishou Palace, she overheard two palace maids standing with their backs to her, gossiping.
Feng Jiangduo usually paid no mind to such things, but when the two maids mentioned her, she couldn't help but slow her steps and prick up her ears.
"I originally thought Princess Ding'an and Princess Nange were close friends, but I didn't expect Princess Ding'an to wish her ill."
"Indeed, people's hearts are unfathomable."
"It's likely jealousy. Although Princess Ding'an is now a princess, who doesn't know her background? It's normal for her to be jealous of Princess Nange."
"Alas, it's a pity for Princess Nange. With her noble status, she was the best candidate for Crown Princess. But with just a few words from Princess Ding'an, the Empress Dowager changed her mind."
"I wonder why the Empress Dowager trusts her so much?"
Hearing this, Feng Jiangduo understood. This was deliberately said for her to hear.
They were trying to sow discord!
At this moment, the two palace maids "accidentally" turned around and saw Feng Jiangduo behind them. They immediately knelt down in panic to greet her.
Feng Jiangduo glanced at them, said nothing, and entered.
The two palace maids exchanged a look and revealed meaningful smiles.
The main hall of Cishou Palace was now filled with a throng of young women. The Empress Dowager sat at the head, looking with satisfaction at these young girls vying for attention.
They were in the bloom of youth, vibrant and energetic. A smile from them was like sunlight pouring in, making even the Empress Dowager feel younger.
Since Feng Jiangduo had just been the topic of conversation, she received everyone's attention as soon as she entered.
There was admiration and pity, as well as jealousy.
Feng Jiangduo, with her eyes focused downwards and her mind serene, walked up to the Empress Dowager and paid her respects.
The Empress Dowager beckoned her closer. The more she looked, the more she liked her, and she sighed, "You're not a young girl anymore. Do you have someone in mind? If you fancy someone, come and tell me, and I'll arrange a marriage for you."
Feng Jiangduo hesitated for a moment.
The Empress Dowager, a keen observer of emotions in the imperial harem, saw the clue immediately.
"Oh, so you have someone in mind? Who is it? Whose son?" The Empress Dowager's face was full of gossip, no different from an old woman joining the fray in a street market.
Feng Jiangduo hesitantly glanced at Wang Qingyao.
She didn't know if she should speak.
Given her nature, there was no harm in speaking her mind, but this matter involved Xiao Mo's mother.
She did not want to use imperial power to force Consort Fang to accept her.
In other words, whether Consort Fang accepted her or not was of no consequence to her.
What mattered was that Xiao Mo, concerned about her reputation, could not openly associate with her.
Wang Qingyao was seated next to the Empress Dowager, and also close to Consort Wei, so Feng Jiangduo's glance was caught not only by the Empress Dowager but also by Consort Wei.
Consort Wei immediately exclaimed, "Princess Nange, why are you looking at Princess Ding'an? Could your intended be Prince Ding'an?"
Wang Qingyao rolled her eyes.
The Empress Dowager also looked at Wang Qingyao with a hint of confusion.
Wang Qingyao put on a surprised expression and said to Consort Wei, "How could Consort Wei think that? Princess Nange is of noble birth. Why would she fancy a married man? Does Consort Wei believe Princess Nange to be such an ill-bred and immoral person?"
When Consort Wei married the Emperor, he already had an Empress, making him a married man.
Consort Wei suspected Wang Qingyao was subtly hinting at her, but since Wang Qingyao hadn't named names, she had nowhere to vent her anger.
"Then why was Princess Nange looking at you?" Consort Wei asked coldly.
Wang Qingyao covered her mouth and chuckled, "Empress Dowager, Princess Nange does indeed have someone in mind, but it's still early days. I'll tell you in confidence first, but you mustn't tell anyone else."
The Empress Dowager laughed heartily, quite charmed by Wang Qingyao's open affection.
She nodded.
Wang Qingyao leaned in and whispered Xiao Mo's name into her ear.
The Empress Dowager's expression first turned to surprise, then to delight.
"Good, good, good. They are truly a match made in heaven."
The Empress Dowager likely remembered that Xiao Mo was also a rather stoic person. Her eyes brightened, and she whispered to Wang Qingyao, "If these two get together, will they even exchange ten sentences a day?"
Wang Qingyao laughed heartily, "Your Majesty, you don't know. Xiao Mo appears cold on the outside, but he's quite passionate within. When he's with Princess Nange, he talks a lot."
The Empress Dowager burst into another round of laughter, then asked, "Why is it still early days? I can issue an imperial decree... Oh, you didn't want me to choose her as Crown Princess just now. So you wanted to snatch her away from me, so that Princess Nange could be your sister-in-law!"
The Empress Dowager teased.
Wang Qingyao chuckled a couple of times, "It's not entirely that. What I advised Your Majesty earlier was also for Princess Nange's own good. Your Majesty knows that she grew up with Prince Dingnan and even went to battle. She is an eagle soaring in the nine heavens and should not be confined to the inner palace like a caged bird. As for bestowing a marriage, it's not the right time yet. The main reason is..."
Wang Qingyao paused. Consort Fang was her mother-in-law, and she couldn't tarnish her reputation.
Moreover, they were family; their fortunes were intertwined.
She could only make Prince Dingnan take the blame.
"The main reason is that Prince Dingnan does not want his granddaughter to marry far away. Your Majesty knows how much Prince Dingnan dotes on Princess Nange."
"That old scoundrel," the Empress Dowager cursed.
Wang Qingyao and the Empress Dowager chatted intimately for a long time, like mother and daughter.
Consort Wei felt a pang of envy. She had tried to please the Empress Dowager for years, but had never seen her treated this way!
At this moment, a young lady seated beside Consort Wei leaned forward and asked curiously, "Empress Dowager, Princess Ding'an, what are you discussing? I'd love to know too. Why don't you tell us all so we can hear?"