Wang Qingyao had been waiting for the Fifth Princess to tell a sweet story of childhood sweethearts or a hero saving a damsel.
Instead, it was love at first sight.
Without any preamble.
Wasn't this kind of affection a bit pale and weak?
"Uh..." she pondered her words, "Your Highness, meeting once five years ago is hardly worth you marrying as a concubine. You are a noble princess of the royal family, you deserve someone better."
The Fifth Princess smiled shyly, "In my heart, Prince Ding'an is the best man. As long as I can be with him, I am willing to do anything for him."
Tsk, this was a deep-rooted love.
Wang Qingyao didn't quite understand this kind of emotion.
When she was young, she had also been struck by outstanding boys at school. But they had no interaction, and within a week, she lost interest.
So she really didn't understand the Fifth Princess's thought process.
If there had been something ambiguous, a case of the prince being unintentionally interested and the goddess having feelings, then it would have been understandable.
But now...
Little did Wang Qingyao know that the Fifth Princess, raised in the deep palace, rarely saw men. Even if she did, they were all princes.
So when she accidentally saw Xiao Yun, her heart was immediately smitten, and she secretly pledged her affection. Over the next five years, she encountered Xiao Yun multiple times. Even a single sentence or a glance was enough for her to savor for a long time.
Slowly, this affection grew deeper in her daily anticipation and imagination.
To the point where she was now deeply immersed, unable to extricate herself, and willing to be a concubine.
"No," Wang Qingyao suddenly thought of a problem, "You were only eleven or twelve five years ago, so young and already..."
"Thirteen," the Fifth Princess said.
Thirteen years old is still in elementary school!
Wang Qingyao was shocked.
The Fifth Princess knew that she could not escape the fate of a political marriage. Over the years, whenever the Emperor showed signs of this, she would feign illness, delaying it for so many years. Now she was eighteen and still unmarried.
This was actually a good thing for the Fifth Princess, as she had no desire to marry into a distant foreign land, far from her homeland.
Seeing that Wang Qingyao had rambled on for so long without getting to the point, she couldn't help but become anxious. She stepped forward eagerly, "Princess Consort Ding'an, please fulfill my wish!"
Wang Qingyao carefully observed her expression. She was truly anxious, but also a little flustered.
Wang Qingyao frowned slightly and said with a faint smile, "You are a princess, and I cannot make decisions about your marriage. Instead of begging me here, you should go directly to the Emperor."
"As long as you agree first..."
"What if I don't agree?"
The Fifth Princess seemed unsurprised and immediately said, "Why wouldn't you agree? I know Prince Ding'an originally had four concubines in his courtyard, and you used your methods to dismiss two of them. The remaining two, Prince Ding'an hasn't touched at all. Even if you are pregnant, you don't allow Prince Ding'an to touch other women!"
The Fifth Princess even had a hint of defending Xiao Yun, "You are about to give birth and enter your confinement period. Such a long time..." Her face flushed, "If you don't care about the Prince, I do!"
This was simply outrageous!
Her husband, who was anyone else to care about him?
Did a dignified princess not fear ridicule by saying such things?
Wang Qingyao was amused by her anger and said coldly, "I will say it again, I cannot make decisions for the princess. If the princess is determined to become a concubine in our household, you should first ask for the Emperor and Empress Dowager's opinions."
"I also said, you agree first!"
The Fifth Princess, while speaking, stepped forward several more steps and directly grabbed Wang Qingyao's wrist, "Princess Consort Ding'an, please pity me. Whether it's a secondary consort or a concubine, as long as I can be by Prince Ding'an's side, I will be satisfied."
"I promise... I promise I won't disrupt your relationship. Just consider me, consider me a bed warmer..."
The Fifth Princess pleaded almost humbly.
Wang Qingyao looked towards the door. Xiao Yun had not yet arrived, and the two palace maids guarding the door had also disappeared.
A bad premonition arose in her heart.
"Let go of me first," she said calmly.
She was pregnant, and it was most taboo to be pulled and jostled. Even though her wrist was held by the Fifth Princess at this moment, she remained very calm, asking the Fifth Princess to let her go first.
But the Fifth Princess completely ignored her words. With a nearly frenzied expression, she stared at Wang Qingyao, muttering, "Just fulfill my wish! Go with me to Father Emperor right now—" and forcefully pulled her outwards!
Her strength was great and fierce, completely disregarding Wang Qingyao's pregnancy. She acted as if her large belly was invisible, as if as long as she could drag Wang Qingyao before the Emperor, her wish would come true.
A great panic surged in Wang Qingyao's heart. She stumbled forward a few steps and shouted, "Let go of me!" She then yelled towards the outside of the door, "Help, help!"
This seemed to enrage the Fifth Princess. She pushed Wang Qingyao hard and said fiercely, "What are you shouting for? If you don't want to, just say so! Am I, the Fifth Princess, demeaning myself by becoming a concubine to Prince Ding'an?"
What the hell, is this person sick? Her attitude changed so quickly! Didn't she already say she didn't want to? Is she deaf or has her brain malfunctioned?
Wang Qingyao fell heavily to the ground from the push. She only had time to utter a few curses before feeling a sharp pain in her lower abdomen!