Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 77: The Mysterious Person in the Crown Prince’s Mansion

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Mysterious Person in the Crown Prince’s Mansion

Zheng Tianxin summoned the Prince Consort and, after establishing her own residence, she began visiting the Imperial Palace much less than before, only making the trip at the Empress’s summons. The Eldest Princess very seldom thought of going to the Imperial Palace on her own.

So, the Empress was somewhat surprised by the sudden request to see her from the Eldest Princess.

As spring turned to summer, the Empress’s chronic cough recurred, but it was not serious. With a few doses from Master Ling Yi, she had already recovered a great deal, only occasionally coughing a couple of times in the early morning or during her prayers to Buddha, feeling tired afterward.

"Let her come." Nanny Qi went personally to receive the Eldest Princess, even happier than the Empress herself.

"Your Highness the Princess, the Empress has been waiting for you," Nanny Qi said, as she looked at the Eldest Princess whom she had taken care of since childhood, hastily fanning her, wishing she could walk for her Highness to avoid any exhaustion.

"Nanny Qi, where is mother?" Zheng Tianxin glanced at the Inner Hall, noting its solemn and oppressive atmosphere with not a hint of warmth. Before she could finish, she saw Xiao Huayue holding Gui Er’s hand and coming out.

"Your daughter offers her greetings to mother," Her Highness the Princess said casually, offering a perfunctory courtesy, "Mother, the scent in your room is too strong. Tong Jin, open the window."

"What do you know? This is high incense given by the Mage, it can help concentrate the mind and calm the spirit," Xiao Huayue immediately objected.

"What brings you here today?" Xiao Huayue lay on her couch as a Palace Maid tenderly massaged her legs, easing the soreness from kneeling during prayers.

"Naturally, your daughter missed you, mother. I have brought you some nice things," said the Eldest Princess, as her female servants already advanced with several boxes.

The Empress, with closed eyes, did not show much interest, already knowing that nothing good came whenever this daughter of hers brought something.

"Mother, you should take a look," Zheng Tianxin insisted, with her watery eyes wide open, her fair skin like the embodiment of fortune and grace.

"Tell me about it," Xiao Huayue had no choice but to respond.

"I have found a string of agarwood beads, one hundred and eight in total, each bead..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Huayue opened one eye and saw Nanny Qi already taking the item out of the box, a scent that penetrated the soul wafting through the air.

"Indeed, it is something good; you are considerate. Tell me, what do you have your eye on now?" Xiao Huayue closed her eyes again.

Zheng Tianxin moved forward, gently leaning on the side of the Empress’s couch and playfully wrapping her arm around the Empress’s.

"Nothing. Your daughter thinks the Prince Consort is quite good. Today he learned some new tricks, not so boring anymore," said Zheng Tianxin, as she sent the rest away, ensuring it was a consensual matter, "Your daughter just missed you and wanted to come see you."

"If that’s the case, since you have seen me, you may leave now."

"Mother, your daughter hasn’t stayed long enough, you cannot send me away," Zheng Tianxin cooed, embracing Xiao Huayue’s arm, "Mother’s skin has become nicer again, is it thanks to the Mage? I heard that in a few days the mages from Qiandao Temple will enter the palace, could you ask for a few Immortal Pills for your daughter?"

Your silence is taken as consent!

"Mother, have you been putting people in Fu Xun’s Mansion?"

Nanny Qi’s hand paused, how come? She hadn’t seen clearly. At that time, she only caught a glimpse of a figure in the background, a servant who seemed to understand the rules of the court.

"Summon the Crown Prince," Xiao Huayue finally said.

"Yes, mother. Has the Crown Prince added someone to his staff? Did you place them there?"

"How did you know about this?" Xiao Huayue spoke up, almost forgetting about it, but she did have some impression of it. There was someone who had served them that day, and from the looks of it, they had been as attentive and diligent as could be.

"Of course, I saw it myself." Zheng Tianxin had successfully changed the subject, and she was also puzzled, "That day I went to the Cloud Tower in the Imperial City, guess what I saw there?"

"Her Highness the Princess, did the Crown Prince go to the teahouse?" Nanny Qi couldn’t help but speak out, with the Crown Prince’s injury not yet fully healed, didn’t the Empress specifically instruct the Imperial Physician not to go out for a month?

Xiao Huayue didn’t speak, if he went, then it meant his injury was mostly healed.

"Mm, I saw that the woman was highly favored, Fu Xun... Even I, as his Imperial Sister, was not allowed a glance by the Crown Prince," Zheng Tianxin said, "Mother, isn’t it strange? Could it be that the woman is so hideous she cannot be seen in public?"

"Her Highness the Princess, look at what you’re saying, naturally, it is because the Crown Prince is shy." Nanny Qi laughed, the Empress becoming increasingly reluctant to speak, still with her eyes closed, Nanny Qi chiming in was not a one-off but a result of years of tacit understanding with the Empress.

"Is this person sent by you, Mother? I was preparing to tell you this as a piece of fresh news." Zheng Tianxin shook Xiao Huayue’s arm, "Mother, how about I accompany you to the prayer ceremony in a few days?"

"Her Highness the Princess, this prayer requires fasting and keeping precepts."

"I am well aware of that, it is my sincere wish for Father Emperor and Mother to be healthy and safe, it is a reflection of my filial piety."

"Well then, alright, just don’t complain about it being too hard when the time comes." Xiao Huayue felt a bit stifled in her chest, wanting to cough but unable to, "Alright, if there’s nothing else, you can go back first, Mother is a bit tired."

Zheng Tianxin left, satisfied. Nanny Qi saw her out and came back shaking her head.

"Nanny Qi, have you looked into that person who is serving Fu Xun?" Empress Xiao was reminded of this matter.

"Your Majesty, this servant has already investigated on your behalf, and they indeed came from the palace. Initially, it was you who personally selected them for His Highness, they have always been at the Crown Prince’s Mansion, so they are well known and trusted. Over the years, they have indeed served wholeheartedly, it’s just that their status is quite low."

The matter involving Qi Ling and Qi Jin was done flawlessly. They almost had no difference in stature from Zheng Nianru, and after pleading, they stayed with Nian Xia for a few days.

"That’s good then. Since that is the case, pick out a few people for me to see, and send two to Fu Xun as well. Being young, he is after all inexperienced; he even took a female servant to the teahouse," Empress Xiao said, waving her hand.

She had been negligent in this matter; after all, the Crown Prince is young, and even if he is favored, there should be limits. But it was not such a big issue—after a few years, such matters didn’t seem so important anymore.

However, the Mage had said that it was not suitable for Fu Xun to marry early, as it would change his fate, so for now he could not openly be matched for marriage. They would just have to wait another couple of years.

Nanny Qi quietly withdrew. She completed the task swiftly, and by the afternoon, she had already brought two Palace Maids. They were delicate and lovely, just the type that the Empress favored.

As evening approached, the people were already sent to the Crown Prince’s Mansion. Nanny Qi had delivered them and had them wait outside the study.

Qi Ling and Qi Zhu, of course, dared not respond to anyone, so they were left to wait outside the study. After sending Nanny Qi away, they looked somewhat vexed at the two Palace Maids.

There were no female attendants in the study of the Crown Prince’s Mansion. The cleaning there was always done by him and Qi Zhu alone. It wasn’t that there were never any female servants, but ever since the Commandery Princess started coming to the study, there seemed to be none.

Yue Ke and Gu Meng naturally understood the implications of Nanny Qi bringing them, and their faces flushed with shyness at the thought, wishing they could hide away.

But such opportunities were rare, and they had only seen the Crown Prince from a distance. Such a noble and valuable person—if they could even serve as Palace Maids, they would be willing, not to mention...

Yue Ke secretly gazed at the foot of earth beneath her, not daring to raise her head, nor was she in a hurry. One day, she would be able to take in every inch of the Crown Prince’s Mansion with her own eyes.

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