Chapter 198: Hidden Motives
Wen Mingqian had entered and exited high-society households many times, but this was her first time speaking with Princess Consort Zhao.
“Fu Nü said your face cream is even better than what’s in the Palace,” Princess Consort Zhao said, calling Liu Shi by her childhood name. “That makes me really want to meet you.”
“I am honored by the Princess Consort’s favor; it is my good fortune. However, the Marquis and his Madam have praised me a bit too much; I truly do not deserve it,” Wen Mingqian replied.
“You are too modest. I know that even the Grand Princess appreciates you,” Princess Consort Zhao smiled. “I personally dislike taking bitter medicine, but for the past two years, I’ve had peeling skin behind my ears and on my forehead, especially at night, which itches terribly. Although they’ve tried various dietary remedies to help me for a long time, the results have been unsatisfactory. Do you have any methods?”
“Allow me to examine it closely,” Wen Mingqian said. “I can certainly try. I will prepare it back at my place and send it to the Mansion.”
“Here are prepared dew and cream. The Princess Consort can use them to wash her face in the morning and evening; it won’t cause any issues.”
After leaving the items, Wen Mingqian did not linger and took her leave.
After she left, Princess Consort Zhao said to Liu Shi, “She certainly knows the rules.”
“I observed her carefully for a long time before daring to mention her to you, Aunt,” Liu Shi said. “I also inquired thoroughly; she asks almost nothing of anyone and has a very tranquil disposition.”
“It’s hard to say for sure at this point. If she truly asks for nothing, then why is she making these things?” Princess Consort Zhao did not agree. “Let’s just observe for now. In any case, we won’t be taking advantage of her.”
“Of course, everyone knows your character, Aunt,” Liu Shi said. “No matter what else is said, the things she makes are genuinely effective, and that’s what matters most.”
As Wen Mingqian left Prince Zhao’s Mansion, she unexpectedly encountered Ying Wuchou in front of Wu Qiu Nunnery.
He still had a dark expression, his gaze unfriendly.
Wen Mingqian curtsied to him and was about to enter when he stopped her.
“Does the Prince require something of me?” Wen Mingqian asked.
“Indeed, I do,” Ying Wuchou said. “What exactly are you trying to do?”
“Doesn’t the Prince think he’s being a bit too meddlesome?” Wen Mingqian smiled. “If I recall correctly, you should be leaving the Capital to return to the area outside the Great Wall.”
“That’s precisely why I’m uneasy,” Ying Wuchou said.
“The Prince is uneasy about me?” Wen Mingqian chuckled. “As a frail woman, can I really turn the world upside down?”
“I know you must have a plan, and it’s no small one,” Ying Wuchou said, looking at her. “The Zhou Family’s affairs have been causing a huge stir. Everyone thinks Liu Huanchun has gone mad and is making baseless accusations. But I know that the First Madam of the Zhou Family indeed had an affair with Sang Sanyang.”
Hearing his words, Wen Mingqian was slightly surprised but quickly calmed down. “Since the Prince knows so clearly, you should also know that I was unaware of this before. Why are you questioning me about their affair?”
“You may not have known about their affair, but you were fully aware of helping Sang Sanyang and Sang Er, the uncle and niece, seek revenge. Isn’t that right?” Ying Wuchou’s eyes fixed on Wen Mingqian like a falcon’s, as if trying to see through her.
Sang Er’s biological father, Tan Mingzhi, was an orphan, while the Sang family was extremely prosperous.
Sang Father, pitying Tan Mingzhi’s orphaned childhood and seeing his ambition even at a young age, as he studied even while herding cattle, developed a fondness for his talent.
Not only did he hire a tutor for him, but he also frequently provided him with financial assistance.
In this way, Tan Mingzhi, with the Sang family’s support, managed to pass the Xiucai examination.
In their region, passing the Xiucai exam at such a young age was considered exceptionally rare.
Furthermore, Tan Mingzhi was exceptionally handsome; Master Sang had long seen that he was no ordinary person.
After passing the Xiucai exam, he deeply felt Master Sang’s kindness and spoke of his great debt of gratitude publicly and privately.
Thus, a matchmaker enthusiastically proposed a marriage between him and Miss Sang.
Miss Sang was naturally willing, and the Sang family did not object.
This marriage was a perfect match. Miss Sang married Tan Mingzhi with a generous dowry.
And Tan Mingzhi did not disappoint, passing the Juren examination three years later.
By this time, Sang Er had already been born but was still an infant.
Subsequently, Tan Mingzhi went to the Capital to take the imperial examination and successfully passed.
However, he was immediately taken notice of by the daughter of a high-ranking official in the Capital. Tan Mingzhi lied, claiming he was unmarried, and thus, an old story of “Chen Shimei” unfolded.
But he knew that paper could not wrap fire forever. So, after taking office, he pretended to write a letter to the Sang family, inviting them all to the Capital for a family reunion.
How could the Sang family know of his conspiracy? They happily boarded a boat to the Capital.
But halfway there, they encountered river bandits. In the chaos, Sang Sanyang grabbed Sang Er and jumped off the boat, thus escaping with their lives. The rest of the people were killed by the river bandits on the boat.
At that time, Sang Sanyang had not yet fully recovered from the shock and was heading to the Capital with his niece to seek refuge with his brother-in-law.
But upon arriving in the Capital, he discovered that Tan Mingzhi had already married into another family, becoming a live-in son-in-law.
It was evident that the reason for luring the Sang family to the Capital was to silence them.
Sang Sanyang could not stay in the Capital. He intended to start a small business, but those years were filled with misfortune. Finally, he ended up in Shuangxi, and when he was almost frozen and starving, he met Wen Mingqian.
Wen Mingqian saved the uncle and niece and also provided them with capital.
In addition to this, Wen Mingqian also helped Sang Sanyang eliminate Tan Mingzhi, who had already risen to the rank of a fifth-grade official.
Therefore, Sang Sanyang and Sang Er were completely devoted to Wen Mingqian.
After Ying Wuchou learned all this, he felt even more that Wen Mingqian was not a simple person and was convinced she had a grand scheme.
“The Prince is capable and can investigate anything; why ask me?” Wen Mingqian was unafraid. “You won’t believe anything I say anyway; you’ll only believe what you discover yourself, won’t you?”
“Whatever your scheme, do not involve the Grand Princess,” Ying Wuchou warned her. “My aunt does not wish to be entangled in worldly affairs anymore; she only desires peace and tranquility.”
“Prince, everyone has secrets they cannot speak of, and you are no exception, aren’t you?” Wen Mingqian said faintly. “The death of General Zhu Qingshen, do you not know the truth of it? Yet, for so many years, you haven’t told the Grand Princess, have you?”
“What else do you know?!” Ying Wuchou’s expression turned extremely menacing. “I’ll say it again: stay away from the Grand Princess. Although I am about to leave the Capital, I will send people to monitor you. You had best behave yourself, or I will show you no mercy.”
“Prince, I will absolutely not harm the Grand Princess, please rest assured. However, do not obstruct what I intend to do,” Wen Mingqian did not back down. “Although you are a Prince, the Capital is not your territory. Sending people to monitor me will only cause misunderstandings. Don’t you agree?”
Prince Changliu was momentarily speechless. For so many years, too many people had been wary of him.
He knew that Wen Mingqian was not lying.
“Prince, ‘Ten years of flower buds weeping in the east wind, a few specks of rouge dust on a plain wall. New sorrows have replaced all romantic inclinations, yet I resent that mandarin ducks do not remember people,'” Wen Mingqian suddenly recited a few lines of poetry. “I have unspeakable hidden sorrows, but they will not harm you.”
With that, she gracefully entered the nunnery, leaving Ying Wuchou standing outside in a daze.
