After the two women left, Yuan Qingling let out a long sigh of relief and gratefully said to Xi Mama, "Mama saved my life."
Xi Mama calmly said, "Consort Ji is a deep person, the Princess should have less contact with her."
Yuan Qingling laughed and said, "She's deep? I don't think so, on the contrary she seems a bit frivolous."
Xi Mama snorted, "Frivolous? That's just an act."
Yuan Qingling was startled, "An act? Why pretend?"
"Everyone has their own protective coloration," she poured a cup of tea for Yuan Qingling and sat down, saying, "Princess Qi is self-righteous, relying on some petty cleverness, thinking she can control everything, she is not much of a threat. If you really have to be wary of someone, it is because she is from the Chu family. But Consort Ji is different. Consort Ji is well-versed in literature since childhood, with profound knowledge. She is the strategist behind Prince Ji. Does the Princess know what Consort Ji's most frightening aspect is?"
Yuan Qingling asked, "What is it?"
"Despite being so powerful, she is willing to compromise and ingratiate herself with others, willing to lower her status, and even tear off her facade, which can easily lull enemies into thinking she is frivolous. That's what the Princess thought just now, right?"
Yuan Qingling was startled and smiled bitterly, "Then among so many consorts of the princes, is there no one sincere?"
"It's not like that. Princess Sun is not bad, although she is a bit arrogant. Once you get to know her, there's nothing much."
Prince Sun who loves to eat, surely wouldn't marry a scheming woman.
Birds of a feather flock together.
However, Prince Qi is a simpleton who married Chu Mingcui, and will suffer in the future. Only a fool like Prince Qi would be deceived by Chu Mingcui.
Yuan Qingling thought of this and sneered twice. No, there was still one person, her own Prince.
In fact, Prince Sun had already arrived. He originally wanted to come early in the morning, but was delayed by some things when he went out. He thought he could eat the dishes ordered yesterday when he arrived, but didn't expect several brothers to be here already, so he couldn't just go in without saying hello.
"Second brother, haven't seen you for a few days, you seem more plump," Prince Qi joked.
Prince Sun's eyes rolled to heaven, and he stuttered, "Are you blind?"
"Can't even make jokes now?" Prince Qi said with a laugh.
Yuwen Hao looked at Prince Sun, "Second brother, did you come yesterday?"
He was busy yesterday and when he returned, he heard from the mansion that Prince Sun had come.
"Can’t I come today if I came yesterday?"
"Second brother will definitely come, Father bestowed two chefs to the Prince of Chu’s mansion, of course second brother will rush over," Prince Ji said sardonically.
Prince Ji had triangular eyes which gave off a sharp gleam when narrowed. With thin lips, he always looked very sarcastic.
Prince Sun disliked this eldest brother the most, and asked Yuwen Hao directly, "Has the meal started? I haven't had breakfast yet."
Prince Sun was not afraid to offend people. He had no other hobbies except eating. It was not worth anyone's effort to deal with him.
It was at this moment that Chu Mingcui walked in and sat down beside Prince Qi after greeting them. Her eyes glanced at Yuwen Hao. Yuwen Hao answered Prince Sun's question about eating, saw Chu Mingcui come in, and his eyes drifted for a moment as he said, "Second brother can eat whatever he wants, I’ll have someone prepare it."
"I'm very simple, mainly vegetarian dishes, and then just a few meat dishes," Prince Sun said sincerely.
Yuwen Hao then got up and left.
Chu Mingcui was very disappointed.
The two didn't even make eye contact. Had he changed?
Prince Qi held her hand and gently asked, "Sister-in-law, are you alright?"
Chu Mingcui said lightly, "She looks fine."
"Did you apologize to her?" Prince Qi asked.
Chu Mingcui looked at him and cursed his stupidity in her heart, but could only sigh and say, "How could this be resolved with just an apology?"
"The apology is just for show anyway, strictly speaking, this matter has nothing to do with you," Prince Qi comforted, thinking she was really angry and remorseful about what the Marquis of Huiding did.
Chu Mingcui absent-mindedly agreed, and when she saw Yuwen Hao walk in again, she stood up and bowed to Yuwen Hao, "Brother Hao, I apologize on behalf of my uncle. I didn't expect him to do such a thing. Fortunately the Princess of Chu is not seriously injured, otherwise I would feel guilty to death."
Her voice was choked with sobs, shocked and indignant.
Yuwen Hao looked at her and said, "Her injuries were quite serious, it can't be said that she is not seriously injured. But you don't have to feel guilty, this matter has nothing to do with you."
When Chu Mingcui heard this, her heart was very complicated.
Although he comforted her, he also expressed concern about Yuan Qingling's injuries.
With a bitter smile, she sat down in a daze, her eyes full of sorrow, and even a hint of sadness.
She didn't pay attention to what they said next. She was just sadly heartbroken, yet also unbearably angry.
"Second brother, I heard you recommended fifth brother to be the prefect of Jingzhao," Prince Ji suddenly asked.
Prince Sun slowly looked up and said, "Yes, Father asked me if I wanted to do it, of course I didn't want to, so I recommended fifth brother."
"Humph, useless," Prince Ji sneered.
"That's knowing my limits," Prince Sun retorted mercilessly.
Prince Qi curiously asked, "Second brother, why don't you want to do it?"
"It’s beyond my abilities."
"Second brother is too modest. Who doesn't know about second brother's literary talent and military strategies..." As Prince Qi spoke, he laughed at himself first. Okay, this remark was too sarcastic.
Prince Sun glanced at him indifferently, "I dare not boast about literary talent and military strategies, but I do have some insight into judging people. At a glance I can see that our abilities are about the same."
Prince Qi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "I'm not as gluttonous as you."
"But you’re more muddled!" Prince Sun said.
When Chu Mingcui heard Prince Sun's words, she became even more flustered. She knew Prince Sun was right, or rather, Prince Qi was not as good as Prince Sun. How foolish she was back then, thinking that as the emperor's eldest son, only he could compete with Prince Ji, but ignoring his lazy and foolish nature, and forgetting Brother Hao's talents and martial arts.
Now Yuan Qingling was taking advantage for no reason. Fortunately he didn’t have true feelings for Yuan Qingling.
Prince Ji looked at Prince Sun and Prince Qi, and felt that these two could not take on big responsibilities, even if Prince Qi was the eldest son. Father must be able to see his mediocrity.
Only fifth brother...
His eyes glanced over. He noticed Chu Mingcui staring blankly at fifth brother, her eyes sad and resentful, and he remembered that fifth brother and Chu Mingcui were originally going to be engaged, but Yuan Qingling interfered and ruined their marriage.
Looking at their lingering glances now, could it be that there was still attachment between the two?
His expression suddenly became hideous. Fifth brother, if so, you are really humiliating yourself.
Tang Yang came in to report that the meal was ready and invited everyone to the reception hall.
Prince Sun was the first to stand up, hiding his plump hands behind his back, holding his head high and walking out, saying, "Let's eat first then, can't talk on an empty stomach."
Since it was just a meal for several brothers and sisters-in-law today, they didn't stand on ceremony too much and the three princesses sat at a round table together.
There were ten dishes, one soup, three vegetable dishes, and the rest were all meat, phoenix, goose, shark's fin stew, braised pork ribs, wanfu pork. Just these few already made Prince Sun drool.
Prince Sun looked at the appetizing food and kept shaking his head, "Should have prepared more vegetable dishes, too much meat is not good."
