MCSCPM -Chapter 249 Planning to Cooperate

News of Prince Jing’s disappearance quickly spread through the palace, and every palace received word of it.

Consort Shu naturally heard the news as well. This time, she truly felt a sense of satisfaction. If something had happened to Prince Jing, it would be absolutely beneficial to her—or to Prince Yi.

“So even you have met your day, Prince Jing? Now let’s see what that Noble Consort Lan will do.”

She leisurely sipped her tea, waiting to enjoy the unfolding drama.

At this moment, a palace maid came in to report, “Your Ladyship, Consort Liu has arrived.”

Oh? Why would she come at this time? He Ningxiang felt it was rather strange. It was as though the sun had risen in the west—Liu Sishui, who usually loved going to the Noble Consort’s palace, was actually coming to her place today.

“Let Consort Liu come in,” she said. “Bring her to the back courtyard. Say that this palace is pruning flowers.”

The palace maid withdrew, and He Ningxiang also rose and went to the back courtyard. Under her care, the flowers and plants there were thriving, though she did not truly like them. She kept them merely to pass the time. In the deep palace, which woman could endure the loneliness?

Yet everyone believed she lived a leisurely life, detached from palace affairs.

Before long, Consort Liu arrived. Seeing He Ningxiang trimming the flowers, she teased, “Consort Shu is truly at leisure—tending flowers every day, turning a deaf ear to affairs beyond the window. I really want to learn from you.”

He Ningxiang smiled faintly, wearing an air of aloof serenity. “Consort Liu flatters me. This palace merely likes these plants. Keeping them around is pleasing to the eye, and when one is in a bad mood, they’re something to look at.”

“In a bad mood? What do you mean by that?” Consort Liu said. “Everyone in the palace knows that you devote yourself to cultivating flowers and never concern yourself with other matters. You even declined the flower-viewing banquet last time.”

“That day I happened to be unwell. How could that be called declining?” He Ningxiang replied softly, still busy tidying the flowers in the courtyard.

Consort Liu watched from the side—it did seem convincing enough. But she hadn’t come to watch her prune flowers. Her expression gradually grew serious.

“Consort Shu, why don’t we go stroll in the Imperial Garden? The weather is nice today—no need to stay cooped up in the palace.”

He Ningxiang paused, handed the watering scoop to a palace maid beside her, wiped her hands, then turned sideways to look at Consort Liu. “Since Consort Liu invites me, how could I refuse?”

The two smiled and headed for the Imperial Garden. Though the flowers in the courtyard bloomed beautifully, they still could not compare with those in the Imperial Garden.

Liu Sishui plucked a begonia blossom, holding it in her hand and examining it carefully. She couldn’t help saying, “These begonias are blooming wonderfully.”

“If Consort Liu likes them, I can have the servants move some to your palace,” He Ningxiang said.

“They are beautiful, but I can’t keep them alive,” Liu Sishui replied. “I don’t have your patience or your time. Besides, fine flowers should bloom where they belong. If moved elsewhere, they might just wither and die.”

There was meaning hidden in her words.

He Ningxiang was no fool. She guessed that Consort Liu had come to see her with a purpose, so she asked directly, “If Consort Liu has something to say, you may as well speak plainly.”

Liu Sishui casually tossed aside the begonia in her hand and instructed the servants, “You all stay back. This palace wishes to enjoy the flowers properly with Consort Shu.”

“Yes.”

She deliberately sent everyone away, then walked a bit farther with He Ningxiang, her words lingering on her lips without being spoken.

“Consort Liu, if you have something to say, just say it,” He Ningxiang urged. Though she was inwardly annoyed by Liu Sishui’s hesitation, she could not show it on her face.

Only then did Liu Sishui sneer, looking at He Ningxiang as she asked mysteriously, “Consort Shu, you should also know about Prince Jing being attacked, right?”

“This matter is already known throughout the palace,” He Ningxiang replied. “Why? Does Consort Liu seem to have some other meaning in mind?”

“Consort Shu truly is clever. In that case, I won’t hide it from you anymore.”
Her eyes flickered, her tone turning vicious. “The Emperor’s most favored prince is Prince Jing. This assassination attempt—doesn’t it benefit Prince Ling and Prince Yi greatly?”

He Ningxiang was startled. She immediately looked around, then pulled Liu Sishui farther aside, saying nervously, “Consort Liu, what do you mean by that? If others were to hear this and it reached the Emperor’s ears, do you know the consequences?”

“Rest assured—no one will know,” Liu Sishui said calmly. “And isn’t that what Consort Shu thinks as well? Though you’ve rarely left the palace all these years, Prince Yi is your son. A mother’s heart—I understand.”

“Consort Liu, why not finish what you want to say?” He Ningxiang replied.

“Prince Ling is my son, but I’ve never expected him to become the ruler in the future. Prince Yi is different. He is the Emperor’s eldest son, and compared to Prince Jing, he is not inferior in the slightest. Think about it—if something truly happened to Prince Jing, whom would the Emperor consider appointing as Crown Prince?”

As Liu Sishui spoke, her face became extremely twisted.

After hearing this, Consort Shu looked somewhat shaken. For a long while, she did not say a word—even though this thought had already begun to sprout in her heart long ago.

What truly shocked her, however, was not that budding thought, but Liu Sishui herself. That she could say such things made He Ningxiang see her in a whole new light.

“Consort Shu, you understand what I mean now, don’t you?” Liu Sishui continued. “Even if nothing happens to Prince Jing, I will still stand on your side.”

“Consort Liu, when you say such things, do you truly have no selfish motives at all?” He Ningxiang asked.

“Didn’t I already say it? I don’t expect my Ling’er to become ruler, but he must be an outstanding prince. So I thought perhaps I could help you. More precisely, perhaps I could do something—however insignificant—to help Prince Yi ascend the dragon throne.”

It was often said that women were terrifying by nature—and this was indeed true.

Consort Shu hesitated and turned away. These words required careful consideration.

“Consort Liu, I will remember what you said,” she replied. “But you also know that I’ve never wanted to compete with others in the palace. As long as Yi’er and Jiao’er are safe and sound, I, as a mother, would be satisfied.”

Her tone was gentle, a heartfelt wish from a mother.

Before Liu Sishui could say anything more, Consort Shu began to stall tactfully. “Consort Liu, let’s put this matter aside for now. We’ve been out for quite some time today, and everything that needed to be said has been said. Next time there’s an opportunity, I’ll seek you out and talk properly.”

“Well…” Consort Liu was unwilling to give up, but she neither stopped nor called after He Ningxiang, watching her leave instead.

Naturally, she didn’t know whether He Ningxiang would seriously consider her proposal.

But Liu Sishui had her own calculations. If something happened to Prince Jing, Yin Qingyue and Prince Ling would naturally grow closer. If nothing happened to Prince Jing, then drawing Prince Yi in to deal with Prince Jing would also bring Yin Qingyue and Prince Ling closer. Either way, she had calculated it carefully. Now it all depended on what He Ningxiang thought—and what Prince Yi thought.

When He Ningxiang returned to her palace, she was secretly delighted. Consort Liu had delivered herself to her doorstep—how could she refuse such a gift?

She smiled, though she quickly restrained herself.

Then she thought of her daughter, who was still confined. She wondered how she was doing.

“How is the princess?” she asked.

The palace maid answered truthfully, “Replying to Your Ladyship, the princess is reading in her room. There’s nothing unusual.”

“Oh?” He Ningxiang didn’t quite believe it. She lifted her foot and headed toward her daughter’s room. “I’ll go take a look. Since when has that girl become so obedient?”

Given Chu Fengjiao’s temperament, every time she was confined, she would never stay put. Within half an hour she’d sneak out. He Ningxiang often had headaches over this—so how could she truly be reading now? She didn’t believe it.

Outside her daughter’s room, the palace maids guarding the door all knelt. “Greetings, Your Ladyship.”

“Open the door.”

“Yes.”

Once the door was opened, she indeed saw Chu Fengjiao sitting obediently in front of the bookshelf, reading, brush in hand, looking quite proper.

He Ningxiang felt deeply gratified and walked over with a satisfied smile.

“Jiao’er, how is your reading going?”

Seeing her mother arrive, Chu Fengjiao was clearly still angry about that slap. She replied impatiently, “So-so.”

“So-so? What does that mean?”

“Mother, please leave. I need to read. I don’t have time to talk to you,” Chu Fengjiao said, turning her head and burying her gaze back in the book.

He Ningxiang understood—her daughter was still upset about being slapped.

Feeling somewhat guilty, she said, “Jiao’er, Mother did this for your own good. I know I shouldn’t have hit you, but what mother doesn’t love her own daughter?”

Chu Fengjiao said nothing.

He Ningxiang went over and began tidying the scattered books on the desk as she spoke.
“Jiao’er, are you really going to stay angry with Mother?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Chu Fengjiao suddenly retorted, still not looking at her.

“Alright. Mother won’t confine you anymore,” He Ningxiang said. “If you’re angry, Mother won’t blame you. But in the future, go see that divine physician less. She’s just a commoner, while you are a princess of Beihai. How can you associate with her?”

Upon hearing this, Chu Fengjiao sprang to her feet in dissatisfaction and slammed the table.
“If Mother came just to say this, then you should leave. In any case, Yin Qingyue is my friend, and I will associate with her no matter what. If Mother doesn’t like it, then don’t interfere. You never cared about me anyway.”

These words sounded angry, but in truth, they were complaints toward her mother. For so many years, everyone said she lacked discipline—but who knew that no one truly cared for her at all?

He Ningxiang had thought her daughter had become obedient. Now she was both angry and helpless. She sighed and said, “Jiao’er, why can’t you understand Mother? Mother does all this for your own good.”

“If Mother truly did this for my good, then respect me—respect my wishes,” Chu Fengjiao said, her eyes reddening. “Instead of forcing your own thoughts onto me every time.”

He Ningxiang was stunned. She had never known that her daughter—whom everyone said was sharp-tongued and willful—could say such words. It shocked her deeply.

It was clear that she truly did not understand her daughter, and had never tried to. She merely gave her whatever she wanted. Over time, material provision had become the most direct bond between mother and daughter.

“Jiao’er, Mother… Mother isn’t like that! How could Mother not respect you?” He Ningxiang said anxiously.

She understood her daughter’s temperament—but this matter was not something she could allow.