TSWPF -Chapter 287 The Prince Consort

Liu Zhimou didn’t know who the Seventh Princess was, but the little eunuch assigned to escort him out of the palace did. The eunuch hurriedly stepped forward and performed a kneeling bow.

In front of Liu Zhimou, the Seventh Princess naturally wanted to maintain her perfect image. She spoke gently, “Rise.”

Hearing the Seventh Princess speak so softly for the first time, the little eunuch froze for a moment before standing up.

Now that he knew the person before him was the Seventh Princess, Liu Zhimou couldn’t fail to show his respect.

He cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness, the Seventh Princess, I pay my respects.”

Seeing Liu Zhimou up close made him appear even more handsome than from a distance. The Seventh Princess gripped the handkerchief in her hand tightly, and a blush spread across her cheeks. He was far too handsome—truly the only one worthy of being her consort.

“Liu Zhuangyuan, are you leaving the palace?”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Liu Zhimou replied. “I take my leave.”

The Seventh Princess wanted to speak more to him, but when the words reached her lips, she didn’t know what to say. Frustrated, she stomped her foot and watched Liu Zhimou walk away.

Next time… next time she would find a way to speak more with him.

She needed Liu Zhimou to understand what kind of person she was so he would realize just how much better she was than his current wife.

In short, she had to win Liu Zhimou over.

With a determined look in her eyes, the Seventh Princess only turned away to find her mother when Liu Zhimou was out of sight.

Seeing her daughter in such a good mood, Consort Hui set down her teacup and waved to her.

“Mother…”

“Qing’er, where have you been? Something happy happen? You’re smiling,” Consort Hui said, tapping the tip of the Seventh Princess’s nose with a smile.

The Seventh Princess nestled into her mother’s embrace, beaming. “Isn’t it because I saw you, Mother? Just seeing you makes me so happy.”

Consort Hui affectionately tapped her daughter’s forehead. “Your mouth is always so sweet, always coaxing me.”

“Not at all! I’m telling the truth.”

“You… you’re almost of marriageable age, yet you still act like a little child, always clinging to your mother,” Consort Hui teased.

Hearing the word “marriage,” the Seventh Princess blushed. “Mother, you’re just teasing me.”

Consort Hui’s heart skipped a beat. Could her precious daughter have her eye on someone?

Her eyes glinted as she subtly questioned the Seventh Princess.

Only after drawing the words out of her daughter did Consort Hui smile sweetly at her, revealing that the Seventh Princess had walked right into her trap.

“Mother, how can you be so mean?” the Seventh Princess pouted. She had planned to keep it a secret, but her mother’s cleverness had uncovered it. “Mother, you didn’t see Liu Zhuangyuan—he’s not only handsome, he’s also very capable.”

“How do you know he’s capable? And where did you see him?” Consort Hui asked, suspicious that Liu Zhimou had deliberately gone to meet the Seventh Princess.

If that were the case, she would never allow her daughter to marry someone like him.

The Seventh Princess said matter-of-factly, “He became Zhuangyuan, so of course he’s very capable.” Then, shyly, she added, “I saw him while I was visiting the Emperor.”

I see…

Consort Hui nodded. As long as it wasn’t deliberate, it was fine. Since her daughter liked him, she could subtly inquire with the Emperor about Liu Zhuangyuan’s character and family background.

“Mother, what do you think? Should you speak to Father about him?”

Hearing this, Consort Hui’s expression turned serious. She stood before the Seventh Princess and spoke earnestly: “Even if a woman likes a man, she mustn’t rush to approach him. If you act so forwardly, it will make you seem cheap and lose his respect. Moreover, you are a princess, a high-ranking princess. There’s no need to lower yourself for a man. Do you understand?”

Her precious daughter was a princess—what kind of man could she not have?

The Seventh Princess obediently nodded. “Understood.”

She knew it was best to listen to her mother. If her mother didn’t have skill and wisdom, how could the Emperor continue to favor her?

Consort Hui touched the Seventh Princess’s face again, her expression softening. “Alright, go back. Mother still has some matters to attend to.”

The Seventh Princess responded and left with the palace maids.

That evening, when the Emperor checked on Consort Hui in her chambers, she found an opportunity to subtly ask about Liu Zhimou.

The Emperor’s expression remained unchanged. He glanced at her and asked, “Did the Seventh Princess say something to you?”

Consort Hui sat opposite the Emperor and smiled gently. “I heard Liu Zhuangyuan is handsome, and I thought Qing’er is now of marriageable age, so I wanted to inquire.” She could never reveal her daughter outright; otherwise, the Emperor might think her daughter was too frivolous.

She didn’t know that the Seventh Princess had already tested the Emperor’s reaction. If she did, she wouldn’t have said this.

The Emperor looked at her steadily, making her heart race. She kept thinking, did she say something wrong?

Just as she wanted to laugh and cover it up, the Emperor said, “As expected of mother and daughter—you both think Liu Zhuangyuan is excellent. But unfortunately, he is already married. I’ve already informed Qing’er of this.” Last night, he hadn’t had time to tell her; he didn’t expect her daughter to persist and bring it up.

Consort Hui, feigning ignorance, put on an angry expression. “That girl even asked you, Your Majesty? How cheeky… this girl’s nerve…”

In her heart, however, waves of anxiety stirred. This daughter of hers was truly audacious, daring to bring this matter to the Emperor.

The Emperor snorted. “Consort, you must discipline Qing’er properly. She cannot do something embarrassing again. She can have any prince consort she wants—why limit herself? Moreover, Liu Zhuangyuan is the son of my junior disciple, not someone to be trifled with.”

This was also a subtle warning to Consort Hui—not to let her daughter act recklessly.

Consort Hui’s heart skipped a beat, realizing the Emperor was discreetly warning her to restrain her daughter.

She couldn’t have guessed that Liu Zhuangyuan was actually Liu Wenjing’s son.

“I didn’t know that. Liu Zhuangyuan is indeed Fourth Master Liu’s son. No wonder he’s so clever,” she said. It was a pity he had married too early; otherwise, she would have tried to make him the prince consort.

He wasn’t a man of humble origins who could be easily manipulated; Liu Zhimou had the backing of the Liu family, someone not to be trifled with.

“Liu Ai Qing is indeed talented. The teacher praised him highly, saying he carries the spirit of my junior disciple,” the Emperor added.

Hearing this, Consort Hui learned another piece of crucial information: Liu Zhimou not only had the Liu family behind him, but also Mr. Luo.

Mr. Luo’s words carried more weight than any minister’s; offending him would be disastrous.

“Your Majesty, does this mean Fourth Master Liu has returned? I remember he left the capital over a decade ago,” Consort Hui asked, curiosity piqued.

The Emperor sighed. “My junior disciple has passed away.”

“Ah?” Consort Hui gasped, covering her mouth in surprise. She never expected that answer. “What a pity.” She had seen Fourth Master Liu a few times; his handsome face was unforgettable.

No wonder her daughter liked his son—handsome and capable men are irresistible.

“Yes! If my junior disciple had entered the court, he would have surely shone brightly. But no matter how we persuaded him, he refused.”

Fortunately, Liu Zhimou had been guided properly, so they didn’t lose such talent.

Consort Hui said pityingly, “It must have been tough for Fourth Master Liu’s wife to raise Liu Zhuangyuan. Fortunately, he’s talented, making his mother’s efforts worthwhile.”

Seeing that Consort Hui was still unaware of the full story, the Emperor explained, “His wife also passed away a few years ago. Liu Zhimou and his siblings, along with their mother’s siblings, grew up in the countryside under great hardship.”

Thinking of this, the Emperor sighed. “Those children endured much. I admire their perseverance.”

Only those with resilient character can rise from poverty step by step.

He could never afford to lose such talent.

He had already planned that, after Liu Zhimou was sent away for a few years, his performance would be evaluated. Then he would be recalled to the capital, assigned an important position, and gradually rise to become an asset to the Crown Prince.

As a father, he wanted to clear obstacles for the Crown Prince, so he wouldn’t struggle as much in the future, and so the Xuanyuan dynasty would remain prosperous.

Only then could he face his ancestors with pride.

Consort Hui’s mind raced, but to get concrete information, she would have to send someone to investigate.

For now, she needed to think carefully about how to soothe her daughter.

It was clear her daughter had genuinely taken a liking to Liu Zhimou and wanted him as her prince consort.

But this time, her wish was impossible. She didn’t have the power to force Liu Zhimou.

If Liu Zhimou were willing to divorce his wife, that would be a different matter.

“Your Majesty, what kind of prince consort do you want for Qing’er?”

The Emperor stood, scooped up Consort Hui, and with an ambiguous smile said, “We’ll talk about that tomorrow. For now, it’s time to sleep.”