Consort Wei gradually recovered from her shock.
Her voice trembling, she asked, "Father, did you... find the Emperor..."
She tried several times to utter the words "eldest prince," but they felt like a ball of fire, as if speaking them would cause the flames to leap out and scorch her.
Grand Tutor Wei shook his head. "Not yet, but it's confirmed he's alive."
Consort Wei's lips and face were devoid of color. After a moment, she realized and asked with confusion, "What does this have to do with the Princess of Ding'an?"
Grand Tutor Wei's face showed a complex expression. This was a long story.
However, to prevent Consort Wei from acting impulsively and ruining his plan, he slowly recounted the entire sequence of events.
Consort Wei listened, her delicate eyebrows furrowed, deeply questioning life.
"But the Princess of Ding'an is not yet twenty. How could she know... know about what happened back then? This is too preposterous..."
"The more preposterous it seems, the truer it might be," Grand Tutor Wei said. "She has just given birth and is preoccupied. This is the perfect time for us to act."
Consort Wei recalled Grand Tutor Wei's words from earlier, and her expression changed. "Father, you intend to act against the Princess of Ding'an?"
"She must die!"
Consort Wei felt a pang of regret, but thinking of her own future and that of the Wei family, she said nothing more.
Grand Tutor Wei clasped his hands behind his back, gazing at Consort Wei, and added, "However, this matter requires a small favor from Your Majesty."
Consort Wei's brow twitched.
"Persuade His Majesty to marry the Fifth Princess to the Prince of Ding'an as a concubine."
"That's impossible!" Consort Wei blurted out without thinking.
"Your Majesty!" Grand Tutor Wei raised his voice, looking into her eyes. "You will find a way!"
Consort Wei's lips moved, but no sound came out.
Although the Fifth Princess was not favored, she was still a princess of the realm. His Majesty had long planned to marry her off for a political alliance. If she hadn't been ill on previous occasions, she would have already been married off to a distant land.
However, it wasn't entirely impossible.
With this thought, her gaze became firm and indifferent.
"Father, leave this matter to me."
Grand Tutor Wei nodded with satisfaction.
July 11th was the third day after Wang Qingyao gave birth. A cleansing ceremony for the two infants was originally scheduled for today, but due to their weak resistance, Wang Qingyao postponed it until their full month.
Although the Xiao family did not hold the cleansing ceremony, the imperial gifts arrived as scheduled.
Not only did the Empress Dowager, Consort Wei, and Consort Chen send gifts, but His Majesty also specially sent two longevity locks, along with an imperial decree.
The imperial decree conferred the titles of Prince and Princess upon the legitimate eldest son and daughter of the Prince of Ding'an, respectively.
The imperial decree caused a stir throughout the capital.
This was an immense honor.
For children only three days old!
Even Consort Wei's three imperial princes had not received such honor!
His Majesty truly doted on the Prince of Ding'an!
At once, families throughout the capital turned green with envy, and congratulatory gifts poured into the Prince of Ding'an's mansion like a tide.
Wang Qingyao, being in confinement, did not personally receive the imperial decree. When Yin Zhu excitedly relayed the contents, Wang Qingyao understood.
His Majesty was compensating for the Fifth Princess's attempt to push her.
With the compensation in place, there would be no repercussions for the Fifth Princess's actions.
Wang Qingyao considered it and felt that this outcome was acceptable.
How many sons and daughters from other families had wished for such enfeoffment for years without success.
Her Pingping and An'an were born as a young prince and princess, instantly elevated above children of the same age, truly a joyous occasion.
Wang Qingyao was also beaming with joy. She ordered Zhi Zi to distribute rewards, and everyone in Kangping Courtyard received a share.
Xiao Yun strode in, his face also beaming with joy. He sat by the bedside and said, "His Majesty is truly generous this time. When Pingping and An'an grow up, I will tell them that their titles were exchanged for their mother's half-life."
"Indeed," Wang Qingyao replied. "The Fifth Princess went to such lengths, endured a reprimand herself, and neither the children nor I were harmed. Instead, they received titles. If she knew, wouldn't she be so angry she'd stomp her feet?"
Xiao Yun sneered. "Do you guess why she suddenly picked a fight with you?"
Wang Qingyao's eyes lit up. "You found out?"
"Although the specifics haven't been uncovered, someone saw that after the Fifth Princess was taken away, she specifically sent someone to find Wei Yu. Later, Wei Yu also met with the Fifth Princess, and they talked for a long time."
"Wei Yu?!"
Wang Qingyao was surprised. She had always felt that her grievances with Wei Yu were merely minor squabbles between girls, such as making sarcastic remarks at banquets to make her uncomfortable, or desperately trying to set her up with other men to annoy her. But fundamentally, they didn't have such deep hatred that it would lead to a life-or-death conflict, did they?
"She's too vicious!" Wang Qingyao cursed indignantly. "Is it that serious? I haven't provoked her much, yet she repeatedly challenges me. This time, she even tried to kill me! Do I have a father-killing grudge or a husband-stealing enmity with her!"
Xiao Yun: "Oh, could she also have a secret crush on me?"
Wang Qingyao chuckled. "Do you think you're such a hot commodity?"