The Night Before the Divorce, She Was Reborn to Before Her Marriage - Chapter 50

It was the middle of the night when Zong Si returned to his residence.

“Crown Prince Consort, the Kangyang Eldest Princess’s Residence in Yongzhou has sent you a letter.” Qu Yang, Zong Si’s personal inner guard, was puzzled. The Kangyang Princess’s Residence and the Prince Xuan’s Residence had always been at odds, so for a letter to arrive from the Princess’s Residence now was baffling.

Zong Si glanced at him, took the letter, tore it open, and skimmed it without saying a word.

“The Kangyang Princess’s Residence seems a little anxious regarding the matter of Governor Li Fang. Perhaps they are here to negotiate terms with you, Crown Prince Consort,” Qu Yang analyzed. “It would be best for you to consider this carefully.”

The letter only mentioned daily matters, eating, drinking, and entertainment in Yongzhou. Although the handwriting bore some resemblance to Ning Fu’s, it was not written by Ning Fu.

The forgery of Ning Fu’s handwriting could very well be a scheme by Kangyang Eldest Princess to use Ning Fu to manipulate him.

However, when Zong Si saw the mention of the hickey in the letter, he looked at it twice. The tone—asking him for a method to remove the mark, yet desperately trying to maintain decorum to avoid offending him, while still unable to resist a hint of complaint—was somewhat similar to Ning Fu’s.

Nevertheless, Fourth Ning was currently in Yongzhou City and was probably having a wonderful time. There were even rumors in the capital that the young noblemen in Yongzhou City were all fawning over her, even going so far as to fight for her.

Qu Yang felt the Crown Prince Consort pursed his lips, seemingly displeased.

“In my humble opinion, Kangyang is in such a hurry because Li Fang probably holds many of her secrets.”

Zong Si, however, did not discuss Kangyang, saying indifferently, “Prepare a box of Yujin Pills and send it over.”

He then tore the letter into pieces and burned it to ashes in the candlelight.

“I recall this is an item used by women for facial beauty,” Qu Yang asked subtly about his intention.

Zong Si gave him a look. Qu Yang understood the meaning, which, in simple terms, was don’t ask foolish questions.

“If there are any more letters from the Kangyang Princess’s Residence, I will simply keep them myself,” Qu Yang acknowledged mentally.

Zong Si did not say anything more.

But after that, the Kangyang Princess’s Residence never sent another letter.

Zong Si did not inquire further and had no intention of thinking about the matter. With the sudden death of Li Fang, the Governor of Danzhou, the appointment of a successor was a mutual contest between various factions. The Prince Xuan’s Residence was naturally busy with this as well.

It was only upon receiving an order from Emperor Jingwen that Zong Si returned to the capital.

“Soon, it will be our Aunt Kangyang’s seventieth birthday. The palace will probably have to show her face. Third Brother, who do you think is suitable to go then?” Emperor Jingwen asked with a faint smile. Upon careful deliberation, one could tell that Emperor Jingwen’s patience with the Kangyang Eldest Princess was running out.

How could the sovereign of a great nation have to show Kangyang face? This clearly signified the Emperor’s long-endured tolerance.

Emperor Jingwen was likely contemplating the complete removal of Kangyang.

Going to Yongzhou now was by no means a good assignment, and Zong Si naturally did not want the Prince’s Residence to get involved in this mess.

It was not beneficial for the Prince Xuan’s Residence to clash with the Princess’s Residence.

He pondered for a moment and said, “Yongzhou is far from the capital, and imperial power cannot easily reach its affairs. The local area will inevitably be highly volatile. Your Majesty’s health is paramount, and it is not appropriate for you to go. Why not send a few Imperial Princes?”

Emperor Jingwen said meaningfully, “Kangyang intends to interfere in the matter of the Imperial Succession. If We send Fourth or Sixth Prince, We fear they will be provoked by her, leading Us to be suspicious. We do not want to see Our sons fall out over the throne again. We do not wish to witness this among Our own sons.”

This was clearly a refusal.

“In Our view, why don’t you go? And while you’re at it, investigate whether Yongzhou has truly become our Aunt Kangyang’s domain,” Emperor Jingwen said with a genial smile.

Zong Si looked up, meeting Emperor Jingwen’s sharp gaze, which brooked no refusal.

“Your servant obeys the decree,” he stated.

Emperor Jingwen had already made up his mind and left no room for negotiation, so Zong Si naturally could not refuse again.

When this news reached the Prince Xuan’s Residence, everyone looked solemn. Emperor Jingwen sending Zong Si was clearly a way to permit the Prince Xuan’s Residence and the Kangyang Eldest Princess to fight, allowing both factions to be weakened. This would not be a bad outcome for Emperor Jingwen.

The Prince Xuan’s Residence was undoubtedly important to Emperor Jingwen, but the Emperor’s optimal solution was to ensure that the Prince’s Residence, while not losing entirely, had some of its strength consumed by the Kangyang Princess’s Residence.

“Don’t worry. I will take good care of the Residence while you are gone,” Zong Duo said.

Zong Si instructed, “If Meng Che makes any suspicious move, write to inform me.”

However, the Prince Xuan Consort was worried about another matter entirely.

“Let Yue Niang accompany you. If you don’t have a woman by your side, Kangyang will certainly arrange serving girls for you. Refusing would appear impolite, and if she tries any underhanded tricks, we must guard against them.”

If another woman got close to Third Brother, his marriage prospects would be ruined.

Zong Si had intended to bring Yue Niang anyway, so he simply gave a brief “Mhm.”

On that day, Lu Xingzhi and Ning Zhenyuan only stayed at the Kangyang Princess’s Residence for half a day, yet Kangyang took note of him and had someone investigate his family background thoroughly.

“His family background is truly unexceptional,” Kangyang thought, finding it completely unimpressive. Although Lu Xingzhi’s father was a fourth-rank Salt Transport Commissioner, the cumulative legacy of his ancestors was genuinely lackluster.

Granny Zhuang said, “I think Fourth Miss had a good impression of him.” On the day he was shown around, she never once complained of being tired.

Kangyang shook her head, frustrated: “A’Fu is like her mother; she only values a man’s face.”

“The son-in-law was certainly sincere enough toward the Miss,” Granny Zhuang smiled. “It’s not bad if Fourth Miss can find a husband like this.”

Kangyang was somewhat satisfied with Lu Xingzhi himself. She had also heard a little about his bandit suppression in Liangzhou. However, he didn’t seem very enthusiastic toward the Kangyang Princess’s Residence. “We still have to see how things go when he comes to the capital in half a year. If he is promoted to a higher office, he would be well-matched with A’Fu.”

The relationship with the Princess’s Residence was secondary. As long as he could protect A’Fu in the future, it would be acceptable.

However, while Kangyang Eldest Princess did not object to Ning Fu interacting with Lu Xingzhi, she did not intend for Ning Fu to only interact with him. The various young noblemen of Yongzhou were still in contact with Ning Fu.

“I wonder what the Emperor’s intention is for sending the Crown Prince Consort of the Prince Xuan’s Residence this time.”

Kangyang let out a cold laugh: “It’s nothing more than the Emperor being unable to tolerate me any longer. He has sent the Prince Xuan’s Residence to test my limits, hoping to catch hold of my weakness and dispose of me.”

Ning Fu went to take a bath after returning from the mountains. The red mark on her body had vanished without a trace after taking the Yujin Pill.

“Cousin Jing, you have such a wonderful thing, why didn’t you give it to me sooner?” Ning Fu asked when she returned to her bed.

Jingcheng was a little nervous. She couldn’t very well say it was sent by the Crown Prince Consort from the Prince Xuan’s Residence, could she? However, Jingcheng still marveled at Zong Si’s generosity; the price of one Yujin Pill was enough to buy a mansion, yet he had sent a whole bottle.

“Do you think young Master Lu would be willing to be a secondary husband?” Jingcheng asked softly. Zong Si was not the type to willingly take a secondary position. In contrast, young Master Lu seemed to have a better temper.

Ning Fu was used to Jingcheng’s way of thinking and did not take the question seriously.

When Lu Xingzhi next had free time and came to Yongzhou, Jingcheng teased him with that very question.

“Fourth Miss, do you think I should be a secondary husband?” Lu Xingzhi, however, fixed his gaze on Ning Fu.

Ning Fu quickly interjected: “Cousin Jing is just teasing you.”

“Mhm. I will only be the official wife’s husband, and the only one,” Lu Xingzhi looked at her and said.