The Supporting Female Character Enters the Game, the Crazy Crown Prince Slowly Falls Deeply in Love - Chapter 64

Following the maidservant, Jiang Yao recalled the description of the Regent King’s Consort in the original book.

The Consort’s name was Song Yintong. Her background was not prominent; in fact, it could be described as ordinary.

This was no secret in the capital’s aristocratic circles. In those days, the Late Emperor (Xian Di), in order to prevent the Regent King from having seditious thoughts, did not want him to marry into a powerful family, which was why he assigned this marriage.

It was said that she was well-read, courteous, gentle, and virtuous. After marrying into the manor, she not only managed everything efficiently but also quickly earned the Regent King’s favor, accompanying him everywhere.

Jiang Yao secretly mused that based on this alone, she knew this Consort must not be ordinary.

Before long, the maidservant led Jiang Yao to a pavilion.

Seated in the pavilion was a woman dressed in plain clothes—it was Song Yintong, whom she had met that day.

Jiang Yao respectfully curtsied. “Greetings to the Consort.”

Song Yintong smiled faintly, her tone gentle. “There is no need for such formality. Please rise quickly.”

Her gaze rested on Jiang Yao, still carrying a smile. “Third Young Miss Jiang, we met at the Xuan Yang Marquis Manor last time.”

Jiang Yao lowered her head. “Thank you for vouching for my Second Sister and me last time, Consort.”

Song Yintong shook her head, her tone carrying a hint of intimacy. “No need to be so polite. The item I gave you last time, did you like it?”

Could she tell the truth?

She hadn’t even opened the brocade box, having directly put it into storage.

“I liked it, I liked it very much,” Jiang Yao lied casually.

The Regent King’s Consort smiled gently upon hearing this. “That’s good. I was afraid you wouldn’t like something I had carried.”

Something she had carried?

It was probably some piece of jewelry, Jiang Yao thought, dismissing the matter.

However… Jiang Yao looked around. Song Yintong had very few servants attending her, making her appear very approachable.

If Jiang Yao hadn’t read the book, she might have been deceived by this innocent demeanor.

After a few pleasantries, Song Yintong gently waved her hand, signaling the servants behind her to withdraw.

Then, she spoke softly. “I heard that Third Young Miss Jiang is about to become engaged to Young Master Xie?”

Jiang Yao slightly lowered her head, lightly covering her face with her handkerchief, adopting a shy appearance. She replied in a low voice, “It will be soon.”

The Regent King’s Consort’s eyes flashed with a complex expression upon hearing this, and she sighed softly. She then directly sat down beside Jiang Yao and reached out to hold her hand. “Then the engagement is not yet settled. I have something… that I don’t know whether I should mention or not.”

If you shouldn’t mention it, then don’t.

Jiang Yao silently grumbled.

“Consort, please speak,” she said, subtly withdrawing her hand.

Song Yintong paused, seemingly finding it difficult to express, but eventually, she whispered, “I heard from the Prince that a few days ago, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, a friend of his saw Young Master Xie at the Huixian Tower, with a young lady… held in his arms!”

“…”

Jiang Yao: That was me, it was me, it was definitely me.

She pretended to look up in surprise, a hint of panic in her eyes. “This… how can this be? Young Master Xie… he is not that kind of person.”

Seeing her flustered look, Song Yintong felt relieved. “Younger Sister Ya’er, I am also thinking of you. Young Master Xie has lost his memory now. It’s inevitable that he will only laugh with a newcomer. I worry that you will be kept in the dark and suffer grievances later.”

Jiang Yao lowered her head, her voice slightly choked. She took the initiative to hold Song Yintong’s hand. “Thank you for your concern, Elder Sister, but what… what else can I do? Young Master Xie has lost his memory and doesn’t remember me at all…”

A look of satisfaction flashed in Song Yintong’s eyes. She gently patted her hand. “In my opinion, you don’t need to rush the engagement. You might as well observe him a little longer.”

“But, but the Grand Selection is coming soon…” Jiang Yao said, biting her lip.

Song Yintong patted Jiang Yao’s hand again, her tone carrying a profound meaning. “Actually, the first time I saw you, I felt a desire to spend more time with you. I thought to myself, if only you could live in the Prince’s Manor.”

As soon as Song Yintong finished speaking, a huge storm erupted in Jiang Yao’s heart.

She hadn’t expected Song Yintong to go to such lengths just to act as an emissary for the Regent King!

Jiang Yao clenched her fingers, her face slightly pale. “What does the Consort mean by that…”

She didn’t understand why the Regent King was still fixated on her.

Song Yintong merely assumed she was startled by the suggestion. “Younger Sister Ya’er, there’s no need to be nervous. The Prince is very easy to get along with and certainly won’t mistreat you. When the time comes, we can address each other as sisters and rely on one another in this back garden.”

Jiang Yao’s mind was a mess. Her palms felt icy, and even her breathing was ragged.

She managed to steady herself. “Matters of marriage are decided by the orders of one’s parents and the words of the matchmaker.”

She couldn’t believe she was using this excuse to fend someone off one day.

“The Prince is a noble of the highest order. All you need to do is nod your head…” Song Yintong smiled.

Now that the Prince’s position in court was soaring, obtaining the daughter of a Vice-Minister (Shangshu Shunu) was a simple matter of words. Besides, she was only a concubine’s daughter. What official status could she possibly desire?

Jiang Yao knew that if she didn’t say something today, it would be difficult to make Song Yintong give up.

She lowered her head, a blush spreading across her cheeks, her voice light as a mosquito’s hum, carrying a hint of shyness. “I appreciate your kind intentions, Elder Sister, but… my grandmother and mother have always cherished me and certainly won’t allow me to become a concubine. They often say that although a woman cannot choose her marriage independently, she should still have a dignified destination.”

Song Yintong’s brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this, but she quickly brightened her face and smiled. “Younger Sister, you speak like a stranger. The Prince is now at the zenith of his power in court. How many people wish to gain his favor but cannot? Furthermore, what difference does it make to be a concubine? As long as you win the Prince’s affection, you will enjoy boundless glory and wealth in the future. Wouldn’t that be far better than some empty reputation?”

Jiang Yao knew that Song Yintong was determined to bring her into the Prince’s Manor.

She lightly bit her lower lip, her voice carrying a slight sob. “I, I have already developed a deep affection for Young Master Xie, and in a moment of passion, we… we shared intimacy.”

Song Yintong’s expression turned complex. She had never expected that Jiang Yao would be so unrestrained.

She gritted her teeth inwardly, realizing that the one the Prince favored this time had already secretly engaged in intimate relations with another man.

In truth, this was not the first time she had acted as an emissary for Xiao Jing.

Externally, she and the Regent King appeared to be a loving couple, but Xiao Jing kept many women in the back garden for his pleasure and enjoyment.

Some of them were willing, and some were not.

These women did not necessarily earn Xiao Jing’s lasting favor; they were merely objects of his passing interest. If they displeased him, they naturally met a grim end.

From the service gate in the back garden, several corpses were carried out every month.

The only reason she, a commoner-born Consort, could maintain her proper status was because she was obedient and sensible, and she never interfered with Xiao Jing’s private affairs.

Song Yintong suppressed the disgust in her heart, and her tone lost its original warmth. “Do you know that if this matter were to spread, not only would your reputation be ruined, but the entire Jiang family would be disgraced?”

Jiang Yao lowered her head, her voice imbued with a sense of grievance. “I know, which is why we absolutely cannot wait until the Grand Selection. If the Prince is willing…”