Shen Zhongwen thanked the Ning Princess Consort after he had thought it through.
The Ning Princess Consort chided him playfully, "What does Your Highness mean by this? I am your wife, and it is my duty to share Your Highness's troubles and help you overcome them. Why be so formal?"
Her words stirred a flicker of discomfort in the usually soft-hearted Shen Zhongwen. He thought about how his mind had been consumed with recovering his health and memories during this period. He was also constantly thinking about Zhao Shi and their son and daughter. As for the Ning Princess Consort, he had never really considered her.
Firstly, he had no feelings for her from the beginning, and they had always kept their distance. He was not accustomed to her being in his world. Secondly, he had never liked that none of the children she bore were accomplished. Therefore, he hadn't realized his attitude was improper. But now he saw that the Princess Consort was indeed worthy of her title. She hadn't ignored this matter despite his coldness towards her and their children. Instead, she was thinking of helping him.
Even Shen Zhongwen, despite his cold nature, felt he had been too harsh on the Princess Consort. However, this realization did not deepen his feelings for her in the slightest. At most, he would visit her courtyard and accompany her for a meal. As for spending the night, that was impossible. Even before he remembered Zhao Shi, he didn't wish to share a marital bed with the Princess Consort. Now, with his mind filled with the tender moments he shared with Zhao Shi, it was even more impossible for him to face his relationship with the Princess Consort.
The Ning Princess Consort watched the Ning Prince leave her courtyard without looking back. Her face, which had been softly smiling moments ago, tightened, and she ripped a piece of brocade silk handkerchief. Gritting her teeth, she angrily declared, "He, he is so heartless."
"Why should Your Highness be sad? His Highness has been like this for more than a day or two," Granny Huang consoled.
The Ning Princess Consort gnashed her teeth, her face filled with resentment. "That's right, it hasn't been just a day or two."
"Since that is the case, Your Highness, do not be sad. Quickly prepare for the banquet the day after tomorrow so as not to trouble the Old Prince," she said.
Mentioning this matter, the Ning Princess Consort's spirits immediately lifted. She wiped away her unshed tears and said coldly, "Granny is right, this matter should be prepared well. Once it is done, I'll see if that slut dares to mention entering the Prince's mansion again! Granny Huang, come here and help me with this..."
After hearing the plan, Granny Huang's face flickered with joy, and she quietly reminded, "Your Highness, this matter is too sordid. It is not advisable to do it yourself. Perhaps, perhaps like this..." Granny Huang, with her ever-changing thoughts, quickly offered the Ning Princess Consort another idea.
The Ning Princess Consort's face broke into a smile upon hearing it, and she fully agreed, though she hesitated about the feasibility of the plan.
"Your Highness, rest assured. This matter will be handled by this old servant. I will personally go to the official post station and disclose the matter to that person. I believe she will know how to proceed better than Your Highness," Granny Huang suggested proudly.
"Good, good, this is perfect," the Ning Princess Consort agreed.
Soon, Granny Huang took the Ning Prince's mansion's carriage to the official post station. She presented the Ning Princess Consort's calling card and directly entered to meet Princess Yi Jiang of Southern Yue. After sending the servants away, they had a lengthy discussion, and then exchanged a knowing smile; the matter was settled. Granny Huang returned to the Ning Prince's mansion to report her success with satisfaction. Meanwhile, Yi Jiang immediately began preparations in earnest.
At this time, Su Xiaoqi awaited Shen Yun's return. Seeing him return with the same gentle and refined demeanor as always when returning from court, Su Xiaoqi guessed that the Ning Prince's promise had not been fulfilled. Upon asking, her guess was confirmed. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been the matter of the small sedan chair.
The Ning Prince couldn't make the decision; the true authority in the Ning Prince's mansion lay with the Old Ning Prince, who was hidden behind the scenes. Therefore, the Ning Prince's previous promise to let Su Xiaoqi enter the mansion as the heir consort was forcefully rejected by the Old Ning Prince. Without his approval and private seal, the Ning Prince couldn't even submit a memorial to the throne to request the enfeoffment of the heir consort. This matter could not be accomplished.
All of this was within Su Xiaoqi's expectations. She had even predicted Shen Yun's return. Without putting pressure on him, she had Zi Ling bring out delicious food and drinks. They ate in silence. As soon as the dishes were cleared, they heard that someone had arrived from the Ning Prince's mansion. It turned out to be the Ning Prince himself. He came to inform Shen Yun that the Old Prince had agreed to let Su Xiaoqi enter the mansion, but the matter of enfeoffing her as the heir consort was temporarily put aside, though he would strive to mediate. Furthermore, he would not allow the Ning Princess Consort to choose a new heir consort for Shen Yun. This meant that Su Xiaoqi's entry into the Ning Prince's mansion, although not under the title of heir consort, would be with the status, position, and all treatment corresponding to that of an heir consort.
Shen Yun wanted to refuse, wanting to achieve his goal in one go. However, Su Xiaoqi could not bear to see their father and son fall out. If that happened, the most distressed would be Zhao Shi. Although Zhao Shi had said nothing these past few days and was determined not to see the Ning Prince, her inner pain was no less than anyone else's. He was, after all, the man she truly loved. And she had loved him for over twenty years. During this time, they had experienced happy and harmonious lives, as well as many difficulties. There had even been separations and deceptions. But no matter what, through it all, her love for the Ning Prince had not diminished in the slightest; it remained as strong as ever. Her fragile heart could not endure any more pain. She was like a tautly strung instrument, and Su Xiaoqi feared that if it were pulled any tighter, it would snap.
She preempted Shen Yun and agreed to the Ning Prince's proposal, accepting to enter the Ning Prince's mansion in this unofficial capacity for now. "When I married you, you weren't the heir of any prince's mansion either. Why pursue this empty title now? As long as you have me in your heart, that is enough." Su Xiaoqi's intention was clear. Her relationship with Shen Yun had never been about fame or fortune. Moreover, she had discerned from the Ning Prince's words that the suggestion came from the Ning Princess Consort. As women, she keenly sensed a conspiracy at play. The Ning Princess Consort was someone Su Xiaoqi had always wanted to deal with, especially after the incident at the Xiang Prince's mansion. However, the former Ning Princess Consort had been too cautious. She was unpredictable and deeply cunning. Despite having many ill intentions, she never revealed them, always preferring to scheme from behind the scenes. This time, she had finally taken the initiative, and if Su Xiaoqi didn't respond, she didn't know what other tricks she would employ next.
Su Xiaoqi thought it best to accept. She had many businesses to attend to and no time to engage in a battle of wits with the Ning Princess Consort; she desired to achieve her goal in one step. In any case, for Shen Yun to return to the Ning Prince's mansion, the Ning Princess Consort had to be dealt with first. Now was the perfect opportunity.
Hearing Su Xiaoqi's agreement, the Ning Prince was overjoyed. He looked at Shen Yun with a sense of contentment. His son had truly returned this time.
Following this, everyone began preparing for the banquet at the Ning Prince's mansion. The Old Ning Prince had lost considerable face among the royal nobles due to the matter of the Ning Prince's mansion's former heir. It was a great humiliation for a prince's mansion to have an heir who was infertile. The Old Ning Prince had never been able to regain this lost face. Therefore, taking advantage of Shen Yun's return, he instructed Shen Zhongwen and the Ning Princess Consort to hold a grand banquet. They extended invitations to the noble families of the capital, inviting their heads and their intended heirs. They wanted to show that the Ning Prince's mansion was not as incompetent as the outside world rumored. The grandeur of the banquet was no less than that of a royal feast.
The Ning Prince's mansion chose the Hundred Flower Garden as the venue for the banquet. This was a royal garden, which the Old Ning Prince had borrowed from Emperor Yongxing by sacrificing his pride. This garden was filled with blooming flowers, with larger gardens within smaller ones, each with meticulously crafted landscapes, creating a scene of great splendor. Everyone had heard of the Hundred Flower Garden's fame but, due to its status as a royal garden, had never had the opportunity to see it. Now, they were fortunate enough to enter and behold it thanks to the Ning Prince's mansion. Everyone was excited.
Furthermore, the guests invited were of high status, not only civil and military officials of the Liang Dynasty but also envoys from various countries. Princess Yi Jiang of Southern Yue and the envoy from Northern Chu, Chu Lige, were particularly conspicuous. However, Shen Yun, who should have been the main focus of attention, remained incredibly low-key. If people hadn't mentioned him intentionally or unintentionally, he might have been completely forgotten.
Shen Yun's mind was not on the banquet; instead, he was very worried about Su Xiaoqi. For some reason, the moment he heard that the banquet was proposed by the Old Ning Prince and orchestrated by the Ning Princess Consort, his heart tightened inexplicably, as he felt they couldn't possibly have such good intentions. Therefore, he had no mood to enjoy this rare moment of glory. Instead, he instructed Zhang Lei to summon Zhang Feng and Zhang Dian, who were staying at home, to the banquet. One was to keep an eye on the Ning Princess Consort, and the other was to watch the Old Ning Prince. Even Zhang Lei was assigned to accompany Su Xiaoqi along with Zhang Yu. Regardless of anything else, he would only watch over his wife. If the other party made no move, then so be it. But if they made a move, he would definitely retaliate, and ten times over.