“Your Majesty, are you going to attend Noble Consort Yun’s birthday celebration?” Rong Cui seemed surprised. After all, they had parted on bad terms with Noble Consort Yun just yesterday; why attend her birthday celebration today?
Upon hearing this, Xue Zi Ning smiled faintly. “What? Are my actions restricted? Where can I not go?”
Rong Cui quickly shook her head. “Your Majesty, you misunderstand. I just felt it was strange that you didn’t seem very close to Noble Consort Yun yesterday, yet you are attending her birthday celebration today.”
“Do I need to inform Prince An?” Xue Zi Ning suddenly asked.
Rong Cui was taken aback and quickly said, “Your Majesty, you misunderstand. You can go wherever you wish. I was merely expressing my surprise earlier.”
“Is that so?” Xue Zi Ning asked.
The young girl’s fair and beautiful face exuded a cold demeanor, her eyes emitting a frosty glare. Even Rong Cui, accustomed to the authority of those in high positions, had to admit that the Empress’s aura was incredibly powerful.
Rong Cui quickly knelt on the ground. “Your Majesty, I truly meant nothing else…”
“Look at you, why are you kneeling? Get up quickly. I was just speaking casually.”
Rong Cui rose, but she knew in her heart that this Empress was not speaking casually at all.
However, Rong Cui dared not say anything further.
Xue Zi Ning stood up and looked at Rong Cui, a half-smile on her face. “Do you truly not need to inform Prince An?”
Rong Cui trembled and lowered her head. “There is no need. You are free.”
Free? Xue Zi Ning let out a cold laugh. “A fine word, ‘free’.”
Peace Palace was quite lively at this moment, but everyone knew that Noble Consort Yun, despite her smiling facade, was likely weeping inside. After all, Prince Changping was confined to the capital and could not return, and the First Prince had disappeared while suppressing bandits on the frontier. Now, she was celebrating all alone. Who would believe she was happy?
No, at least Noble Consort Yun still had her maternal family. The people from the Duke of Yun’s estate had all arrived at Peace Palace, including Heir Yun, Yun Duan Hai, and the eldest daughter of the Yun family, Yun Wei Shu.
Everyone could see that Noble Consort Yun treated the Heir of the Duke of Yun’s estate as if he were the First Prince. Yun Duan Hai was seated comfortably beside Noble Consort Yun, still acting spoiled despite being of age. Everyone present found it difficult to watch, but Noble Consort Yun continued to indulge him.
“Your Highness, don’t spoil him so much. He’s become a little tyrant now; he doesn’t listen to anyone but you,” the Duchess of Yun sighed.
Noble Consort Yun smiled upon hearing this. “Sister-in-law, you don’t understand Duan Hai. He’s just putting on an act. I heard that Duan Hai had intended to go to the capital to participate in the imperial examinations, but it was delayed due to certain matters.”
The Duchess of Yun smiled awkwardly upon hearing this. “Your Highness, can you believe what he says? If he had such an intention, why would he have wasted so many years?”
“Mother, perhaps brother will rein himself in after marrying sister-in-law, as we cannot follow him around every day,” Yun Wei Shu, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
Noble Consort Yun then remembered Yun Wei Shu and beckoned her over.
Yun Wei Shu stepped forward and knelt halfway before Noble Consort Yun. “Your Highness.”
Noble Consort Yun patted her hand. “Why are you so formal? Before, you used to call me ‘Auntie’ and say ‘Auntie, Auntie’.”
Upon hearing this, Yun Wei Shu lowered her gaze. “But Wei Shu has grown up and cannot be as ill-mannered as before.”
Noble Consort Yun sighed in emotion. “You’ve truly become a young lady. Good, good…”
She turned to the Duchess of Yun and asked, “Has Wei Shu been betrothed?”
The Duchess of Yun replied, “We have looked at some potential families, and the Duke and I are still discussing it.”
Noble Consort Yun nodded. “It is good to be cautious. If you find a suitable family, let me see them. I will help you review them, as this is Wei Shu’s lifelong happiness, and it requires careful consideration.”
The Duchess of Yun nodded. “That is only natural. I will trouble Your Highness to attend to it then.”
“Sister-in-law, you are being too polite. We are family, so we don’t need to stand on ceremony,” Noble Consort Yun said. Then, looking at Yun Duan Hai, she suddenly asked, “Duan Hai, is there a woman you favor?”
Yun Duan Hai was startled and turned his face away guiltily. Seeing this, Noble Consort Yun felt hopeful and couldn’t help but ask, “Who is it? If you let me see her, I will help you review her suitability.”
Yun Duan Hai looked up at Noble Consort Yun, his expression earnest. “Auntie, Duan Hai does indeed have a woman he favors, but Duan Hai cannot afford to marry her.”
Noble Consort Yun said coldly, “Whose daughter is it that you cannot afford to marry? There is no one in An Cheng that I cannot help you marry.”
Yun Duan Hai sighed. “Auntie, her situation is somewhat troublesome. I fear Auntie may not be willing to get involved in this mess.”
“Nonsense. As long as you like her, even if she is in the heavens, I will do my best to try.”
“Does Auntie stand by her word?” Yun Duan Hai asked.
Noble Consort Yun nodded. “Of course.”
The Duchess of Yun said from the side, “Duan Hai, if you really like someone, just say so. Your aunt will help you.”
Yun Duan Hai nodded and was about to speak when suddenly a voice from outside announced, “Prince An has arrived!”
Everyone was startled and quickly rose from their chairs, looking towards the entrance. As Prince An’s figure walked in, everyone knelt and paid their respects. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Rise, everyone!” Prince An said, as he walked over and sat beside Noble Consort Yun.
“Today is my beloved consort’s birthday. Everyone can be more relaxed and need not be so formal,” Prince An stated.
“Your Highness, why have you come?” Noble Consort Yun had not expected Prince An to come.
“How could I not come to my beloved consort’s birthday?” Prince An said, grabbing Noble Consort Yun’s hand and patting it.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Noble Consort Yun said.
Prince An said, “What were you all talking about so happily just now? I could hear it from outside.”
Noble Consort Yun smiled lightly. “It’s all about my unworthy nephew, isn’t it?”
“Has Duan Hai angered you again?” Prince An’s expression darkened.
Yun Duan Hai quickly said, “I did not anger my aunt.”
Noble Consort Yun smiled. “Your Highness, Duan Hai has not angered me. I was just chatting with the Duke of Yun’s estate and thinking of finding a marriage for Duan Hai, but it seems Duan Hai already fancies someone.”
Upon hearing this, Prince An looked at Yun Duan Hai and asked, “Tell me, which family’s daughter has caught your eye? I will issue a decree for you.”
Yun Duan Hai said with difficulty, “The young lady’s situation is somewhat awkward. I fear Your Highness might not agree.”
“Nonsense. As long as you fancy her, I will issue an imperial decree for you,” Prince An stated.
Noble Consort Yun’s mind suddenly had an idea. “Your Highness, why don’t you issue an imperial decree of marriage for Duan Hai, but leave the name blank to be filled in later? Then Duan Hai can simply fill in the name of the young lady he fancies?”
Prince An heard this, pondered for a moment, and then looked at Yun Duan Hai. “Is the young lady you fancy not a wanted criminal by the court?”
Yun Duan Hai shook his head. “Your Highness, I am willing to guarantee with my life that the young lady I favor is not a wanted criminal.”
Prince An said upon hearing this, “Bring the ink and brush.”
Noble Consort Yun quickly had the ink and brush prepared and handed them to Prince An. Prince An opened a blank imperial decree and began to write.
After finishing, he discarded the brush. “Keep it!”
Yun Duan Hai stepped forward, looked at the imperial decree, and smiled.
“Miss Ning requests an audience!” a palace servant’s voice came from outside.