The other noble ladies’ faces changed upon hearing Yun Weishu’s words.
The Duke Yun’s mansion did not fear Princess Anning, but they did. They did not have an aunt who was the current Imperial Noble Consort.
“Miss Yun, I heard you make excellent Peach Blossom Pastries, do we have a chance to try them?” a noble lady asked, attempting to de-escalate the tension.
Yun Weishu chuckled softly at the question and slowly said, “Do you know why I like making Peach Blossom Pastries?”
Although she directed the question at the noble lady, her gaze was fixed on Anning.
“Why?” The noble lady, hoping to change the subject, did not notice Yun Weishu’s implied meaning.
“Because…” Yun Weishu paused, her expression unreadable.
Intrigued, the noble lady pressed, “Because why? Miss Yun, do tell, you’re keeping us in suspense!”
Yun Weishu’s smile faded as she said, word by word, “Because the Crown Prince of Xue Country likes them.”
The moment she spoke, the inquiring noble lady’s face turned ashen. She had wanted to steer away from that topic, but instead, she had made it even more pronounced.
Yun Weishu noticed that no matter what she said, Princess Anning’s expression remained placid.
With that thought, she stepped forward and asked, “Princess Anning, how are you worthy of the Crown Prince of Xue Country?”
The other noble ladies gasped; they had heard it all.
“Miss Yun, let’s go look at the flowers over there.” The noble ladies quickly retreated from this place of trouble.
When everyone else had left, only Yun Weishu and Anning remained.
Yun Weishu smiled, “Why don’t you answer?”
Anning considered for a moment, then asked, “How do you want this consort to answer?”
“Tell me what makes you a match, or I won’t be convinced.”
A man of unparalleled beauty, a man who commanded a powerful nation, a man devoted solely to the woman he loved, such an outstanding man, why would he marry Princess Anning?
Someone who knew nothing of suffering, whose maternal clan was exterminated, someone whose face was disfigured?
She couldn’t understand.
Anning looked at Yun Weishu, sighing inwardly. A person clouded by infatuation; she didn’t know whether to pity her or admire her persistence.
“Can Your Highness the Princess also not explain how you match the Crown Prince of Xue Country?” Yun Weishu pressed, her intention clear: if Anning couldn’t give a satisfactory answer, Yun Weishu would not let her off.
“Do you match?” Anning retorted.
Yun Weishu sneered. She knew Princess Anning would ask this. She held her head high, her expression full of smug satisfaction, “As the legitimate daughter of Duke Yun’s mansion, my status is naturally a match. My talents are well-known throughout the An Country. I also make food with my own hands. Is all this not enough?”
“Not enough…” Anning stated calmly.
Yun Weishu looked at her, her expression darkening. “May I ask for Princess Anning’s further guidance?”
“Xue Country is the foremost powerful nation among the five countries, and its Crown Prince is truly exceptional, possessing unparalleled talent. Compared to Xue Country, An Country is merely a minor nation at the lower end. What could possibly be compared to Xue Country? Let alone my status as a princess of An Country.”
Yun Weishu’s face turned somewhat pale. Anning continued, “Miss Yun probably doesn’t know why the Crown Prince of Xue Country likes to eat Peach Blossom Pastries.”
Yun Weishu looked at her, a hint of stubbornness in her voice, “Does Your Highness the Princess know?”
Anning smiled faintly, “Yes.”
“Why?” Yun Weishu asked.
“Because the Crown Prince of Xue Country’s former beloved woman liked them.”
Yun Weishu trembled all over and took a step back. “How… how is that possible?”
Anning took a step forward, looking at Yun Weishu and sighing, “Miss Yun, knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory. Your homework is insufficient.”
“Even so, this humble subject does not consider these to be obstacles,” Yun Weishu said, undeterred.
“Yes,” Anning conceded, but then she changed tack. “The Crown Prince of Xue Country could afford a dowry that would build a country for me. If Miss Yun is confident that she can obtain such a dowry?”
Yun Weishu bit her lower lip. “This humble subject does not care about the size of the dowry. Even without a dowry, I am willing to marry.”
Anning raised her eyes and said, “Miss Yun, you may not know, but as this consort returned from Xue Country to An Country, the drought had caused famine victims along the way, and people were forced to leave their homes. This consort’s heart is heavy.”
Upon hearing this, Yun Weishu’s eyes flickered. “This humble subject is also aware of this matter. I have already instructed my family to purchase grain and provide porridge in the affected areas.”
“This consort is very grateful for Miss Yun’s actions.”
“Does Your Highness the Princess have anything else? This humble subject has done all of this,” Yun Weishu said, looking at Anning earnestly.
Rong Cui, unwilling to see her princess so cornered, sneered, “My Highness used a portion of her dowry to buy grain, and together with His Majesty and the Second Princess, she provided porridge for several days in the local area. Before leaving, she left the silver from her dowry behind. Miss Yun, how dare you compare yourself to the Princess?”
She took a deep breath and continued, “Her Highness’s heart holds the nation, while Miss Yun, perhaps, only holds affection.”
Yun Weishu trembled, her face contorting. As Rong Cui was about to speak further, Anning stopped her. “This is all I have. Whether we are a match or not, the Crown Prince of Xue Country is betrothing this consort as Crown Princess. This is an undeniable fact. Miss Yun should keep her affections hidden in her heart. With Miss Yun’s appearance, why worry about not finding someone who truly cherishes you?”
Yun Weishu’s face turned deathly pale, and she stumbled back several steps. Anning slowly whispered, “Does Miss Yun wish to be a concubine? This consort remembers the Yun family’s ancestral teachings: a woman can only be a wife, never a concubine. Does Miss Yun wish to defy her ancestral teachings?”
Yun Weishu’s face grew even paler. Looking at Anning, her eyes began to change.
How did Princess Anning know the Yun family’s ancestral teachings?
“It seems Miss Yun has understood. Since that is the case, Miss Yun’s intention in inviting this consort has been achieved. This consort should not linger. Rong Cui, take care of things!” Anning turned to leave.
As she turned, a servant from the mansion, perhaps moving too quickly, bumped into Anning. The juice from the bowl she was carrying spilled.
Rong Cui quickly pushed the servant away and asked, “Your Highness, are you alright?”
Anning shook her head. The servant, terrified, immediately knelt and begged for mercy, “Princess, spare me! Princess, spare me!”
“Get up. This consort is surprised that Duke Yun’s mansion has such careless servants,” Anning said, glancing back at Yun Weishu.
Yun Weishu remained silent, her gaze fixed on the young servant, her expression shifting.
Rong Cui looked at her princess, now splashed with the dark, foul-smelling juice.
“Your Highness, this…”
Just then, “Your Highness, this servant will help you change your clothes.” A maidservant emerged from behind Yun Weishu.
Anning raised her eyes to the maidservant who spoke and turned to Yun Weishu, “Miss Yun, is this your personal maidservant?”
Yun Weishu was taken aback. “No, she is the head maidservant of my elder brother.”