"Yin Xuan, what are you thinking? I don't have any feelings for Song Tangning!"
The Fourth Prince quickly explained, "That Song Tangning is nothing but a disreputable young lady. She shamelessly chased after Lu Zhiyuan back in the day. If she didn’t have Rong Sheng Academy in her hands and Xiao Yan, that eunuch, protecting her now, I wouldn't even bother with her under the Empress Mother's advice."
The Fourth Prince's consort snorted coldly.
The Fourth Prince softened his voice, saying, "I'm just pretending with Song Tangning. The Empress Mother repeatedly told me to hold her in my grasp. If I don't show some interest in her, and then she suddenly gets into trouble, how could people believe that a noble prince like me would marry a woman who ruined her reputation?"
Seeing that the Fourth Prince's consort still looked cold, he gently added, "You know how shrewd that eunuch Xiao Yan is. Our plan to tie him to our side was risky to begin with. If he becomes suspicious, everything we've done so far would be in vain."
"I just want to prepare ahead of time, letting people know that I’m infatuated with Song Tangning. Then, if later on I marry her despite her tarnished reputation, others will only praise my loyalty and my consort for being magnanimous."
As he spoke, the Fourth Prince tried to pull his consort into his arms, but she pretended to resist.
The Fourth Prince wouldn’t let her go and forcibly pulled her back, holding her gently while coaxing her softly.
"We've been married for so long, do you still not know who holds my heart?"
"I have no idea about Your Highness’s thoughts!" The Fourth Prince's consort had red-ringed eyes.
The Fourth Prince quickly said, "Why are you crying now?"
He gazed at her tenderly and gently stroked her back. "I know asking you to handle matters with Rong Sheng Academy has been hard on you, but you're the only one left by my side. If you truly dislike it, we can go back, and we’ll forget all of this..."
"No!"
The Fourth Prince stepped back, but his consort became anxious. "We’ve finally found an opportunity, we can't go back now."
"But you..."
"I'm fine, just a little unwell. I’m afraid Your Highness really likes her."
The Fourth Prince chuckled lightly. "How could that be? My heart only belongs to you. Even if Song Tangning enters the manor, she would just be a concubine. Giving her the title of side consort is just to placate Xiao Yan. In my heart, she doesn't compare to you in the slightest."
The Fourth Prince's consort looked up, her eyes misty. "Is Your Highness telling the truth?"
"Of course, I am. I know who’s been good to me. We are one, as husband and wife. No one compares to those who only play games."
The Fourth Prince knew his consort loved him deeply. Even though he had already lost interest in her, she still spoke with sincere affection.
"Song Tangning is just a stepping stone for me to get Rong Sheng Academy. Once I deal with her, my predicament will be resolved, and it’ll also help bring Xiao Yan closer to us."
"Otherwise, I wouldn’t even bother to glance at her."
As if fearing she wouldn't believe him, the Fourth Prince added, "You forgot about her previous engagement with the Lu family. If I truly liked her, how could the Empress Mother have given her to Lu Zhinian?"
The Fourth Prince's consort didn’t know about the Empress's scheme, but after hearing the Fourth Prince’s words, her expression softened, her eyes becoming red. "I thought Your Highness really liked Song Tangning…"
"How could that be?"
The Fourth Prince held her, gently comforting her. "If it weren’t for Father suddenly going mad and causing Mother to lose powe and me losing the Lu family’s support, I would never have made you suffer like this. You don’t know how much it hurts me."
The Fourth Prince’s consort's heart softened completely.
She had been married to the Fourth Prince for many years. Although she had not borne any children, the Fourth Prince treated her extremely well, and the Empress had never been angry with her about it.
Before their fallout with the aristocratic families, the Lu family often interfered with the Fourth Prince’s matters. Every time the household had to take in concubines or maidservants to bear children under pressure from the Lu family, the Empress would comfort her apologetically. Even when the Fourth Prince went to those women’s quarters, he rarely stayed the night, and he never allowed them to publicly disrespect her as the princess consort.
Ordinary people valued offspring, let alone royalty. The Fourth Prince’s consort felt guilty for not bearing him a son. The more the Empress and Fourth Prince treated her kindly, the deeper her feelings of guilt and affection grew.
She truly loved this husband, and she was grateful to the Empress. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have willingly helped him with other women after his legs were broken and his appearance ruined, even though she knew he still had a faint chance of recovery.
The Fourth Prince's consort leaned into his arms, her eyes red. "As long as Your Highness holds me in your heart, I won’t feel wronged. I will make sure Your Highness gets what you want."
The Fourth Prince’s eyes flickered, and he lowered his head, kissing her softly. "Yin Xuan still loves me."
"Your Highness!"
The Fourth Prince’s consort blushed, lightly pinching him. "Did you forget what the imperial physician said? You’re still not fully recovered."
The Fourth Prince’s face stiffened, a flash of annoyance passing through his eyes. Since the Lu family harmed him, he hadn’t slept with his consort for a long time.
At first, he made excuses, claiming that the palace was busy, and killed off any maidservants who knew about his situation. Later, he used the excuse that he had hurt his leg to avoid suspicion.
His consort’s words struck a sore spot. Even though he was furious, he had to pretend nothing was wrong.
"Once I’m fully recovered, I’ll make it up to you. But have all the arrangements been made for this matter?"
The Fourth Prince's consort blushed. "Your Highness, don’t worry. Everything is arranged. Princess Le Yang will definitely take action."
...
Cang Lang deliberately slowed down the carriage. After the Fourth Prince’s carriage had gone far enough, Tang Ning, who had been disgusted, expressionlessly shook her fan, as if trying to shake off the bad luck from her conversation with the Fourth Prince.
Rong Yue’s face darkened. "This Fourth Prince is shameless!"
Xue Ru also murmured, "When the Fourth Prince spoke to Sister just now, someone came to spy on us. He deliberately said those things to ruin Sister’s reputation. If those words get out, who knows how they’ll be twisted."
Rong Yue was furious. "I shouldn’t have been polite with him earlier!"
She had been subtly mocking him, but now she felt she should have scolded him directly!
Tang Ning had long known the Fourth Prince’s thoughts, but she hadn’t expected him to drop all pretenses. As for the Fourth Prince’s consort, she didn’t know if she was being foolish or malicious, helping her husband scheme against an innocent woman.
Seeing Rong Yue and Xue Ru so angry, Tang Ning whispered, "Alright, we’re here to pray for Mother and the others. Let’s not let them spoil the mood."
Rong Yue angrily slapped her fan. "I can’t stand those people. Once we’re inside Lingyun Temple, remember to avoid them. We don’t want some worthless scoundrel setting their sights on you and causing trouble."
Tang Ning chuckled. Her aunt was indeed sharp.
"I know, I’ll be careful."
Rong Yue, still not calming down, looked at the other girl. "A Ru, you too, if you ever see a man like the Fourth Prince, avoid him. He’s one of those who’s always looking at what’s not his. A toad wants to eat swan meat, not even realizing how ridiculous he is."
"Don’t get involved with scoundrels like him, or you’ll have bad luck for life."
Xue Ru, seeing how even the usually composed Rong Yue was using foul language, hurriedly nodded. "I understand, I’ll keep my distance."
Rong Yue finally felt at ease. "Good!"
Even wild dogs want to covet her family’s prized flower. She’ll make sure Tang Ning finds a match who is one of a kind!
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You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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