The Fourth Prince's Consort was shocked, not because Tang Ning had exposed her "two-faced" behavior, but because she never expected Xiao Yan to reveal such matters to the woman in front of her.
As a trusted confidant of the Emperor, a powerful official in the court, and a eunuch, collaborating with the prince to seize the throne would be a grave crime deserving of death by slow slicing.
Empress Lu had only revealed this to her and the Fourth Prince, and if it weren’t for the need to facilitate the "match" between the Fourth Prince and Tang Ning, she probably wouldn’t have disclosed it at all.
But Xiao Yan had told Song Tang Ning.
It turned out that what her mother had said was true—Song Tang Ning was indeed that important to the eunuch!
The Fourth Prince's Consort increasingly felt that she had to pull Song Tang Ning into the Fourth Prince’s manor, but on the surface, she appeared shocked: "How could the County Princess think this way? That night on the Qixi Festival, I merely happened to encounter Princess Leyang and the others. Later, when you had a conflict with them, I tried to mediate simply to prevent things from escalating and damaging the reputation of the County Princess and Miss Qian."
"That night, things happened suddenly, and many people fell into the water. Men and women mixed together. Although the County Princess is innocent, rumors can be frightening."
"Today in the hall, I indeed didn’t stop them. I admit that I had selfish motives, but it was also because the Fourth Prince's position is currently awkward. The Empress has been punished, the Fourth Prince has been setback, the Lu family is secretly scheming, and the noble families have shifted their support to the Second Prince."
"Since the County Princess knows of Supervisor Xiao's relationship with us, you should understand that we really cannot afford to offend the powerful relatives and officials now. Whether it's Princess Leyang's mansion or Ji Wangfu, offending either would make things worse for the Fourth Prince."
Tang Ning sneered: "Really? But the Fourth Prince is such a coward and avoids everything. He can't even protect the relatives of the people he cooperates with. What qualifications does he have to talk about other things?"
The Fourth Prince's Consort’s expression changed slightly.
"Someone, take the Fourth Prince’s Consort out!"
"County Princess!"
The Fourth Prince's Consort quickly called out in a sharp voice, "I did not intend this at all…"
Tang Ning angrily retorted, "Then what do you mean? You dare step on me before anything has happened. If things go smoothly, the Fourth Prince might just abandon me once it’s done, discarding me like a tool!"
Seeing this, the Fourth Prince's Consort urgently said, "Fine, I’ll tell the truth to the County Princess. On the night of Qixi, I did have some other intentions, but it was because the Fourth Prince likes you!"
Tang Ning froze.
Tears appeared in the Fourth Prince's Consort's eyes, but she quickly suppressed them as if afraid someone would see: "The Fourth Prince admires you. Every time he talks about you, his expression lights up with joy and longing. I have never seen him care for any other woman like he does for you."
"I just felt a bit uncomfortable, so I didn’t stop Princess Leyang. I wanted to let Princess Lu teach you a lesson, but the Fourth Prince had no knowledge of this."
Tang Ning looked at the teary-eyed Fourth Prince's Consort, furrowing her brows: "I do not like the Fourth Prince."
"I know," the Fourth Prince's Consort whispered, "But I couldn’t help but feel jealous."
She twisted her handkerchief nervously: "I know this is wrong, and I never meant to harm you. The Fourth Prince also said he and you are already impossible. He only has this uncontainable admiration. After he found out, he scolded me and said he wouldn’t bother you anymore, and that no one would know about his feelings. The Fourth Prince sent me here to apologize to you... I... I won’t do this again."
Tang Ning looked at her face, teary and somewhat disheveled, and after a moment of hesitation, spoke: "Are you really not going to harm me again?"
The Fourth Prince's Consort lifted her tearful eyes: "Of course not. You’re Supervisor Xiao’s sworn sister. What benefit would I have in harming you?"
Tang Ning seemed somewhat convinced by her words and softened her expression.
The Fourth Prince's Consort choked up: "Please, County Princess, forgive me this time."
Tang Ning listened to the Fourth Prince's Consort and softened her gaze: "I can’t possibly marry the Fourth Prince. I don’t like him, and I wouldn’t become someone’s concubine. You needn’t hate me because of this."
The Fourth Prince's Consort immediately said: "I understand, I was wrong."
Tang Ning stood up and pulled the Fourth Prince's Consort to sit down: "You’ve been suffering because of love. Let’s let it go this time."
Tang Ning's youthful appearance was too deceptive—she was young, innocent, with clear eyes. Although she had been through much, Xiao Yan had protected her from everything.
The outside world thought that most of what happened was due to Xiao Yan’s doing, using Song Tang Ning’s name as a cover. Except for the Lu family and a few others who had suffered at her hands, no one thought that a young girl like her could be so powerful, not even Empress Lu and the Fourth Prince's Consort.
The Fourth Prince's Consort listened to the young girl's words and thought to herself that Song Tang Ning truly lacked guile, just as her mother had said.
"Thank you, County Princess. I was wrong earlier. From now on, I will be on your side. Tonight at the ceremony, I will stand with you. If Princess Leyang or the others give you trouble, I will speak up for you!"
The Fourth Prince's Consort spoke while taking out a small brocade box: "This is a string of purple leaf sandalwood Buddhist beads I obtained earlier. It helps clear the mind and is beneficial for the body. Please accept it as my apology gift."
Tang Ning quickly declined: "There's no need for such a valuable gift, Fourth Prince’s Consort."
"If you don’t accept it, that means you haven’t forgiven me."
The Fourth Prince's Consort gently pressed her lips together: "The Fourth Prince and Supervisor Xiao share a bond of honor and disgrace. I should be united with you, County Princess. What I did earlier was wrong. Don’t you want to forgive me?"
Tang Ning said: "Of course."
The Fourth Prince's Consort smiled immediately, taking the beads and placing them on Tang Ning’s wrist: "That’s good. These beads are precious. I’ve always been reluctant to wear them, but I’m giving them to you as my heartfelt gesture."
Tang Ning didn’t refuse this time, simply running her fingers over the bead string: "Then thank you, Fourth Prince's Consort."
Seeing that Tang Ning didn’t remove them, the Fourth Prince's Consort felt happy.
However, Tang Ning, in turn, also gave the Fourth Prince's Consort a delicate, hollow silver ball-shaped incense pouch as a thank you gift. The pouch contained several types of mosquito-repelling herbs, with a refreshing scent. The Fourth Prince's Consort liked it very much and, to show her closeness to Tang Ning, immediately tied it around her waist.
The two chatted for a while. The Fourth Prince's Consort agreed to attend the ceremony with Tang Ning that evening before bidding her farewell.
Once outside the room, she handed the incense pouch to her maid.
The maid sniffed it and whispered, "It’s mosquito-repelling herbs, mixed with some other beneficial ingredients for the body."
The Fourth Prince's Consort was relieved. Since she wanted Tang Ning to wear the beads, she naturally had the incense pouch returned to her waist: "Have someone keep an eye on it."
"Yes."
After the Fourth Prince's Consort left, Tang Ning handed the beads to Yue Jian.
Yue Jian whispered: "It’s been soaked in medicinal liquid. It’s from the mandrake plant, mixed with some belladonna flowers. Wearing it for a long time can cause hallucinations."
Tang Ning sneered. The Fourth Prince's wife was really scheming. She knew that taking action twice would arouse suspicion, so she exposed her weakness and used a woman's jealousy to cover up her purpose, letting her relax her guard, and revealed the Fourth Prince's "admiration" for her.
After this was accomplished, the Fourth Prince publicly expressed his willingness to accept her, who had lost her reputation and innocence. Not only would she not doubt them, she would also be grateful to them.
Yue Jian clearly understood the Fourth Prince's Consort’s intentions and cursed, holding the beads: "This Fourth Prince’s Consort is truly shameless!"
As a woman, to plot against another’s innocence... she deserved whatever fate awaited her.
Tang Ning coldly replied: "No mercy tonight."
Yue Jian responded coldly: "Understood, Miss!"
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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