CHAPTER 585: CHAPTER 585: VICTORY OR DEFEAT

After throwing soybeans as hidden weapons into the bamboo tube, Prince NanAn and his companions took a bath, changed into clean clothes, and parted ways in front of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Half an hour later, they unexpectedly met again at the old spot by the wall of the Prince Zhenbei Mansion.

The timing was perfect as Xingxing and Bi Zhu were setting dishes in the pavilion.

Watching the afterglow of the sunset while dining added a unique flavor.

Xie Jingchen and Su Jin walked over.

Hearing some noise, Xie Jingchen looked over and saw Prince NanAn and his companions approaching.

Charming and impressive.

"Why are you coming at this hour?" Xie Jingchen asked.

"If we don’t time it right, how can we crash the meal?" Prince NanAn said, waving a jade fan.

Su Jin thought it was already a bit late for dinner and didn’t expect there would be meal crashers.

"Are you really here to crash the meal?" Su Jin asked.

"Indeed," Chu Shun replied.

Su Jin looked at Xingxing, who quickly said, "I’ll tell the small kitchen to cook a few more dishes and bring them over."

Xie Jingchen invited Prince NanAn and his companions to sit in the pavilion.

The pavilion wasn’t large, so Su Jin didn’t squeeze in with them.

As Prince NanAn entered the pavilion, he saw a dish on the stone table and couldn’t help but twitch his lips wildly.

They came to the Prince Zhenbei Mansion to crash a meal and still encountered mapo tofu.

Could it be that they couldn’t avoid mapo tofu today?

Bi Zhu was about to withdraw when Prince NanAn hurriedly stopped her, "Take this dish of mapo tofu away."

Bi Zhu was a bit puzzled.

Was there something wrong with the mapo tofu?

Xie Jingchen looked at Prince NanAn, "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing, just felt a lot softer inside,"

Prince NanAn said, "Now when I see such delicate, tender tofu, I can’t bear to harm it."

Xie Jingchen had a forehead full of black lines.

He would be surprised if he believed Prince NanAn’s words.

Bi Zhu silently carried away the mapo tofu.

Heard of having tender feelings for beautiful women, but never heard of having tender feelings for beautiful tofu.

The Heir of Marquis Beining and others couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Xie Jingchen looked at him.

The Heir of Marquis Beining said, "Prince NanAn was forced to crash your meal because of a dish of mapo tofu."

Of course, they were the same.

Prince NanAn sighed, "I didn’t expect my mother to torture people in a way that is no less than the Dongxiang Marquis’s wife."

"A dish of mapo tofu, not even allowed to crumble a piece."

"Crush a piece, and I’d have to deliver betrothal gifts a day in advance."

"Can I gamble with her?"

To avoid crumbling a piece, Prince NanAn turned around and ran away.

Prince NanAn didn’t want to mention tofu, his scalp tingling.

He looked at Xie Jingchen and said, "Congratulations to Brother Jingchen for finding his birth mother."

After speaking, he asked again, "Is Lady Chi really your mother?"

Prince NanAn was a bit skeptical.

He thought Xie Jingchen’s birth mother should be the Nanliang Hengyang Princess.

As for saying Lady Chi was Xie Jingchen’s birth mother, it was naturally to cover up the fact that the Nanliang Hengyang Princess was Xie Jingchen’s real birth mother.

This speculation makes complete sense.

After all, before Dongxiang Marquis, they hadn’t heard of a Disguise Pill.

Dongxiang Marquis had said that taking a Disguise Pill was a life-or-death risk.

He almost didn’t survive the pain back then.

If a martial artist almost couldn’t endure it, how could a defenseless Lady Chi?

If Disguise Pill was easy, there wouldn’t be so many death row inmates in the Ministry of Justice Prison.

A dose that changes one’s appearance at a shake, who could catch them?

Xie Jingchen knew this matter was hard to believe, he said, "She really is my mother."

Prince NanAn and his companions looked at each other in dismay.

"If Big Brother says so, then it certainly is," Chu Shun said.

"Congratulations, Big Brother."

Xingxing brought the wine.

They drank heartily in the pavilion.

After being well-fed and content, Chu Shun said, "It’s too late today, we’ll come visit Aunt another day."

Xie Jingchen saw them off to the corner of the wall, watching them climb over the wall and leave.

The next day, Princess NanAn and Marchioness Jingguo came bearing gifts to congratulate.

One night was enough for them to figure it out.

They couldn’t just care for the Empress Dowager and make things difficult for their own sons, right?

Besides, they’ve never been closely connected with Princess Nanzhang, there’s no need to consider the face of the Empress Dowager and Princess Nanzhang and make things hard for themselves.

There are only two noble women in Prince Zhenbei’s inner residence, which is destined to be a headache for everyone.

Whenever there is a banquet at any mansion, an invitation must be sent to the Prince Zhenbei Mansion.

There’s no reason to invite the Princess Zhenbei and not invite Princess Nanzhang, right?

If they invite the Princess Zhenbei without inviting Princess Nanzhang, who would dare?

Inviting both together...

That means offending them both.

The happiest people in Prince Zhenbei Mansion are Xique, Caiju, Lu Qiao, and a few other maids.

They are just little maids and don’t need to think about such things.

They only know that they have transformed from the maids of an unfavored concubine to the chief maids of the Princess Consort.

In the past, everyone felt sympathy for them, and now they are envied.

Seeing everyone’s envious eyes.

Xique feels like she’s floating as she walks.

In terms of closeness, she is the dearest to Lady Chi, far beyond what Caiju and Lu Qiao can compare.

Of course, aside from envying them, everyone felt more remorseful for Mrs. Li.

In an attempt to please the Old Madam and Princess Nanzhang, she lost her life.

If she hadn’t been so reckless, she would now be the housekeeper next to the Princess Consort, and even Manager Li would have to show her some respect.

If Mrs. Li knew what had happened, she would surely not rest in peace.

When a maid reported that Princess NanAn and her entourage came to congratulate her, Lady Chi felt a stir in her fetus and had to rest in bed, unable to welcome them herself, so she had a maid do so on her behalf.

Xique was nervous, and to not be laughed at, she kept reassuring herself along the way, "Don’t be afraid, Xingxing is not afraid to talk to the Emperor, so as the Princess Consort’s maid, I must be steadier and bolder, so as not to disgrace the Princess Consort."

After paying respects to Princess NanAn and the others and explaining that the Princess Consort couldn’t make it, she led them along.

Lady Chi...

No.

She should now be called the Princess Consort.

The Princess Consort lived in the Prince’s room, which was filled with a strong masculine scent.

If not for being led by the Princess Consort’s maid with everyone present, even Princess NanAn would have hesitated to step in.

Lady Chi was leaning on a large pillow.

Though she had been in Prince Zhenbei Mansion for fifteen years, it was her first time meeting Princess NanAn and her group.

However, she knew that Prince NanAn and Xie Jingchen were good brothers.

She had once made a set of small brocade robes for Prince NanAn.

The Princess Consort was not familiar with everything trendy in the Capital City, but with the close bond between their sons, it wouldn’t be awkward.

Not to mention mahjong.

Princess NanAn and the others had not been very close before, but ever since mahjong came along, they gathered every three days or so.

They were quite united in pitting their sons against each other.

The Princess Consort had heard of mahjong but never seen it.

As soon as they started talking...

Well.

They set up a square table right in the Prince’s bedroom.

And started playing mahjong.

Although the Princess Consort was stirred by her pregnancy, it was no big issue; moreover, she had been lonely for fifteen years, and now having someone to talk to made her happier than anything.

She was now the Princess Consort of Prince Zhenbei, no longer confined to the Qingqiu Garden as Lady Chi.

She also needed social interactions and friends.

The sons of Princess NanAn and the others were good friends with Xie Jingchen, so the Princess Consort was more willing to associate with them.

After one round of mahjong, even strangers became intimate friends.

Poor Prince, who came back early to accompany the Princess Consort.

Instead, the Princess Consort wanted to play mahjong with Princess NanAn and the others, leaving no time for him.

Prince, "..."

Su Jin came over.

Xie Jingchen was not around.

The Beimo Cheng King was arriving in a couple of days, and he was busy preparing for the reception of the Beimo Envoy, leaving early and returning late, nowhere in sight.

Hearing the sound of mahjong pieces being shuffled and seeing the Prince’s gloomy expression, Su Jin wanted to laugh but dared not.

"Greetings, Father," Su Jinfu said respectfully.

The Prince asked Su Jin if there was any problem with the Princess Consort playing mahjong.

After all, the Princess Consort was pregnant.

Su Jin replied, "As long as Mother doesn’t care about winning or losing when playing mahjong and her emotions remain stable, there won’t be any problem."

The biggest issue for a pregnant woman playing mahjong is sitting for too long.

But Princess NanAn and the others wouldn’t stay too long at the mansion, so it wasn’t a problem.

Once assured there was no issue, the Prince left.

Soon after, Manager Li brought thirty thousand silver notes to the Princess Consort.

Su Jin’s mouth twitched.

No doubt, they are truly father and son, both love to flaunt their affection.

They didn’t even consider Prince NanAn and the others.

From the envy on Princess NanAn and the others’ faces, Su Jin could already foresee the sorrow after Prince NanAn and the others’ wallets bled heavily.