Sure enough, Madam Qiao turned a frosty gaze toward the Princess Consort of Prince Ping. “Did those words truly come from Your Grace? What business is it of ours whom your household raises? I heard it was Prince Ping himself who decided to send the girl away. How did it become, in your version, something my daughter instigated? Who exactly did she sway? Prince Ping himself?”

“Oh dear, what a misunderstanding. Blame my clumsy tongue—I can’t even explain myself properly.”

The Princess Consort laughed awkwardly, giving her lips a light slap in mock self-chastisement before sighing. “It’s just that I’m thin-skinned. You see, after Yi’er met young Qingqing, he was completely beside himself. Only then did I feel it inappropriate to keep Qingyun at home—I worried Qingqing might misunderstand… It was my mistake. I didn’t make things clear to Her Highness.”

She forced a smile as she tried to smooth things over. Consort Xian cast her a frown. Hadn’t she been utterly certain earlier that Bai Qingqing had manipulated Fu Yi? Now it was all just a misunderstanding? Then what of the accusations she herself had just made?

The Princess Consort’s thoughts were in disarray too. She realized she would probably have to offer something significant later to regain Consort Xian’s trust. All this trouble, and the Bai family still refused to appreciate the match!

Madam Qiao’s face darkened again. “Your Grace, please choose your words carefully. My daughter and your son have met only a handful of times and exchanged barely a word. Heaven bears witness to her innocence!”

This was a clear and public disavowal, a drawing of lines between their families. Compared side by side, the Duchess of England still managed to maintain a higher dignity—something Consort Xian could not stomach.

“Madam, your words are too absolute. A man must marry, and a woman must wed. How can you be so certain these two children share no fate? Perhaps fate has already been written by the heavens.”

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Regaining her poise, Consort Xian sat calmly, comforted by the fact that the emperor had already agreed to the marriage. No matter how much the Duchess resisted, she couldn’t go against an imperial decree. That sense of power over another’s fate—it was intoxicating.

Such is the might of status!

“The Princess Chang of Huaifu arrives!”

The voice from outside shattered the tension within. Even the Princess Consort of Prince Ping rose at once to greet her, and this time, not even Consort Xian remained seated—proof of just how high Huaifu’s standing was within the palace.

After Huaifu took her seat, she looked at Bai Qingqing with a smile and beckoned her forward. “What’s all this lively talk about? Let me hear it too.”

Consort Xian chuckled as well. “We were just speaking of the Bai girl’s marriage prospects. Look at her—blooming like a flower, easy on the eyes. It’d be a shame for her to miss the finest years of a woman’s life.”

“Oh? And you believe a woman’s best years can be missed so easily?” Huaifu raised a brow, still smiling. “Then what about me? Have I missed mine?”

Consort Xian’s expression froze. Her mouth opened, then closed again, but not a word came out. How could she dare answer that? Anything touching upon Huaifu was a minefield—one misstep, and the emperor would never forgive it.

“Heh heh… Your Highness jests.”

Huaifu blinked innocently at her. “I wasn’t joking. You sounded so certain, I just found it curious. Or do you mean to say this is something unfit for me to hear? Well then, never mind.”

“Your Highness! I would never! We were only discussing the heir of Prince Ping—handsome, capable, and of fine character—and how the Bai girl is likewise charming and lovely. It seemed a fitting match.”

“Ah, I see now,” Huaifu said as if suddenly enlightened. “Since Consort Xian thinks so highly of the young man from the Fu family, why not have your own daughter, Princess Nianrou, marry him? I can even speak to my imperial brother about it on your behalf.”

“This—this mustn’t be! Nianrou is still young, I… I’d like to keep her with me a few more years…”

“Is that so? Then wouldn’t she risk missing her best years? And if she were to miss them, wouldn’t that be far more serious than Qingqing doing so? What do you think, Your Grace?”