The previous night, in the main hall of Jing Prince's Estate.
Prince Jing Xiao Jingfeng and Prince Jing's Consort sat solemnly in the seats of honor.
Below them, seven or eight concubines and favored mistresses stood with their hands folded, each holding her breath, her heart uneasy.
They had no idea why the prince and consort had summoned them in the middle of the night.
Several of the favored mistresses darted glances around and whispered among themselves:
"Sister, what is the prince planning? Could he be looking to put the inner household in order?"
"I don't know. This whole setup is making me nervous."
"Could one of our sisters have done something wrong, and now they're going to punish her in front of everyone?"
While everyone speculated, County Princess Xiao Fenghua, who had been standing beside Prince Jing, stepped forward.
Today she wore a dark purple palace gown embroidered with golden phoenixes. Her posture was straight and her bearing imposing as her gaze swept over the women below like lightning.
"Mother Consort,"
Xiao Fenghua turned to Prince Jing's Consort, her voice cool. "Which of these women is Father King's favorite? And which one is best at her tricks?"
At that, Prince Jing's Consort shot the prince beside her an irritated look.
"You'll have to ask Father King. He knows better than anyone which one he favors most."
The concubines below grew even more nervous. They lowered their heads, silently lamenting their fate.
Being asked "who is the favorite" in a situation like this was like being roasted over a fire.
Whoever was named would become a target, incur the consort's resentment and the other women's jealousy, and have a miserable time in the inner household from then on.
Prince Jing Xiao Jingfeng felt awkward under his consort's gaze. His eyes passed over the faces of several favored mistresses, hesitating and fidgeting.
To admit in front of his consort and daughter which concubine he favored most would be asking for trouble.
"Ahem, Fenghua, why are you asking about this?" Prince Jing tried to change the subject.
Xiao Fenghua furrowed her brows, showing a trace of impatience and displeasure.
"Father King, at a time like this, you're still dodging the question?
Do you still want to become Crown Prince?
If you keep dragging your feet, and Xiao Meier gets there first, it'll be too late for you to cry.
I don't care whether you become emperor or not, but I absolutely won't let that bitch Xiao Meier outshine me."
Xiao Fenghua's tone was fierce and her gaze sharp. Even Prince Jing was cowed by her.
She had displayed extraordinary intelligence and political skill from a young age. As Prince Jing grew increasingly mediocre and Xiao Sheng proved incapable, she had long since become one of the true powers behind the scenes at Jing Prince's Estate.
Her words carried tremendous weight within the estate.
His daughter's scolding left Prince Jing looking rather embarrassed.
But at the mention of "Crown Prince," his heart jolted, and he came to his senses at once.
Indeed, this was no time to worry about saving face.
The Old Ancestor's decree said that whichever one of them won Zhang Yu over first would have a father who became Crown Prince. It concerned the future of Jing Prince's Estate—and his imperial ambitions.
"Ahem... Fenghua, what... what are you saying? Of course I want that."
Prince Jing hurried to explain. Then he quickly scanned the faces of several favored mistresses, before finally settling on a woman in a pale yellow dress who looked delicate and gentle.
"If we're talking about... about who is best at reading people's hearts, and making... making Father King... ahem, comfortable, it would have to be... Lady Liu."
Prince Jing awkwardly pointed at the woman in yellow.
When Lady Liu was named, her face went pale. She hastily dropped to her knees, her voice trembling. "Spare me, Your Highness! Spare me, Consort! Spare me, County Princess! I... I..."
She thought disaster had struck and that the consort and county princess were about to settle accounts with her.
Some of the other concubines breathed a sigh of relief, while others watched Lady Liu with schadenfreude.
Xiao Fenghua paid no heed to Lady Liu's fear. Her tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable command.
"Lady Liu?"
"Very good."
"Stand up."
"From today on, you won't have to serve Father King. You have only one task—"
Xiao Fenghua paused, swept her gaze across the room, then fixed it on Lady Liu and spoke each word clearly.
"Teach me every trick you have for seducing men, reading their minds, and winning their favor, without holding anything back."
"What?!"
At those words, the whole room was stunned.
Prince Jing's Consort and all the concubines below stared at Xiao Fenghua in disbelief, as if they suspected their ears had deceived them.
County Princess Fenghua... wanted to learn... how to seduce men?!
It was downright absurd.
Everyone knew County Princess Fenghua held herself above others and had always been cold toward men. She devoted herself entirely to political maneuvering and cultivation, and was known throughout the Capital City as the "Ice Beauty."
Why would she suddenly want to learn those... "seductive" tricks?
Xiao Xuan's command had only circulated within the royal family. The others naturally knew nothing about it, so Xiao Fenghua's decision left them shocked.
Lady Liu was dumbstruck. Still kneeling, she forgot to get up and stammered,
"C-County Princess... what... what did you say?
I... I wouldn't dare..."
"What wouldn't you dare?"
Xiao Fenghua arched a brow, her tone turning cold. "This is an order, not a discussion."
Prince Jing's Consort managed to stay calm. Knowing her daughter never acted without reason, she waited quietly for an explanation.
Xiao Fenghua turned to Prince Jing's Consort, her composure restored, and explained slowly,
"Mother Consort may not know, but the Old Ancestor Xiao Xuan gave an order: whoever wins Zhang Yu over, Xiao Meier or me, will have a father who becomes Crown Prince."
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