Xiao Fenghua Cramming at the Last Minute

The previous night, in the main hall of the Jing Prince's Estate.

Prince Jing, Xiao Jingfeng, and the Prince's Consort sat at the head of the table, their expressions solemn.

Below them, seven or eight secondary consorts and favored concubines stood with their hands clasped, holding their breath, their hearts filled with unease.

They didn't know why the Prince and Consort had summoned them so late at night.

Several favored concubines' eyes darted around, whispering amongst themselves:

"Sister, what is the Prince doing? Is he going to discipline the inner court?"

"I don't know, this setup is making me nervous."

"Could it be that one of our sisters has committed a crime and is going to be punished publicly?"

Just as everyone was speculating, Princess Fenghua, Xiao Fenghua, who had been standing beside Prince Jing, took a step forward.

Today, she was dressed in a dark purple palace gown embroidered with golden phoenix patterns. Her posture was upright, her presence imposing, and her gaze swept like lightning over the flock of women below.

"Mother Consort,"

Xiao Fenghua turned to look at the Prince's Consort, her voice clear and cold, "Among these women, who is most favored by Father King? Who has the most skillful methods?"

Upon hearing this, the Prince's Consort shot an exasperated glance at Prince Jing beside her:

"You'll have to ask your Father King. He knows best who is most favored."

The consorts and concubines below grew even more nervous, lowering their heads further, inwardly lamenting their misfortune.

Being asked "who is most favored" in such a setting was like being put on the spot.

Whoever was named would undoubtedly become the target of everyone's ire, incurring the resentment of the main wife, the Consort, and the jealousy of their sisters, making their lives in the inner court difficult from then on.

Prince Jing, Xiao Jingfeng, felt a bit awkward under the Consort's gaze. He scanned the faces of his favored concubines, hesitant and fidgety.

Admitting which concubine was most favored in front of his wife and daughter would be asking for trouble, wouldn't it?

"Ahem, Fenghua, why are you asking this?" Prince Jing tried to change the subject.

Xiao Fenghua frowned, a hint of impatience and displeasure showing on her face:

"Father King, what time is it? You're still beating around the bush.

Do you still want to be Crown Prince?

If you keep dawdling like this, Xiao Meier will get ahead of you, and you'll have no one to cry to.

I don't care if you become Emperor or not, but I absolutely cannot be outdone by that bitch Xiao Meier."

Xiao Fenghua's tone was sharp, her gaze piercing, even stunning Prince Jing.

From a young age, she had displayed extraordinary intelligence and skill. As Prince Jing gradually became mediocre and Xiao Sheng proved useless, she had long become one of the de facto leaders of the Jing Prince's Estate.

Her words carried significant weight within the estate.

Prince Jing felt his face flush with embarrassment after being rebuked by his daughter.

However, upon hearing the words "Crown Prince," his heart jolted, and he instantly sobered up.

Yes, now was not the time to worry about saving face.

The Old Ancestor's command was that whoever could win over Zhang Yu first would have their father become Crown Prince. This concerned the future of the Jing Prince's Estate and his imperial ambitions.

"Ahem... Fenghua, you... what are you saying? Father King naturally wants to be..."

Prince Jing quickly said, then his gaze rapidly swept over his favored concubines, finally settling on a woman in a goose-yellow dress who looked frail and delicate.

"If we're talking about... if we're talking about who is best at understanding people's hearts, who can make... make Father King... cough, cough, feel most comfortable, it would have to be... Lady Liu."

Prince Jing pointed somewhat awkwardly at the woman in the yellow dress.

When Lady Liu was named, her face immediately paled. She was so frightened that she quickly knelt on the ground, her voice trembling, "Your Highness, spare me! Consort, spare me! Princess, spare me! This concubine... this concubine..."

She thought disaster had befallen her and that she was about to be dealt with by the Consort and the Princess.

Seeing this, some of the other consorts and concubines breathed a sigh of relief, while others watched Lady Liu with schadenfreude.

Xiao Fenghua, however, ignored Lady Liu's fear. Her tone was calm but carried an unquestionable tone of command:

"Lady Liu?"

"Very good."

"Stand up."

"From today onwards, you no longer need to serve Father King. You have only one task—"

Xiao Fenghua paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone before finally landing on Lady Liu. She spoke word by word:

"All your methods of seducing men, understanding men's minds, and pleasing men... teach them to me, without reservation."

"What?!"

The remark stunned everyone present.

The Prince's Consort and all the consorts and concubines below stared at Xiao Fenghua, dumbfounded and incredulous, as if questioning whether their ears had betrayed them.

Princess Fenghua... wanted to learn... methods of seducing men?!

This is simply a fairy tale.

Everyone knows that Princess Fenghua is arrogant and has always been cold to men, dedicating herself to power struggles and cultivation. She's known throughout the Capital City as the "Ice Beauty."

Why would she suddenly want to learn these... "seductive" techniques?

Xiao Xuan's order was only circulated within the Imperial Family, so others naturally didn't know, and were shocked by Xiao Fenghua's decision.

Lady Liu was stunned. She knelt on the ground, forgetting to get up, and stammered, "Prin... Princess... What... what are you saying?

This concubine... this concubine wouldn't dare..."

"What is there to dare not do?"

Xiao Fenghua raised an eyebrow, her tone turning cold. "This is an order, not a discussion."

The Princess's Consort remained calm, knowing her daughter wouldn't act without reason. She quietly waited for her explanation.

Xiao Fenghua turned around and looked at Prince Jing's Consort, her expression returning to calm and composed. She slowly explained, "Mother Consort, you don't know. Old Ancestor Xiao Xuan has decreed that whoever between Xiao Meier and I can win over Zhang Yu will have their father appointed as Crown Prince."