The Crown Princess rooms.
"steward Hu is requesting to see you, your highness" Xu min said in the Crown Princess consort's ears.
"Let him in he may be here to inform me of his highness return from court" she replied flexing her fingers.
Xu min nodded and turning signaled the servants to let him in. Steward Hu walked in and bow at the crown princess consort in greeting.
"has his highness returned from the palace" She said playing with the Jade ring on her finger.
"Answering your highness, His highness the crown Prince has returned from the palace" He replied calmly standing straight.
"Good, has he been reminded of the first prince and my younger sister's marriage" she stood smiling brightly.
"His highness instructed me to inform her highness that he would not be going to the wedding with her as he would be accompanying Madam Jang to visit Grand tutor Jang who has been sick of late" He said watching as the crown princess expression became bad. He didn't pity her at all, everyone knew that Madam Jang and the Crown Prince were childhood sweethearts while the crown Princess consort was just a third party in their relationship.
Xu Mingzhu hit the table and pushed everything down in anger. Once again Jang Suyin has destroyed her plans. Did they actually expect her to go to the First Prince and her younger sister Xu Yanyu's wedding alone. That would completely destroy any chances she has of gaining back her father's favor, if anything she could lose any atom of it she had left. Her father Xu Honghui only valued someone that was of use to him. This marriage was already proof that he had no use for her anymore and neither does he have value the Crown Prince anymore. The Xu family were now backing the first prince.
"You are dismissed" she turned looking out the window. The steward bowed once again and walked out of the room.
"Help me get dressed, we're already late for the wedding" she sat in front of the mirror.
"yes your highness" Xu min and a second rank maid walk over and began helping her get dressed.
* * *
The first Prince Manor.
Xu Mingzhu's carriage arrived at the First Prince Manor and she was lead down by Xu min.
"Junjei greets Imperial sister-in-law" Zhongshan Junjei said smiling.
"Mingzhu greets your highness" Xu Mingzhu said bowing slightly.
"You may go in your highness the wedding banquet has already started" He smiled directing her inside.
Xu Mingzhu nodded and walked into the manor lead by a maid, a few minutes later she arrived at the banquet hall and was lead to her seat. She had only been seated a short while when the bride's mother's schemes began to unfold.
"Her highness the crown princess Consort is truly filial indeed but where is his highness the Crown Prince" a madam sitting opposite her said.
"Wang ye is busy helping his marjesty with state affairs" she replied gracefully taking a sip of her tea.
"Too busy to attend his elder brother's wedding" the same madam continued smiling smugly.
She was about to defend the Crown Prince further when another madam spoke up "The Grand tutor hasn't been in good health of late, it's no secret that his highness is quite fond of Madam Jang and accompanying her to visit the grand tutor"
Xu Mingzhu balled up her hands, It would seems that Xu Yun and her mother really thought of everything even sending people to monitor the Crown Prince Manor.
"Grand tutor Jang was Imperial elder brother's tutor so is only right that he treat Madam Jang slightly well. Imperial Elder brother had always been filial" the Zhongshan Junjie replied in her defense putting an end to the discussion. Zhongshan Junjie has always liked Xu Mingzhu, sadly she only had eyes for his elder brother Zhongshan Huang. He had always hoped that she would finally come to realize his feelings for her but she never did. Even now he always protected her in secret, even if he can't be with the woman he loves as long as he can protect her nothing else matters.
* * * *
Lu Xiaolian's rooms.
"Your highness the crown princess consort has returned" Bie liu said to Lu Xiaolian.
"Oh and Madam Jang ? she asked playing the Guqin. She had recently taken up the instrument thanks to the Empress who personally taught her during her stay in the palace.
"She has already been informed of her highness return and is already paying her a visit" Bie liu continued.
"It would seem that this fight can't be avoided anymore, Jang Suyin would never give Wangfei a moment of rest. I should have suspected that Grand tutor Jang's illness was just a ploy to archive their goal" Lu Xiaolian said sadly.
* * * *
The crown princess consort rooms.
"How can this be, it can't possibly be true" Xu Mingzhu said hitting the table.
."Answering her highness the imperial physician already confirmed Madam Jang's pregnancy" A maid said kneeling with her head bowed.
"How am I hearing this now, I put you in her courtyard to keep me informed of everything, of what use are you to me take her away" Xu Mingzhu said angrily.
"Your highness I was wrong please spare me. I would be more careful, I promised" the maid began crying and kowtowing continuously but Xu Mingzhu stood and left the room. Two guard took hold of the maid and knocking her out dragged her away.
The next day the maid was found hanging from the roof of her room.
* * * *
Jang Suyin's rooms
" Ha Ha Ha Xu Mingzhu this is just the beginning by the time I am done with you, you won't even know how to live" Jang Suyin laughed loudly.
"You highness is truly wise, what better way to rid yourself of her spy than this" Jang Suyin's personal maid said smiling.
"Good, let's go pay a visit to Madam Shen, Xu Mingzhu isn't the only one that needs to be put in her place"