The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 2)

Chapter 52 - Deliberation

When Ye Jingchuan came running up to greet the Princess of Zhennan, she was handing an ornate eight-treasure box to a maid with a slightly puzzled expression. Upon seeing him, she teased, "What's this? Are you here to ask about Guo Huaiying again?"

Ever since Ye Jingchuan had returned with Song Chuyi's suggestion, he'd been like an untamed horse, never resting for a moment, pestering everyone to find out exactly what made Guo Huaiying so capable.

Both the King of Zhennan and Ye Jingkuan were taken aback when they first heard the suggestion, but after a long discussion, they both agreed, slapping the table in admiration. They said that in the current political climate, siding with Guo Huaiying would not only provide a solid safeguard for survival but also offer a chance for military achievement.

The Princess of Zhennan didn't fully understand their excitement. She'd heard of Guo Huaiying, but her impression of him came entirely from Shen Yang—Guo Huaiying was Shen Yang's husband.

So, looking at her husband and son with confusion and a bit of apprehension, she asked, "Do you even know what rank this man currently holds or what his character is like? You've made a decision based solely on the word of a young girl?"

"Isn't this a bit too hasty? While Song Chuyi's predictions have always been accurate, this still concerns our son's future and his very life. For such an important matter, shouldn't you consider it more carefully before showing such enthusiasm? Isn't it placing a bit too much trust in this young girl?"

Ye Jingchuan's interest had been piqued from the start by the attitudes of Song Chuyi and Zhou Weizhao toward this man. Seeing that his father and brother were indeed as supportive as Song Chuyi had predicted only fueled his curiosity further. He was constantly urging the Princess of Zhennan to gather information on Guo Huaiying to understand what kind of person he really was.

Now, hearing her question, Ye Jingchuan nodded without hesitation. As the younger son, he had always been close to the Princess of Zhennan and now clung to her insistently, wanting to get to the bottom of things.

The Princess of Zhennan, both amused and exasperated, reached out and poked his forehead with a finger, her face bright with a smile. "I knew you wouldn't sit still. Let me tell you, this person truly has skills. Years ago, he served as a judicial officer in a small county in Yunnan. Do you know how hard it is to govern a place with such harsh, rugged terrain? Yet he managed to keep the unruly locals in line. Not only that, but he also chased mountain bandits across the hills with just a few household guards in tow."

"Later, he served as a magistrate in Yanping for two terms, six years in total, during which he put an end to the longstanding issue of illegal mining that had plagued the region for years. Those years brought peace and prosperity to Yanping, and the people held deep gratitude for him."

The Princess of Zhennan sighed a little. "But strangely enough, he didn't come from a poor family; he's actually from a noble household. To have such tenacity and dedication is truly rare. Now he's serving as an inspector in Zhejiang, but from what your father and brother imply, it won't be long before he's promoted. With his experience, achievements, and background, it's only a matter of time before someone like him rises to prominence. So, Miss Song was absolutely right. If you want to make a name for yourself and we want you to stay safe, following him is the best of both worlds."

Ye Jingchuan couldn't help but be filled with admiration, wishing he could sprout wings to see this impressive figure for himself. Hearing his mother's final words, he laughed. "I told you long ago she wouldn't lead me astray, yet Mother, you didn't believe me."

The Princess of Zhennan, exasperated, pinched him again. "If your mother truly didn't believe, why would I be going out of my way to gather information for you? Am I so idle that I'd go out of my way to write to your Aunt Guo?"

If they wanted help, they couldn't ask outright. Now was the best time to forge connections with Guo Huaiying, before he rose to power.

She was about to say more to her son when a maid arrived, reporting that the heir's wife from Duke Ying's household had come.

The Princess of Zhennan frowned slightly, glanced at the box the maid held behind her, and sighed, then instructed her to show the guest in.

Lately, this lady from Duke Ying's household had been visiting quite often. Ye Jingchuan thought of Shen Qingrang and couldn't help frowning as he asked the Princess, "Why do they keep coming? What's this about?"

"Don't even mention it. It's all because the Marquis of Changning's household just had a baby boy, and she's here to discuss what gift to send for the full-month celebration." The Princess of Zhennan sighed. "Before this, they never showed such eagerness when it came to the Marquis of Changning's affairs. It's truly strange; why this sudden warmth?"

Ye Jingchuan sensed something amiss, remembering the Shen family's eagerness regarding Song Chuyi, and suddenly felt he understood.

Even if Song Chuyi had no other merits, she was the most cherished granddaughter in the Song family, with the added backing of the Cui family. It was no surprise that some would try to position her as a prized catch.

When he had beaten Shen Qingrang last time, hadn't he shown just how determined he was about Song Chuyi?

"Why don't you leave now? If she sees you here, she'll pull you aside and smother you with attention, which I know you hate." The Princess of Zhennan, noticing his sour expression, urged him, "Go see your sisters or go outside. Just don't stay here."

Ye Jingchuan's skin crawled at the thought of being hugged and coddled by these older ladies, so he quickly slipped out.

He had just crossed the threshold and was about to leave when he heard Lady He's cheerful voice from the next room.

"Sorry to intrude again, Your Highness." Lady He greeted the Princess of Zhennan, and after they were seated, she wasted no time and asked directly, "Do you find my ginseng acceptable?"

The Princess of Zhennan laughed. "I just finished examining it and was marveling at where you could find such a rare treasure. The quality and age are nearly impossible to come by."

As she spoke, she took the eight-treasure box from the maid and passed it over with a smile. "This gift is far too precious."

Lady He laughed, shaking her head, and handed the box to her maid behind her. "It's also a token of apology. Last time, Miss Song was at our home, and it was truly my unruly son's fault... Since we are such close family friends, we'd like to personally make amends to Old Lady Song on behalf of Miss Song."

Ye Jingchuan, listening in from the next room, sneered, finding Lady He's words repulsive—if she'd truly wanted to discipline her son, none of this would have happened in the first place. Now, seeing the Marquis of Changning's household still standing strong, and the Cui family returning to official circles, she had a change of heart.

The way she spoke as if others couldn't see right through her motives was utterly nauseating. It was all far too deliberate.