The Useless Heiress Is Actually A Bigshot
Chapter 658 Nangong Xin

Chapter 658: Chapter 658 Nangong Xin

"Mother Consort, I really don’t understand what you’re saying," Han An raised her head, her gaze firm, "I only went to catch up with my mentor today. So, I don’t understand what Mother Consort really wants to know."

"It seems you’ve found a powerful backer now, which is why you speak so boldly!" Noble Princess Consort Wan lifted her eyelids and glanced at Han An before speaking indifferently, "But, is this backer truly willing to support you?"

Upon hearing this, Han An’s complexion changed drastically, "Mother Consort, what do you mean?"

"What do I mean, can’t you really understand?" Noble Princess Consort Wan scoffed, "Han An, the State Preceptor has indeed returned, but as her disciple, can you still speak in her presence?"

In this Imperial Palace, there truly were no secrets. After Han An left the National Master Hall, her dispirited demeanor was enough to make people guess that her meeting with the State Preceptor was not pleasant.

"Master is just temporarily angry with me," Han An bit her lip and said, "Master has always been kind to me, she will surely forgive me in the end."

"If that’s really the case, then that’s for the best," Noble Princess Consort Wan nodded and continued, "Han An, you’ve been married to Chenyu for over a decade now, right?"

Suddenly hearing such a question from Noble Princess Consort Wan made Han An’s heart skip a beat, but she still had to steel herself to nod, "Yes, Mother Consort, it’s been thirteen years since I married Prince."

"Thirteen years already!" Noble Princess Consort Wan nodded again, then her tone shifted, "Thirteen years, yet you’ve still not borne Chenyu a son or daughter. Do you think you’ve been competent enough as a wife?"

Although it was just a few indifferent words, it instantly turned Han An’s face deathly pale. What Noble Princess Consort Wan said was true, she couldn’t refute it and could only choke out a response, "Mother Consort, please forgive me."

In these ten years, Noble Princess Consort Wan granted the Prince so many concubines and palace attendants, reducing even more her chances to share the Prince’s bed.

Even when she was young, she was over-indulged by her biological parents, leading to a somewhat frail body that wasn’t easy to conceive with. Now that the mansion had so many women, her chances of pregnancy became even slimmer.

"Han An, I think you should be a clever child," Noble Princess Consort Wan looked at Han An and continued, "So, it should be clear in your heart that, if you want to secure your place in Prince Yu Mansion, you must have your own value. Otherwise, how much longer you can keep your position as Princess Consort Yu is uncertain."

Han An panicked inside, "Mother Consort, your daughter-in-law—"

Noble Princess Consort Wan raised her hand, directly cutting off Han An’s words, "I don’t want to hear what you’re about to say. Pretty words, anyone can say them. But pretty deeds, not everyone can do."

"The State Preceptor has now returned, and the Emperor still holds her in high esteem. If the State Preceptor is willing to speak a few good words on behalf of Chenyu to the Emperor, then the Emperor will surely think more highly of Chenyu."

Han An’s mouth opened and closed, "Mother Consort, I—"

She didn’t know how to respond. She indeed wanted to help Prince. In the past, she might have pleaded with her mentor. But now, her mentor had clearly stated she no longer recognized her as a disciple. Han An wasn’t even sure whether her mentor would be willing to see her the next time she requested an audience.

Now Noble Princess Consort Wan wanted her to speak well of Prince in front of her mentor, and it wasn’t that she didn’t want to, but that she simply couldn’t.

However, she dared not let this slip in front of Noble Princess Consort Wan. If Noble Princess Consort Wan found out that she and her mentor had cut ties completely, then she could be certain her days as Princess Consort Yu were numbered.

"Han An, this small matter, surely you wouldn’t be unwilling to do it!" Noble Princess Consort Wan looked at Han An with a smile that was not a smile, "If you can’t even manage such a small thing, then you don’t deserve to stand by Chenyu’s side."

Hearing such words, Han An felt anxious inside, but her face remained unfazed, "Yes, I understand. You can rest assured, Mother, I will certainly handle it well."

After receiving Han An’s affirmative answer, Noble Princess Consort Wan nodded in satisfaction and continued to speak, "Han An, you should be aware that the Emperor is getting on in years, and it is time to appoint a Crown Prince."

"There is but one lofty position coveted by all. Who the prize falls to in the end depends on who has the superior stratagems. But we have one great advantage right now, and that is the State Preceptor."

"The Emperor’s esteem for the State Preceptor is evident to us all. If she is willing to speak up in favor of Chenyu, then he has a very good chance of claiming that seat. Han An, a wife’s status is linked to her husband’s, and the one who may mother the nation could be you!"

Her words instantly sparked life into Han An’s thoughts.

She was a woman, and no woman lacked the desire for that position. Now that the opportunity lay before her, she absolutely could not lose it.

The thought alone brought a flash of ambition in Han An’s eyes!

Noble Princess Consort Wan naturally spotted Han An’s little schemes but continued to indulge in her tea and pastries without calling them out.

Ambitious people are easier to use! Han An’s petty plots were hardly worth noting in her presence!

The two individuals in the hall each harbored their own thoughts, yet shared a common goal—to see Prince Yu ascend to that position.

On the other hand, Zhong Niangyao had just received word from Nolan Delai that Princess Mingyue had arrived and was in the Imperial Study, requesting her presence.

Zhong Niangyao and Lu Yichen made their way together toward the direction of the Imperial Study.

Inside the Imperial Study—

Princess Mingyue, Nangong Xin, was kneeling on the ground, head bowed, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

Although she held the title of Commandery Princess, she was not of the Royal Family!

Her status as a Commandery Princess was due to her parents.

Her father was a General of Lai Country, who perished in battle defending against foreign enemies. Not long after, her mother died of grief. In the end, only she was left, an orphaned girl.

She was then conferred the title of Commandery Princess and brought into the Imperial Palace, raised by the Empress Dowager.

However, although she was nominally raised by the Empress Dowager, it was the Palace Attendants who mostly tended to her. And as soon as she came of age, she was granted her own Commandery Princess Mansion and began living outside the palace.

Today’s sudden summons from the palace came as a surprise to her, and she did not dare delay and promptly entered the palace.

Yet what made her heart flutter was that, from the moment she entered the palace, the Palace Attendants’ attitudes were very perfunctory.

After arriving at the Imperial Study and performing her greeting, the Emperor behaved as if he had not seen her at all, letting her kneel on the ground.