Qiao Mu got up after sleeping for more than two hours.
She could care less about how flustered Consort Cheng and her group were. The little fellow’s nap had been quite nice.
Regardless, there was nothing to be done about it. She reckoned that the battle was just about to descend on them, so she would make use of the time to sleep all she could. Who the hell knew what they would encounter tonight.
Haitang walked inside while holding a clean change of clothes. After Qiao Mu washed up, she was informed that the eldest prince consort was currently inside the small yard and had been sitting there for almost the entire afternoon.
“Shu Quan?” The eldest prince consort’s gentle and refined features surfaced in Qiao Mu’s mind. She said with a nod, “Invite her inside.”
She normally did not have much contact with Shu Quan, but she had thought this eldest prince consort to be decent and poised in the few times she did. She was much better than that tart and mean mother of hers.
Shu Quan strode in quickly and immediately saw the young crown prince consort sitting at the table. Without saying anything further, she lifted up her skirt and was about to kneel.
However, a strange power supported her knees, not allowing her to kneel.
“What is Eldest Sister-in-Law doing?” Qiao Mu glanced at her. “If you have something to say, sit down and say it properly.”
Shu Quan bit her lip as her body froze there. It would not do to get up or kneel down.
Beside her, Xi’er quick-wittedly helped her up and brought her to sit down beside the young crown prince consort.
“Crown Prince Consort. Shu Quan knows the crime of embezzling spiritual bamboo shoots is very severe. There is no possibility for my husband, and even the entire prince’s estate and the Shu Family, to escape unscathed. Shu Quan is not afraid of dying, and is also willing to die with my husband. However, will the crown prince consort please grant Shu Quan a tiny request to let my three children live.”
Qiao Mu looked at her coldly. “Eldest Sister-in-Law, you should beseech the king and queen for this, and not me.”
“I-I know…”
Qiao Mu raised her hand to stop her from continuing to talk. “You presumably know the king’s temperament. To put it offensively, with that irresolute and indecisive temper of his, is the king someone who could be so ruthless as to kill his eldest son?”
“You yourself are also aware that nothing will happen to your husband at all. With the king’s modus operandi, he will at most ground your husband for five years.” Qiao Mu rolled her eyes. However, Shu Quan and Xi’er were flabbergasted at these words of gross disrespect!
“As for your three legitimate sons and daughters, those are the king’s grandchildren. If he cannot even crack down on his son, how could he implicate his own grandchildren?” Qiao Mu had seen through this king’s innate character early on.
After sweeping Shu Quan a glance, Qiao Mu spoke, “Tell me, what exactly are you planning. Since you are seeking my help, shouldn’t you tell me the actual situation? Wouldn’t being frank and open be the better choice?”
For some reason, as Shu Quan looked at this cold-faced young crown prince consort, her eyes unwittingly brimmed over with tears.
“Crown Prince Consort.” Shu Quan abruptly stood up and knelt down again. “Yes, I want to seek your help, just for this one time. I am not asking as your eldest sister-in-law or as the eldest prince consort. I am begging purely as the mother of three children to please help me this once. I just want to be willful this one time in my life!”
An hour later, Shu Quan solemnly curtsied toward the young crown prince consort with a tiny medicinal bottle hidden inside her sleeve. She clutched her handkerchief tightly as she departed quietly.
Besides the four people present, no one knew what had happened.
Xi’er wiped the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief before steadfastly following Shu Quan out.
