Seeing her in this state, Nanny Fang could tell she was angry, and she shook her head helplessly, averting her eyes. If Consort Fan ever listened to even a single word, perhaps just one, then Consort Fan's younger sister wouldn't have been tormented into the wreck she was today. Once Consort Fan made up her mind, she never changed it—and never would. Since she had decided to send Han Yueheng to Japan as part of the princess's retinue, she would ensure it happened...

  The te summer breeze held a hint of chill, and Nanny Fang brushed off the goosebumps on her arms before quietly bringing up another matter with Consort Fan. "Miss Heng is the Ninth Princess's companion reader, so if the Ninth Princess is to marry abroad, it makes sense that Miss Heng would accompany her as part of the entourage."

  Although she felt that Consort Fan was overly harsh toward her younger sister and that the reasons for it were flimsy, she was just a servant and had no power to change her mistress's mind. Since she couldn't change it, her only choice was to handle things more tactfully, trying to avoid escating the sisters' conflict too early and to prevent it from reaching an irreparable point that would impact the entire Fan family.

  Consort Fan understood Nanny Fang's suggestion. If it was the Ninth Princess who was to marry abroad, then it would indeed be logical for Han Yueheng to go as her companion. There were many such precedents. When the time came, she could simply say that she had no choice, and no one would be able to fault her or find her to bme.

  Though she knew that Nanny Fang's intention was to prevent an open rift between the two sisters, Consort Fan, for once, didn't argue. It wasn't out of concern for her sister's feelings or fear that her sister would go mad. Rather, it was because Han Yueheng was still Han Zhi's biological sister. Han Zhi had already quarreled with her over Sixth Miss Song, his first act of defiance against her. If she personally sent his sister to Japan, then no matter how close Han Zhi was to her, he would inevitably hold some resentment in his heart.

  Moreover, she had considered another yer of this scheme. The Ninth Princess was notoriously arrogant and unruly, never well-regarded by the Empress and constantly scowling at her nephew, Zhou Weiqi. If she were sent abroad for a marriage alliance, Noble Consort Xian would have to give up another daughter after the incident with Prince Duan. This would surely be a heavy blow for her, something the Empress would be quite pleased to see.

  Besides, she'd recently heard that Noble Consort Xian and the Ninth Princess had been unusually close to the Shen family of Shangqiu, and even the Old Lady of the Song family had arranged for the Princess of Zhennan and Lady Li to establish connections with the Shen family. If she helped remove the obstacles that were Noble Consort Xian and the Ninth Princess and aided in securing the future for Noble Consort Song and the Eleventh Princess, the Marquis of Changning's household would surely owe her a great favor. It was a triple-win deal—too advantageous to pass up.

  In the evening, Zhou Weiqi came to greet her and casually updated her on the matter with Tao Dinghu. "Others might not have convinced him, but I brought up Grandfather, and he couldn't argue further. The fabricated ledgers reted to Uncle are already prepared, ready to be shifted onto Zhang Tianhe's shoulders. Once he confesses, it will be a settled matter, and Uncle won't be implicated."

  Consort Fan breathed a sigh of relief. Compared to her detestable half-sister of dubious origin, she cared far more about her childhood friend and now brother-in-w. Not to mention, Han Zhengqing was still securing wealth for them in the Northwest—a highly valuable role. She called for Nanny Fang to have the kitchen prepare buttered conch and sesame elephant ears, then looked at Zhou Weiqi and asked, "And what about Zhang Tianhe? Is he willing to submit to execution? Surely he has some letters or documents connecting him with your uncle and the Chen family... Without them in hand, there's no real peace of mind."

  Zhou Weiqi had already anticipated this. He sat in the chair just below Consort Fan and, with a smile, replied, "My cousin had thought of this as well. He's already bribed the Jinyiwei in charge of escorting Zhang Tianhe, and they've discovered where he hid his secret documents. He even managed to pull out Zhang Tianhe's children, ensuring the man would keep silent. Mother needn't worry about that."

  This nephew she'd raised herself was truly capable. Consort Fan plucked the white jade hairpin from her bun to pick at a walnut, a look of satisfaction crossing her face. She had always been superior to her half-sister: she married the man she desired, bore a favored and clever son, kept her brother-in-w securely under her influence, and even had her half-sister's children close to her. It gave her a profound sense of triumph—she had far surpassed her half-sister.

  As a child, visitors and distant retives had always favored the naturally cheerful and coquettish younger Fan sister, and their father had doted on her for many years. But now, didn't she lie crushed under Consort Fan's heel?

  After savoring her victory, she turned to Zhou Weiqi with a smile. "It's quite favorable that Grand Secretary Chen has come to you for help. There's no chance he'll interfere in this matter now. By lending aid at this critical moment, he'll know who to favor in the future. You'll profit from this not only by earning wealth from outside the borders but also by withdrawing cleanly and without suspicion. And your uncle will still be there guarding Datong—it's all for the best."

  Zhou Weiqi agreed, taking the gss bowl she handed him and chuckling as he looked at the walnuts within. "Mother is absolutely right. That's why I agreed. Having the Chen family indebted to us, even if I bring in a Song family girl as my Princess, they won't have grounds to protest."

  Though it was still early to specute whether the Song family would be willing to jump back into the fray, it was wise to keep the Chen family on a leash. Consort Fan frowned slightly and mentioned the marriage alliance. "Speaking of the Song family, Noble Consort Song has been fretting day and night over the marriage alliance proposal. We may as well give her a hand, pushing things along for the Ninth Princess. Even your imperial grandmother will view you more favorably for it. Not to mention, we'll gain a valuable favor from Noble Consort Song."

  Zhou Weiqi caught her meaning and, after some thought, popped a walnut into his mouth. "When the time comes, I'll speak with the Ministry of Rites. With a few words from them and the people from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the Japanese envoys will know which princess to request for the alliance."

  Compared to the Eleventh Princess, Zhou Weiqi had always disliked the spoiled and arrogant Ninth Princess. Consort Fan was right; if they could trouble Noble Consort Xian, his imperial grandmother might not say anything, but she would certainly be pleased.

  This matter would not only win favor with his imperial grandmother, who had always been distant due to Consort Fan's status, but also gain him the goodwill of the Song family, forging a favorable retionship with Noble Consort Song and the Eleventh Princess. No matter how he calcuted it, this was a beneficial move. Proud of his mother's deep foresight, Zhou Weiqi cheerfully moved closer to Consort Fan, picking up a walnut to offer her.