Who Cares About Being the Matriarch? My Rebellious Husband Secured Me a Noble Rank! - Chapter 90

“The Crown Prince has arrived—”

Shen Tangning looked up at the announcement.

Yan Huai entered the hall slowly, aided by attendants. His usual graceful air—like a breeze beneath a moonlit sky—was now shrouded in frailty. The weakened figure, coupled with the soft coughs escaping his lips, tugged at the heart.

She frowned and rose to her feet, bowing respectfully.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Your son greets Mother Empress,” Yan Huai said softly, then glanced toward Shen Tangning with a smile slowly blooming in his gentle eyes.
“Ah Ning, you’ve come.”

Her gaze swept across his unnaturally pale face. Her lips pressed into a faint line.
“Cousin, how did your injury become this serious?”

“Why are you still standing there? Help the Crown Prince sit,” the Empress said sharply, casting a cold glance at the palace attendants. “The rest of you—leave.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The servants filed out without a sound. Wenlan paused at the threshold, then chuckled lightly.
“It’s been quite a while—surely Her Majesty and His Highness have much to share with the Young Miss. I’ll stand guard at the door.”

With everyone gone, the Empress’s cold demeanor eased slightly as she turned to Yan Huai with a piercing look.
“You’ve stopped taking that medicine?”

Yan Huai offered a faint smile.
“Rest assured, Mother. I’ve stopped long ago.”

Only then did the Empress’s expression soften.

Shen Tangning’s brows pinched together.
“What kind of medicine was it? Would it harm your health?”

In order to deceive the imperial physicians—and the emperor—he must’ve paid a steep price. Judging from his current state, it was obvious that the cost had not been small.

Yan Huai looked at her, his dark eyes warm and calm.
“Thank you for your concern, cousin. While on campaign, I came across a certain rare poison. Taken in small amounts, it mimics the symptoms of extreme weakness. I also have the antidote—it’s safe, as long as I don’t use it often.”

Only then did she exhale in relief—until he added solemnly,
“But I must thank you. If not for your warning… How did you know that Father had long begun to doubt me?”

The Empress looked over too, her eyes sharp with interest.

Despite being in the inner palace, she hadn’t seen the situation as clearly as Tangning had. Now, reflecting back, she realized that if not for her niece’s warning, Yan Huai’s position would be far more precarious.

Shen Tangning had anticipated this question. She remained calm and composed, considering for a moment before replying,
“To be frank with Aunt and Cousin… I once met Her Highness the Princess Royal.”

Both the Empress and Yan Huai froze in place.

“You mean… Mingyi?” the Empress asked, her eyes flickering with something complex.

So her guess had been right. From the way her aunt reacted, there had indeed been a deep bond between the Empress and Princess Royal Mingyi.

Shen Tangning recalled how, during their meeting, the princess’s emotions had fluctuated when mentioning her aunt. It was obvious the two had once had a falling out. If they hoped to earn the princess’s support for the Crown Prince, perhaps they first needed to mend that broken relationship.

Her gaze shifted slightly, and she nodded.
“It was by chance. I went to pray at Putuo Temple, and happened to witness the Third Prince visiting the Princess Royal.”

A small lie. She hadn’t seen the meeting herself, but if her aunt and cousin were truly concerned, they could easily confirm the Third Prince’s whereabouts.

As expected, both the Empress and Yan Huai reacted immediately. A flicker of something dark flashed through their eyes.

“Why would Third Brother go visit Aunt?” Yan Huai murmured, brows furrowing in thought.

Everyone knew His Majesty’s attitude toward the Princess Royal was… complicated. The fact that the Third Prince was secretly visiting her? Highly unusual.

Besides, his public image had always been one of detached ease, uninterested in politics or power. And now, all of a sudden, he was reconnecting with the Princess Royal?

It was suspicious, to say the least.

The Empress’s eyes turned icy.
“Consort Li is a scheming woman—no surprise her son turned out just the same!”

She could tolerate Consort Li’s petty manipulations, so long as they didn’t cross the line. Over the years, she had long stopped caring about His Majesty’s affections.

But if they were now eyeing her son’s rightful position as Crown Prince?

That was something she could not ignore.

Though the Third Prince worked in the shadows, it was enough to plant seeds of suspicion in both her and Yan Huai’s hearts—enough to make them vigilant.

Shen Tangning hesitated deliberately.
“I wasn’t sure what to think either. Later, the Princess Royal noticed me and invited me for tea. She said some things that… left me very uneasy.”

The Empress leaned forward.
“What did she say?”

Shen Tangning inhaled deeply, as if gathering courage, then closed her eyes.
“She said… Aunt was foolish. That she spent all her efforts scheming, only to hand everything over to someone else.”

In truth, the Princess Royal had never said such a thing. These were Shen Tangning’s own careful fabrications. But she was certain of one thing—her aunt, proud as she was, would never confront the Princess Royal to verify the words.

The Empress froze, the light in her eyes dimming. She sank back onto her seat like her strength had been drained.

Yan Huai stepped forward.
“Mother—are you all right?”

The Empress forced a bitter smile.
“She wasn’t wrong. I was foolish.”

All these years… and she still hadn’t truly seen the man she shared her life with.

Mingyi must’ve been blaming her—blaming her for not standing by her side all those years ago.

The Empress pressed her lips together. A flicker of light dimmed in her eyes, only to be replaced by a new, determined gleam. She looked at Shen Tangning and gripped her hand tightly.

“Good child. This time… we owe you.”

Shen Tangning felt a pang of guilt—but it passed quickly. For those who wished to achieve great things, a few harmless lies were sometimes necessary.

It was far better than standing by helplessly and watching her loved ones fall, powerless to stop it.

…

Leaving Kunning Palace, Shen Tangning smiled faintly.
“There’s no need to escort me, Aunt Wenlan. I can find my way.”

Wenlan smiled back, just as gently.
“But Her Majesty gave the order. I wouldn’t dare slack off.”

Shen Tangning glanced at the crimson palace walls. The soaring eaves in the distance pointed toward the Hall of Preserving Harmony.

Wenlan followed her gaze and chuckled knowingly.
“Worried about Young Master Chi? The written exam will take three days. It won’t be over anytime soon. Her Majesty even said that if you’re truly anxious, you may stay in the palace overnight.”

Shen Tangning withdrew her gaze and smiled faintly.
“I couldn’t possibly let Her Majesty break protocol for me.”

Just as the words left her lips, a sharp slap echoed nearby, followed by a scolding voice:

“Useless creature! You couldn’t even handle a trivial matter. What good are you?!”

Shen Tangning’s brows drew together. Such unruly behavior—especially so close to the front halls of the palace?

Wenlan’s face also turned cold as she looked over.

But when Shen Tangning saw the ornate entourage, she wasn’t surprised anymore.

It was Princess Yun’an.

Lounging lazily on a lavish palanquin, Yun’an Princess inspected her freshly painted nails with idle disdain.
“All right, Jinping. Don’t be late for my visit to Mother Consort. Let her kneel here a while—might help her remember her place.”

She looked up—and spotted Shen Tangning in the distance.

A slow, mocking smile tugged at her lips.

“Well, well. Isn’t this Lady Shen? Or wait—should I say Madam Chi the Second now?”

Shen Tangning curtsied politely, her gaze brushing past something in the distance. Her eyes flickered with faint surprise.