Chapter 17: The Two Matriarchs Suddenly Lost Their Tempers

The Second Elder Madam, accompanied by Concubine Luo and Yu Chaoyang, stormed confidently into the main courtyard. Qin Yuyan was quietly reviewing the accounts.

“Princess Consort, are you hoping the heir will die soon?” The Second Elder Madam launched into a tirade the moment she saw her. “Why did the Prince marry such a reckless woman as you? The heir is your own son, yet you’re trying to cut off his lifeline. If only they had listened to me back then and married a daughter of the Jiang family.”

“What do you mean by that?” Qin Yuyan’s face darkened at the baseless accusations.

Did the Jiang family’s daughters hold such lofty status? They were a fallen official family, with no one currently in government, only a few distant relatives serving in minor posts.

She, on the other hand, was the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Wei.

“What do I mean? I’ve heard you stopped the Imperial Physician Gu from continuing treatment for the heir? Planning to let him suffer neglect? You are his birth mother, yet you’re so cruel. Even a tiger won’t eat its own cub; how can you be worse than a stepmother?” The Second Elder Madam’s tone was oddly concerned about the heir’s lack of care.

“Second Elder Madam, this matter was decided jointly by the Princess Consort and the Prince. Since he is my son, I know what’s best. You need not trouble yourself,” Qin Yuyan snapped back, equally angered.

Just two days ago, the Second Elder Madam was gleeful over the heir’s position potentially falling to a concubine’s son, and now she feigns concern for her child’s health? What was her true intention?

“What's going on?” The Prince’s voice sounded at the door.

“Prince, why did you stop Imperial Physician Gu from continuing the heir’s treatment?” The Second Elder Madam demanded angrily.

“I plan to call another doctor in due time and observe any changes in the heir’s condition first. This decision was mine alone. You need not interfere,” the Prince replied coldly.

He had overheard the Second Elder Madam’s rude words to the Princess Consort at the door and was displeased.

“The Princess Consort is the wife personally chosen for me by my late father, the former Prince. Are you questioning his judgment?”

“I am your stepmother and also your aunt, yet you dare to lose your temper with me?”

“If you know your position as a stepmother, then act accordingly and refrain from causing trouble in the Princess Consort’s residence.”

Just then, Yu Yuanzheng hurried over upon hearing the commotion and silently praised the Prince’s demeanor. This was the authority a head of the family must possess. For an old Prince’s concubine to dare shout at the Princess Consort was outrageous.

Even if her daughter was a Palace Consort, her rank could not compare to a first-rank Princess Consort.

The Princess Consort of the Rong Prince’s residence was second only to the Empress herself.

What grounds did she have to treat the Princess Consort so?

It seemed the Princess Consort was far too gentle.

“Was it you, you little wretch, who egged on your mother?” The Second Elder Madam, spotting Yu Yuanzheng, found a scapegoat and started shouting at her as well.

“Second Elder Madam, aren’t you meddling too much? The heir is the son of the Princess Consort and the Prince. It is their right to make decisions regarding him.

“If you want to care, you should be at Second Uncle’s house. He is your biological son, and no one dares to control you there.

“This is the Honghao Residence, the main courtyard where the Prince and Princess Consort live—the heart of the entire manor.”

Yu Yuanzheng was blunt and unyielding, emphasizing the status of the Prince and Princess Consort.

They had been at odds since the day Yu Yuanzheng arrived. She did not mind making an enemy; better to have a clean break.

“You, you, you vile creature, disrespecting your elders! Beat her!” The Second Elder Madam was beside herself with rage.

But no one dared to lay a hand.

“Peach Blossom, attack!” she ordered the maid behind her in desperation.

But Peach Blossom dared not act rashly before the Prince. She knelt before the Second Elder Madam, silent and obedient.

The elder madam kicked her fiercely and stalked off.

“Princess Consort, you’d better keep a close watch on the heir’s consort. If the Second Elder Madam were to suffer a mishap from anger, no one would be able to bear the responsibility. She is the maternal grandmother of the Third Prince, after all,” Concubine Luo warned before leaving.

Yu Chaoyang, puzzled, followed.

Returning to his scholarly study, Yu Chaoyang found Shangguan Zishu just coming back, likely with the Prince.

“Husband, did you go to the barracks with Father Prince today?” Yu Chaoyang stepped forward with a bright smile, massaging his shoulders.

“Yes, Father Prince has started teaching me how to lead and train troops,” Shangguan Zishu said excitedly.

He had never been to a military camp before; today was his first time.

Though the Rong Prince’s residence did not command troops, the Prince could enter the camps at will and oversee various affairs, including inspecting troop training.

The Prince’s attendance at court was also casual; the Emperor required him to attend at least ten days a month, leaving the rest of the time free.

Just the thought of one day being like Father Prince filled him with joy.

“Husband, the Second Elder Madam was acting very strangely today. I can’t understand it.”

“What happened?”

Yu Chaoyang recounted the day’s events.

Shangguan Zishu was equally puzzled.

In the previous life, the heir’s treatment had never been interrupted, but this time everything was different. He couldn’t make sense of the Second Elder Madam’s attitude.

“Maybe she genuinely cares for Elder Brother,” Shangguan Zishu speculated, unable to find another explanation. Before Elder Brother’s troubles, the Second Elder Madam treated him and Elder Brother similarly, perhaps a bit more favorably to him, though not obviously so.

Since Elder Brother’s misfortune, she clearly favored him more.

But that was natural. If he became heir, Second Uncle would have to rely on him. It was only sensible to build good relations early.

Besides, the Third Prince needed their support.

“But these past few days, I clearly felt the Second Elder Madam didn’t care about the heir, yet suddenly today she’s so concerned,” Yu Chaoyang remained puzzled.

“Don’t overthink it. Just be close to whoever treats you well. But you must always respect Father Prince and the Princess Consort.” Shangguan Zishu was very perceptive on this point.

“I know that,” Yu Chaoyang said, not foolish enough to cross the Prince and Princess Consort.

Back in the main courtyard, after the Second Elder Madam left, Yu Yuanzheng stepped forward to help the Princess Consort calm her nerves.

“Father Prince, Princess Consort, I’m sorry. This matter is my fault for not anticipating the elder madam’s temper,” Yu Yuanzheng apologized, surprised by the Second Elder Madam’s fierce and disrespectful attitude toward the Princess Consort.

“This has nothing to do with you,” Qin Yuyan said. Having lived in the Rong Prince’s residence for twenty-two years, she knew the elder madam’s temperament well—an unpredictable woman who one moment cared for the heir, the next favored the second son. No one could understand her mind.

“Father Prince, Princess Consort, do you think something’s wrong with this matter?” Yu Yuanzheng tried to probe.

She had noticed something off about Imperial Physician Gu’s treatments but, unfamiliar with the medical knowledge of this era, couldn’t tell if it was incompetence or malice.

“What problem?” the Prince asked.

“I can’t say exactly—just that the elder madam’s attitude seems very strange.”

“Ignore her. She’s always been like this. The heir’s treatment is paused for now, as per your suggestion, to observe his condition,” the Prince said, hoping the heir would awaken.

“Thank you, Father Prince, for not blaming me.”

“Enough. Although Yu Yuanzheng brought this up, the decision rests with your father and me. You are not at fault,” the Princess Consort comforted her.

“Oh, by the way, Prince, do you know any good tutors? Yu Yuanzheng wants to hire one for her father,” the Princess Consort recalled Yu Yuanzheng’s request from that morning.

“Oh? Your in-laws want to take the imperial examinations?”

“Yes, Father Prince. In our old household, he never had the chance. Now that we have separated, he wants to give it a try.”