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It was someone from the Crown Prince’s Mansion.

In the main room, Duchess Qi was still sitting in the top seat. The guest was actually Ji Youran. She was wearing a formal but gorgeous palace dress, with a jade-colored belt around her waist and a jade pendant hanging on the belt. The jade pendant was obviously not ordinary. Duchess Qi looked at the jade pendant again and again, and her face darkened.

It was the Phoenix Jade Pendant, which used to belong to the empress when she was still the Crown Princess. But it was now in the hands of Princess Ji. Was the Crown Prince that fond of her? Did he like her so much because of the ex-Crown Princess?

Everyone knew that the Crown Prince was deeply in love with the ex-Crown Princess, Ji Hanyue. He was sick even now, and it was said that it was because he missed the ex-Crown Princess.

A maid came in to report. Liu Jingyu and Qi Xiangyu walked in. When they saw Ji Youran, they were stunned for a while before walking up to greet her.

Ji Youran was inferior to them in the past, but now she had a high rank and Liu Jingyu’s rank was lower than hers. Unlike the real royal family who had titles, fiefdoms, and high ranks, Liu Jingyu was a just county princess without a fiefdom.

“Two ladies, don’t stand on ceremony. Please take a seat.” Ji Youran said with a smile. She raised her beautiful face and looked at them. Finally, she looked at Liu Jingyu, and her smile became gentler. “I heard that there is a happy event here. The Crown Prince was supposed to come, but he was not feeling well, so he specially asked me to come.”

In fact, there was a reason for today’s banquet in Duke Qi’s Mansion. Today was Duchess Qi’s birthday. However, the Crown Princess had just passed away not long before, and the birthday this time was not a significant one, so Duchess Qi had no intention of hosting it in an extravagant way. She only invited a few families and told others that it was just an ordinary banquet.

“I must thank the Crown Prince for his consideration. Actually, it’s not a big deal. I just invited some relatives.” Duchess Qi smiled politely and explained. Most of the people who came today were related to Duke Qi’s Mansion.

Although there was little interaction between Qu Mansion and Duke Qi’s Mansion, Yue’s two daughters used to visit Duke Qi’s Mansion when they married into the capital. Even though Earl Ling’an’s Mansion didn’t have much interaction with Duke Qi’s Mansion, they were old-time friends. After Qu Moying’s mother passed, she was sent back to the village. It was only natural for Qu Moying to get in touch with Duke Qi’s Mansion after so many years.

This was the reason why Qu Zhizhen was able to get Duke Qi’s Mansion’s invitation. Otherwise, it would be useless no matter how hard Qu Zhizhen tried.

“You are welcome, Duchess Qi. This is a gift that the Crown Prince asked me to specially prepare.” Ji Youran said with a smile. The four palace maids standing behind her stepped forward, opened the brocade box in their hands, and presented them to Duchess Qi.

Duchess Qi frowned and glanced at Ji Youran quietly. It had been a while since Ji Youran came here. The two of them had talked for a while, but Ji Youran didn’t present her gift until now. How could Duchess Qi not be suspicious?

Duchess Qi was very clear about her daughter’s thoughts. Previously, her daughter and Granddaughter had taken a fancy to Lord Jing. She had heard that they had even gotten in touch with Noble Consort He in the palace for this, and the thing was just temporarily unsettled. However, in the past few days, her daughter began to talk about the Crown Prince when she came to see her.

Since the Crown Princess was gone, someone had to take her place. Duchess Qi’s daughter said that she thought being the Crown Princess was also a good choice, which made Duchess Qi a little unhappy. How could she explain it to Lord Jing and Noble Consort He? Moreover, it was the position of the Crown Princess, which could be considered the most coveted position for most women. However, Duchess Qi’s daughter was determined, saying that it was no big deal.

And what did this Princess Ji mean?

She was wearing the jade pendant, which represented the Crown Princess’ status. She dressed so gorgeously, and she specially sent a gift to Duchess Qi. Why did she send the gift to Duchess Qi only after Duchess Qi’s granddaughters came in? Duchess Qi didn’t think Princess Ji was behaving properly.

Princess Ji was clearly here to put on a show of her strength.

Although the Crown Princess had died, Princess Ji had been accompanying the Crown Prince when the Crown Princess was seriously ill. It was obvious that Princess Ji was important to the Crown Prince. The more the Crown Prince loved the ex-Crown Princess, the better he would treat Princess Ji. The future Crown Princess might not be able to suppress her.

Compared with the Crown Prince’s Mansion, Duchess Qi felt that Lord Jing’s Mansion was relatively a better choice. At least Lord Jing wasn’t emotionally engaged with a woman of a noble status. As for the previous affairs, Duchess Qi felt that Lord Jing was just unlucky and had been schemed against.

The status of Qu Mansion’s Second Lady would not be high, so she was not a threat.

As for Third Lady Qu, with the thing that happened to Second Lady Qu, even if she was valued by Lord Jing, her status could be lowered. If Liu Jingyu married Lord Jing, Third Lady Qu would not be a threat because her status was low. How could she be Liu Jingyu’s opponent?

What’s more, Duchess Qi had raised this granddaughter with much care, and she was even more satisfied with Liu Jingyu than with her mother.

For some unknown reason, Duchess Qi had always felt that she was not close to her daughter ever since her daughter was little. However, she was very close to her granddaughter, who had been smart and lovely since she was little.

The gift was quite exquisite, but there was nothing special about it. With the Crown Prince’s Mansion’s strength, they could send better ones.

“Thank you, Princess Ji.” The smile on Duchess Qi’s face faded.

“You are welcome, Duchess Qi. It’s been a long time since I last saw County Lady Jingyu. She looks even more outstanding. I didn’t recognize her just now. I was thinking about where this beautiful lady came from. It took me a few more glances to realize that it was County Lady Jingyu.” Ji Youran smiled.

“Princess Ji, you are making her blush.” Duchess Qi said politely.

Liu Jingyu stood up and bowed gracefully with a smile, but she didn’t say anything. Since Duchess Qi was here, it was not Liu Jingyu’s turn to speak.

“Last time when I saw County Lady Jingyu, the Crown Princess was still alive. At that time, the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince were an enviable couple. But now, the Crown Prince is left alone. Every time I see the Crown Prince, I… I feel sad. If the Crown Princess was still here, the Crown Prince would not be like this.”

Ji Youran’s eyes turned red as she spoke. She gently pressed the handkerchief on her eyes. Then, she turned her head and looked at Duchess Qi with embarrassment. “I’m really sorry. I just can’t help when I think of Second Younger Sister. I am sorry to let you see me cry.”

“Princess Ji, don’t be sorry. the Crown Princess is truly a peerless beauty.” Duchess Qi sighed. She really thought so.

She had seen Ji Hanyue before. Ji Hanyue was elegant, beautiful, and she always behaved properly. She deserved to be the Crown Princess. Of all the noble ladies Duchess Qi had ever seen, she thought Ji Hanyue, Earl Ling’an’s Mansion’s Second Lady, was the most suitable for the Crown Prince, whether in terms of temperament, appearance, or family background.

It was said that the Crown Prince also loved her, but it was a pity that her fate was poor.

“When the Crown Princess was alive, she was deeply in love with the Crown Prince. But now… such a thing happened. The Crown Prince couldn’t help feeling sad when he thought about her. I advise him to let it go since it has happened. But he said that he would never forget the Crown Princess. In the future… In the future…”

Ji Youran paused.

“In the future?” Liu Jingyu could not help but ask.

“He said that if he marries someone else as his Crown Princess in the future, he will have his first child adopted by the ex-Crown Princess. He must make sure that someone is there to offer sacrifices for her.” Ji Youran wiped her tears again, but Duchess Qi and Liu Jingyu’s faces changed.

Qi Xiangyu lowered her head and looked at the ground in front of her calmly. This had nothing to do with her.

“The child that the future Crown Princess gives birth to will be a wife-born son. How can the child be adopted by the previous Crown Princess? The… the future Crown Princess will not agree.”

Duchess Qi glanced at Liu Jingyu and said slowly.

Although the previous Crown Princess had a nobler status, the one who lived with the Crown Prince was the future Crown Princess. How could she let her eldest son become someone else’s son? Even if it was just in name, it would not work. If the future Crown Princess really gave her child to the previous Crown Princess, then the child would not be hers. But this child would most likely ascend to the throne. No woman would be willing to do so.

Moreover, the one who could become the Crown Princess must have a strong background. How could she let her child become someone else’s adopted child? Not even the deceased Crown Princess.

“Actually, it doesn’t have to be the future Crown Princess’ first son.” Ji Youran lowered her head, her face slightly red. “The Crown Prince just wants his eldest son to be adopted by the previous Crown Princess.”

As soon as Ji Youran said this, Liu Jingyu raised her head and looked coldly at Ji Youran. A trace of gloominess flashed through her eyes. What did Ji Youran mean by specially coming to Duke Qi’s Mansion to say this? Was Ji Youran warning her, or was she here to display her strength, or was she vaguely conveying the Crown Prince’s intention?

Did the Crown Prince want Ji Youran to give birth to a child first? Then the child would be adopted by Ji Hanyue and become the eldest wife-born son. Even if Liu Jingyu married the Crown Prince in the future and became the Crown Princess, her child would not be the eldest wife-born son.

“Alas. I can’t stop talking when it comes to the Crown Princess. This is because I used to follow the Crown Princess, and I feel close to you, Duchess Qi. I hope it doesn’t annoy you.” Ji Youran wiped her eyes again with a handkerchief and smiled shyly.

“Of course not, Princess Ji.” Duchess Qi said calmly. She looked up at Liu Jingyu, who didn’t look well, and frowned slightly. Was this granddaughter so eager to marry the Crown Prince?

Duchess Qi thought it was all her daughter’s idea.

In the past, Liu Jingyu had vaguely told her that she liked Lord Jing, but did she change now?

Duchess Qi was not happy about this change.

“Where is Cousin? I heard that she also came here. I wonder if I can meet her in private.” Ji Youran had already said what she wanted to say to Duchess Qi and Liu Jingyu. She raised her head to look around and asked with a smile.