Too high to reach

Chapter 321 is all a test.
That concludes the morning's events.

Mo Yi and Granny Zhao then went to the front study, sat down to drink tea, and waited for Li Jing to return from the morning court session to discuss matters.

Granny Zhao said, "As the saying goes, once you understand one thing, you understand everything. Judging from what Your Highness has done, this little bit of housework is nothing to you. Now it's all about the people... If you can get along with the people, you won't be tied down by trivial matters at home."

Just then, Li Jing returned.

Mo Yi and Granny Zhao stood up and bowed, "Your Highness."

Ever since learning about Zhou Li, Li Jing has been haunted by a shadow in her heart, and she has been thinking about ways to take revenge.

These past few days, the Crown Prince has been enjoying the view from a high place, feeling quite pleased with himself. It's time to throw out a few bombshells to give him a taste of his own medicine.

Seeing that he was lost in thought and didn't speak, Mo Yi and the other person also remained silent.

After a while, Meng San came in to report the results of his inquiry.

"His account of the money was similar to what Consort Feng said. Not long after Consort Feng took over managing the household, Granny Zhao withdrew for some reason, and that's when it started. She bought properties and partnered with others to run businesses, all in this brother-in-law's name. This person also secretly took 50,000 taels of silver behind her back and lent money at exorbitant interest rates with others. He made quite a lot of money on his own."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing's face turned even darker, like the bottom of a black pot.

Lending money at exorbitant interest rates was strictly prohibited for government officials.

If the enemy finds out about this, I'll definitely be in big trouble!
"He did indeed keep several women on his hands. He got them from a salt merchant. He said it was at the behest of Consort Feng. And he specifically asked for the kind of women who... originally came from good families, but whose families had suffered misfortune."

Mo Yi sighed helplessly. Feng Liniang was truly crooked from the start, from the family's decline to where she is today.

Why can't you just be a good concubine, manage the household well, and raise your son properly?
Why resort to such low-class methods?

It's one thing for outside merchants to do this. But you are a woman, so what is your status now?
I would never do such a thing, no matter what.

“He did give one to Wan Daoping before.” Meng San looked at Granny Zhao.

Mo Yi also went to see her...

A weight was finally lifted from her shoulders. Granny Zhao shook her head and smiled bitterly: "Wan Daoping, Wan Daoping, you really are something else..."

She felt that Wan Daoping and Consort Feng were cut from the same cloth. They both came from humble beginnings, yet they didn't know how to cherish what they had.

"That woman was from a respectable family. Two years ago, her family suffered a disaster and she was redeemed."

He said... Wan Daoping knew about this woman's background and felt a deep sense of sympathy for her. At first, he said he treated her like a younger sister, raising her in a courtyard outside the palace. But the maidservant serving this woman was arranged by Consort Feng. She probably gave her a lot of advice, and later, the two of them became involved together.

Wan Daoping took a great deal of care for this woman and even arranged for her younger brother to be settled. When he was seeking a post outside the capital, the woman left a month early, hiring a security escort agency, apparently because she was pregnant.

"The timing is perfect..." Granny Zhao's feelings were extremely complicated.

Mo Yi nodded silently: Once Yongle dies, he can remarry over there, socialize with his new wife, and have children. This posting could last for years. When he returns to the capital in three to five years to report on his work, he can simply say he remarried locally.

Could the Zhao family stop him? Once the children grow up, a year or two difference in age won't be noticeable. If he serves in a post away from home for over a decade, and then returns with his wife and children, the capital will likely be completely different…

"This man said that he gave the woman to Wan Daoping and then never paid any more attention to her."

Granny Zhao said excitedly, "Your Highness, I have already sent people to investigate... If it is true, let him go down to accompany Yongle before he remarries. My grandson and granddaughter will be raised in the Zhao family. In the future, I entrust them to Your Highness and Princess."

"I'll do as you say!" Li Jing nodded and then shook his head. He said to Mo Yi, "The Feng family and Wan Daoping are the same kind of people!"

Mo Yi nodded; she thought so too.

……

The Crown Princess would submit the application, which would then go through the formalities of the Imperial Clan Court and the Ministry of Rites.

Mo Yuan has officially become the Crown Prince's concubine!

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess summoned Mo Yuan and told her the good news.

Mo Yuan was so excited that her eyes welled up with tears. She knelt down to express her gratitude to her two masters…

She's gotten this far in such a short time. I'm so proud of myself!
The Crown Princess found her expression amusing and turned to the Crown Prince: "Your Highness, you've handled several important matters well recently, earning praise from the Emperor. And with Sister Mo having this wonderful occasion, why don't we have a lively celebration at the manor?"

The Crown Prince, however, remained somewhat reserved: "Let's just have a small-scale celebration. Lately, I've been attracting a bit of attention..."

“Yes. Then…you can invite your brothers and friends over, and Sister Mo can also have her family and friends come and see her daily life so they can be at ease.”

"Yes, Consort Mo!" the Crown Prince said with a smile. "It would be best to invite your sister... Princess Qi, to come and take a look as well." Mo Yuan smiled with her lips pursed, secretly glancing at the Crown Prince.

The two of them exchanged knowing smiles...

The Crown Princess then said, "Sister Mo, I am currently pregnant, which makes things inconvenient for me. How about... you organize this banquet?"

Upon hearing the Crown Princess's question, the maids and servants around her secretly glanced at Mo Yuan.

Upon hearing this, Mo Yuan shook her head vigorously: "Your Majesty, I am not capable of this task! I only know whether a banquet is fun, whether the food is delicious, and whether the wine is good, but I don't know how to organize these things. This should be my most glorious moment, so please don't make a mess of it and become a laughing stock."

The Crown Princess smiled and shook her head. But in her heart, she thought: He's different from Consort Zhang!
That one is always trying to take things from me. If it weren't for the Empress's strong will, the Crown Prince... well, I wouldn't say he'd give her everything, but he would definitely have to share power.

The Crown Prince laughed and pointed at Mo Yuan, scolding, "You! You're such a good-for-nothing, what a waste of such a beautiful and intelligent face!"

"Your Highness, you don't understand! Our Eastern Palace has you outside and the Crown Princess inside. Under your protection, I can simply eat, drink, dress up, and be as beautiful as a flower!"

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess both shook their heads and laughed.

With Mo Yuan's intelligence, she naturally knew that the Crown Princess was testing her.

This lady may seem gentle and even a bit mild-mannered, but in reality, she is quite shrewd.

Although she became a concubine of the Crown Prince in a very short time, the biggest winner was actually someone else!
Besides, what she said was true. At home, Mo Wen had seriously studied housekeeping. Mo Yi also had some talent and was willing to put in the effort. As for herself, she had never focused on this.

Once you have a position, why worry about not finding capable people to do your work?
Previously, some of the servants attending to the Crown Princess were wary of Mo Yuan and often whispered among themselves to their mistress. Seeing today's scene, they were basically convinced that she was just a lucky but incompetent beauty.

The Crown Prince said it was a small-scale event, so the Crown Princess followed the rules and had her subordinates make the arrangements.

The invitation was naturally sent to the Prince of Qi's residence.

Mo Yi, of course, already knew about this news.

Although the prince didn't mention it to her, Mo Yi knew that the prince definitely understood that Mo Yuan was the one who did it.

She nestled cautiously beside Li Jing, her lips pouting. Guilt, anger, and frustration mingled within her…

Li Jing smiled and patted her head, "Never mind..." Then, he tore a piece of paper into several small pieces, each with a word written on it. He then crumpled them into balls, "Here! Take one of these."

"What is it used for?" Mo Yi asked curiously.

“Each crumpled piece of paper represents one thing: the prince is getting too cocky! Let's pour some cold water on him and cool him down. Choose whichever you like…”

Mo Yi's frustration was diverted; she looked closely but couldn't discern anything...

Finally, I chose one.

Li Jing opened it and exclaimed, "This?"

"What's wrong? Is this not good?"

"That's good, but we're still waiting for news. It can't be done right now."

Mo Yi was anxious, wanting to see the Crown Prince and Mo Yuan suffer. "Then let's choose another one?"

"No, there's no need to change it. This is fate."

……

Xu Ke's injuries had healed, and the scenario he had imagined—a storm of scandals—hadn't materialized, which greatly improved his mood. His wife's measured care and companionship further softened his heart, and the two had been getting along quite well lately.

Upon receiving the invitation from the Crown Prince's residence, Madam Xu summoned Mo Wen. "The Crown Prince's residence has sent word that your cousin has been made a concubine. Would you like to go and take a look?"

That tone suggests she doesn't want me to go.

That's perfect, she didn't want to go either.

Princess Yu'an might even limp to the Crown Prince's residence...

"Mother, I'm not interested in that. Sending someone to deliver a gift will suffice. I don't want to go."

Madam Xu nodded: "Very well. The little Mo family has unknowingly gotten involved between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi. Your grandfather and father came back these past few days and said that there have been quite a few changes in the court recently, and the Crown Prince is riding high. We'd better keep our distance."

"Yes."