I've Got This Cannon Fodder Trope Covered!

Chapter 112

Wei Heng, being a man, understood men well. Even if the Crown Prince was usually indifferent to women, in the presence of a girl he admired, alone in a room...

"Why worry yourself with all these thoughts, my lord?" Madam Jiang poured him a cup of cool tea and handed it over, saying calmly, "If His Highness truly intended to... we couldn't stop him anyway."

At her words, Wei Heng's breath hitched slightly.

...True.

He tried to comfort himself as a father. After all, his daughter's status was already confirmed, and the wedding likely wasn't far off. The Crown Prince, who had been lonely for many years, was finally willing to marry, which surely meant he held deep affection for Ranran.

Thinking from a man's perspective, no one would willingly put their beloved in an awkward situation.

With this thought, he looked at his wife again, feeling a newfound tenderness in his heart.

Madam Jiang was preoccupied with her own thoughts, and when she suddenly turned to see him gazing at her with that tender expression, goosebumps prickled along her arms.

Oh, heavens! They'd been married for twenty years, and lately, she barely recognized the man by her side.

Madam Jiang was a virtuous woman. For years, she had been accustomed to gently urging Wei Heng to visit the rooms of his concubines whenever he spent too many consecutive nights with her. He had always heeded her advice, yet recently he not only insisted on dismissing his concubines but also came to the main room every night. No amount of persuasion could change his mind.

Lin Shi, one of the concubines, could be set aside. She had served Wei Heng since her youth, even older than him by a few years. At nearly forty, the novelty had long faded. Madam Jiang had previously observed that he showed special attention to Shen Shi, another concubine—otherwise, how could all three of his illegitimate children have come from her? Yet now he didn't even spare her a glance.

Instead, he seemed bewitched, constantly lingering near Madam Jiang.

It was truly...

Madam Jiang's expression bore a mix of helplessness and indifference.

...

On the other side, after sending away her suitor, Wei Hanzhang felt a tinge of sadness. However, that feeling vanished entirely upon hearing from Madam Jiang that they would be moving into their new residence in three days.

Feeling much better, she went outside as the evening fell and the air cooled. She strolled to the lotus pond, spending some time in the gazebo, enjoying the scenery and feeding the koi.

Her relaxed demeanor eased the minds of the maids and attendants around her.

Naturally, the news reached the palace promptly, putting the one in Changji Hall at ease.

...

Wei Hanzhang always slept soundly, and Madam Jiang didn't like to restrict her. The maids, knowing this, wouldn't disturb her over trivial matters.

Thus, by the time she awoke, it was already broad daylight.

Luzhu, who had been awake for a while, heard the sound from inside and entered with a basin, ready to assist her with her morning routine.

"Seventh Miss came by early this morning," Luzhu reported while brushing her hair. "She's downstairs with a food box, waiting for you."

"Seventh Sister? What brings her here?"

Wei Hanzhang was a bit surprised. Since her return to the capital, she had only seen this half-sister a handful of times and rarely conversed with her. Just as Madam Jiang had remarked, this sister was a timid person, not fit to be a sociable household lady.

If Jiang Zhixue's character could be described as somewhat petty and sensitive, then Wei Hansu's was purely timid.

Despite her surprise, since her sister had come, Wei Hanzhang instructed, "Invite her up."

Shortly after, there were soft footsteps approaching, and a slender figure entered the room, led by Mei Momo. She gave Wei Hanzhang a timid smile, bowed deeply, and softly greeted, "Greetings to the Crown Princess."

"...Oh, please!" Wei Hanzhang was startled by the title and said, "You can call me Ranran as before. The decree has only just been issued; if word gets out that family members are already calling me that, it will make people laugh."

Wei Hansu's shoulders shrank slightly, and her eyes reflected anxiety and regret. "Yes, I won't dare to do so again."

"I'm not blaming you... you don't need to be so nervous." Wei Hanzhang couldn't bear to see her sister acting so timidly, so she softened her tone. "Seventh Sister, is there something you need?"

With a 'thud,' Wei Hansu knelt, placed the food box on the floor, and began kowtowing, her voice choking with emotion. "I came to thank you, Ranran. If it weren't for you..."

Her voice faltered, unable to continue.

But Wei Hanzhang already understood her unsaid words. Xiao Boqian had given the order to Wei Ping yesterday, prohibiting any daughters of the Wei family from serving as concubines for the next three generations. Madam Jiang had sent word of this to her.

Seeing her tearful half-sister, Wei Hanzhang set down the jade comb in her hand, stood up from the dressing table, and helped her sister up.

Wei Hansu, receiving Madam Jiang's comment that her "looks are quite nice," must indeed possess a certain charm. After all, if her appearance were average, Wei Ping wouldn't have considered sending her to the prince's residence as a concubine.

With a graceful figure and a poised elegance, Wei Hansu's long, lustrous black hair was slightly disheveled from her kowtowing. When Wei Hanzhang helped her up, she realized that not only were they close in age, but they were also nearly the same height.

The morning sunlight softened her face, making her tear-streaked expression look even more delicate and pitiable. She truly was a beautiful, gentle young girl.

At the very least, this kind of fragile charm was something Wei Hanzhang had to admit she couldn't quite match.

"You don't need to thank me, Seventh Sister," Wei Hanzhang said with a gentle smile as she helped her up. "I only learned about this later myself."

"It's because of you that His Highness paid attention to this matter," Wei Hansu insisted, shaking her head stubbornly. "Though I am lowly and insignificant, I understand this much—without you... I would be entering Prince Ping's residence as a concubine next month."

"So soon?" Wei Hanzhang hadn't known this. She reassured her, saying, "...It's all in the past now. From now on, you're a lady of the Duke's household, and your status is different. Speak and act with more confidence; there's no need to be so timid, always afraid of offending others."

"Yes," Wei Hansu replied, picking up the food box from the floor and softly offering, "This is chicken soup I simmered all night over a low fire until it's tender and falling off the bone. Would you like to try it, Ranran?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Hanzhang instinctively wanted to refuse; it was early in the day, and in such warm weather, who could stomach something as greasy as chicken soup?

But seeing those innocent, red-rimmed eyes looking at her like a little rabbit, she changed her mind and said, "Seventh Sister, have you had breakfast? Let's eat together."

As the two sisters were enjoying breakfast, Mei Momo entered briskly. She glanced at Wei Hansu before leaning in to quietly report, "Young miss, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived downstairs."

"...He's quite punctual," Wei Hanzhang muttered, recalling how he'd sulked in silence and acted jealous the day before. Still holding onto a bit of irritation, she instructed, "Let him wait; I haven't finished eating yet."

Mei Momo hesitated, looking as if she wanted to say something, but finally just replied, "...Understood."