The matter of the Empress suddenly fainting left Ying Zhengjing with no time to attend to other affairs. Li Shiyun had no choice but to shelve the matter of appointing a new heir apparent and take his leave first.
After leaving the imperial palace, Li Shiyun went directly back to the prince's mansion. However, he did not go to see Li Jin, but instead went straight to Wei Shiwan's residence.
"Your Highness, you have come?"
Seeing Li Shiyun arrive, Wei Shiwan quickly rose to welcome him inside, a trace of confusion flashing in her eyes.
"His Majesty the Empress suddenly fainted, so I returned early." Li Shiyun sat down on a stool, casually took the tea offered by Wei Shiwan, and drank a sip.
Wei Shiwan was startled. "His Majesty the Empress suddenly fainted? Is it serious?"
Li Shiyun nodded. "Before this prince left the palace, the imperial physician said that the reason His Majesty fainted was because she could not immediately accept the news about the Princess Consort."
Wei Shiwan said understandingly, "So that's how it is. But one can't blame His Majesty for reacting this way. Putting ourselves in his shoes, I would be the same as His Majesty."
"Wan'er." Li Shiyun grasped Wei Shiwan's hand. "You have been wronged these years. If not for this prince's need for the Gu family's assistance back then, you would not be merely my secondary consort."
Wei Shiwan placed her other hand on the back of Li Shiyun's hand and said gently, "As long as I can help Your Highness, this concubine is content to endure hardship. Moreover, all these years the Princess Consort has treated me extremely well, and Your Highness has loved me as always. This concubine has no more desires."
Li Shiyun pulled Wei Shiwan into his embrace. "Wan'er, since the Princess Consort has passed, this prince intend to establish you as the new Princess Consort."
Wei Shiwan did not agree immediately. Instead, she expressed worry, "Your Highness, the Princess Consort has only just passed. If you establish this concubine as the new Princess Consort now, I fear His Majesty the Empress will be displeased."
"Wan'er, His Majesty will understand. In a few days, this prince must return to the border. My mother is also advanced in years. The affairs of the mansion, both large and small, must always be managed by the mistress of the household. The children are still young and all need a mother's care. You are the most suitable candidate."
Wei Shiwan thought for a good while before saying, "Yes, Your Highness."
Li Shiyun suddenly met Wei Shiwan's gaze. "And there is the matter of the heir apparent. Jin'er is no longer suitable, so this prince plan to select a suitable candidate from among the remaining children. Who does Wan'er think is suitable?"
"Your Highness, this matter of selecting an heir apparent is not something this concubine should comment on."
"This prince wish to hear your opinion. Speak freely."
"Yes." Wei Shiwan nodded slightly, then continued, "This concubine feels that Shen'er is too mischievous, and Bo'er is too young, neither is suitable. As for Chen'er, he has been clever and intelligent since childhood, perhaps he is a good candidate."
"Wan'er's thoughts coincide with mine." Li Shiyun pretended to glance casually towards the door. "It's just a pity that Chen'er's performance last time was too disappointing. It's better to wait and see for now."
"Your Highness, this concubine thinks Chen'er was merely momentarily mistaken. He will soon realize his mistake."
"Perhaps."
Li Shiyun's tone was somewhat cold, clearly not wishing to continue this topic.
Wei Shiwan understood and subtly changed the subject. "Your Highness, this concubine plans to personally cook later. I wonder if Your Highness would be interested in tasting it?"
"Good. It has been a long time since this prince last ate Wan'er's cooking."
Outside the door.
Li Yanchen left with a complicated expression.
____
On the other side.
Ping'an kept looking towards the courtyard entrance, muttering to himself, "Young Master, I heard from the guards at the gate that His Highness the Prince has already returned. How come he hasn't come to see you yet? Is he still busy?"
Li Jin shook his head in amusement. "Ping'an, come and play a game of chess with me."
"Uh, Young Master, can we not? This servant gets a headache just looking at chess." Ping'an shrank back, looking as if he wanted to escape.
"Didn't you say you wanted to eat osmanthus cakes? Play one game with me, and I will agree."
"Alright, it's settled then. Young Master, you must not go back on your word." Ping'an found things like chess and poetry books gave him a headache, but for the sake of eating his favorite osmanthus cakes, he decided to give it a try. "Let's be clear first, this servant only knows how to play Wuziqi."
[五子棋 (wǔzǐqí): a strategy board game, where two players take turns placing stones on a grid, and the winner is the first player to form an unbroken line of five of their stones horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.]
"Fine, we'll play Wuziqi. I'll let you have the first three moves." Li Jin looked at Ping'an and made a 'please' gesture.
A short moment later.
The two began playing chess. Li Jin took the white pieces, Ping'an took the black pieces.
The Young Master is letting me have three moves. Maybe I can win against the Young Master this time.
Ping'an thought to himself smugly, placing three pieces first.
Just as Li Jin placed his piece, he said unexpectedly, "Ping'an, perhaps before long, Father will select a Princess Consort."
"Ah? Yo... Young Master... that's impossible, right?"
Ping'an's hand, which had just picked up a black piece, trembled.
"Nothing is impossible." Li Jin shook his head. "Father will return to the border soon. The prince's mansion cannot be without a mistress to manage affairs indefinitely. So the matter of choosing a new Princess Consort is inevitable."
Ping'an swallowed hard. "Does the Young Master know who it is?"
"No."
Li Jin placed another piece, but the corner of his eye glanced in the direction of Wei Shiwan's courtyard.
Li Jin knew that soon, that Secondary Consort Wei, whom everyone praised as the model of a virtuous wife and loving mother, would become the new mistress of the prince's mansion, just like in his previous life.
"Young Master..."
"Ping'an, it's your turn."
"Ah... yes..."
This time, Ping'an didn't know what to say. He felt he should say something to comfort Li Jin, but he was a rough man and really didn't know how to say such things, he only had the same few phrases.
"Ping'an, you don't need to worry about me. I can still bear it. Besides..."
Li Jin only said the first half of the sentence, meaningfully leaving the latter half unspoken.
"Young Master..."
"Ping'an, you've lost."
Li Jin gestured for Ping'an to look at the board.
"......" Ping'an looked and was dumbfounded. "Young Master, you are amazing."
Looking at the board.
The white pieces occupied the vast majority of the board, while the black pieces had been quietly forced into a dead end without anyone noticing.
"Let's stop here."
Li Jin suddenly stood up.
Seeing Li Jin suddenly rise, Ping'an quickly got up to stop him. "Young Master, you are still ill. If there is something to do, perhaps this servant can do it for you?"
"Didn't you want to eat osmanthus cakes? Let's go."
Li Jin stepped past Ping'an and walked in the direction of the small kitchen.
Aside from Li Jin's grandmother's quarters, only Li Jin's Courtyard had a small kitchen.
"Yes."
Ping'an perked up and quickly followed, afraid that Li Jin would change his mind.
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