The Fourth Lady novel Chapter 120

Deng Yan completely didn't expect Qingyan's words. According to what Qingyan said, even if Su Qingxue and Su Qingcong didn't have anyone to rely one, they can still rely on Qingyan, this big tree.

And just Qingyan was already enough. At the very least, she can guarantee them the basic necessities for life. Furthermore, she certainly had the power to protect them for life.

"Qingyan, I can't thank you enough for the great favor. From now on, please help me take care of them." Deng Yan turned to Qingyan with a serious tone, "I know my request is unreasonable, but I still hope you can help me take care of them."

Qingyan look to her and shook her head in reluctance, "Don't say it like that. Since you can move into the General's manor by my arrangements, I naturally have a way to let you look after the two of them."

Qingyan raised her head to glance at the sky, "Remember, tomorrow at noon."

Deng Yan pulled the baggage onto her and turned to Qingyan, nodding in seriousness. Afterwards, she got on the carriage and disappeared from the forest.

On Qingyan's side, she also began making preparation. Deng Yan's fake corpse and spreading the paper money for the dead, these things were absolutely necessary. Su Yan wasn't someone that would easily give up. Perhaps, when the time came, he might even send people to come dig out Deng Yan's grave.

When she thought of this, the corner of her mouth perked up. At least she could still make it look real.

"Yan'er, you acted this out quite well!" Murong Jingxuan looked to Qingyan with a smile.

"That's right, how's the thing I asked you to prepare?" Qingyan looked to Murong Jingxuan with a calm expression. "Both you and I already know what Xiuran's goal is. Moreover, even if Xiuran dies when the time comes, it won't be able to prove Xiuran and Jing Marquis' manor having involvement with one another."

"Fourth Prince said he'll take care of this matter, we don't need to worry. Furthermore, Jing Marquis manor isn't that easy to overturn either." Murong Jingxuan said in a serious tone.

"At the very least, we can leave them for now." Murong Jingxuan looked to Su Qingyan still with a serious look, "Moreover, Fourth Prince said the Second Prince might possibly have involvement with the Ning family as well. However, we still don't know the specifics."

"I see, looks like we've all underestimated Xuanyuan Yufan that time." Qingyan's tone contained anger between gritted teeth. "However, if that kind of thing happens during the Dragon Gate Banquet, let's see what kind of ending that Prince will get."

"Yan'er, Fourth Prince said, everyone that wants the throne are all eyeing it covetously. Second Prince, Third Prince, Fifth Prince, all have that kind of thought. Although the Crown Prince's body isn't well, he only gets along with the Fourth Prince."

"That's naturally the case." Qingyan rolled her eyes at Murong Jingxuan. "If you're interested in the throne, do you think the Crown Prince will get along with you?"

Murong Jingxuan naturally understood this reasoning, however he didn't expect that Su Qingyan would also understand this, especially under these circumstances.

Xuanyuan Yuzhen certainly didn't mention this kind of thing to him before. But the Crown Prince getting along with him was certainly because he didn't have the intentions of becoming the Emperor. Even if he did have this kind of thought, he wouldn't express it before the Crown Prince.

"Murong Jingxuan, you have to remember, any person's friendship is all established through benefits." Qingyan looked to him and helplessly said, "Not everyone is like me, unconditionally investing."

How could Murong Jingxuan not understand the implicit meaning behind her words. However, Qingyan also has a purpose in doing this, and that is for the sake of revenge, for in order to be able to openly appear in Nanchen. But, these things before the imperial throne appear to be not worth mentioning.

Murong Jingxuan recalled Chunyuan Princess's words from a few days ago and looked to Qingyan smiling, "Great Aunt misses you, and said for you to visit her sometime."

Reminded of Chunyuan Princess, Qingyan recalled that she never saw Chunyuan Princess again after the Talent Conference. She looked to Murong Jingxuan nodding, "We'll naturally meet during the Dragon Gate Banquet, but I want to ask you a question."

"Oh! What question?" Murong Jingxuan saw Qingyan's serious look and was unable to hold back his curiosity, asking, "Could it be that you fancy this Shizi?"

Qingyan shook her head, "You are long familiar with the workings of the inner palace and should understand how the relationship between the Empress and various imperial consorts are." She looked to Murong Jingxuan, slowly speaking, "And right now, I want to know which consorts will be attending the Dragon Gate Banquet."

Murong Jingxuan caressed his chin and he stared at her, "The Empress is the mother of the country, and is also the Crown Prince's Di* mother. She can be considered to be a gentle and virtuous Empress, and towards the consorts of the harem's various methods of gaining favor, she also has one eye open and one eye closed. However, if the matter gets brought before her, she'll certainly handle it impartially. This is also the reason why she can remain on the Empress seat for this long.

(*T/N: Di - legitimate or principle; since she's the 'legal wife' of the Emperor, the Empress is the Di mother of all the princes, I'm unsure if this is implying she is the birth mother of the crown prince or not.)

Imperial Noble Consort, Qilian Yuran, has a mild disposition, and although has the title of Imperial Noble Consort, she herself isn't very concerned with this title. This title was bestowed to her after Qilian Qingyan's death, but ever since, Imperial Noble Consort has never met with Hongjia Emperor ever again. This made Hongjia Emperor very distressed.

Yi Consort is the birth mother of the Second Prince, however what she's like, I haven't seen much of. But it's said, she also someone who's good at concealing herself, much like the Second Prince. But you also know that the only one in the old Emperor's heart is Imperial Noble Consort, as for the rest, he's not overly concerned with.

De Consort appears gentle on the surface, but in actuality, her heart is rather dark. Moreover, it's said that before marrying the old Emperor, she had an affair with the Ninth Wang*. However, the specifics of the matter, we aren't particularly knowledgeable of either. She's someone that's difficult to get along with, and it's not like you don't know the Third Prince's personality. He usually engrosses himself in the red light district.

(*T/N: Appropriately it should be translated to King or Prince; he's the brother of the Emperor and given the title of 'Wang'.)

Shu Consort, although gets along with the Empress, has put all her hopes on the Fifth Prince, but unfortunately the Fifth Prince is someone who fails to live up to expectation.

Xian Consort married over from the Beilin, and is said to be an overly jealous woman, not favored by the Emperor. However, for the sake of giving face to Beilin, she was still given a Consort position. This Xian Consort is usually a ruthless and heartless person, furthermore, she's very good at tormenting people."

Hearing Murong Jingxuan finish speaking, Qingyan earnestly nodded, "Thanks, I've already thought of an idea."

If she met these consorts, she'll just change what she says depending on the person. However, regarding De Consort and the Ninth Wang, Xuanyuan Shi's affair, she'd once heard of quite a few versions of, and amongst them, the most believable version was that the Third Prince, Xuanyuan Yuzhe, isn't the Emperor's biological son.

"Yan'er, what are you thinking about?" Murong Jingxuan looked to the pondering Su Qingyan and asked.

When Qingyan looked to Murong Jingxuan, the corner of her mouth perked up, "I'm thinking about De Consort and the Ninth Wang's affair. I once heard an interesting version of this rumor. I wonder if Shizi is willing to listen to it."