Xie Wanqing was startled, speaking so directly about the position of the Crown Prince.
"Rest assured," Consort Shufei said with a smile, "if one must fear eavesdropping even in their own quarters, then being a First-Grade Princess Consort is not worth it."
When the Emperor was still the Crown Prince, she was a concubine in the Eastern Palace. She fought against the other women in the harem for most of her life; without some means, she would have long been consumed by this deep palace, leaving nothing but bones.
In truth, Xie Wanqing wasn't very close to this aunt. She seldom came to the palace, though she did stay briefly when she was young.
Back then, Consort Shufei was just a concubine. Although the Eldest Prince had been born, he was still far from vying for the position of Crown Prince. She had considered marrying her niece to the Eldest Prince, but Xie Shu and Mrs. Zheng had only one daughter, whom they cherished, and were not willing to let her marry into the Royal Family.
