Chapter 112: You Have No More Leverage Left

Tan Qingjiu blinked. "The Crown Princess Consort is here? Why is the steward reporting this to me? Shouldn't it be… reported to Prince Duan?"

The steward gave a light cough. "Indeed, in the past, it would have been reported to Prince Duan, but things are different now."

"Oh?"

The steward looked up at Tan Qingjiu. "Now, we have a Princess Duan."

"His Highness said that since the Crown Princess Consort is a female guest of the Heir Apparent's residence, it is only proper for such visits to be reported to the mistress of our own household—which is you, Your Highness. It is up to you to decide whether to see her or not. If you do not wish to see her, we shall simply turn her away; if you do wish to see her, then you must receive her yourself."

"..." Tan Qingjiu raised a hand to press against her temple. She intended to decline, but then, as if remembering something, a flash of craftiness crossed her eyes. "I will see her. Since the Crown Princess Consort has graced us with her presence, it is only natural that I should meet her."

"I shall escort you to the flower hall, Your Highness."

Tan Qingjiu took two steps behind the steward before she sensed someone following her. She turned around and saw the two little ones trailing closely behind her. When they noticed her looking back, they merely blinked, their faces full of feigned innocence.

Tan Qingjiu sighed, too lazy to mind them, and headed straight for the flower hall.

Perhaps because the news of Shen Zijiao being brought to Prince Duan’s residence had dealt Tan Yunge such a heavy blow, her complexion looked sickly and pale. She sat in a chair, holding a teacup, but her mind was clearly wandering elsewhere.

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess Consort is here."

Hearing the servant’s voice at the door, Tan Yunge started, suddenly pulled back to reality. She stood up in a flurry, seemingly forgetting the teacup in her hand, which fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.

Tan Yunge stared wide-eyed at the shards, quickly stammering, "Please forgive me, Your Highness. I did not do it on purpose."

"It is of no consequence; it is merely a teacup. Let it be. I only wonder what the Crown Princess Consort was thinking about, to be so lost in thought?"

"I..." Tan Yunge began, then suddenly realized who was standing before her. She snapped her head up to look at the person walking in, her expression shifting instantly. "Why is it you?"

"I requested to see Prince Duan. What are you doing here?"

The steward spoke up quickly, "Crown Princess Consort, please be respectful. This is the newly betrothed Princess Duan, sanctioned by the Emperor himself. While you requested an audience with Prince Duan, it is highly inappropriate for a lady to meet with him alone in his residence. Therefore, His Highness specifically instructed the Princess to receive you."

"His Highness has decreed that although the wedding ceremony has not yet taken place, the imperial edict has been issued. Furthermore, the Princess is here by imperial order to tend to His Highness's health. Thus, she has full authority over all matters within Prince Duan’s residence."

"Therefore, if you have any business, the Princess is the one you should address."

Tan Qingjiu waited for the steward to finish before looking up at Tan Yunge. "Did you hear that, Crown Princess Consort?" Her face was full of mockery.

To Tan Yunge, that look was a blatant insult. She gritted her teeth. It was exactly as she feared—this little wretch was behind it all. All the talk about compatible horoscopes and cleansing the Prince of evil spirits was a lie. Prince Duan had gone to such lengths to bring Zijiao to his residence only because this little wretch had entered his home.

Tan Qingjiu smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. "Steward, you may all withdraw. I wish to catch up with my sister in private."

The steward cast a glance at Tan Qingjiu. He was well aware of the rumors surrounding them. Catching up? Would they not come to blows? However, seeing Tan Qingjiu so confident, he gave a light cough. "As you command. This old servant will take his leave."

He added, "The other guards and I will remain in the courtyard. If you have any need for us, Your Highness, just call out." As he spoke, he eyed Tan Yunge with extreme vigilance, his meaning clear.

Tan Yunge was seething with rage, but she was in Prince Duan’s residence; she had no choice but to bow her head and swallow her fury. Once the steward and the others, including Xing Qi and Xing You, had departed, Tan Yunge stood up.

"It was you, wasn't it? You were the one who made Prince Duan bring Shen Zijiao here, weren't you?"

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Do you really think that with Prince Duan as your backing, you can act so recklessly?"

"Indeed," Tan Qingjiu chuckled softly. "With Prince Duan as my backing, why shouldn't I be reckless?"

"After all, back when you married the Heir Apparent of the Prince of Ding, didn't you start acting recklessly and tyrannically, even disregarding human life?"

"Being a mere Crown Princess Consort was enough to make you act that way. I am now the Princess Duan, your aunt by title—is that not enough?"

Tan Yunge gritted her teeth so hard it sounded like they might crack. Instinctively, she raised her hand to strike, but Tan Qingjiu caught her wrist mid-air. With a sharp tug, Tan Yunge, caught off guard, stumbled forward two steps and barely managed to steady herself by grabbing the back of a chair.

Just as Tan Yunge turned to look at her, Tan Qingjiu’s voice whispered in her ear: "Sister, you really are foolish."

"If I were in your shoes—having stolen a child that isn't mine and with countless lives on my conscience—I would certainly be cautious, hiding myself away, and avoiding drawing any attention."

"But you, sister, you do the exact opposite, as if you’re terrified that people might not notice you. Even after I returned, knowing full well that I hold the evidence of your past, and knowing that once the truth is exposed, everything you have will be destroyed in an instant, you still insist on making an enemy of me."

"You should have been trying to appease me, just like you did back then—coaxing me to keep me from exposing the truth."

Tan Yunge gritted her teeth tightly. Appease her? In her dreams! She wanted nothing more than to kill her.

Tan Qingjiu seemed to read her thoughts and curled the corners of her lips. "You should have been trying to appease me. After all, the only leverage you had against me was Zijiao."

"But now, Zijiao is already here at Prince Duan's residence."

Tan Yunge’s throat tightened, and she glared at Tan Qingjiu with burning hatred.

Tan Qingjiu scoffed. "Now that Zijiao is in Prince Duan’s residence, she is in my hands. Your attempts to threaten me with her are useless."

"Furthermore, the truth about your premarital pregnancy has already been clarified by Father. You no longer have any chips to bargain with."

"And yet you are still so arrogant? Aren't you afraid... that I might just kill you right here?"

Tan Qingjiu’s voice sounded as if it were pressed right against Tan Yunge’s ear. These words struck like a thunderclap, causing Tan Yunge to stagger backward two steps. She stared fixedly at Tan Qingjiu, her lips trembling slightly.