Nanny Fang respectfully withdrew, standing on the veranda for a moment, letting the cold wind blow over her before she sighed. Instead of going directly to find Nanny Qi, she first headed to the Prince of Commandery's study.

  The Prince of Commandery was speaking with his chief advisor, and she waited for about half an hour before he was free. Composing herself, she entered, greeted the prince with a formal bow, and then carefully reyed Consort Fan's instructions.

  Zhou Weiqi didn't respond immediately, feeling more puzzled and troubled by his mother's sudden hostility. He certainly resented Han Zhi for ruining things, and resented that he was no longer as dedicated to him as before. But in truth, the root cause y with his mother. If she hadn't been so insistent on sending Han Yueheng off as a diplomatic bride or hadn't suddenly changed her attitude toward the Han family, things wouldn't have reached this point.

  He remembered Han Zhi's words and, after a moment of silence, repeated them to Nanny Fang. "Was it truly my mother who orchestrated Cousin Yueheng's marriage alliance? And the nanny who was sent specifically to teach her proper conduct... was she also chosen by my mother?"

  Nanny Fang sighed, frowning with disapproval. "We tried advising her at the time... No matter what, finding a suitable connection for Miss Yueheng here in the capital would have been better, at least more favorable than going to Japan. But Her Ladyship wouldn't listen, nor did she send word to consult the family's opinion... This truly put the young heir and the Marchioness in an awkward position..."

  Consort Fan's elder sister had never treated people as people, remaining willful from her youth to her current age. She was fortunate, with the Crown Prince blindly devoted to her and the Fan family's support behind her, as well as Zhou Weiqi's own ambition. Otherwise, she wouldn't have the life she had today.

  Zhou Weiqi rested his hands on his knees, then softly asked Nanny Fang, "Do you know why my mother insists on acting this way?"

  It all stemmed from events in their youth.

  How much hatred could there really be between young girls? Perhaps a flowered hairpin, a kite, or even the fact that their father once made a dress for her younger sister and forgot to buy an identical guqin for the elder sister...

  All these petty grievances built up into a deep resentment, trivial matters hardly worth mentioning. If only, before they left for the capital, the Fan Matriach had kept her mouth shut and not let it slip to her elder sister that her cheerful, favored younger sister was, in fact, not a full sibling, and that her birth mother was merely a concubine.

  Nanny Fang sighed again, brushing it off with vague words, "It all comes down to youthful ignorance... But what's important now is that Her Ladyship cannot continue on this path. If things go on like this, even the Marquis of Jinxiang, no matter how loyal, may reach his limit..."

  Consort Fan had gone mad, recklessly pushing away an ally who was firmly in her grasp. She behaved as though Han Zhengqing's tolerance was guaranteed, but Nanny Fang knew all too well that people's hearts are fickle. Blood is thicker than water, and no matter what, he was his own flesh and blood. Could Han Zhengqing truly watch as Consort Fan tormented his children without feeling any guilt? Yet, Consort Fan stubbornly refused to see reason.

  Zhou Weiqi understood well enough that extremes often lead to reversal. He, too, found his mother's recent behavior increasingly deranged. After a moment of contemption, he sighed and asked, "What did my mother ask you to do?"

  Nanny Fang reyed Consort Fan's instructions to find Nanny Qi, expressing her concern. "If Her Ladyship keeps pressing the Marchioness like this, it may be that even a rabbit, when cornered, will bite back. Though the Marchioness may ck power, if she stirs up trouble on the day of Miss Yueheng's departure... things could get quite chaotic."

  Zhou Weiqi's eyes grew darker, and he nodded at her. "You've done well. With someone like you by my mother's side, I feel more at ease. Go back and tell her that Aunt is beside herself with grief, crying her heart out. As for the rest, don't mention anything. And from now on, if my mother has any further pns, come to me first."

  He couldn't let Consort Fan continue causing trouble. Sooner or ter, she would destroy herself—and the Eastern Pace along with her!

  Nanny Fang finally felt relieved and sighed. "Since you say so, Your Highness, I feel more assured. Her Ladyship listens to no one, and this cannot go on... Even the Crown Prince thinks she and the Marchioness share a good retionship. If this continues... Forgive my boldness, but I believe a word should be sent to the Fan family in Xingyang. Only they might be able to persuade her."

  Zhou Weiqi nodded quietly, signaling he understood. After Nanny Fang left, he, filled with both helplessness and irritation, threw a crystal dish across the room. He remembered his mother as she used to be—always with a clear sense of the bigger picture, skilled in securing helpful alliances. She had captivated his father, and even the Empress could find no fault in her conduct as the Crown Prince's consort.

  Now, however, it was as if she had become a madwoman, muddling through her days in a constant rage, unable to distinguish priorities, ruining a valuable piece like Han Zhi.

  Nanny Fang was right. As much as his uncle cared for him, he was still just that—an uncle. Could he truly disregard his own children's suffering? What gave his mother such confidence to cut things off so ruthlessly?

  Zhou Weiqi collected himself and summoned Qian Ying, instructing him to make a visit to the Marquis of Jinxiang's residence. "Tell them I'll come by tomorrow myself and ask Aunt and Cousin not to grieve too much. My mother and I are equally saddened by my cousin's fate..."

  Qian Ying responded respectfully, and after Zhou Weiqi finished, he cautiously reminded him, "Your Highness, perhaps you should send a letter to the Marquis as well, expining recent events. With such a major incident, it would be best not to leave it unaddressed. The Marchioness will likely send word, too."

  And Lady Fan, now with nowhere else to turn, would surely have nothing good to say in her letter. Zhou Weiqi rubbed his temples, frustrated. "This is indeed a serious predicament! Even if Uncle were a saint, he couldn't ignore this. Whatever I say will seem hopelessly inadequate."

  Qian Ying cast a quick, discreet look at Zhou Weiqi. "I suspect that Consort Fan believes the Marquis still had two other sons by concubines at his side, would therefore not take his heir as seriously. But the heir is still the legitimate successor. In this world, what father could watch his own son die and remain indifferent to the one responsible? In my humble opinion, we must not let the Marquis find out this incident has any connection to us."