On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Mei family’s relatives dragged their families along to pay a visit.

Pei Yan had crashed a wedding not long ago, a move that had thoroughly intimidated them. So, for this visit, not only did they come bearing lavish gifts, but their attitudes had also taken a complete one-eighty.

It was a far cry from before, when they would belittle Mei Wanying with every other word, intent on carving up the Mei family’s fortune for themselves.

Instead, they heaped praise on her, calling her the Mei family’s stabilizing force. With her around, they said, no one would dare bully the Mei family.

They also praised Ling, saying she looked so bright and clever. Even though she was a girl, they said, her future was bound to be immeasurably noble.

They were a perfect picture of fair-weather opportunists, their true colors on full display.

Despite knowing full well they were unwelcome, the group chimed in one after another, somehow managing to keep the awkward silence at bay.

"Ah Yin, it’s the New Year. Isn’t it a bit much to not even let the Crown Prince in the door?"

The speaker was Mei Wanying’s aunt, surnamed Fang.

Beside her was Mei Wanying’s cousin, Mei Wanqing.

From the moment they walked in, the mother-daughter duo had been looking out the door, as if eagerly awaiting someone’s arrival.

Upon hearing this, Mei Wanying understood.

’So they want to foist a woman on Pei Yan, and they’re using me to do it.’

’What a brilliant scheme!’

She didn’t mince her words. "If you want to see the Crown Prince, you’ve come to the wrong place."

Fang Family’s expression turned unnatural. "It’s not that we want to curry favor with the powerful. The Crown Prince rarely comes to Jiangnan. We should fulfill our duties as hosts and treat him well."

In her heart, she cursed Mei Wanying. ’She must be sick in the head. She’s managed to snag the Crown Prince, yet she’s trying to kick him out.’

’Is she unbelievably audacious, or just plain stupid?’

’If it had been her Sister Qing, she would have had the Crown Prince wrapped around her little finger by now.’

’Mei Wanying is just an idiot.’

’But she was blessed with a pretty face that makes men stop in their tracks.’

’The heavens are truly blind. A face that beautiful should have gone to a girl willing to use it to win favor for her family.’

’On Mei Wanying, it’s a complete waste!’

One look at Fang Family’s expression, and Mei Wanying knew the woman was mentally tearing her apart.

"Is someone stopping you from hosting the Crown Prince? Did your husband forbid it? Or did your children?"

Fang Family’s face flushed red, then went pale.

She had been shamed by Mei Wanying’s words.

"Ying, how could you say such a thing? You’re a young woman, have you no sense of shame?"

Mei Wanying feigned confusion. "You’re the one who said you wanted to host the Crown Prince. Was something I said wrong?"

Fang Family was sure Mei Wanying was being deliberate, just playing dumb with her!

’That’s right,’ she thought. ’If Mei Wanying were truly that naive, she would have been eaten alive the day she returned to her ancestral home.’

’How else could she have survived to be this arrogant, just waiting for the Crown Prince to come and back her up!’

A tug on her wide sleeve served as a silent reminder from Mei Wanqing not to get sidetracked from their main purpose.

The Crown Prince was an incredibly busy man. There were surely countless matters back in the Capital City that required his attention.

There was no telling how long he could stay in Jiangnan. If they didn’t get down to business soon, he would be heading back to the Capital City.

Fang Family patted her daughter’s hand.

She straightened her spine and said to Mei Wanying, "This auntie won’t beat around the bush with you. If I misspeak, I hope you’ll be patient. Just pretend this old auntie of yours is getting senile, and don’t go running to the Crown Prince to complain."

Mei Wanying looked up, her expression cold. "If you’re senile, you should talk less. Otherwise, at your age, you’ll end up eating your own words. Even if you don’t find it embarrassing, your cousin should be mortified on your behalf."

Fang Family’s expression stiffened for a moment.

’She says one thing, and that Mei Wanying has ten retorts. She has no respect for her elders at all. It’s like she’s thrown all lessons of filial piety to the dogs!’

’With a tongue that sharp,’ she thought, ’no wonder the Crown Prince didn’t take a liking to her before.’

’His sudden change of heart must be for Ling’s sake.’

Seeing her mother getting worked up again, Mei Wanqing interjected, "Cousin, since you acknowledge me as your family, shouldn’t you help me with the most important matter in my life?"

She was so direct that Mei Wanying almost wanted to praise her for her frankness.

"Marriage is a matter for your parents to decide. Your mother and father are alive and well. If I were to get involved, wouldn’t that be like a dog trying to catch mice—meddling in affairs that aren’t mine?"

The expressions of both mother and daughter soured.

To Fang Family, it sounded like Mei Wanying was cursing her to die.

Whereas to Mei Wanqing, it just meant Mei Wanying was refusing to help her marry into a higher station.

Fang Family piped up, "Ying, your words are too harsh. We’re all family here. If you help Sister Qing this time, maybe next time she’ll be the one helping you."

A smirk played on Mei Wanying’s lips. "And how should I help? By delivering her directly to the Crown Prince’s bed?"

Fang Family: "..."

’Well,’ she thought, ’if Mei Wanying really has that kind of pull, it’s not like it’s out of the question...’

Great minds think alike, or in this case, mother and daughter’s hearts were linked. Mei Wanqing bit her lip, thinking to herself that if she could really latch onto someone of his status, she would be willing, no matter how unsavory the methods.

’The Crown Prince hasn’t taken a Crown Princess Consort yet, and he doesn’t seem to have any concubines either. A man inexperienced in the affairs of the heart is actually easier to manipulate.’

’If she became his woman, she was confident she could make him inseparable from her.’

’Getting into the Eastern Palace would be a certainty then, wouldn’t it?’

Mei Wanying’s words were so blunt that even the older aunts in the room blushed beet red.

But it also got their own wheels turning.

’If they could really establish a connection with the Crown Prince, why would sending just one Sister Qing be enough?’

’They had daughters of the right age in their own families, too!’

They started speaking up in support of Fang Family and her daughter. "Ying, you’ve done well for yourself! You should help out your sisters. When one of us prospers, we all prosper!"

Mei Wanying slammed her teacup down on the table. "So, judging by that logic, if something goes wrong, I’m the only one who takes the fall?"

Fang Family started, "You’re overthinking it..."

"The nerve of you all!"

Mei Wanying might not care about Pei Yan anymore, but that didn’t mean she would push other women his way.

For one, there was absolutely nothing in it for her. Why should she go to all that trouble?

For another, if she actually helped these ungrateful wretches secure their futures, she could just wait for them to gain power and turn on her.

Her father had suffered time and again at the hands of these very relatives when he was young, which was why he had chosen to break away and establish his own branch of the family.

Since their households were now separate, she had no intention of getting tangled up with them again.

She turned and gave a direct order to the steward. "See them out. Don’t you ever let them in this house again. If there is a next time, I’ll be holding you responsible!"

This sent them all into a panic. "Ying, you can’t just latch onto a powerful connection and leave the rest of us behind!"

"You’re so close with the Crown Prince! What’s the harm in helping your sisters a little?"

"Or are you just afraid your sisters will steal your thunder? Afraid you won’t be able to protect the wealth and glory you have now?"

Mei Wanying’s face was stern. "Everything this family has, my father earned. My conscience is clear, and you can’t take any of it!"

Mei Wanqing glared at her. "If you’re not afraid, then what’s the rush? You’re just scared the Crown Prince will fall for me! You’re scared my family will become more successful than yours!"

Pei Yan hadn’t slept a wink all night. He’d learned how to hold a baby and had even practiced dressing one several times over.

Wearing the bamboo-green brocade robe Mei Wanying had made for him two years prior, a jade coronet in his hair, he cut a refined and scholarly figure as he arrived at the Mei residence.

He was just about to make a good impression when he overheard the words slandering him.

The man’s handsome features turned icy, his face becoming a mask of frost.

He strode into the hall and commanded icily, "Slap her."

Ding Xiang, who had been simmering with rage this whole time, heard the command and instinctively glanced at her mistress for a reaction.

Seeing no disapproval on her face, she lunged forward and delivered several sharp slaps to Mei Wanqing.

Wei Jue, who had been about to carry out the order himself, quietly took a step back.

’Damn,’ he thought, ’Ding Xiang really knows how to throw a punch. A true testament to Miss Mei’s training.’

’Look at that, she even knocked a tooth out of that big mouth...’