This was actually Princess Lingxian's own experience. Her biological mother Consort Huo had once become a Shu Consort, so she had thrown her weight around in the palace, truly living like a princess.

However, afterwards her father's favorite Sixth Prince Shen Jun had suddenly died. Shen Jun's mother, Honored Consort Deng, had demanded a thorough investigation in distress. At that time, Consort Huo hadn't thought much of it and had said to her young daughter privately that the water in the palace was very deep, being grateful that she had only Princess Lingxian, a daughter. Generally speaking, a princess wouldn't be in the way of anyone. So this mother could have her daughter keep her company, not needing to fear dying alone after she fell into disfavor.

Consort Huo and Princess Lingxian had never thought that the palace people would come for Consort Huo. Princess Lingxian still remembered her mother's shocked and disbelieving look when she had learned that a palace person had testified that Consort Huo had colluded with Ji Ying, an Imperial Doctor from the Imperial Hospital, to murder the Sixth Prince. She had no sons nor had she adopted any prince, neither did Consort Huo or her daughter have any conflict or any contact with Honored Consort Deng and her son, so why would Consort Huo have taken the risk of murdering the Sixth Prince?

In the end, her desperate arguments had been worth nothing against several pieces of "hard" evidence.

After Consort Huo had been taken away, Princess Lingxian had never seen her again, and she didn't even know where her mother was buried. After the palace people died, their corpses were wrapped by a straw mat and thrown into a mass grave outside the city. Thinking about this, Princess Lingxian didn't dare to keep thinking about it, being too scared of knowing the truth.

Because of Consort Huo, Princess Lingxian who hadn't ever been favored much by her father had completely fallen into disfavor. The quality of her life had sometimes been even worse than that of today's Princess Anji. If she had never met her husband, she who no one cared about could have been given to any random person by the Empress on reaching the marriageable age, so her future could have been uncertain!

While she had been living miserably in the royal palace, Princess Lingxian had often been made a scapegoat for her other favored half-sisters. For example, when the Princesses had been taught together by a female official, some of the favored Princesses had been ill-disciplined, refusing to work hard, which had slowed down the teaching process. When the Empress asked why and as the female official was afraid of the favored Princesses, she said that it had been due to Princess Lingxian, so as to give the Empress an answer.

Princess Lingxian knew her status as a Princess was actually of little significance. After all, it was known to the public that she was in disfavor. Even her mother's family, the Huo Family, didn't care much about her. That Su Nianchu could marry Wei Changfeng was all thanks to the real help Princess Lingxian could get from her father's side.

Although the Emperor's son-in-law Su Xiuqin's parents had both died before the marriage, Su Pingzhan valued his younger lineal brother's only child. Back then, as Su Xiuqin had gone against Su Pingzhan's wishes, determinedly proposing to Princess Lingxian, Su Pingzhan had punished this nephew so hard. With such rage, the uncle and the nephew had barely had contact since then. However, after Princess Lingxian's working to bring about a reconciliation between them over the years, each side had actually stopped holding a grudge against the other, though they hadn't started to visit each other again since they didn't want to lose face.

However, being a nephew was, after all, nothing like being a person's own child, not to mention that Su Pingzhan already had three sons!

Comparing their family backgrounds, Su Nianchu was inferior to Wei Changfeng and she was going to marry far away in Fengzhou. Even though Wei Changfeng would definitely become an official in the court, Su Nianchu would have to accept the discipline of her in-laws.

Although Ruiyu Hall had declined greatly over the years, Princess Lingxian knew the main clan of the Wei Family in Fengzhou was rooted deeply. Even if they became weaker for the time being, they must not be underestimated. How proud Zhiben Hall had been? They were still a collateral branch now, not to mention that Marquis Jingcheng had been sent to Fengzhou to enjoy the rest of his life.

Therefore, Princess Lingxian was worried that as she and her husband always loved their daughter and the daughter was used to enjoying her freedom, their daughter might disrespect her future husband's elders after she was married. Neither Old Madam Song nor Madam Song was easy to please, let alone the many other people in Ruiyu Hall!

On the one hand, the Princess privately kept telling her daughter that after she was married, she must behave properly and serve her husband and elders well, and she had also passed on her experience and insights from her struggles in the royal palace. On the other hand, she spoke with Su Xiuqin, the Emperor's son-in-law, about starting to visit Su Pingzhan's family again.

Back then, after having been in mourning for three years in Qingzhou, Su Xiuqin had returned to the capital. Soon after, he had fallen in love with Princess Lingxian at first sight.

As they hadn't seen each other for three years, he had become less familiar with his uncle. As his uncle had been totally against his marital wish, he was full of indignation. After Su Pingzhan had refused to submit a request to propose this marriage for him, the hotheaded young Su Xiuqin had simply taken advantage of being, at the time, an imperial Private Guard to ask the Emperor to approve the marriage. When the marriage had been approved, Su Pingzhan had been so angry that he had personally punished him according to the family doctrine. Since then, the uncle and nephew had made their break with each other and had stopped visiting each other.

Throughout that time, Princess Lingxian had worried about her husband's future. She had once secretly visited the mansion of the Su Family to ask for forgiveness from Su Pingzhan and Old Madam Deng. After all, by that time Su Xiuqin had already proposed the marriage. Since Su Pingzhan had thought Princess Lingxian was so caring towards her husband, he had become gentler in his behavior over this issue. In addition, Old Madam Deng who was always gentle to everyone had helped. Thus, having returned, Princess Lingxian had wanted her husband to visit his aunt and uncle together with her. But as Su Xiuqin had thought of the punishment his uncle had given him in front of everyone in the family, and being laughed at by his cousins afterwards, he had still been resentful, refusing to go.

Thus, due to various reasons, things had been delayed.

However, now for the sake of his daughter, Su Xiuqin had to put his pride aside. Having told his servant to prepare a gift, he took the Princess to the mansion of the Su Family to apologize.

Su Pingzhan clearly knew why they had come to visit him. Although he thought this nephew was too stubborn, he was, after all, a member of the family. As an elder who had many juniors, there would always be a few people who were rebellious.

Also, Princess Lingxian had always been respectful towards him, as if she had been a nephew's wife from an ordinary family.

Therefore, Su Pingzhan freely became reconciled with his nephew and his wife. He made them stay for a meal and told his servants to leave. Su Xiuqin didn't beat around the bush, speaking directly about the marriage being offered, "I didn't expect that Nianchu would have such a great future as this, but now the imperial edict has been issued, so please give me some advice, my uncle."

Su Pingzhan held his beard, saying calmly, "The first thing I need to tell you is to be wary of Honored Consort Deng!"

"My uncle, I have thought about this as well. However, this marriage was brought up by the Honored Consort. When I go into the royal palace, I must thank the Honored Consort." Su Xiuqin said perplexedly. He was not foolish, knowing that although his wife was a Princess, the Emperor had never cared about this daughter. It was said that Wei Changfeng was talented and handsome and would probably take over the Wei Family in Fengzhou. The Honored Consort had deliberately persuaded the Emperor to marry Su Nianchu to him. They weren't familiar with the Honored Consort, so why had she helped them? Besides, there was feud between her and Princess Lingxian's biological mother.

Even if Honored Consort Deng had no daughter, didn't she have nieces? Her beloved nephew Deng Zongqi's sister, Deng Wanwan, often went to the royal palace to keep her company! Deng Wanwan hadn't yet been promised to anyone, but the Honored Consort had the time to care for the granddaughter of her enemy who was said to have murdered her only son. She had even found Su Nianchu such a good husband. Hence, if she hadn’t been after something, it wouldn't have made any sense.

In fact, among the couple coming over to see Su Pingzhan today, Princess Lingxian really simply thought that if her husband made peace with his uncle, the Family Head of the Su Family in Qingzhou, her daughter would have more support once she was married. However, Su Xiuqin was afraid of being dragged through the mud by Honored Consort Deng, so he came to ask his uncle for advice.

On hearing his nephew's words, Su Pingzhan smiled, saying, "You just need to be polite. I mean you shouldn't have such frequent contact with Mingguang Palace in case you would fall into a trap merely because of your daughter's marriage!"

"But if the Honored Consort keeps calling me in...."

"Do you forget that there is still an Empress in the royal palace?" Su Pingzhan asked rhetorically, "Probably, the Empress is now thinking about how to stop the Honored Consort from calling you in!"

Su Xiuqin secretly sighed with relief, scolding himself for being so concerned that he had forgotten what to do. He had heard about the fight between the Honored Consort and the Empress, but he was so concerned about his daughter and also worried about the rest of his family, that he hadn't even recognized this solution. Having reassured himself, Su Xiuqin asked for advice again, "The elders in Ruiyu Hall really love Wei Changfeng, but I also love Nianchu. I am worried that she won't be satisfactory to her husband's family. What can I do?"

"Actually, there is only one key person to be concerned about, which is Old Madam Song." Su Pingzhan smiled, saying, "If the Old Madam hadn't kept up support for her lineal son and her lineal grandson, Wei Huan would have given the Family Head's position to Wei Shengyi more than decades ago. No matter how outstanding Wei Changfeng could be, he will at most take over the title of Duke Changshan from Wei Huan as the eldest son and the eldest grandson."

"If I'm correct, Wei Changfeng's marriage should have been decided by Old Madam Song as well." Seeing Su Xiuqin pondering, Su Pingzhan stroked the long beard on his chin, squinting his eyes and saying slowly, "Old Madam Song has two great wishes in her life. One is for Wei Zhenghong's complete recovery, and the other is that her lineal grandson, Wei Changfeng, could take over Ruiyu Hall. As for the first one, even Ji Qubing can't achieve it, so let's just leave it alone. As for the latter one, it depends on how you teach your child, Nianchu!"

Su Xiuqin mused, "Please enlighten me, my uncle."

Su Pingzhan said calmly, "Nianchu's appearance and manners are not what Old Madam Song values the most. As Wei Changfeng is Wei Zhenghong's only son, he has no brothers to help him. His opponent is his uncle who is ten years older than him, and Wei Shengyi has three sons who can all be of help! Hence, Old Madam Song's most essential requirement in her granddaughter-in-law is that she is able to support Wei Changfeng! To be honest, I am not optimistic about this marriage. I'm not saying that Nianchu is not good. Nianchu looks lovely and she is lively as well as gentle. She has good manners and a good heart. As a daughter of an eminent family, she is very likable, but Nianchu hasn't got the kind of qualities that Old Madam Song asks for! Old Madam Song wants someone who has the right family background, who is insightful, who will always love Wei Changfeng, and who can always share Wei Changfeng's burdens!"

"..." Su Xiuqin kept silent for a long time. Only after a long while did he speak, "My uncle, you are right, but now everything has been decided." When a daughter could marry a good person, as a father, he should, of course, be happy. However, if she married someone who would make everybody envy her but the quality of her life was bad, Su Xiuqin could never rest assured. However, the imperial edict had been issued. Even if he could finally bring himself to resist the temptation of this marriage, this was no longer his decision to make.

Su Pingzhan stroked his beard for a while, saying, "Princess Lingxian's mother's family is the Huo Family."

Not understanding why he suddenly brought this up, Su Xiuqin paused for a moment before saying, "Yes, but the Huo Family is terribly cold towards her. These years, we only have contact with each other when it is a festival and then we only send our servants over to do it."

"Although they are cold, they are always polite towards you." Su Pingzhan said casually, "One of the Huo Family's daughters married Song Zaitian, the lineal eldest son of the minister of the public, Song Yuwang. This Mrs. Huo is actually also Nianchu's cousin."

Su Xiuqin asked confusedly, "What do you mean, my uncle?"

"Song Yuwang's only daughter, the previous Crown-Princess-to-be, is from the same family, the Song Family in Jiangnan, as Ruiyu Hall's Old Madam Song and Madam Song. They are related very closely by blood." Su Pingzhan said leisurely, "This Crown-Princess-to-be was promised to the Crown Prince a long time ago, so she has been carefully brought up by the Old Madam in Jiangnan Hall to be the future Empress ever since she was a child. On her way to the capital, she passed by Fengzhou and stayed in Fengzhou for several months to keep her aunt, Madam Song, company. I have heard both Old Madam Song and Madam Song appreciate the skills and temperament of the First Miss of the Song Family. You should tell Nianchu to visit her cousin more often and ask for advice from the First Miss of the Song Family at the same time."

Only then did Su Xiuqin understand Su Pingzhan's meaning. He quickly said, "Certainly."

"The First Miss of the Song Family is also the cousin of the wife of your third cousin in the Shen Family, so you can ask for advice from Wei Changfeng's sister through her in the future." Su Pingzhan said calmly, "After all, Wei Changfeng has only one sibling. Old Madam Song and Madam Song are known to love the brother and the sister. If she can put some good words in for Nianchu in the letter to her family, it will help a lot when she is married."