Chapter 170: The Princess Is Reputedly Vicious, but Extremely Rich

The Empress chose a sixty-year-old nanny, who had a very elegant name: Xiao Jinping.

Nanny Xiao’s family were distant relatives of the Xiao Family clan from before they became the Royal Family, but the connection was so remote they weren’t considered royalty.

Her family fell on hard times when she was thirteen, so she was sent to the palace as a palace maid. At twenty, she began to serve in the imperial court. When she was twenty-five, the late Emperor ascended the throne, and she was kept on to continue serving him. At thirty, she became one of the Chief Ladies-in-waiting attending the late Emperor, and she served him until his death.

When the late Emperor passed away, she was no longer young. Xiao Jingyun didn’t keep her on duty, but he deeply respected the female officials who had served the late Emperor. Therefore, he moved the five female officials, including Xiao Jinping, to Sui Ning Palace, where they were to be cared for with the honors befitting a fifth-rank concubine.

In recent years, four of the five nannies had passed away, leaving her as the sole survivor.

A nanny who had served two generations of Emperors and was now being cared for by the new Emperor—she was more suitable than anyone to instruct Princess Xuanyang.

She held no grudge against Xuanyang, and out of respect for the late Emperor, Xuanyang probably wouldn’t make things difficult for Nanny Jinping.

The Empress wasn’t worried that Xiao Li would be mistreated; she was only afraid that Xiao Li would make the nanny disappear.

The Empress went to see Nanny Jinping in person. After she explained the situation, Nanny Jinping agreed to leave the palace, taking Wang Wanqing with her.

And so, Xiao Li looked at the two people before her, her brow slightly furrowed and her eyes cold and deep. "So, Nanny, what is it you intend to teach this Princess?"

’A female official who served the late Emperor? Out of respect for the late Emperor? Who cares?’

’She didn’t need anyone ordering her around, and she certainly didn’t need anyone to teach her some bullshit rules for women!’

Wang Wanqing could tell at a glance that Xiao Li was angry and immediately explained, "Princess, this was the Empress Dowager’s idea. The Empress specifically chose Nanny Jinping, and..."

Nanny Jinping took a step forward. Her impeccably styled hair bun gave her a clean and sharp appearance. Though her hair was white and her face wrinkled, her every movement was composed and steady, exuding an air of great dignity.

She cut Wang Wanqing off. "I wouldn’t be so bold as to say I could teach the Princess anything. However, I have served two generations of Emperors and have a few skills to my name. If the Princess would have me, I could also instruct the young maids in your service."

’Is she lowering her own status just to stay?’

Xiao Li was puzzled. "Nanny, you are being honorably cared for by His Majesty and enjoying a comfortable life in the palace. Why trouble yourself by coming to my Princess Mansion to suffer?"

Nanny Jinping bowed, her deep, aged voice carrying the immense weight of time. "I entered the palace at thirteen and am now sixty. Forty-seven years... forty-seven springs and autumns spent within those palace walls..."

She raised her eyes to Xiao Li, and they were filled with an inexpressible, desolate helplessness.

"I am willing to serve you, Princess. If all that I have learned in my life can be of use to you, I will do my utmost and shirk no duty. I ask only for a bite to eat and permission to walk the city streets when I have a moment of leisure."

As she said this, she actually moved to kneel before Xiao Li.

"Ah..." Hong Yue and Lan Yue rushed to support her. "Nanny, you can’t threaten the Princess like this."

Wang Wanqing seemed to have understood something and looked at Xiao Li with pleading eyes. "Princess..."

Xiao Li understood the nanny’s reasoning. She had been trapped in the palace for most of her life and longed to escape the place that had devoured her existence.

"I respect my elders, but I’m not so kindhearted as to provide for a complete stranger’s retirement, even if you were one of the late Emperor’s people."

The light in Nanny Jinping’s eyes dimmed instantly and her heart sank. But then she heard Xiao Li add, "You have one month to prove that you are useful to me."

Tears immediately fell from Nanny Jinping’s eyes, but she smiled. "My deepest thanks, Princess."

Wang Wanqing smiled as well. "Thank you, Princess."

Xiao Li said to Hong Yue and Lan Yue, "Nanny was an Imperial Concubine and is very experienced. You two learn well from her. Don’t let my investment go to waste."

The two naturally nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."

Nanny Jinping said, "I will certainly do my utmost to teach them everything I know."

Xiao Li’s expression turned cold, her authority intimidating. "Teaching is one thing. There is another: the people by my side must be loyal. What you see and hear here must not be spoken of to outsiders. As someone who served the late Emperor, Nanny, you should understand these principles."

Nanny Jinping promised earnestly, "I will take it to heart."

And so, Nanny Jinping stayed. As for Wang Wanqing...

"Princess, please don’t send me away," Wang Wanqing pleaded. "I can organize things, I’m good with needlework, I can do sums... I can do a lot of things! Please let me stay, won’t you?"

Xiao Li pointed to the door. "If you stay today, Mrs. Wang will be at my door tomorrow."

To put it bluntly, Wang Wanqing was a liability.

Wang Wanqing wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around Xiao Li and have a good cry, but she had promised the Princess she wouldn’t.

She looked at Xiao Li pitifully, and upon realizing she couldn’t stay, she finally got to the official business the Empress had sent her for.

"His Majesty asked the Empress to give this to you, Princess. He wants you to choose a Prince Consort from this list."

She blinked expectantly. "Princess, I’m fairly familiar with these men. You can ask me anything you want to know about them."

Xiao Li had nothing to ask. She had no intention of choosing a Prince Consort for herself in the first place.

However, since the Empress Dowager had goaded the Emperor into sending this list, the matter of choosing a husband would not be easy to evade.

If she didn’t choose a Prince Consort, they would never stop pestering her.

’Fine, I’ll choose then. I’ll choose very, very carefully.’

Xiao Li lowered her gaze slightly, as if an amusing idea had just occurred to her. A cold smirk touched her lips.

Xiao Li decided to host a "scholars’ banquet." There would be no restrictions on social status, but there would be on age, appearance, and talent. It would be similar to the previous Lantern King competition at Dengyun Building, but with a few differences.

The contestants wouldn’t just compete in literature, but also in mathematics, strategy, martial arts, and music. It would be something like a series of exams, with the final judgment based on their overall scores as well as any prodigious, specialized talents.

Xiao Li entrusted the external publicity to Song Junzhan. Her primary targets were the children of poor families.

As for the arrangements within the mansion, Hong Yue and Lan Yue were ultimately too young and had never organized a formal banquet before, so they didn’t know where to begin. Nanny Jinping, on the other hand, was a different story. The moment Xiao Li explained her requirements, the nanny had already selected a venue, listed all the necessary preparations, and even planned the routes for guest entry and exit.

That’s the mark of a true expert—you know it the moment they act.

Xiao Li said, "Then do as Nanny says."

Nanny Jinping replied with a composure that was neither servile nor overbearing. "Yes."

With that, she turned and left. For a woman of sixty, her steps were both steady and quick, her back held straight, her spirits high. Compared to the day she arrived, Nanny Jinping was visibly glowing, as if she had taken a Revitalizing Pill.

Princess Xuan Yang’s Mansion was preparing to host a banquet, and the invitees were all young, talented men. Shortly after, news spread that the Empress Dowager intended to select a husband for Princess Xuanyang. Everyone assumed the Princess’s event was a husband-selection banquet.

It had been less than half a year since Princess Xuanyang killed her husband. Who would dare to become her Prince Consort? Wasn’t that just asking to die?

However, while that was what everyone said publicly, privately they were all taking stock of their sons, wondering if they had one who wasn’t particularly brilliant but was at least presentable enough to be sent for selection as the Prince Consort.

Princess Xuanyang may be cruel and vicious, but she was the Emperor’s most beloved sister. She had a noble status, her own fiefdom, and immense wealth. To marry her was to secure a fortune of staggering proportions.

As for her ferocity, that was all because Lu Yanzhi had neglected her. So, wouldn’t a new Prince Consort just have to marry her and dote on her properly?

No matter how domineering she was, she was still a woman. Ultimately, she’d have to listen to her husband.

The entire Capital City was abuzz with plotting over Princess Xuanyang’s search for a husband. Some coveted her beauty and wealth, others yearned for power and status, and still others had their eyes on the unit of elite guards under her command.

In short, Princess Xuanyang’s reputation was abominable, but her wealth was simply too immense.

Although becoming her Prince Consort carried the risk of death, if one could conquer her and obtain all she possessed, what was a little risk in comparison?

Besides, once he consummated the marriage and got her to bear a child, wouldn’t she be completely under his control?