"You don’t have brothers competing for the throne."
"Ah?" The Fifth Princess glared at Zhao Yao, grumpily saying, "How is that an advantage?"
"Fifth Sister, if your second sister’s brothers fail in the struggle for the crown, what awaits them?" Zhao Yao thought the Fifth Princess was too naive, casting her a disdainful glance, "At that time, they might get implicated, and end up in a very miserable state, perhaps even losing their status as princesses. Then, would they still be better off than you? At least you’ll always be a princess."
The Fifth Princess felt Zhao Yao made some sense, but...
"What if the brothers of the second sister succeed?"
"The Crown Prince is still around, it’s impossible for them to succeed." Zhao Yao thought that Yu Meiren should be the one discussing these matters with the Fifth Princess, not him as her younger brother. If it weren’t for the Fifth Princess looking so unconvinced, he wouldn’t have bothered to say anything. "Fifth Sister, in a few years, you’ll have to leave the palace to get married. During these years, you should focus on learning things from Mother and Second Mother, instead of overthinking other matters."
The Fifth Princess’s face turned bright red, glaring angrily at Zhao Yao as she said, "What does a brat like you know, and as a brother, how dare you lecture me... ouch..."
Yu Meiren tugged on the Fifth Princess’s ear, leading her back to their residence hall, "Yao Yao is doing this for your own good, yet you don’t appreciate it. Just watch, I’ll teach you a lesson today."
Zhao Yao waved at the Fifth Princess, "Fifth Sister, considering you make snacks for me, I’ll buy you the most popular cosmetics from the capital next time I leave the palace."
"I suppose you have a conscience... ouch... Mother, be gentle." The Fifth Princess was dragged away by Yu Meiren by her ear.
"Third Mother, I’ll get you cosmetics too."
"Well, thank you, Yao Yao." Although Concubine Pan was timid, she loved dressing up. However, she only dared to dress up inside Kunde Hall.
"Third Mother, I’ll also buy you the most beautiful clothes from the capital. Wait for my return."
"When you return, Third Mother will cook delicious food for you."
Seeing Liang Zhaoyi had something to discuss with Zhao Yao, Concubine Pan wisely left.
"Sister, I’ll go check on Sister Yu and them."
"If Sister Yu scolds Little Five, help stop her."
"Yao Yao, be careful outside the palace."
"Don’t worry, Third Mother, I won’t have any problems."
After Concubine Pan left, Liang Zhaoyi lightly tapped Zhao Yao’s head.
"The things you said earlier were not appropriate for you to say."
"Mother, if I don’t speak up, Fifth Sister might really become beyond saving." Zhao Yao pouted, "You know very well what thoughts Fifth Sister harbors, and yet you don’t teach her a proper lesson."
Liang Zhaoyi had already noticed something was amiss in the Fifth Princess’s mind, but she wasn’t the Fifth Princess’s mother. Even though her relationship with Yu Meiren was cordial, she couldn’t directly reprimand the Fifth Princess.
"Mother, I know it’s inconvenient for you to discipline Fifth Sister, but if we don’t intervene, something will happen to Fifth Sister eventually, and it’ll drag Second Mother down too." Zhao Yao said, furrowing his brows in concern, "Fifth Sister has been bullied by her second sister since childhood, and has always held a grudge against them, unwilling to be inferior and wanting to retaliate against them."
"Most importantly, Fifth Sister deeply resents her humble origins and wants to alter her status. In truth, Fifth Sister is a lot like Eighth Brother, but Fifth Sister isn’t as smart." Zhao Yao sighed softly, "Fifth Sister thinks she’s clever, assuming we don’t know what’s on her mind. I dare bet, Fifth Sister is already secretly plotting something."
"What do you think Little Five is plotting?" Liang Zhaoyi asked.
"To sabotage Second Sister’s marriage." A while ago, the Second Princess was bestowed a marriage. Her Prince Consort is the youngest son of Marquis Wucheng.
Marquis Wucheng’s father was a general who followed the late emperor. After the emperor’s passing, Marquis Wucheng’s Mansion was not favored by the current emperor, who had his own trusted officials.
Even though Marquis Wucheng’s Mansion wasn’t as glorious as it was during the late emperor’s reign, their status remained intact. Although the emperor did not favor Marquis Wucheng’s family, he still held a certain respect for the old generals who once assisted in founding the empire. Of course, the prerequisite was that these old generals remained obedient and honest.
The military standing of Marquis Wucheng’s Mansion couldn’t compare to the emperor’s direct subordinates, but they did possess some military power, while the Wang Family had none.
The noble families in the capital had no military power. Although some noble family’s young men joined the military and held the title of General, they did not wield real power. Even Duke Zhen’s Mansion, despite its honor, and although some of its members held positions in the military, did not have actual military power.