While the news of the imperial shakeup caused a stir, the advisors at Prince An's manor remained cautious.
"We need to look at this with a long-term view," one of them said. "The Noble Consort has enjoyed imperial favor for decades. A momentary fall from grace doesn't mean she's done for. She still holds the title of Noble Consort. A comeback is more than possible."
Everyone agreed. The power struggle in the harem had reached a boiling point, but there was no clear victor yet. It was too early to say whether Consort Chen or the Noble Consort would ultimately come out on top. For now, the smart move was to stay out of the fray—and that meant getting Meng Wenhui out of the situation before things turned uglier.
Prince An mulled it over and finally decided to consult the Empress Dowager. With the case of Wei Quan still unresolved, he needed her guidance on how to proceed.
The Empress Dowager, a seasoned veteran of palace warfare, had lived through being sent to the Cold Palace herself. She had once been cast aside by the late Emperor, only to claw her way back to power. Now she ruled from Changle Palace, the undisputed matriarch of the dynasty. She knew better than anyone: only the last woman standing could truly claim victory.
"The Noble Consort hasn't truly fallen from favor," she told Prince An, her tone calm and authoritative. "Treat her current situation as temporary. As for the case—handle it as you did before. Just keep the Meng family out of it. As long as the Mengs remain untouched, Consort Chen won't have a reason to resent you."
Prince An nodded obediently, then hesitated before asking in a low voice, "Grandmother, is it true? Is His Majesty really so taken with Consort Chen?"
The Empress Dowager thought back over the whispers she'd heard and said with certainty, "Even more than he once favored the Noble Consort. These past few years, the Emperor barely stepped into the harem. Now suddenly he's like a man transformed. But Consort Chen's rise is still fresh—her position unstable. Let's see how long it lasts."
She studied her grandson with a nostalgic gaze. "Your coming-of-age ceremony is approaching. We'll host it in the palace. From then on, you'll be a man in the eyes of the court. The future of this dynasty may rest on your shoulders."
Her voice thickened with emotion. Years ago, she had been left for dead in the Cold Palace. Her eldest son had died under suspicious circumstances. Only her younger son had survived to become Emperor. And now, her grandson—her last hope—was on the cusp of manhood.
Tears pricked Prince An's eyes. His coming-of-age ceremony held more weight than most—it was essentially the court's way of acknowledging him as heir. The Emperor had no children, no pregnant consorts, and yet refused to name a Crown Prince. Everyone knew who the natural successor was... but the throne was still out of reach.
"I promise to serve you and His Majesty faithfully, Grandmother," he whispered.
The Empress Dowager patted his hand affectionately. "I know. But as long as you're not the Crown Prince, you won't have real power in court. I'll speak with His Majesty soon. It's time he made a decision. I'm old, and I only worry for him and for you."
"Everything I have, I owe to you," Prince An said, voice tight with emotion.
After leaving the palace, Prince An went straight to Meng Wenhui. He explained the current situation in court, especially how favored Consort Chen had become.
"His Majesty is head over heels for Consort Chen right now," he said. "I'll take you home. Have your mother bring you into the palace to beg Consort Chen for help. If she's willing to intercede with the Emperor and the Noble Consort, you might finally be able to cut ties with the Wei family for good."
To Meng Wenhui, the idea of escaping the Wei household was almost too good to be true. As a mere concubine, she would've been expected to mourn Wei Quan for the rest of her life. But leaving Prince An's side was equally heartbreaking.
"I don't want to leave you, my lord," she murmured.
They had spent nearly every day together recently, but in truth, Prince An was already growing weary of her. She was a stand-in, a replacement, and now that the novelty had worn off, she only reminded him of the past. His irritation was mounting.
"You need to be smart," he said coldly. "You have no status here. That's not good for you, either."
Hearing him bring up her lack of official standing made her blush, and she asked timidly, "If I manage to leave the Wei family… will you take me into your manor?"
In his heart, Prince An had no intention of marrying her. She was spoiled goods, used by Wei Quan. But if Consort Chen continued to rise in power, then as her sister, Meng Wenhui might prove useful. He could offer her a place in the manor… in theory.
"If you behave and follow Consort Chen's guidance, and she gets an imperial edict for your marriage," he said, "then entering my manor would be much more legitimate, wouldn't it?"
It was an empty promise, a fantasy he fed her to keep her compliant. As far as he was concerned, she was just another mouth to feed in the rear court—nothing more.
Back at the Meng estate, Wenhui's return brought her mother to tears. Madam Liu clung to her, weeping pitifully.
Once the tears dried, Liu finally learned that her daughter had been secretly kept by Prince An. Her eyes lit up with renewed ambition.
"The prince is right. I'll take you to the palace first thing tomorrow," she said excitedly. "We'll beg Consort Chen for help. You're a general's daughter and she's the Emperor's favorite—maybe he'll reward her by granting you a marriage decree to the prince!"
Liu was practically glowing with happiness. In her mind, everything was finally falling back into place.
But Meng Wenhui, who had spent time among the Wei family's vipers, was more cautious. "Mother… I'm no longer a virgin. I've been a concubine to Wei Quan and then stayed with the prince. How could I become his official consort? And if he's the future Emperor, the Empress Dowager would never allow it."
Liu paused, sobered by the reality—but then waved it away.
"Even if you're not his main wife, it doesn't matter. Think of our current Noble Consort—she pushed the Empress out of the picture. If you win Prince An's heart, you'll have all the power you need. Titles are just decoration."
With that, the two spent the entire night fantasizing about future glory. First thing in the morning, they sent a formal request to Consort Chen asking for an audience.
When Meng Wenyuan received the petition, she blinked in disbelief. Liu? What on earth could she want?
Still, for the sake of appearances, she allowed the pair to enter.
After the usual greetings, Madam Liu wasted no time with pleasantries.
"Your sister has suffered so much," she began dramatically. "It was all for your sake, to protect you. Surely you won't let her continue to suffer?"
Wenyuan raised an eyebrow, utterly unmoved. She had never seen anyone with a thicker face.
"If you have something to say, just say it. I'm busy and don't have time for fairy tales."
Madam Liu flinched but knew better than to argue. She got straight to the point.
"Now that you're favored by His Majesty, please, for the sake of blood ties, help your sister formally break off from the Wei family—and ask the Emperor to grant her a new marriage."
"To Prince An, I presume?" Wenyuan asked, expression unreadable, gesturing at the sister now cowering beside her.
Madam Liu faltered again but nodded quickly. "That's exactly what I mean. Please, help her become his wife—or at least a proper consort."