A Plan That Kills Three Birds With One Stone

With that, she gave orders for the estate's finest pastries and snacks to be brought out for Princess Xinyao.

After giving her orders, she kept up her lively questioning, poking into every little thing.

For example: How is the Empress Dowager's health? Has her cultivation improved lately?

What does the princess usually like to eat, or play with, and so on.

Seeing Grace Wan buttering up Princess Xinyao, the old lady frowned and said, "Today is Jason Zhuo's birthday, so guests should be arriving soon. Grace and I can entertain the princess; you go greet the guests!"

The pastries Grace Wan had ordered hadn’t even made it to the table before she had to awkwardly excuse herself.

But instead of greeting the guests, she went straight to Kevin Zhuo.

As soon as she saw Kevin Zhuo, she ordered the servants, "Quick, bring the outfit I made for Kang’er—his family nickname—for New Year's. Let him change into it now!"

"Mom, what are you doing?" Kevin Zhuo frowned. "Is today really that special? Do I have to wear fancy clothes?"

"Guess who’s here, my good son?" Grace Wan asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Who’s here? Don’t tell me the Emperor showed up?” Kevin Zhuo grumbled. “Even if he did, he’s only here for Qingluan. Why do I need to change clothes?”

“It’s Princess Xinyao!” Grace Wan announced.

“Her? Why would she come?” Kevin Zhuo’s eyes lit up.

“It must be your sister working her magic with the Empress Dowager,” Grace Wan said. “Of the heirs to the Four Great Houses, you’re the only one still single. She has no other choice!”

Kevin Zhuo perked up and asked, “Since the princess is here, are we still going ahead with our original plan?”

“Of course we are! Strike while the iron is hot. If we don’t kick him when he’s down now, what are we waiting for?”

Sure, Jason Zhuo is a bastard, but in the eyes of outsiders, he’s still a member of our Zhuo family.

If the princess isn’t around, we could just handle Jason Zhuo’s mess behind closed doors.

But if she’s here, and word gets out, won’t that tarnish our family’s reputation? Maybe even make her think less of me…

“You’ve got a point…” Grace Wan frowned.

The reason for arranging Jason Zhuo and Bella Wan’s match on his birthday was simple: there wouldn’t be any outsiders around. If anything went wrong, it could be handled behind closed doors.

But if the princess was present...

Grace Wan pondered for a moment, a ruthless glint appearing in her eyes: “If we’re going to do it, let’s go all the way! Why not pull the princess into our scheme too?”

“What do you mean?” Kevin Zhuo asked.

"I’ll secretly set up two resting rooms. Jason Zhuo and Bella Wan, you and the princess! Once the rice is cooked, everything’s settled!" Grace Wan whispered in Kevin Zhuo’s ear, "After that, you go find Grace…"

Kevin Zhuo nodded repeatedly. “Mom, you’re a genius! How did you come up with such a brilliant three-birds-with-one-stone plan?”

Grace Wan smiled slightly, clearly pleased with herself.

...

Grace kept Princess Xinyao company with the old lady for a while, then they headed off together to the banquet hall.

Jason Zhuo was just a junior, and it wasn’t a major birthday, so the celebration was small—just family and a few close relatives.

Those close relatives included Leon Wan and his family.

Thanks to Grace Wan, their family had grown especially close to the Prime Minister’s Residence.

Whenever anything happened at the Prime Minister’s Residence, you could always spot them there.

Today was extra special—Leon Wan brought his wife and daughter, the whole family came to the banquet.