Since he had shaved his head and become a monk, Fourth Miss Pei's plans must have fallen through.
I wonder what Imperial Censor Su will think when he returns from Jiangnan and discovers that his son has been forced to become a monk by his wife, and the Jiang family girl he had painstakingly arranged to marry has also been thoroughly offended by his wife?
Will he be so angry that he'll divorce his wife?
The Xuanwu Emperor glanced at her and knew immediately that she was plotting something mischievous. He gently flicked her forehead: "Imperial Censor Su went to Jiangnan this time with his most favored concubine."
That means the concubine will also return with him.
Lady Su doesn't seem like an easy woman to deal with. The concubine managed to win her master's favor under her nose and was even taken by Imperial Censor Su to the Su family's Jiangnan estate. She must be quite a capable woman.
Lady Su has botched such a significant matter. Once the concubine whispers in Imperial Censor Su's ear, how can Lady Su expect to have an easy life?
Jiang Xinyue would quite enjoy seeing Lady Su suffer.
Outside the window, the snow was a vast expanse of white. On the opposite corridor, Xi Que was blowing on her hands to warm them: "Qing Yu, if you have something to say, say it quickly. Her Highness is waiting for me to serve her!"
Qing Yu, whose hands were behind his back, hesitated for a long time, wanting to step forward and then retreating. After much hesitation, he finally handed over an oiled paper package: "You mentioned you like the chestnut cakes from Yi Kousu, right? I picked some up while running an errand outside the palace."
Xi Que, who had been craving snacks from Yi Kousu for quite some time, quickly pinched a small piece and put it in her mouth.
The sweet and soft texture was exactly the taste she remembered!
Her eyes squinted with delight, clearly showing that this gift was more to her liking than the hairpins Qing Yu had given her earlier.
"They're still warm!"
Xi Que glanced at the snowy weather and then at Qing Yu's visibly disheveled chest, her cheeks instantly turning red.
Qing Yu's eyes never left Xi Que's face. Seeing her suddenly blush, he too awkwardly lowered his gaze, though his reddening ears betrayed his emotions.
Xiao Xiangzi stood outside Jiang Xinyue's room, smiling warmly at the innocent couple, feeling a bit like a father reluctantly seeing his daughter off to marriage.
"This Qing Yu..."
The Xuanwu Emperor chuckled and shook his head: "If you're serious about finding a good match for Xi Que, Qing Yu would be an excellent choice. Qing Yu's surname is Meng."
"The Meng family from the western part of the city?"
The Xuanwu Emperor nodded: "Exactly."
That's not just an excellent choice.
The emperor's assessment was too modest.
Meng Qingyu's grandfather had once served as the deputy general of the Flying Cavalry General in the army. Later, due to injuries, he retired from the front lines but was highly trusted by the general, who arranged a clerical position for him in the army.
Although it was a minor role, all major and minor matters in the army passed through Meng Qingyu's grandfather's hands. Everyone in the capital knew that the general's household, from the elderly matron to the young masters and ladies, all took good care of the Meng family.
Meng Qingyu's parents had passed away early, and his family consisted only of an elderly grandmother in her seventies. His grandfather, who was with the army, might not return home even once a year.
Even Meng Qingyu's position as a royal bodyguard was arranged by the general's household.
Of course, he also had real skills; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to rise above many other royal bodyguards to earn the opportunity to protect the emperor personally.
Being a royal bodyguard would only be the beginning of his career, not the end.
After a few more years of training, he might become another fierce general in the Flying Cavalry Army.
However...
Although after the sixth prince's first birthday, Xi Que would become a first-rank senior maidservant by the empress's side, a maidservant is still a servant who serves others. The Meng family has a bright future; would they accept Xi Que as Meng Qingyu's wife?
If she were to become a concubine, Jiang Xinyue would be somewhat unwilling.
If she had a choice, she would have picked a decent family and married as a legitimate wife.
Xi Que is not adept at scheming and is straightforward in her actions. Jiang Xinyue has never tried to change her, feeling that Xi Que being herself is just fine.
She doesn't want Xi Que to suffer injustice, and if the Meng family doesn't accept her status...
"What are you overthinking now?"
The emperor turned her body to face him: "Xi Que has her own fortune. Don't think too much about it. Just focus on raising our little princess to be plump and healthy. I'll give her all the pearls, jade, and jewelry from my private treasury."
When the sixth prince was still in the womb, the emperor took care of him, and now with the second pregnancy, he's even more experienced.
Jiang Xinyue's pregnancy has been more comfortable than the first.
After all, back then, the empress dowager was still around, and the empress, Consort Li, Consort De, and Consort Liang all had their eyes on her.
From the moment she conceived the sixth prince until she gave birth, she never truly relaxed.
This time is different.
The harem is firmly under her control, and she doesn't have to guard against one person or another. With the Xuanwu Emperor taking care of her, Jiang Xinyue feels that if she were ten years older, she'd be the empress dowager without a doubt.
Life has been too comfortable, causing Jiang Xinyue to forget about Princess Lihua from Goguryeo until March, when the palace began preparations for the triennial selection of concubines, and she heard Jin Lihua's name again.
"The Goguryeo delegation is about to return home, but before they leave, they've sent Princess Lihua into the palace, saying they want to present the most beautiful pearl of Goguryeo to the emperor, for him to accept graciously!"
Now, she has taken up residence in Yanqing Palace, which was formerly Consort De's residence, and has become the new Consort Ru.
Jiang Xinyue, along with Low Level Consort Yu and Consort Wen, were playing mahjong when Low Level Consort Yu was fuming: "The emperor is quite generous with outsiders, granting her a consort rank right away. I've served him for so many years and even gave birth to the eldest princess, yet he demoted me from Consort Liang to a low-level consort, and he didn't even mention a grand harem promotion during the New Year. I was so excited for nothing."
Consort Wen quietly took one of her tiles: "You're too impatient. Does Her Highness not have a plan in mind?"
Low Level Consort Yu pushed her tiles aside: "I can't play anymore, I'm too agitated. Oh, and! Your Highness, ever since Consort De died, the second princess has been increasingly clingy with my daughter. I've noticed her words becoming more and more biased. I don't know if it's because of the people around her? If so, all the servants around her should be replaced."
To prevent future resentment from growing.
Jiang Xinyue let out a cold laugh: "She's only a couple of years younger than the eldest princess. The eldest princess could convince you to change your ways and turn over a new leaf, yet she's being swayed by the people around her and harboring resentment against me. It's simply because she harbors hatred in her heart."
She's not a saint. Consort De plotted against her and even wanted to kill her child. Why should she forgive and forget?
As long as the second princess doesn't stir up trouble, they'll just stay out of each other's way. When the time comes, the emperor will arrange a suitable match for her, and that will be the end of it.
If she's not content and wants to avenge her mother, then she won't show any mercy.
