A true man knows when to yield and when to stand firm, and she, as a young woman, also understands that the wise adapt to circumstances. Kneeling a few more times is nothing to her.
Moreover, she was indeed in the wrong.
Her elder sister was right; she shouldn't have vented her resentment on the Empress. The Empress owed her nothing.
"Do you realize your mistake?"
"Yes, yes, I do..."
When she wasn't being rebellious, this little rascal was quite endearing.
Lady Ruan seized the opportunity to mention, "Empress, I will go to the back to check on the Crown Prince."
She nodded slightly to the two princesses, who returned the gesture, and then Lady Ruan, led by the maid Xi Que, headed to the rear hall.
"Speak!"
Jiang Xinyue took a sip of tea: "What brings you to me?"
The eldest princess and the second princess exchanged glances, hesitating whether to voice their request. Finally, the second princess mustered the courage to say, "We originally wanted to ask Father to arrange a marriage for us and sought your opinion, but now..."
Now that they knew Third Yan wished to marry the Empress's younger sister, it became awkward to bring it up.
"Third Yan is not suitable for you."
To their surprise, Jiang Xinyue saw through their intentions and directly stated, "My father has written to me. The wife of the Grand General has privately sought his opinion, wishing to form an alliance with the Jiang family. However, it is not the Jiang family's status they are interested in, but rather Third Yan's preference for gentle, refined, and well-educated women. Are you such a woman?"
The second princess, though introverted, was stubborn, sensitive, and fragile, requiring careful handling of her emotions, or else she would explode.
How foolish she could be when she exploded was evident in her previous attitude toward Jiang Xinyue.
"No..."
The second princess pouted, feeling disheartened. She truly didn't want to marry a submissive husband from Fusang.
Jiang Xinyue glanced at her, seeing her pitiful, tearful expression, no longer the little porcupine she had been before.
She then walked to the screen behind the desk and pulled out a portrait: "Old Marchioness Yunyang wrote a letter three months ago, hoping the Emperor would arrange a marriage for her grandson, Shi Jiarong. Your father has investigated. Old Marchioness Yunyang's husband is henpecked, and Shi Jiarong has been docile around women since childhood, like a kitten. If you marry him, you will have a harmonious relationship, and he will surely listen to you in all matters."
Old Marchioness Yunyang came from a prestigious family, having been granted the title of marchioness due to her family's meritorious service. She held real power, with a fief and a stipend, a true marchioness in every sense.
However, marrying into the Shi family would mean moving to Yunyang County, Old Marchioness Yunyang's fief, and no longer residing in the capital.
"Shi Jiarong is only fifteen. Old Marchioness Yunyang's intention is for the Emperor to inform her once he has made a selection. She wishes to wait until her grandson turns eighteen before the marriage takes place. Since you are only twelve now, it would be appropriate for you to have your coming-of-age ceremony in the palace three years later before marrying."
A princess mansion would also be built for her outside the palace, so during festivals, they could return to visit and stay there.
The scroll unfurled, revealing a handsome young man with delicate features, a slender figure, and a gentle demeanor, more docile than the noble sons of the capital. His eyes were tender and warm, exuding kindness.
The second princess blushed and said, "I leave it to you and Father to decide. I will follow your arrangements."
This indicated her satisfaction and agreement to the engagement with Shi Jiarong.
Jiang Xinyue nodded: "I will discuss this with your father. There's no need to rush. This year, I am pregnant, and your father has canceled the summer retreat. I will invite Old Marchioness Yunyang to the palace to escape the heat, and you can meet Shi Jiarong then."
Yunyang County was under the jurisdiction of the capital, though it was on the outskirts. It would take about three hours by carriage, equivalent to six hours in modern times.
It wasn't too far, but not exactly close either. However, making the trip wasn't too difficult.
Mentioning her marriage prospects, the second princess felt shy and remained silent.
Despite her mature demeanor, she was still just a twelve or thirteen-year-old child. In Jiang Xinyue's time, she would still be in elementary school.
But in the Great Yan Dynasty, girls of twelve or thirteen were already being considered for marriage.
And this was considered fortunate, as the government mandated marriage by the age of eighteen. From what Jiang Xinyue knew of history, in ancient times, no girl remained unmarried past the age of fifteen. If they did, it was because there was something wrong with them, making them unmarriageable.
In this regard, the Emperor had done well, not disregarding the well-being of women.
Before leaving, the second princess asked, "How is Younger Brother Xuan doing in the Ancestral Hall? May I visit him?"
It had been a long time since the siblings had seen each other. Now that the second princess had emerged from her stubbornness and no longer believed that the third prince had abandoned her, willing to reconcile and get along with him, how could Jiang Xinyue refuse?
That child was also pitiful.
In summer, he refused to use ice, and in winter, he refused to use charcoal. Every day, he chanted sutras and copied scriptures for the late Empress and his two elder brothers.
He wasn't putting on a show; he was genuinely trying to atone for his mother's sins and bring peace to the souls of the deceased.
By tormenting himself, he hoped to appease the restless spirits.
If the second princess could show him more affection and guide him, perhaps he would willingly emerge from his self-imposed isolation.
The Jiang family had been celebrating a series of happy events. On the day of the eldest princess's wedding, the second branch of the Jiang family was adorned with lanterns and decorations. Jiang Shoucheng, riding a tall horse, spiritedly escorted the eldest princess from the palace gates.
Low Level Consort Yu had been reinstated as Consort Liang on New Year's Day. She was both joyful and sorrowful, her eyes swollen from crying.
Her little Mingyu had grown up so quickly, already reaching marriageable age. The groom had been chosen by both mother and daughter, and they were very pleased.
Wah wah wah...
But when would the Emperor pass away?
Once that happened, she would become a dowager consort and could ask the Empress for the favor of having the eldest princess take her out of the palace to live out her remaining years in peace.
She missed the carefree days outside the palace.
Consort Wen Jiang Yuan was now Consort Shu, while the former Consort Shu had long been forgotten in the annals of history.
In a few more decades, when people spoke of Consort Shu, they would only remember this one.
But Consort Shu was still better off. Consort Liang, after three years of struggle, had returned to her original position.
They say that after three days apart, one should look at a person with new eyes.
But after three years of scheming, she was still in the same place.
However, none of that mattered now. What mattered was that she wanted to become a dowager consort.
Consort Shu wiped her tears: "Don't cry. The eldest princess hasn't married far away; she's still in the capital. If you want to see her, you can always ask the Empress to summon her to the palace."
Consort Liang couldn't help but cry again: "The problem is that I want to see her all the time. She's grown up so much, and this is the first time we've been apart for so long. What if she can't adjust... Pah pah pah..."
Feeling her words were inauspicious, she immediately slapped her mouth: "No, no, the eldest princess is so capable; she will surely be loved by the entire Jiang family."
Moreover, after their marriage, they wouldn't have to live with the Jiang family and serve her in-laws; they would have a Princess Mansion.
The princess and her consort would reside in the Princess Mansion.
With her daughter and son-in-law right under her nose, they should be able to live happily ever after.
