The old imperial concubine actually agreed, which stunned Xiao Yun so much that he forgot to speak.
"A'yun, this is where you are wrong," the old imperial concubine said. "Grandmother has always taught you to be a man of responsibility. Miss Wei is pure and innocent. Now that she has had physical contact with you to save you, you should be responsible for her. Besides, Miss Wei is gentle and kind, elegant and dignified. I like her very much."
As the old imperial concubine spoke, she took Wei Yun's hand and asked with a kind smile what her name was, how old she was, her birth order at home, and what she usually liked to do.
Wei Yun blushed and answered all the old imperial concubine's questions shyly.
This move by the old imperial concubine not only shocked Xiao Yun but also left Wei Yu and Consort Wei speechless for a long time.
After a while, Consort Wei chuckled twice and said, "The old imperial concubine likes A'yun, which means we should have been a family long ago. This is fate."
Xiao Yun looked at the old imperial concubine and gave her a confused look. The old imperial concubine returned his gaze. Although Xiao Yun couldn't decipher her intended meaning, he guessed that she wanted him to agree first.
Thus, when the Emperor made the final decision, Xiao Yun remained silent.
After leaving the palace, Xiao Yun deliberately did not ride a horse and sat in the same carriage as the old imperial concubine, asking about the matter.
As a result, the old imperial concubine feigned ignorance and said cheerfully, "I really like that girl."
Xiao Yun was exasperated. When he continued to press, the old imperial concubine kept praising how good Wei Yun was and told Xiao Yun to treat Wei Yun well in the future.
Xiao Yun was full of frustration.
Wang Qingyao was also extremely surprised after hearing this. The old imperial concubine treated her exceptionally well, better than her own granddaughter. Xiao Yun had not favored any of the four concubines in the west garden of Kangping Courtyard, and the old imperial concubine, knowing this, had never said anything to her.
Why would she now take the initiative to arrange a concubine for Xiao Yun?
This was too strange.
She looked at Xiao Yun, and Xiao Yun looked at her.
"Don't look at me, I don't know what's going on either."
Xiao Yun inexplicably gained a concubine, and this concubine was someone from the Wei family, more annoying than Huang Shiyu and the others. He was full of anger and had nowhere to vent it.
"Perhaps that Wei Yun is really likable?" Wang Qingyao said tentatively.
Xiao Yun sneered, "I didn't notice."
At this moment, the sounds of maids greeting the old imperial concubine could be heard from outside. Wang Qingyao glanced at Xiao Yun and asked him to hide in the bi sha chu on the other side.
Xiao Yun hurried inside.
A moment later, Yin Zhu pushed open the door and said, "Princess, the old imperial concubine is here."
Wang Qingyao hummed in response.
The old imperial concubine entered the room, looked around, and did not let the attendants follow her in.
"Quickly close the door, don't let the wind blow in."
Yin Zhu closed the door again.
The old imperial concubine walked to Wang Qingyao's bedside and sat down. She glanced at her with a hint of apology, her face full of difficulty, as if she were contemplating how to bring up the matter of taking a concubine.
At other times, it would be fine, but Wang Qingyao had just given birth to two children for the Xiao family and was a great contributor to the Xiao family. It had not even been five days, and she was about to bring someone into her husband's room. How could anyone feel good about this?
Wang Qingyao smiled, "Grandmother, are you going to talk about the Wei family girl? The Prince has already told me."
The old imperial concubine did not expect Xiao Yun to have already told her. He was quite frank and not afraid of upsetting his wife.
The old imperial concubine quickly said, "Don't blame him, and don't be angry. This was all my idea. That child... is indeed a good one, and I like her very much."
Wang Qingyao nodded and smiled, "I am currently in confinement, so it is only right to find someone to serve the Prince. Since the Prince does not like concubine Huang and concubine Bian, it is no big deal to replace them."
Wang Qingyao appeared very reasonable.
The old imperial concubine's face showed a look of guilt. She patted Wang Qingyao's hand and said, "You are a sensible and good child. It is A'yun's good fortune to have married you."
Wang Qingyao smiled.
The old imperial concubine comforted her a few more times, then instructed her to rest well and left Kangping Courtyard.
Xiao Yun emerged from the bi sha chu, looked outside, and asked doubtfully, "Did Grandmother really take a liking to that Wei family girl?"
Wang Qingyao shook her head, "I don't know. But Grandmother knows about the grievances between us and the Wei family. No matter how much she wants to arrange a concubine for you, she wouldn't arrange one from the Wei family. Perhaps she just went with the flow when she encountered it."
"Why would Grandmother want to arrange a concubine for me?"
"Perhaps she feels that since the legitimate son has been born, illegitimate sons and daughters can also be born."
In this era, having three wives and four concubines was normal.
Especially for a noble family like the Ding'an Prince's mansion.
The Xiao family had always been sparsely populated. The old imperial concubine must have longed for a house full of descendants and a prosperous family.
Wang Qingyao could only think of it this way.
Even if the old imperial concubine had her difficulties, if she refused to tell Xiao Yun and Wang Qingyao, those difficulties would not count.
Although she knew that Xiao Yun was unwilling and did not like that Wei Yun, Wang Qingyao still felt stifled in her heart because of this matter and found fault with Xiao Yun in everything.
Xiao Yun also felt wronged. He felt betrayed by the old imperial concubine.
The atmosphere in Kangping Courtyard became heavy. The maids serving them could feel it, but they didn't know what had happened. Everyone spoke and acted cautiously, for fear of offending their masters.