Zhong Ling Shu!
I truly wanted to send him to my elder brother, but hearing my mother’s words, she had other plans for my brother.
Never mind, I’ll keep him for myself for now. It’s a bit of a waste, considering my own combat skills, I really don’t need such a high-level bodyguard around.
After a late-night snack, Situ Yao pulled me along for a walk. The night breeze was gentle, brushing against my slightly warm cheeks. Suddenly, my right hand was held. I turned my head, and Situ Yao, looking straight ahead, walked with a serious air.
But he stubbornly refused to let go of my hand.
The day before the Flower Appreciation Banquet, Uncle Song was punished. The Emperor sent him to Shanxi to manage the mines, giving him a deadline to stay there for half a year.
When the Emperor was still Prince Rui, he led men to suppress bandits in Shanxi, eradicating the entire bandit network. He liberated the mine owners of Shanxi from the oppressive rule of the bandits, and what’s more, he had the court take over the mines held by the bandits. The provincial tax supervisor of Shanxi was overwhelmed, so to prevent him from hoarding power and enriching himself, the number of tax supervisors was increased from one to three. Every few years, a trusted confidant would be dispatched to Shanxi for an inspection.
This task was not easy. Although it seemed lucrative, many people were watching that place. It was not easy to make illicit gains, and the environment in Shanxi was not very good.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Emperor was displeased with him for not being able to control his wife.
After this incident, I speculated that the Song family would have to keep a low profile for a while. But to my surprise, on the second day at the Flower Appreciation Banquet, Madam Song and Song Shuxian still attended. However, Song Shuxian’s complexion was not good; even with makeup, she couldn't hide the dark circles and fatigue in her eyes.
When she saw me, she glared fiercely.
I didn't pay it any mind. That day at the Golden Thread Pavilion, it was clearly her mother who started the trouble.
Sui Sui put her arm around mine and led me away, muttering, “She’s sick, so why did she come to the palace? Couldn’t she have claimed illness and my Empress Dowager would have excused her?”
“You know she likes your elder brother. It’s rumored outside today that they are selecting the Crown Princess. If she didn’t come, how could she be chosen?”
“What a pity. So many beautiful young ladies, all their hopes will be dashed.”
I felt indifferent, “Marrying the Second Prince isn’t bad either.”
The Emperor only had these two princes. Although the Crown Prince was stricter with him, the brothers had a good relationship, and he would surely not be treated unfairly in the future.
Sui Sui spread her hands, “Second Brother and the others won’t be able to get married either. The King of Northern Frontier has submitted a memorial stating that their Crown Prince and Princess will come to the capital for pilgrimage. Hmph, pilgrimage my foot, it’s just a marriage alliance.”
Northern Frontier had already submitted to the empire, but the King of Northern Frontier was capable, and the national strength of Northern Frontier was growing day by day.
However, Northern Frontier was a harsh and cold land with few habitable areas. In recent years, many people from Northern Frontier had migrated to Great Yin. Even in the capital, one could often see people from Northern Frontier. Their food and clothing were also continuously sold to Northern Frontier.
Of course, the medicinal herbs and minerals from Northern Frontier were also very popular among the citizens of Great Yin.
Both countries benefited from cooperation. The King of Northern Frontier likely wanted to consolidate the relationship between the two countries.
The Emperor and Empress had only one daughter, Sui Sui, so it was naturally impossible for her to marry into Northern Frontier.
Therefore, when the princess came for a marriage alliance, she had to show sufficient sincerity. Among the candidates chosen for the Princess of Northern Frontier, there must be at least one prince.
Sui Sui said, “Fortunately, my second brother has no one he fancies. Otherwise, if this happened right before he was about to get married, he would have gone crazy.”
“The Princess of Northern Frontier might not fancy your second brother, you have many cousins too.”
“That’s true. Come, let’s go to Changning Palace first. Mother hasn’t seen you for days and misses you dearly. Let me take you to accompany her for a chat.”
Her Majesty the Empress was as amiable as ever. She held my hand and chatted with me for a long time before taking me and Sui Sui to the Imperial Garden.
The noble ladies of the capital were all experienced. Even though they were so shocked that their jaws almost dropped, it was only for a moment before they regained their composure, lowered their heads, and saluted. But I imagined they were cursing inwardly.
Originally, they thought this banquet for selecting the Crown Prince’s consort was for the Empress Dowager to discipline me, but to their surprise, the Empress treated me as before.
This was a greater threat.
Even though my background was not noble, I had the Crown Prince’s favor, and with the Empress Dowager’s slight partiality, even if they became the Crown Princess, their lives would not be easy. Moreover, they couldn’t be entirely unaware of my elder brother’s reputation in the Imperial Academy. Once he successfully completed his exams, becoming an official would be a matter of course.
In the future, it would be difficult to use my humble background as an excuse to criticize me.
However, they still had to fight for it.
In the Imperial Garden, young ladies from various families found excuses to perform for the guests.
Her Majesty the Empress likely had little interest, but she couldn't dampen their spirits, so she could only sit and watch while sipping tea. Sui Sui, however, pulled me away and excused ourselves directly. In her words, zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, and dance – it was always the same few things, and she was tired of seeing them. What could compare to her new storybook?