Chapter 40: Old Stories

A few days before the birthday banquet, the eldest princess sent someone to pick up Qu Ling and take him to the princess's mansion to stay for two days.

When leaving, Qu Lianzhi stood in the corridor and gritted his teeth.

Pei Jingming often went in and out of the princess's mansion. Qu Ling must have deliberately asked the princess to live there so that she could find an opportunity to get close to him.

Even though he was so angry that his eyes turned red, he could only watch as the carriage from the princess's mansion took Qu Ling away.

Zhao Yuanrong had been waiting at the Princess's Residence early in the morning and was very happy to see Qu Ling. "How are you being treated by the people in the Marquis' Residence? Has anyone given you any trouble?"

She also said, "The imperial edict of enthronement will also come on your birthday, as a birthday gift from your mother."

The two of them lived together and had endless things to talk about, but they rarely saw the eldest princess.

"Mom is very busy and has no time to take care of us. If the weather is good tomorrow, I will take you horseback riding." Zhao Yuanrong said.

Qu Ling had other ideas. "Come with me to the shops in the capital. I want to find a few things."

Zhao Yuanrong also agreed.

At night, I finally met the eldest princess.

Although busy, he looks very good.

"Is there enough silver?" asked the eldest princess.

Qu Ling answered truthfully, "It's enough for now."

The princess ordered someone to bring her a box of gold beads and said, "Don't be reluctant to reward your servants. If there is not enough, please let me know."

"It just so happens that A Ling and I are going to the street to buy some things tomorrow." Zhao Yuanrong smiled happily and reached out to grab a handful of gold beads to play with.

Qu Ling was also happy. "I'm not short of money. My mother's dowry is enough for me to spend for several lifetimes. Add to that what my aunt added, and I really can't spend it all."

When Xu Zhaoyue got married, she almost took the entire Dongyang Marquis' Mansion with her.

"Your grandmother passed away early, and your grandfather never remarried. He focused on raising your mother, so he didn't leave her with any brothers."

The eldest princess and the two children were talking about old times.

She would never say this before.

Qu Ling sat up straight and listened attentively.

"Your grandfather was also a third-place scholar, a dashing and charming man, and he was a classmate of my father. I wonder how many people think he is their ideal husband."

"But he went out of the capital on an errand and brought back a woman of unknown origin, your grandmother. He married her despite everyone's opposition."

"My grandmother must have been very beautiful." Qu Ling imagined a peerless and beautiful woman in his mind.

The princess nodded, her gaze far away as if she saw again the woman who had once astonished her. "I've seen her before, under the albizzia tree in the palace. She was wearing a long, clear, azure dress, as cool as the winter snow on the branches."

"Why have I never seen a tree of Albizia Julibrissin in the palace?" Zhao Yuanrong raised his hand.

The princess's face turned cold. "After the late emperor died, the empress dowager ordered it to be chopped off."

"Does grandma often come to the palace?" Qu Ling asked.

She must have been in the palace often, otherwise, how could her mother have such a close relationship with the eldest princess as they grew up together.

"When the Queen Mother was still the Queen, she got along very well with your grandmother and often asked her to bring your mother into the palace," said the eldest princess.

"Your grandmother is talking to the Queen Mother, so I'll take your mother and His Majesty with me to play."

It's a pity that she died too early. Xu Zhaoyue was only five years old when she died.

Duke Dongyang almost lost his soul.

The eldest princess remembered it very clearly because her father had also been seriously ill.

"Your grandfather had no interest in a career in government and only raised your mother. His health was poor, and he passed away when your mother was thirteen. He spent eight years selling off all the property in the mansion for jewelry, jade, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, banknotes, and land deeds, all of which he recorded as your mother's dowry."

The eldest princess was already seventeen years old at that time. The late emperor allowed her to participate in state affairs and took her with him to court.

She heard that the Censorate was criticizing the Earl of Dongyang, saying that the Earl's mansion was a gift from the emperor and that selling it off like this was a complete disregard for the emperor.

When the Duke of Dongyang entered the palace to meet the emperor, the eldest princess hid in the compartment.

She heard a violent quarrel.

The former top scholar in the imperial examination had gray hair at an early age. "My wife died, leaving behind only this daughter. I am also dying soon. She is all alone in the world with no one to protect her. As a father, I can only give her some more money to support herself. Isn't that enough?"

"Azhao is a poor child. Perhaps she will be reunited with us soon."

My father never took out the impeachment letter to read it again.

The year that the Earl of Dongyang died, my father also passed away.

When her father was still conscious, he told her, "You must treat Azhao as your own sister, okay?"

The eldest princess agreed.

She likes Azhao's mother and also likes Azhao. She will take care of Azhao like her own sister and will not let Azhao die.

But Azhao still died.

Died in her princess mansion.

"Yuanrong, you must protect A Ling well, just like your own sister." The eldest princess choked a little.

Zhao Yuanrong nodded seriously.

Qu Ling felt desolate.

In her previous life, the eldest princess watched her mother die, and Zhao Yuanrong watched her die.

It is heartbreaking if you cannot protect what you want.

"Aunt, I want to get my mother's dowry back," Qu Ling made up his mind, "otherwise, the old lady will take it away and give it to the Duke of Suguo's Mansion."

Leaving it with the old lady would offend my grandfather.

The princess was surprised. "Duke Su is the Crown Prince's confidant and the Minister of Revenue. I wonder how many dirty deeds he has done for the Crown Prince over the years and how much wealth he has amassed. How could he be short of money?"

"This requires my aunt to check." Qu Ling smiled.

She asked Cuilu to reveal this news to Song. In order to get back her half of the dowry and the power to manage the family, Song would definitely investigate it carefully.

No matter who finds out, Qu Mingyue will be in big trouble.

It would be best if the Crown Prince could cut off the arm of Duke Suguo.

"A Ling is amazing." The eldest princess smiled and touched her head. "She looks more like a sister than Yuan Rong."

Zhao Yuanrong hugged Qu Ling distressedly, "I have my mother to protect me, and my uncle loves me too, so naturally I don't have to work so hard."

As they were talking, a servant came to report, "The prince is here."

"What is he doing here at this time?" Zhao Yuanrong was unhappy. "A Ling is still here. I'll take A Ling away first."

"I asked him to come," the eldest princess scolded gently, "He is your brother, you can't be so rude."

Zhao Yuanrong muttered to Qu Ling, "What kind of brother is he? He and I have neither the same mother nor the same father."

Hearing footsteps, Qu Ling looked up.

A tall figure stepped in.

Pei Jingming was indeed as the rumors said, extremely handsome and charming.

"Greetings, mother." He bowed to the eldest princess, his voice as clear and sweet as the sound of jade colliding.

"You are not allowed to call me mother!" Zhao Yuanrong frowned.

The princess glared at her before saying to Pei Jingming, "I have an errand for you to do."

"Mother ordered."

He did not change his words, which made Zhao Yuanrong so angry that he took a deep breath.

Qu Ling patted her hands in amusement.

The princess glanced at Qu Ling and said, "I have asked for an imperial decree for A Ling. Her birthday banquet is in a few days. Then, you will be the one to announce the decree, right?"

Pei Jingming chuckled, but did not refuse. "As you wish, son."

Zhao Yuanrong winked at Qu Ling, trying to find a partner for you.