The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the armrest of the nanmu chair. "He promised me that he would marry Yue Niang as Empress. What will Yue Niang think if this notice is posted?"

"My second son has always been a man of his own mind. He never consults me about anything. How can I not be anxious? What will happen to my precious grandson if he makes another woman his empress?"

The Empress Dowager was filled with anxiety, her chest heaving with anger.

Aunt Cai hurriedly stepped forward to help the Empress Dowager catch her breath.

"Your Majesty, please don't worry. Master Huiyuan's calculation of that destiny is unique, and not many people fit it. The position of Empress is rightfully Jiang's; others can only see it but cannot touch it."

"There is no such thing as a unique destiny in the world. What if, and I mean, what if another woman also fits this description?"

The Empress Dowager is right. Children are born every day, and there are bound to be some who are born at the same time.

A moment later, Aunt Cai saw that the Empress Dowager had recovered her breath and poured her a cup of hot tea.

"Your Majesty need not worry. The vast harem is empty. At worst, we can just appoint a few more talented ladies and beautiful ladies. The position of Empress will not fall into the hands of anyone else."

In this era, it was common for even moderately wealthy families to have multiple wives and concubines, let alone the emperor.

The idea of ​​one person for life, one love for one lifetime, is not even found in the traditional storybooks of this era.

The Empress Dowager and Aunt Cai naturally had no idea that what Jiang Shuyue feared most was that many people would share dirty cucumbers, and even fight to the death over them.

The Empress Dowager took the hot tea, sipped it a few times, and calmed her excited emotions before saying to Aunt Cai:

"Send someone to investigate outside the palace and see what rumors are circulating. It would be best to find out which families have daughters whose fates match what Master Huiyuan said."

Aunt Cai nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, this old servant will make the arrangements right away."

Aunt Cai had just taken two steps back when the Empress Dowager called out again, "Wait, go find Xiangyang and tell him to wait outside the Imperial Academy. He can bring Sui Sui to Cining Palace after school."

"This old servant will go and instruct the kitchen to prepare pastries so that the young master can have some hot food as soon as he gets out of school."

Aunt Cai's heart melted as she thought of Sui Sui's adorable little face.

After Aunt Cai left, the Empress Dowager sent a palace maid to Yonghe Palace to summon Princess Yonghe.

"Mother, is there something you need from your son?"

Yonghe has been busy these past few days, with daughters of ministers of similar age coming to the palace one after another to personally invite her to admire the plum blossoms.

The noble ladies' invitation to admire the plum blossoms was a pretense; their real intention was to befriend her.

In noble families, no mistress is stupid; there are plenty of people with eight hundred cunning minds.

The noble ladies' eyes were all fixed on the emperor's empty harem.

As long as they get closer to Princess Yonghe, they will naturally have a better chance of being favored than others when they enter the palace.

The Empress Dowager preferred tranquility, and when noble ladies wanted to come to Cining Palace to pay their respects, Yonghe politely declined them all.

The Empress Dowager looked up at her daughter, who had grown into a graceful young woman.

He asked with concern, "Have you heard anything about your brother's selection of a concubine?"

Yonghe shook his head, "My daughter doesn't know."

"What is the Empress Dowager worried about? Or has something happened in the court?"

Seeing his mother's worried expression, Yonghe stepped forward, took the Empress Dowager's hand, and asked.

The Empress Dowager got up and led her daughter to sit on the chaise longue in the main hall.

When the palace maids saw that Princess Yonghe had taken her seat, they quickly served her tea.

"Recently, court officials have been urging your elder brother to select a consort, and some ministers have come to Cining Palace under the guise of paying their respects to the emperor, saying that the emperor's harem is empty, which is not good for the country and the people. They should select a consort and establish an empress so that a crown prince can be born as soon as possible."

Yonghe looked up and asked, "Does Mother have someone in mind?"

"What good is it if the Empress Dowager likes someone? It's up to your elder brother to like him. The Empress Dowager hopes that the head of the palace will be Sui Sui's mother."

The Empress Dowager then recounted how Master Huiyuan entered the palace and how the notice was posted.

Yonghe lowered his phoenix eyes slightly, "Mother, don't worry. My brother has his reasons for doing this. I saw it when my sister and I were in the Jiang residence. Sister Jiang likes to be free and unrestrained. It is probably not what she wants to be confined to the inner palace."

The Empress Dowager tightened her grip on her daughter's hand. "I hope she becomes Empress and Crown Prince every year, and that the whole family lives in harmony and happiness. That's what life is all about."

After speaking, the Empress Dowager looked somber. "Your father is now stationed in Yannan, and your eldest brother should be getting married soon. Your mother is feeling uneasy in Cining Palace. If it weren't for worrying about your second brother, I would have returned to Yannan."

Yonghe understood his mother's feelings very well. His parents had a very good relationship. In the past, his father often went to the frontier, and he would be gone for several months at a time. His mother especially cherished the days when his father was at home.

The eldest prince and Miss Su's relationship must be growing stronger, it's time to celebrate.

Yonghe had a sudden inspiration. “Mother, Second Brother is methodical in his actions. There will still be some time between the announcement being posted and the actual selection of concubines. Why don’t you write a letter to Father and ask him to bring Eldest Brother to the capital to marry Miss Su?”

“Now that peace has just been restored to the border of Yannan, your father cannot leave Yannan. The climate in the capital is too cold, and your eldest brother has just recovered from his illness. The climate there is more suitable for him.”

The Empress Dowager's gaze lingered on Yonghe's face. "You've reached the age for marriage, and your mother also wishes to find you a suitable husband."

"Remember when your mother mentioned Xiangzhi to you? He and your second brother are like brothers, although he's a bit unconventional."

But he is an upright and kind-hearted man, and there are no shady people around him. If you think he is a good match, your mother will arrange your marriage.

"Mother, Prime Minister Lin is irresponsible and unreliable. Who would have thought he would be like this..."

Yonghe blushed and continued, "I want to stay with Mother. I'm not in a hurry. Let's get my eldest brother's marriage settled first."

Yonghe is beautiful and intelligent, with a quiet and gentle personality.

Upon closer reflection, Lin Xiangzhi was not without merits; for example, he delivered grain to the capital, relieving the emperor's urgent crisis.

He also helped refugees when he was in Yannan, so there was nothing wrong with him.

She hoped that her future husband would not be married to her by imperial decree.

Rather, it is about knowing oneself, like the spring breeze knowing the season of flowers; getting to know oneself, like a wine connoisseur knowing the mellowness of wine; and accompanying oneself, like a shadow following one another.

Seeing her daughter's shyness, the Empress Dowager patted the back of her hand and said, "A daughter will eventually get married. Think carefully about what I'm saying. If you have someone you like, you can tell me directly."

"No, Mother, please arrange the marriages of my brothers first. I'll return to the palace now." Yonghe said, then rose to take her leave.

After leaving Cining Palace, Yonghe hesitated for a moment before heading towards the Imperial Study.

The Empress Dowager has too many concerns, so she needs to talk to the Second Prince and ask him to subtly encourage her so that the Empress Dowager will be determined to return to Yannan.

She sent the palace maids who had accompanied her back to Yonghe Palace, and only took Lanzhi, the personal maid that Yan Nan had brought with her.

The master and servant walked and talked as they came to the palace road outside the imperial study.

Lanzhi looked up and saw a dashing figure walking towards her.

She quickly stepped forward and tugged at Yonghe's sleeve, "Princess, there are men of questionable character ahead. Should we take another route?"

Yonghe always valued rules and regulations, and he immediately stopped when he heard Lanzhi's reminder.

Looking up, I saw a familiar figure walking towards me.

"Zhilan, let's take another route." Yonghe panicked and turned to walk towards the palace path on the right.

After walking for about two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), they finally saw that the end of the palace road was a wall.

"Greetings, Princess."

Behind him was the clear, melodious voice of a young man.