Song Hongshen thought she was here to take credit. After all, it had only been half a month, and she had practically cleaned up the Eastern Palace.
But after Su Zhilan sat down in the study, she handed Song Hongshen a piece of paper.
"This is the dowry that we, as brother and sister-in-law, want to give to Wanwan for her wedding. Your Highness, please take a look and see if there is anything wrong with it."
Song Hongshen stared at Su Zhilan in astonishment and said teasingly, "You are really conscientious in handling official business."
Su Zhilan raised her eyebrows, "Of course, my brother said that if I were a man, I could be the Minister of Works."
At this point, Su Zhilan continued, "I handled my duties well. Does His Highness have any reward?"
Song Hongshen was stunned. "What do you want?"
Su Zhilan smiled slyly, "I want to go to the Arms Administration and see how they make firearms."
Song Hongshen suddenly realized that this was Su Zhilan.
How could she be willing to deal with the trivial matters in the inner house?
Song Hongshen put down the pen in his hand, leaned back, and looked at Su Zhilan with a smile in his eyes.
"Did you only have this idea today?"
Su Zhilan shook her head and said, "I wanted to see it before entering the palace."
Song Hongshen asked again, "Then why did you only tell me today?"
Su Zhilan said embarrassedly: "I have to do my part before asking for anything."
Song Hongshen thought for a moment and said, "Actually, there's no need to do that. You can let the people below take care of these trivial matters in the East Palace."
"If you like firearms, I'll take you to the Arsenal. If you like shipbuilding and carbuilding, I'll take you to the Ministry of Industry."
Su Zhilan was stunned for a moment, "But I am the Crown Princess, and my mother said that it is my responsibility to manage the Eastern Palace."
Song Hongshen looked at her lovingly, stood up, walked to her side, and rubbed her head with his hand.
"No need, just do whatever you want."
After saying that, he took her cloak, helped her put it on, and said, "Let's go."
Su Zhilan was puzzled, "Where are you going?"
"Arms Supervisor, don't you want to see how they make firearms?"
Without waiting for Su Zhilan to react, he took her out.
After that day, Su Zhilan spent most of her time in the study, looking at firearms blueprints. Sometimes she would write and draw, and sometimes she would even make some gunpowder in the backyard.
The trivial matters of the Eastern Palace were indeed handed over to the eunuch in charge and the new palace maid in charge.
They couldn't make the decision, so they went to ask Su Zhilan.
Later, Song Hongshen ordered that all these matters should be asked to him and not to disturb the Crown Princess.
After the New Year, Su Zhilan got the opportunity to leave the palace twice.
One was on the 18th day of the first lunar month, when Song Wanwan got married. Another was on the 6th day of the third lunar month, when Su Shunci got married.
At the end of March, the Su family welcomed another happy event.
Su Yuanyi performed extremely well in the palace examination and was chosen as the third place by the emperor.
When the news reached the Eastern Palace, Su Zhilan was extremely excited, and the entire Eastern Palace rewarded her with three months' salary.
But when she was happy, the other concubines and ladies in the Eastern Palace could no longer sit still.
The Crown Princess's brother was the third in the imperial examination, which also consolidated the Crown Princess's position.
Another thing is that the Crown Princess will have her coming-of-age ceremony in May.
But His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has not even glanced at them yet, and by the time the Crown Princess consummates her marriage, they will have lost the initiative.
That day, the emperor listened to several Taoist priests preaching in the Taiqing Palace built within the palace.
In Guanju Palace, Aunt Wan, who was beside Jiang Ziyan, quickly walked into the main hall and took out a letter from her bosom.
"My Lady, this was sent in from the Marquis' Mansion."
Jiang Ziyan took a look at the words on the envelope and knew that it was written by her father, Marquis Jingyuan.
She could guess what was inside without even opening it.
After a long while, Jiang Ziyan opened the letter and read it quickly.
Aunt Wan observed her expression and asked cautiously, "My Lord, are you still talking about that matter?"
Jiang Ziyan threw the letter aside and said unhappily, "I don't know what my father is thinking. Is it my turn to decide whether Jiang Shuyun can be favored?"
"Can I still force His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to favor her?"
In fact, she knew what her father meant. If Jiang Shuyun could win the favor of the prince, it would be a double guarantee for the Jiang family.
If Jiang Shuyun could ascend to the throne, the Jiang family would have nothing to fear and would be able to maintain prosperity for three generations.
Now the Jiang family only follows my father's lead, so my father naturally considers the entire Jiang family.
But what her father didn't know was that she had already exhausted all means to get to where she is today, so how could she have the energy to care about Jiang Shuyun's affairs?
She also didn't want to offend the prince, she wanted to leave a way out for her and her son.
The Crown Prince is a man of deep thoughts and ruthless methods, and she really doesn't want to get involved in the affairs of the Eastern Palace.
Aunt Wan thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, you shouldn't make things too awkward with the Marquis's Mansion. After all, it's your natal family, and also the Eighth Prince's maternal family."
"In my opinion, Your Majesty should teach Miss Shuyun some tricks. Whether it will succeed or not depends entirely on her."
"Even if something unexpected happens, does she still dare to blame it on the Empress? The Jiang family won't agree."
Jiang Ziyan lowered her head and thought about what Aunt Wan said, and felt that there was some truth to it.
Before she could figure out what to do, a palace maid came in and announced, "Your Majesty, Concubine Jiang is here."
"Come in."
Not long after, Jiang Shuyun walked in and bowed to Jiang Ziyan, saying, "Greetings to Seventh Aunt."
Jiang Ziyan smiled and said, "There's no need to be polite when we're family. Come on, get up and sit down."
After Jiang Shuyun sat down, she began to speak, "My niece received a letter from home today, saying that Seventh Auntie could help my niece gain the favor of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"Seventh Aunt, do you have any ideas?"
Jiang Ziyan secretly blamed her father for forcing her to make profits for the Jiang family.
But now that things have come to this, she has no choice.
Jiang Ziyan thought for a moment and said, "There is only one way right now, which is to use external forces to allow you and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to have sex first."
Jiang Shuyun hesitated, "But His Highness... doesn't seem to be interested in women. He didn't consummate his marriage with the Crown Princess, and he doesn't have any other concubines around him."
"I originally wanted to find an opportunity to contact His Highness and let him see my good qualities."
Jiang Ziyan shook her head and said, "Then how long do we have to wait?"
"Don't worry about whether His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is interested in women. Just find a way to make him feel good, and everything else will be easy."
"This cat, after eating the fish, can't stand it anymore."
"When the time comes, you'll be by his side every day. Are you still worried that he won't dote on you? When you're making love, if you ask him who the Crown Princess is, I guarantee he won't be able to answer."
In Jiang Ziyan's view, they are all men, there is no difference.
Jiang Shuyun blushed and couldn't help asking, "Then how can I share a room with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? He lives alone now, so why don't I just go over tonight?"
Jiang Ziyan glanced at him sideways, "Do you think the guards around him are all vegetarians?"
"We need to plan this matter carefully."