Being a second wife is difficult.

Jiang Ruoqing sometimes deeply understands this.

Despite being her older sister, Jiang Tian and Jiang Tian didn't actually have much interaction on a daily basis.

My eldest sister's uncle was a brave and skilled general who also loved her very much. When she was a child, he took her to live on the border and sent her back several years later.

Her mother, being a noble lady, never spoke a word to the concubine's daughter, and naturally wouldn't allow her eldest daughter to have too much contact with the concubine's child.

Moreover, the two are so far apart in age.

As a result, Jiang Ruoqing was actually quite unfamiliar with her elder sister.

But from a young age, she grew up hearing about her elder sister's reputation.

After all, Jiang Tian was a noblewoman carefully cultivated by the Jiang family, and her father wanted her to further contribute to his career.

Jiang Tian comes from a good family, is good-looking, and has a gentle and compliant personality. Marrying into a good family was a simple and easy thing for her.

With her uncle around, she was even more powerful.

Thus, Jiang Tian naturally married Lu Zhixing.

Back then, Lu Zhixing was one of the most handsome and refined young men in the capital.

The title of the heir of the Duke's mansion alone is enough to make countless young girls' hearts flutter.

After his elder sister married him, she was also praised by others for marrying into a blessed family.

She had neither a wicked mother-in-law nor a meddlesome father-in-law; all she needed to do was maintain the demeanor of a good lady.

Enjoying all the glory of being the wife of the Duke's heir, her life was naturally the envy of many.

But after actually marrying into the family, Jiang Ruoqing realized just how much hardship lay behind this position.

Managing such a large Duke's mansion so well is no easy feat for a woman.

Unfortunately, so what?

In the end, she passed away too soon.

She was a victim of political power.

Jiang Ruoqing considered herself a salted fish, unable to fight against the world, and without the determination to fight.

She just wants to live her own little life.

She'll repay the favor she got from her older sister.

She will take good care of Jiang Tian's two sons and will not harm them secretly.

But those two children... Jiang Ruoqing gets a headache every time she thinks about them.

They were corrupted by their wet nurse.

As the biological father, Lu Zhixing rarely worried about his two children's studies.

However, a child's manners need to be cultivated gradually. Their wet nurse was illiterate, mean, and rude, and Jiang Ruoqing disliked her extremely.

There's nothing that can be done if they don't like it; those two young masters still love listening to their wet nurse.

Jiang Ruoqing had intended to mention it to Lu Zhixing, but since she had only recently married into the family, it might cause her trouble, so she chose to remain silent for the time being.

Once she gets pregnant, she'll have more say and be able to make her point.

"You're right, I've already had people prepare for it."

Jiang Ruoqing smiled as she answered Lu Zhixing.

Lu Zhixing patted her hand, his tone gratified: "That's good. With Jiang Tian having you as her sister, I can rest assured."

Jiang Ruoqing lowered her eyes, smiling silently.

She was very fond of this young man.

After all, finding a perfect man in this world is a pipe dream.

She didn't harbor such thoughts; she only wished to live a good life and avoid any hardships.

On the other side, Jiang Tian quickly moved into the East Palace.

Just as Yuan Ye had said, he brought in quite a few women to accompany Jiang Tian.

The crown prince, as the heir apparent, is not interested in women and has no woman by his side, which has caused many people to worry about him.

Yuan Ye has a next generation, and his followers will be even more convinced.

Moreover, everyone has heard about the conflict between the Crown Prince and the Emperor.

The reason why the news of the emperor stabbing the crown prince while drunk was leaked was because someone with ulterior motives spread the word.

They urged everyone to consider whether Yuan Ye could truly hold onto his position as crown prince, and whether they needed to seek a different ruler.

But those upright ministers will not side with others.

The emperor only has one son. If he doesn't pass the throne to the crown prince, what else can he do?

Does he intend to have another child?

But the emperor could no longer have any more children.

Such a vast country was destroyed in the hands of the emperor; those with lofty ideals could not bear it.

Therefore, even though Yuan Ye had no women, everyone still supported him and hoped that he could ascend the throne as soon as possible and usher in the next golden age.

They had witnessed the turmoil in the country.

How could a minister who cares deeply for his country and its people tolerate the actions of some despicable people who want to steal the country for their own benefit?

Now that they learned that the Crown Prince was willing to bring several women to his inner quarters, many officials were very pleased.

They all hinted to Yuan Ye that he should quickly leave some offspring for the royal family.

While the emperor was engrossed in alchemy, he met Yuan Ye once.

The emperor had very mixed feelings about this son.

When Yuan Ye was a child, the emperor naturally adored his son.

After all, he was his bloodline and his only flesh and blood.

He was happy to do many things for him.

But later, the emperor grew old, and a new tiger quickly rose up.

As a father, he hoped his son would be safe and sound, but as an emperor, he did not want anyone to covet his throne—that would be a provocation.

Upon learning that his son wanted to have children, the emperor had no objections.

They are all his children. Previously, the Crown Prince insisted on marrying his principal wife before promoting other women, which the Emperor strongly disagreed with.

The Yuan family has too few offspring. Yuan Ye has no next generation, which is actually quite dangerous—if something happens to him, who will inherit the throne?

The old emperor did not reveal his more secret thoughts—if the crown prince had an heir, then the emperor could support his grandson.

He is so wary of the Crown Prince now, but he will not be wary of his grandson.

When a new son is born into the Yuan family, deposing the crown prince and installing a grandson in his place would be another option.

It wouldn't be unreasonable for him to let his grandson ascend the throne when he passes away peacefully.

As long as we don't take away his power, that's fine.

Yuan Ye understood the emperor's intentions, which is why she was unwilling to have children.

He didn't want the emperor to stay on top for so long.

He is now being secretly cursed as incompetent and tyrannical, having been in power for too long, and countless people have died as a result.

Even though that was his father, Yuan Ye could no longer continue to indulge him.

The father and son's communication had long since lost its true feelings; it was merely a matter of superficial politeness.

The old emperor specifically instructed Yuan Ye to make sure his women conceived children as soon as possible.

Yuan Ye outwardly agreed, but once outside, when no one could see him, his expression darkened.

The emperor's hair had turned whiter, and his eyes had become increasingly cloudy.

He couldn't imagine how many decrees a mentally unstable old man in that position would issue, causing countless innocent deaths.

Back at the East Palace, his expression remained unchanged until he saw Jiang Tian, ​​at which point his gaze softened little by little.

Yuan Ye's meeting with the emperor this time was not without its merits; at least he managed to secure a concubine position for Jiang Tian.