Chapter 284 What does it mean when the maternal family isn't doing their job?

Jiang Fenghua said directly, "Today, Consort Tang hit Consort Song, and I haven't found an excuse to explain to Your Highness yet, since it's an undeniable fact that Your Highness likes Consort Song."

She then turned to Tang Qianran and said, "I would also like to ask Consort Tang, you struck the person His Highness cherishes most. How do you plan to explain this to His Highness?"

Tang Qianran was stunned and didn't know how to answer. She thought that the Crown Prince's heart belonged to the Crown Princess, but the Crown Prince favored Consort Song. She never expected that she would go to the Crown Prince's presence every day, but the Crown Prince would not touch her.

It was clearly the Empress who sent her! But she couldn't say these things in front of the Crown Princess.

"Since Consort Tang doesn't know how to respond, and now that the Empress Dowager has asked me to ask His Highness why he doesn't favor her, what do you think I should say?"

For a moment, even the Empress was speechless.

Jiang Fenghua softened her voice again, with a hint of grievance in it, "Even though Consort Tang struck first, I didn't punish her today. I just made her apologize to Consort Song, hoping they would settle things peacefully so that it wouldn't reach His Highness's ears and displease him."

It seems the daughter-in-law made a mistake. A thorough investigation should have been conducted then to uncover the truth and let everyone judge who was at fault.

Upon hearing this, the Empress was speechless and unable to move her hands and feet. After a long while, she finally said, "Ruan Ruan, that's not what I meant."

"Qianran, hurry up and thank the Crown Princess for getting you out of trouble today."

"Thanks……"

Jiang Fenghua quickly stopped her, "No need to thank me. I'm not helping you today. It's just that this is the only way I can think of to keep things quiet and avoid making a fool of ourselves in the palace." Now that Tang Qianran has complained to the Empress, isn't this just a joke?

Jiang Fenghua refused to back down in the slightest, and Tang Qianran's plan to have the Empress intervene and pressure her was a miscalculation.

Upon hearing this, Tang Qianran immediately knelt before Jiang Fenghua, saying, "I know I was wrong, Your Highness, please calm down."

Jiang Fenghua bowed respectfully to the Empress, "Your Majesty, I will take my leave now. Yan'er and Hongyou are still in Chenxi Palace. It's so late, I would like to go see the children first."

"Go quickly, the child is more important." The Empress couldn't wait for her to leave, otherwise she would lose all face.

This matter should be addressed directly with the Crown Prince, not the Crown Princess.

As Jiang Fenghua came out of Kunning Palace, she happened to run into Consort Yan, who came to pay her respects to the Empress.

Jiang Fenghua greeted her politely, "May Consort Yan be well."

Consort Yan still looked like a resentful woman, her brows furrowed as if she were often angry.

Consort Yan said sarcastically, "What's so good about me? I haven't even congratulated the Crown Princess yet. The Crown Princess is the one who's good."

Jiang Fenghua really didn't know how to respond to her words, and then she thought of how Consort Yan had a firm grip on Luo Ziqiong.

They're both women, so why should women make things difficult for each other? Even if we take a step back, Luo Ziqiong and Yan Fei are from the same clan and are both daughters of the Luo family. Why doesn't she care about her niece and nephew?

It's just that her son is definitely closer to her than her nephews and nieces, so when her son bullies her nephews and nieces, she bullies them too.

Wasn't it Consort Yan who personally went to their door to ask to marry him back then?

Thinking of this, Jiang Fenghua couldn't help but ask, "Has the Second Prince not been promoted?"

Consort Yan was stunned, not understanding why.

Jiang Fenghua said with a smile, "His Highness the Crown Prince and the Second Prince went out of the capital to fight off the enemy. I heard that everyone who followed the Crown Prince to the battlefield made merits and was rewarded by the Emperor. Only the Second Prince is still standing still. Is it because his maternal family is not helpful? Or is he incompatible with someone's birth chart?"

"It shouldn't be that the Second Prince's wife wasn't helpful to him; she was even rewarded by the Emperor for her merits in the capital." Jiang Fenghua said, "I'll head back now. Goodbye, Consort Yan!"

Consort Yan could not understand what she was saying.

What do you mean by "the maternal side is not supporting us"?

Isn't Yu'er's maternal family the same as Luo Ziqiong's family? Isn't it the Luo family?

Consort Yan was also from the Luo family, but she and Luo Ziqiong's family were only related by the same clan, and the two families were far apart.

Over the years, the Luo family has indeed not been of any help to Yu'er. Back then, it was she who wanted to arrange a marriage with the Luo family, but she did not expect that Luo Ziqiong would not only be unable to have children, but also cause Yu'er's career to be unsuccessful.

Consort Yan muttered to herself, and without paying her respects to the Empress, she turned and left Kunning Palace.

Michelle Reis's birth chart must clash with Yu'er's; otherwise, why would Yu'er have so many misfortunes?

-

Meanwhile, the Emperor also approved the Crown Prince's request to hold a military examination.

With a look of praise, the emperor said in a deep voice, "The people from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War assisted the Crown Prince in accomplishing this task, all for the purpose of selecting capable individuals for the Great Zhou. This matter is of utmost urgency, so let's get started!"

"Yes." The Ministers of Rites and War stepped forward one after another.

As soon as Xie Shang left the Golden Palace, the Minister of Rites and the Minister of War caught up with him.

Minister Li then asked, "Your Highness, how should this proclamation be written? Should it be made public, or..."

"What does Minister Li mean?" Xie Shang asked in a deep voice.

Minister Li respectfully replied, "In previous years, the Ministry of War selected military officers by choosing outstanding individuals from various military camps to compete, and then promoting them from among them. This has been the usual practice over the years."

Minister Li, seeking only stability, added, "The military camp is also full of talented individuals. I have almost fully understood Your Highness's suggestion to the Emperor. These are all matters within my purview. Once I have made the arrangements, I will request the Ministry of Rites to issue the announcements to the army..."

Upon hearing this, Xie Shang felt a surge of anger. "I understand what Minister Li means. He means that the talents I need can only be selected from the military camp. Why should I hold this military examination? Why don't you gentlemen just nominate them directly, and you can decide who gets promoted?"

The Crown Prince's outburst startled Minister Li and Minister You, who both broke out in a cold sweat and added, "Your Highness, please calm down. This is the usual procedure..."

Xie Shang knew that the officials in the court had become accustomed to a good life and were all quite complacent.

He's just starting to reform the court, and he can't afford to offend everyone.

His art of governing officials was also methodical. He suppressed his anger and explained in a deep voice, "It's all my fault for not explaining clearly to Father Emperor earlier. My purpose is not just to have a general, but to select capable people from among the people of Great Zhou to serve the court. The court's selection of the martial arts champion is only one of the purposes; more importantly..."

Finally, he solemnly reminded everyone, "Even when selecting military generals, noble character is the most important thing. Those who lack character and virtue are unlikely to shoulder heavy responsibilities."

Upon hearing this, Minister Li felt a deep sense of respect and said, "Your Highness's meaning is clear to me."

Xie Shang gave Minister Li a deep look and said, "I know that Minister Li's ability is beyond doubt. I have heard that Minister Li's son, Li Cheng, is serving in the army. I have also heard some bad rumors. Minister Li, please give him some advice. If I hear anything about Li's character, I will not mind disciplining his son on behalf of Minister Li."