Chapter 279 Jealousy

Upon hearing Consort Jing say this, the Empress Dowager began to sway back and forth again.

"Yes, what a coincidence! Could they have ulterior motives? I also feel like something's not quite right."

Huo Ran sighed inwardly. It seemed that Jiang Mi still couldn't be allowed to come into contact with the people in the palace. He wondered why Consort Jing was so hostile towards Jiang Mi. Could it be because of Eunuch Zhang's praise of her?

A woman's jealousy is indeed extremely terrifying.

"It is indeed a coincidence. I know their family best. They are all very good people. Since they can produce two talented scholars who are recognized by the Emperor, their family members must also be talented. I think the Emperor is sure he won't misjudge this."

Hearing Huo Ran bring up the Emperor, Consort Jing naturally couldn't say anything bad about the Jiang family anymore. She couldn't possibly go against the Emperor, could she?

The Empress Dowager agreed, saying, "I trust the Emperor's judgment. I've also heard that those two talented men are twins. The Jiang family is truly blessed to have such a beautiful daughter. It's enviable. I'd like to see what that family is like if I have the chance."

Consort Jing was clever, and upon hearing this, she stopped speaking ill of the Jiang family: "I have also heard that the Jiang family members are all talented and handsome, but unfortunately they are already married, and it seems that the younger one already has a child."

The Empress Dowager said with a regretful expression, "Is that so? I was thinking of betrothing some of the young ladies in our capital to them, which would have been a beautiful marriage. But since they are already married, let's just leave it at that. It wouldn't be good to delay their relationship."

Consort Jing smiled and said, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has always been considerate of others. However, when these two talented men married, their social status was completely different from what it is now. Perhaps they never imagined things would turn out this way. Otherwise, who wouldn't want to marry a daughter from our capital, someone with power and influence, someone who is a good match? Nowadays, many people looking for sons-in-law prefer talented men with such potential. If Your Majesty truly approves of them, you can personally bestow marriage upon them. I'm sure they wouldn't refuse. This would be an immense favor, something they would be more than happy to receive."

The Empress Dowager hesitated and said, "Isn't this inappropriate? It's unfair to the man's original wife and the young girl if we bestow a marriage upon them like this. Which one will be the elder and which one the younger?"

Consort Jing thought for a moment and said, "It's not really appropriate to make their daughter a concubine. Why not just make their original wives suffer a bit? At most, they can be considered equal wives. It's not like we're mistreating them, considering their status."

The Empress Dowager hesitated and did not agree with Consort Jing's suggestion, feeling that this method was not good.

Consort Jing then looked at Huo Ran and asked, "What does Your Highness think? Do you also think my idea is good?"

Huo Ran gave a faint smile and said, "This humble subject does not understand these matters, so I do not know what to say. From an emotional point of view, this humble subject feels that it is not appropriate to do this. After all, the two people have a good relationship. Even if Your Majesty wishes to grant them a marriage, Your Majesty should ask both parties for their consent."

Consort Jing frowned slightly upon hearing this. She felt that Huo Ran had been working against her all day. No matter what she said, Huo Ran always did the opposite. Then she thought, could it be that the thousand-year-old iron tree was about to bloom for the sake of that Jiang family girl? That was interesting. In that case, she became even more interested in that Jiang girl.

"Since when has a royal marriage required anyone else's permission? This is a royal decree, not a matchmaker's arrangement. Has the young master gone mad, or has someone bewitched him?"

The Empress Dowager was a reasonable person and cared about matters of the heart: "Let's just forget about it. If we end up as a pair of resentful lovers, it will be my fault. My intentions were good, but I didn't want to do something bad with good intentions. Since they already have wives and children, let's not cause them any trouble. Consort Jing, we are all women. Who doesn't want their husband to only have us in his heart? We are in the deep palace and have no choice in our actions, but they still have the chance to grow old together."

Consort Jing nodded upon hearing this: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is so kind. I was only thinking about not letting those two talented men go to waste, and I didn't think of so many other things. It is thanks to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager's guidance that I was able to think of this."

The Empress Dowager laughed: "How could you not have thought of that?"

"You're so clever; you're the most astute person in the entire harem."

Consort Jing leaned on the Empress Dowager's shoulder and said coquettishly, "In front of Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, I am just a fool. Only Your Majesty the Empress Dowager does not despise me. I am willing to always be filial to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager affectionately stroked Consort Jing's hair: "Alright, alright, you're almost forty years old, yet you still act like a child in front of me. I know you're a filial and good child; you're the most thoughtful."

Consort Jing said proudly, "Even if I am eighty years old, I am still a child in front of the Empress Dowager."

In front of Huo Ran, Consort Jing did not act too outrageously. Just then, Eunuch Zhang came over to pay his respects: "Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. The Heir Apparent is also here."

The Empress Dowager nodded: "Has His Majesty woken up from his afternoon nap?"

Eunuch Zhang said with a smile, "Yes, as soon as she woke up, she said she wanted this servant to invite Consort Jing over. When she saw that Consort Jing was not in Kunning Palace, she knew that Consort Jing must be with the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager nodded: "Consort Jing is filial and often comes to my place to talk with me. She is a thoughtful and good child. Alright, Consort Jing, you should go back now. I need to talk to the Crown Prince."

Consort Jing rose and bowed to the Empress Dowager. When she walked to Huo Ran's side, she said with a smile, "Then I'll trouble the young master to keep Her Majesty company for a chat."

Huo Ran lowered his head and said, "This is what I should do."

Consort Jing merely chuckled and left. Huo Ran felt uneasy. Consort Jing's ability to maintain her favor for so many years indicated she possessed not only beauty but also cunning. If Jiang Mi caught Consort Jing's eye, things would be dire. Moreover, Consort Jing was Liu Zijun's aunt; if he wanted to marry Jiang Mi, it seemed he would be offending the Liu family.

"Ran'er, I heard that you are not very satisfied with your marriage to the eldest daughter of the Liu family. Is that true?"

The Empress Dowager looked worried, knowing that Huo Ran genuinely cared about her, and thus found it difficult to treat her coldly.

"Your Majesty, I know you mean well, but I really have no feelings for Liu Zijun, and I don't want to marry her. She's a spoiled rich girl who's been pampered since childhood, and you know I dislike that kind of person the most. So for her sake, let's just call it off."