Chapter 113: Starting with the Crown Prince

"Miss Yan Er and Miss Yan San went to the Eastern Palace yesterday?" Jiang Zhaoyue asked innocently, "When did they go yesterday?"

"Don't the Crown Princess know?" the Queen asked with a frown.

"My daughter-in-law was in the backyard yesterday and didn't know about this." Jiang Zhaoyue said it as if it were true.

The queen glanced at Yan Zhiyi and Yan Manyi out of the corner of her eye.

"Second Miss Yan, Third Miss Yan." Jiang Zhaoyue looked at the two and asked very gently, "Did you go to the East Palace yesterday to pay your respects to me?"

Of course not!

Yan Zhiyi felt a little embarrassed.

Yan Manyi is one year younger than Yan Zhiyi. She has been chasing Yan Zhiyi around since she was a child, and naturally got to know Pei Jingzhou.

At first, she just chased after him and called him brother, but as she grew older, she developed feelings for Pei Jingzhou.

But Pei Jingzhou insisted on marrying Jiang Zhaoyue, who had a very bad reputation.

She was unwilling to submit to being the concubine of the second son of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, and was therefore sad for a long time.

Who knew that Pei Jingzhou would suddenly become the current crown prince.

The Crown Prince’s concubine...will become a concubine, imperial concubine, noble concubine, or possibly the Empress in the future.

Didn’t my aunt become the current Empress after Empress Yuan passed away?

She was no longer sad.

When she was thinking about how to enter the Eastern Palace, her aunt took her and Yan Zhiyi to Shunning Palace for a short stay, and expressed her hope that they could become a member of Pei Jingzhou's harem, enjoying the glory and wealth while also contributing to the Yan family.

Doesn't this mean that when you feel sleepy, someone will give you a pillow?

She lived happily in Shunning Palace, dressing up every day and waiting patiently.

One day.

One day.

Another day.

Pei Jingzhou finally arrived.

After not seeing each other for half a year, Pei Jingzhou is more dignified and handsome than before, and his natural coolness and indifference are intoxicating.

Just one look and she couldn't help blushing and her heart beating fast, and she became more determined to be with Pei Jingzhou.

But Pei Jingzhou didn't even look at her from beginning to end.

She was unwilling to give up, so after breakfast, she took Yan Zhiyi to the East Palace, wanting to reminisce with Pei Jingzhou, but was ruthlessly rejected.

She didn't believe that Pei Jingzhou did it, it must be Jiang Zhaoyue who was behind it.

She angrily returned to Shunning Palace with Yan Zhiyi and told her aunt about this.

She could see that her aunt was very angry, and she was secretly happy. She waited quietly for her aunt to punish Jiang Zhaoyue. She could also take the opportunity to get closer to Pei Jingzhou.

As a result, Jiang Zhaoyue acted as if he knew nothing and even asked her if she went to the East Palace to pay her respects to him.

What's up?

Are you acting like a princess here?

She suppressed her displeasure and said respectfully, "Crown Princess, my second cousin and I have known His Royal Highness the Crown Prince since we were young. We haven't seen each other for a long time, so naturally we need to pay our respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and also to His Royal Highness the Crown Princess."

"Oh, you came to pay your respects to His Highness. The palace maid should have passed the message to His Highness, but His Highness happened to be busy, so he refused to see you." Jiang Zhaoyue explained and turned to the Queen.

She acted like a filial daughter-in-law and a good wife: "Mother, His Highness has been very busy recently. I often don't see him all day, not to mention Miss Yan Er and Miss Yan San. Mother, don't blame His Highness. He is also doing this for the country."

What?

We were just discussing matters in the harem, how did it involve His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?

It was clearly Jiang Zhaoyue's fault, why was it blamed on His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?

Who dares to blame His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?

Yan Manyi was very dissatisfied in her heart, but she had to pretend to be respectful on the surface: "The Crown Princess is the master of the Eastern Palace's harem. Shouldn't she be more careful when receiving guests?"

"I am the master of the East Palace's harem, and His Highness is the master of the East Palace. Even if I pay attention, I have to listen to him." Jiang Zhaoyue said reasonably: "If His Highness says he doesn't want to see anyone, I have to obey."

Yan Manyi was speechless.

The Queen glanced at her, then looked at Jiang Zhaoyue and smiled, "What the Crown Princess said is correct, but some things are endless. The Crown Prince should take a proper rest and focus on other things, such as matters in the harem. The Crown Princess will have to arrange something for him."

"Mother is right." Jiang Zhaoyue said.

Worried that Jiang Zhaoyue wouldn't understand, the Queen explained it more bluntly: "You are the only one with the Crown Prince now, without even a child. It's inevitable that you feel lonely."

Jiang Zhaoyue said obediently: "My mother is right. Your Highness and I will definitely work hard together."

Just adding new people.

What are the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince working hard for?

Jiang Zhaoyue strayed off track again, and the Queen couldn't help but frown: "You don't need to work hard on this matter."

Jiang Zhaoyue said solemnly: "It is necessary. It is not easy to give birth to a child."

We were talking about taking a concubine, but now you’re talking about having a baby?

This Jiang Zhaoyue!

Can Jiang Zhaoyue understand what people say?

What is Jiang Zhaoyue thinking about?

Others sent people to the prince, but she treated them as palace maids!

Others said that she was derelict in her duty as the Crown Princess, so she blamed the mistakes on the Crown Prince.

Others said taking a concubine, she said having children.

Always going off track!

But the way he ran made people feel it was reasonable!

The Queen felt that she couldn't communicate with someone like her!

Yan Zhiyi looked at Jiang Zhaoyue quietly, and vaguely felt the freedom, brightness and unrestrainedness beneath Jiang Zhaoyue's bright appearance.

What a unique woman.

No wonder Pei Jingzhou was deeply attracted to it.

She couldn't help but feel longing.

Yan Manyi thinks Jiang Zhaoyue is extremely stupid and not worthy of Pei Jingzhou at all. She must enter the Eastern Palace and support Pei Jingzhou's harem.

"Mother, don't you agree?" Jiang Zhaoyue asked.

The Queen rubbed her forehead and didn't want to say anything to Jiang Zhaoyue: "The Crown Princess is right, I'm a little tired, you should go back too."

Jiang Zhaoyue did not stray any further at this time, and immediately followed the Queen's lead and said, "Yes, then, Queen Mother, have a good rest. Your daughter-in-law will take her leave."

The Queen waved her hand.

Jiang Zhaoyue took Xiangqiao and Hongcao away.

Yan Manyi was angry: "Aunt, look at Jiang Zhaoyue, someone who can't understand the hidden meaning, how can she be the Crown Princess?"

"She doesn't understand, does she?" Yan Zhiyi said.

Yan Manyi turned around and asked, "Then what is she doing? Is she playing dumb?"

Yan Zhiyi said: "Maybe——"

Yan Manyi didn't give her a chance to speak: "You can act dumb for a while, but can you act dumb forever? In the end, won't a bunch of women still enter the East Palace?"

Yan Zhiyi suddenly didn't know what to say.

"I think she is as stupid as the rumors say!" Yan Manyi said.

Yan Zhiyi said, "Manyi, don't judge people like that."

Yan Manyi ignored her and looked at the Queen and said, "Aunt, why did you let her go like this?"

"It's so tiring for me to talk to her." Jiang Zhaoyue misinterpreted whatever the queen said. She was really too tired to talk anymore.

"That niece..." Yan Manyi paused.

The Queen thought for a moment and said, "Since she listens to the Crown Prince in everything, then you should start with him and get closer to him. That way I can talk to the Emperor and let him make the decision directly. Don't worry about Jiang Zhaoyue."

Yan Manyi was delighted: "Thank you, aunt."

Yan Zhiyi lowered her head and said nothing.

"Zhiyi, what do you think?" the queen asked sideways.