"Ayan, how is Lingku doing?"

Inside Zhaoning Palace, Jiang Yu, with a headband on her forehead, listened to Granny Ling talk about the Emperor's Decree, her eyes full of smiles.

"Mother, it seems that Ling Ku doesn't really want Miss Qin to go to his place." Gu Qingyan paused. "Perhaps it's because Ling Ku doesn't like Miss Qin."

"Doesn't he like it?"

Jiang Yu stared wide-eyed in surprise. According to what Granny Ling said about the scene outside the palace gate, how could Ling Ku not have been tempted?

"Even I can't be sure."

"What was Ke'er's reaction?"

Hearing Jiang Yu address Qin Ke'er with the affectionate "Ke'er," Gu Qingyan silently lit a candle for Ling Ku in his heart. Offending Miss Qin at this time...

“Miss Qin didn’t react much. I sent someone to ask her. Ling Ku said that Miss Qin stayed for less than an hour before returning to the palace. She didn’t go to Ling Ku’s residence today, but only sent her personal maid over.”

"snort!"

Jiang Yu snorted coldly, "What is Ling Ku being so stubborn about now? He doesn't know how to cherish someone as passionate and kind as Ke'er. Here's what we'll do: go and call Ke'er over. I have something to say to her. Oh, and call Sun Shu over too."

So, an hour later, Qin Ke'er and Sun Shu arrived at Zhaoning Palace, looking bewildered.

"They're here! Come and see Ah Chen."

Jiang Yu smiled and joked with the two of them. People are all made of flesh and blood. During this period, Sun Shu had almost ignored everything else and focused solely on studying the classics and preparing for the imperial examinations.

Jiang Yu admires women with such ambition.

"The young prince is so fair and tender, and so adorable." Qin Ke'er's heart melted when she saw Gu Qingchen. "To be honest, Your Majesty, I am the youngest child in the Qin family, so I have almost never seen such a young child."

"When she was first born, her skin wasn't as fair and tender as it is now; it was all wrinkled."

Sun Shu couldn't help but stand on tiptoe, wanting to see Gu Qingchen more clearly.

Jiang Yu looked at the two of them, then changed the subject, "I know that the Emperor has just issued the Imperial Decree, but let me tell you from the bottom of my heart, Ayan is not yet of age, and the world will eventually be unified."

“We understand what the Empress Dowager said, and we have already sent letters home to persuade her.”

Jiang Yu nodded upon hearing this, "You two young ladies are of marriageable age. Now that you are in the capital, I will naturally arrange these matters for you."

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager..."

Upon hearing this, Sun Shu's pretty face turned bright red, while Qin Ke'er paused, moving her lips as if she wanted to say something.

"What's there to be shy about? Men should marry when they come of age and women should marry when they come of age. For us women, the most important thing is to marry a man who cares about us." Jiang Yu gave Qin Ke'er a special look. "I'm thinking that when A-Chen has his full moon celebration, we'll hold a grand banquet. All the young talents of Dayu will come to the palace to attend. You two should keep your eyes open and choose carefully."

"Your Majesty, I have already..."

"Ke'er, you can't always hang yourself on a crooked tree!" Jiang Yu said mysteriously. "Besides, sometimes people are always very concerned about things that are hard to get."

Qin Ke'er walked away, completely bewildered. On the palace path, she suddenly stopped and looked at Sun Shu beside her. "Sister Shu, what did the Empress Dowager mean just now?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Shu pursed her lips and chuckled, "The Empress is pointing this out to you. Just act like you're choosing a husband, and make General Ling Ku a little anxious."

"Is it urgent?"

Qin Ke'er's eyes gradually brightened. So that's what the Empress Dowager meant!

Seeing that Qin Ke'er had figured it out herself, Sun Shu curled the corners of her lips.

Unexpectedly, the next second Qin Ke'er grabbed Sun Shu's sleeve, "Sister Shu, you should make two more sets of clothes, so you can dress up beautifully and charm a lot of young talents in Dayu."

"What does this have to do with me?" Sun Shu asked, somewhat embarrassed.

“What’s there to be shy about, Sister Shu? The Empress Dowager is right. If you’re going to marry, you should marry someone who cares. Even in your own home, you can’t make your own decisions about marriage.” Qin Ke’er held Sun Shu’s hand tightly. “Now that the Empress Dowager has let us choose our own husbands, Sister Shu, don’t miss this opportunity.”

"Okay, I understand."

Sun Shu held Qin Ke'er's hand in return, and the two smiled at each other.

......

"Mother's move was absolutely brilliant."

Gu Qingyan emerged from behind the screen and began teasing Gu Qingchen again, muttering, "If you ask me, Achen's third-day celebration should be a grand affair. It's been a major joyous occasion for the royal family for many years."

"What, was my marriage to your father last year not a joyous occasion?"

Jiang Yu looked at Gu Qingyan with a smile in her eyes. Ayan was speaking up for Achen!

"That's not what I meant. I just felt that A-Chen's third-day celebration was too simple, with only his uncle's family going to the palace."

“I know you care about your brother, but there have been too many things going on lately. The Qin family’s secret guards have suffered such heavy casualties. If we celebrate A-Chen in a big way now and then try to get the Qin family to submit to Dayu, wouldn’t that be a slap in the face to the Qin family?”

"Why not be patient for now and give the Qin family a way out?"

A glint flashed in Jiang Yu's eyes. As long as the Qin family submitted, the Sun family would be like a lone boat, with no other choice but to submit.

Gu Qingyan sighed helplessly upon hearing this, looking into Gu Qingchen's grape-like eyes, "I'll have to trouble you this time, Achen. When the moon is full, your brother will throw you the grandest full moon banquet ever."

Jiang Yu's lips twitched. Why did it make her sound like a villain?

That brat Ayan, now he only cares about Achen and doesn't even care about his old mother anymore.

Jiang Yu pouted, "He's the child I risked my life to give birth to, would I really harm him?"

"Cough cough..." Granny Ling cleared her throat beside him, frantically prompting Gu Qingyan. Gu Qingyan was stunned for a moment, and finally realized what was going on.

"Is Mother jealous of A-Chen?"

Gu Qingyan smiled brightly, "The reason I'm good to A-Chen is because A-Chen was also born to the Empress Dowager. Otherwise, why would I be good to him for no reason?"

"Because he has blood similar to that of the child, the child wants to give him the best things in the world."

There was one more thing he didn't say.

Because his mother gave him so much love, he wanted to love A-Chen even more.

"Hold a grand full moon celebration."

Jiang Yu glanced down at Gu Qingchen and said, "Granny Ling, spread the word beforehand that I want to choose husbands for the two young ladies from noble families at Prince Chen's full moon banquet."

"yes."

"We must get the message to Ling Ku."

Jiang Yu revealed a wicked smile, wanting Ling Ku to experience the feeling of being upset.