Concubine Shoukang looked at Concubine Shu's worried expression, sighed softly, and comforted her: "Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings, don't worry too much. Shurou is a smart child, she will understand your worries."
Concubine Shu smiled bitterly and shook her head, saying, "Sister, you don't understand. Shurou... already has a lover."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Shoukang frowned and asked in a low voice, "Are you serious?"
Concubine Shu sighed and nodded helplessly, "Indeed. I don't know what that girl was thinking, but she actually fell in love with the young master of the Xingyuan Marquis family. Judging from her expression, it's obvious that she is deeply in love."
"Could it be the Third Master Xue?" Concubine Shoukang was stunned and blurted out. An inexplicable uneasiness surged in her heart, and she unconsciously clenched her sleeves.
But this is absolutely not allowed!
"No!" Concubine Shu stamped her feet in annoyance. At this moment, she no longer cared about maintaining the demeanor of a concubine that she had maintained for many years.
"If it really is the Third Young Master Xue, I can relax... It's the Second Young Master Xue..." Concubine Shoukang muttered to herself, feeling mixed emotions.
Indeed, Xue Jiyan was the legitimate son of the Xue family and the newly crowned third place in the imperial examination. In terms of status and talent, he was not inferior to those selected by the empress dowager.
At first, Concubine Shu thought that her daughter was often with Xue Shanqiu, and the two maids' endless intimate words were also about inquiring about Xue Jiyan's trivial matters.
However, he didn't expect that his daughter's mind was not on Xue Ji Yan at all, but was secretly paying attention to the every move of Xue Zhongfu, the second son of the Xue family.
Xue Zhongfu's background and official position were not inappropriate, but he had married a wife who died in childbirth. However, her tablet was enshrined in the Xue family ancestral hall.
How could Concubine Shu accept that her daughter, the emperor's younger sister, would become the emperor's second wife?
During the New Year sacrifices, does he have to let his daughter kowtow to Xue Zhongfu’s first wife?
When Concubine Shoukang heard that it was Xue Zhongfu, the second son of the Xue family, she breathed a sigh of relief. She was silent for a moment before she slowly spoke, "This is a bit difficult..."
Concubine Shu sighed again, her face full of worry. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm worried about. Shurou, that girl, usually looks smart and clever, how could she be so confused about this matter? Doesn't she know how inappropriate it is for her to become a second wife..."
Concubine Shoukang frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said, "This matter is indeed difficult to handle. But don't be too anxious. Let's think of a solution first. Perhaps... perhaps there is a chance of turning around."
Concubine Shu smiled bitterly and shook her head: "What else can I do? I can only try my best to persuade her, hoping that she can understand my painstaking efforts."
The two of them walked and talked, and before they knew it, they had arrived at the Imperial Garden. From a distance, they saw Xue Shanqiu and Li Shurou standing beside a blooming Eighteen Scholars tree, excitedly discussing something.
Concubine Shoukang and Concubine Shu did not immediately step forward to disturb them, but stood aside from a distance, quietly watching the two young figures.
"Actually, I do have an idea." Concubine Shoukang suddenly spoke, a hint of cunning in her voice, "Perhaps we can use this opportunity to give Shurou a chance to choose and let her see clearly what she feels."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Shu looked at Concubine Shoukang with some confusion: "Sister, what do you mean..."
Concubine Shoukang smiled slightly and whispered her plan.
After hearing this, a glimmer of light flashed in Concubine Shu's eyes, but then dimmed again: "This is a good idea, but what if..."
"Everything has risks." Concubine Shoukang interrupted her and said firmly, "But we have to give it a try, don't we? We can't just watch Shurou fall into trouble and do nothing."
Concubine Shu was silent for a moment, and finally nodded: "Okay, I'll do as you say. I hope this time Shurou will wake up completely."
After the two of them had made up their minds, they walked hand in hand towards Xue Shanqiu and Li Shurou.
The two young girls were still immersed in the joy of admiring the sea of flowers and were unaware of the impending changes.
Two days later, Concubine Shu asked for permission to leave the palace and took her daughter Li Shurou to Xiangguo Temple on the outskirts of the city to pray for blessings.
Before leaving, she deliberately dismissed the palace maids and said to her daughter with a serious expression, "Rou'er, you are not a child anymore. Your marriage cannot be delayed any longer. The Queen Mother has urged me many times to choose a prince consort for you, and I have already made a decision."
When Li Shurou heard this, her heart suddenly tightened: "Mother, you... who did you choose?"
"He's the second son of the Heterosexual King, Xiao Yan." Concubine Shu said in a deep voice, "He's young and promising, with a bright future. His family has strict traditions, and he's someone worth entrusting your life to."
"No! I don't want it!" Li Shurou immediately retorted excitedly upon hearing this, "I won't marry anyone except Xue Zhongfu!"
"Nonsense!" Concubine Shu slammed the table, stood up and shouted angrily.
Li Shurou was startled by her mother's sudden anger, but she quickly recovered, her eyes gleaming with determination: "Mother, if you really force me to marry the young master of the Xiao family, then I will have no choice but to die!"
Concubine Shu had anticipated her daughter's reaction, and a pang of pain welled up in her heart. She knew that life in the imperial harem had already woven a bond between mother and daughter that was thicker than blood, more precious than life itself. This place, considered the most prestigious and wealthy in the world, was actually fraught with thorns and traps at every step. Surviving it truly required every ounce of strength.
Looking at her daughter's firm and resolute eyes, Concubine Shu knew that arguing any further would be futile.
She took a deep breath, tried to calm herself, and said slowly, "Okay, since you insist so much, let's go to Xiangguo Temple to ask for a fortune and see what the Buddha means."
When Li Shurou heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and then she nodded.
She could not recall exactly when she began to feel for Xue Zhongfu. Perhaps it was because she had heard Xue Shanqiu mention that her second brother and his late second sister-in-law had been a loving couple with deep affection, but her second sister-in-law Jiang Yunniang had unfortunately died young.
From then on, Xue Zhongfu never remarried, and he didn't even have a maid in his house.
When Li Shurou heard these things, she couldn't help feeling surprised. She had always thought that all men in the world were like her father and brother, with harems full of beauties and concubines that were dazzling.
Even though the emperor had been very fond of Concubine Liu before, less than a year after her death, he had a new favorite concubine by his side. This month, two concubines in the palace announced the good news of their pregnancy.
In Li Shurou's view, the so-called unwavering love is nothing but an illusion that is difficult to reach.
However, now there really is such a loyal and unwavering man. Xue Zhongfu's existence quietly touched Li Shurou's heartstrings, and she was full of longing and yearning for him.
She knew very well that this was the biggest concession her mother could make and the only way she could accept.
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