The son of the Duke of Huguo, Feng Shulai, and his wife, Jiang Shuyi, have two daughters. The eldest is Feng Panpan, who got into trouble, and the second is Feng Manman, who is only seven years old and is just suitable to be a companion to the princess.
The Empress Dowager had been somewhat cold towards the Feng family since they had made a series of embarrassing mistakes. But when she saw the elderly Duke of Protectorate putting aside his dignity and coming to her in person to beg her, and thought of her niece Jiang Shuyi, her heart softened and she nodded in agreement.
After meeting the Duke of Protectorate, the Empress Dowager called Princess Jinse in.
"Daughter, why haven't you come to the palace to see your mother for a long time!" The Queen Mother looked at Yao Jinse lovingly.
Ever since she learned that Yao Jinse was her biological daughter who had been lost for many years, she had a feeling of trying to please Yao Jinse.
"I've been very busy lately, and I don't dare to go into the palace too often, for fear that the emperor and empress would be wary of me." Yao Jinse said lightly.
"Mother, this time I want you to ask for a favor for Rou'er, allowing her to enter the palace to be the princess's companion."
The Empress Dowager was a little surprised: "Rou'er is also going to the palace to be a study companion?"
In fact, Yao Jinse didn't want her daughter to be a study partner.
Yao Jinse felt that it would be a good idea to let her daughter enter the palace and be raised by the Empress Dowager. After all, she was her grandmother and could not stand being restricted or wronged.
As for entering the palace as a companion, that would be too unfair to my own daughter.
However, Liang Chaozong tried his best to let Liang Zhirou enter the palace as a study companion.
Last night, Liang Chaozong said to her: "Once the northern border is unified, the Xiao family will soon become the king of the grassland."
"Once the Xiao family's power reaches that level, that dog emperor Xia Zhengqi will definitely be wary of the Xiao family."
"By then, Empress Xiao's position as empress will most likely be abolished, and the position of crown prince will also be lost."
"By that time, the imperial court will be in turmoil, the entire political situation will be unstable, and people will be in panic."
"At that time, maybe we can capture the capital in one fell swoop."
"We should place Rou'er there as soon as possible. She will be very useful."
Yao Jinse's eyes were red: "But, Rou'er is only eight years old. How can we let her do such a dangerous thing? She is our own flesh and blood."
Liang Chaozong looked out the window unconcernedly: "She is also a member of the Liang royal family. She should contribute to the restoration of the country!"
When Yao Jinse heard the person beside her say such cold-blooded words indifferently, she felt a chill down her spine.
She begged Liang Chaozong several times in a humble manner, but Liang Chaozong ignored her and even beat her, saying that a woman could never accomplish anything great.
In the end, even though Yao Jinse was extremely reluctant, she still obediently went into the palace to meet the Empress Dowager.
Seeing Yao Jinse was stunned and speechless, the Empress Dowager gently took her hand and said, "If Rou'er wants to study, I will find a good teacher for her. Why bother entering the palace and being restricted by the Grand Master? It would be uncomfortable."
Yao Jinse forced a smile and said, "Mother, isn't this all for Rou'er's future?"
"If I become the princess's companion, I can marry into a high-ranking family when I grow up. Although I am a princess in name only, I am only an adopted daughter after all."
When the Empress Dowager heard what Yao Jinse said, she said nothing more and nodded in agreement.
Afterwards, the Empress Dowager, as an elder, proposed two candidates to Xia Zhengqi: Feng Manman and Liang Zhirou.
In recent years, Xia Zhengqi has been very distant from his stepmother.
If he hadn't considered the overall situation, he would have thrown the Empress Dowager into the Sky Prison and interrogated her for her crimes.
Now, hearing that the Empress Dowager had the audacity to want Feng Manman and Liang Zhirou to enter the palace, he felt funny in his heart and nodded in agreement.
When the Queen learned of this, she expressed some concern, "Feng Manman is Panpan's biological sister. Is her character up to par? As for Liang Zhirou, she clearly came in with ulterior motives. Your Majesty, why did you agree to all of this?"
Xia Miaoyuan, however, seemed to be completely carefree, jumping up and down beside him: "Great, two more friends! It's lively! It's lively!"
Xia Zhengqi smiled and said, "Ruoyu, you worry too much."
"Let's talk about Liang Zhirou first. If we don't know her identity, she might be a big hidden danger."
"But now, we know her background and can guess her purpose. What is there to be afraid of?"
"We can just watch it for fun and keep an eye on her secretly."
[The Emperor is so smart! His analysis makes perfect sense!]
Xia Zhengqi raised his chin with a hint of pride and continued, "As for Feng Manman, I only agreed to it to save face. As for whether she performs well after school, we'll see later. If she doesn't, then we'll have a good excuse to kick her out."
When the queen heard this, she realized that this was indeed the truth, so she didn't say anything else.
After the list of the princess' study companions was finalized, Omoto quickly decorated the classroom and added tables and chairs.
At the same time, the queen issued an imperial decree to add three courses for the princess and her four companions: embroidery, piano playing, and flower arrangement.
Seven days later, all the companions entered the palace with boxes and valuables.
When Xia Miaoyuan learned that her little cousin Xiao Wanyin had moved in, she was as happy as a little bee and rushed straight to her study companion's residence.
At this time, Xiao Wanyin was six and a half years old and had lost her previous childishness.
She was wearing a fitted brocade dress and had a small fairy bun on her head decorated with pearl flowers. She looked delicate and pretty, very lovely.
"Little cousin!" Xia Miaoyuan shouted and ran happily into Xiao Wanyin's bedroom.
Xiao Wanyin was watching the palace maid packing her things. When she saw Xia Miaoyuan coming, she was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling.
"Miao'er! I miss you so much!"
The two sisters hugged each other tightly.
Although they were in the capital, Xiao Wanyin, as a royal relative, could enter the palace to visit the Queen and Xia Miaoyuan, but Xiao Licheng was more concerned about the rumors outside and would only occasionally bring his daughter to Kunning Palace to visit her sister.
Therefore, Xia Miaoyuan and Xiao Wanyin did not have many opportunities to meet.
Before this, Xia Miaoyuan missed Xiao Wanyin so much that she could only beg her brothers to take her out of the palace.
Now that Xiao Wanyin has entered the palace as a study companion, the two cousins can be together every day.
"Cousin Wanyin, please move to Kunning Palace and we can live together. It will be much more convenient than here." Xia Miaoyuan said after hugging Xiao Wanyin for a while and then letting go.
"But all the other study partners live here, and I'm the only one getting special treatment. Is that appropriate?" Xiao Wanyin hesitated.
Before entering the palace, Xiao Licheng warned her many times not to take advantage of being the queen's niece to be willful and naughty, so as not to bring trouble to the queen.
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