"Your Highness—"
"His Majesty also bestowed upon you an imperial estate, complete with mountains, water, horse ranches, and even a hot spring! How wonderful!"
Dao Qing was extremely excited.
Doctor Qin said that His Highness's illness would benefit from soaking in hot springs, but there are only so many villas in the suburbs of the capital, and even fewer with hot springs.
Seeing His Highness lost in thought while holding the imperial edict, Dao Qing grinned and said, "His Majesty has decreed that His Highness and the Crown Princess are to attend the Consort Conferment Ceremony three days from now."
Thinking of his father-in-law's smiling words of advice before he left, the Seventh Prince Li Yan's lips gradually curled upwards.
Princess...
His princess consort!
Seeing her prince's pathetic state, Dao Hong muttered resentfully to herself, "It's already the princess's estate."
Your Highness is truly generous. You give away gold and silver jewelry, silks and satins without hesitation, and even this hard-won imperial estate is given away without a second thought.
I wonder what kind of spell that woman cast on His Highness.
Your Highness doesn't feel sorry for him; they do.
“Aren’t the princess’s things also His Highness’s? She certainly wouldn’t abandon His Highness to go horseback riding or soak in the hot springs.”
The big, simple-minded Dao Qing was all smiles. "I never expected that Consort Jin would be directly promoted to Imperial Concubine. From now on, Your Highness will have someone important in the palace."
In the imperial harem, there are so many noble ladies that it's impossible to remember what they look like, but the Noble Consort is different; she holds the position of the head of a palace.
Hearing Dao Qing's smug boasting, Dao Hong couldn't help but roll her eyes, feeling a pang of bitterness in her heart.
If Consort Yun were still alive...
Three days later.
Consort Jin was promoted to Imperial Concubine, a promotion of two ranks, and His Majesty also bestowed upon her a banquet as a reward—this was an immense favor.
In an instant, everyone in the palace started discussing it, and the winds of change shifted dramatically.
When Jiang Jiaojiao learned that Xiao Jinjin had been granted the title of Noble Consort, she was overjoyed. When her carriage arrived at the palace gate, a eunuch personally lifted the curtain for her, and the people who greeted her changed from the maids to nannies. Jiang Jiaojiao was flattered and overwhelmed by this treatment.
Jiang Jiaojiao stood in front of the palace gate, looking left and right, her gaze finally settling on the figure waiting quietly by the palace.
Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson, like the most beautiful flowers in spring.
The moment I saw her.
He walked towards her impatiently, his steps hurried and slightly out of breath.
The body that had been nourished day by day by her medicine seemed to have returned to its original frail state the moment she saw her.
Seeing this, Jiang Jiaojiao was afraid that his seemingly frail body might slip and fall while walking quickly, so she hurried forward to meet him.
The morning sun rose slowly behind her, as if a celestial maiden had descended to earth.
Radiant with light.
Years later, this scene replayed countless times in his dreams and in his heart, becoming the most precious memory of his life.
In his eyes, everything in the world had lost its color, except for her, who, like the brightest moon in the night sky, illuminated his world and made him feel unprecedented warmth and light.
However, this deep affection also caused him to suffer from an indescribable disease—greed.
His desire for her grew wildly, uncontrollably, until it became incurable.
Why are you walking so fast?
Jiang Jiaojiao was unaware that her voice was so urgent, and her expression was full of worry for him.
Upon hearing this, a gentle smile appeared on his lips, and his soft voice seemed to have a magical power, gently captivating her heartstrings.
"Jiaojiao... is she worried about me?"
His voice held a hint of probing and anticipation.
Jiang Jiaojiao felt a sudden throbbing in her chest, her heart pounding like a drum. Did she...did she have it?
Yes, if she didn't care, she wouldn't have gone to the trouble of preparing health-preserving pills for him, or even carrying various emergency pills with her because she was worried about his occasional relapses.
But when did this start?
At first, she only felt guilty that he died young because of her injury, but then every time they met, she saw his vulnerability, his confession, his protection...
And his burning gaze at that moment.
All of this threw her heart into a frenzy, forced her to confront the erratic beating of her own heart.
Is this... the feeling of falling in love?
Has she fallen for him?
No, no, no!
She just... just couldn't bear to see such a beautiful woman die young, wasting her good looks!
Yes, yes, that must be it!
Jiang Jiaojiao was so frightened by her own wild thoughts that she shook her head repeatedly, her breathing became hot and difficult, and she didn't dare to look him in the eye.
Just then—
A greeting broke the serene atmosphere.
"Your Highness, Miss, His Majesty has decreed that you are granted a palanquin to enter the palace."
The old man carrying the palanquin hurried over, wiping the fine layer of sweat from his forehead. He pointed to the palanquin carried by six people beside him and said ingratiatingly, "Miss Jiang, please get into the sedan chair."
On the other side was a four-person palanquin.
Jiang Jiaojiao was startled and snapped out of her daze. She quickly blushed and took a few steps to the side. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the disappointment and grievance on his face, and her heart pounded like a deer.
Unable to find a place to rest their gaze, they looked around aimlessly.
Upon seeing the palanquins of varying sizes but all equally exquisite and magnificent, she paused slightly, "..."
Was this palanquin for six men a gift to her?
The old man's face beamed with a smile, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes seemed to radiate joy. He said cheerfully, "His Majesty has arrived at Qixiang Palace and is waiting."
"Qixiang Palace?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiaojiao finally regained her senses.
She took a deep breath and glanced at him secretly. She... she was here today to express her gratitude and attend Xiao Jinjin's investiture ceremony, not to go on a date with him.
Why did I suddenly find myself having such inappropriate thoughts?
It's all because he's too devilishly handsome!
The devilishly handsome Li Yan saw the blushing face of the delicate girl and her flustered eyes, and the smile on his lips became even more captivating.
Since she has taken a liking to his appearance, he naturally has to make good use of it. Otherwise, when will his little princess consort ever realize her mistake?
Having chosen her and committed to her, he naturally yearned for the same choice and commitment.
The old man saw the two exchanging shy glances and smiled even more broadly.
"Qixiang Palace is the new residence of Consort Gui. It is magnificent and bright, and it is only separated from His Majesty's Zichen Palace by a wall. Its location is extremely advantageous."
Qixiang Palace was originally set up for the rank of Consort, but now that the Noble Consort has moved in, it is undoubtedly a sign of His Majesty's great favor towards her. It will be a natural progression for her to be promoted to Consort in the future.
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