Hehehehe~ See you in three days~ Yan Shujin thought for a moment: "Why didn't my cousin get a title?"
Yan Zhili was surprised that her daughter would ask this question, and said, "Because your uncle likes you more."
Yan Shujin wrinkled her nose and said bluntly, "Dad, stop messing around."
Liu Qin, sitting to the side, was amused and asked, "Sister Bao, don't you like your title?"
Yan Shujin said, "I like it, but that has nothing to do with my question."
Yan Zhili asked, "What does Sister Bao want to ask?"
"Father, Consort Liu's daughter doesn't have an official title. Is she related to Consort Liu's family?" Yan Shujin looked at Yan Zhili: "And..."
Yan Zhili interrupted Yan Shujin, paused for a moment, looked at his wife, and said, "Take Gui Ge to rest for a while."
Upon hearing this, Liu Qin replied, "Okay."
Yan Qiyu also wanted to know, but she obediently agreed and followed her mother out of the study.
Yan Shujin asked, "Father, can't Mother and my younger brother know?"
Yan Zhili sighed and said, "If you hadn't noticed, I wouldn't even want you to know. Your younger brother is still too young."
“I love hearing secrets the most.” Yan Shujin’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “Mainly because this matter is so strange.”
Yan Zhili couldn't help but ask, "What's strange about it?"
Yan Shujin counted on her fingers and said, "It's normal for me to have a title, after all, my grandma, uncle and aunt all dote on me, but it's strange that my cousin doesn't."
“I don’t find anything strange about it.” Yan Zhili was actually curious as to how Yan Shujin could have figured this out from a title: “Neither of your cousins has a title.”
Yan Shujin puffed out her cheeks and said, "Father, it's normal that my two cousins don't have titles. My eldest uncle is the emperor now, and he only has two sons. He hasn't left the palace to establish his own residence, so how could he possibly have a title?"
"Besides, Uncle hasn't established a crown prince yet, and my younger brother has already become the heir apparent." Yan Shujin said seriously, "But it's different for girls. Uncle only has one daughter... Could it be because my cousin is the daughter of Consort Liu, and Consort Liu's son is the eldest son? So Uncle deliberately didn't give my cousin a title, so that no one would think that Uncle prefers my younger cousin?"
Yan Zhili's heart skipped a beat. If it were Mr. Du or Mr. Li who had analyzed it, he would not be surprised at all. But this was Bao Jie's own idea. Most importantly, Bao Jie had only been involved in these things for a few months.
Yan Shujin was unaware of Yan Zhili's shock and continued, "But I think it's not just that. Father, Princess Zheng of the previous dynasty, although she was granted the title of Imperial Concubine, could not possibly have any children, right?"
Yan Zhili placed his hands on the desk: "Yes."
“My uncle will make her a Noble Consort not just because he likes her. I think he prefers Consort Han because she is beautiful,” Yan Shujin said. “Because she is a princess of the previous dynasty, my uncle is doing this for people like Mr. Li.”
Yan Zhili nodded, signaling Yan Shujin to continue.
There are some things Yan Shujin would never say in front of Mr. Du and the others, but she can say all her thoughts in front of Yan Zhili: "But Uncle overthrew the previous dynasty, so it's impossible for him to let the princess of the previous dynasty have a child. Of all the royal relatives of the previous dynasty, only this princess is still alive. Is it because Uncle wants to show his benevolence? Or is it to show the former dynasty's ministers and noble families who have sided with him?"
"What if Consort Zheng is pregnant?" Yan Zhili suddenly asked, "What do you think she would do?"
Yan Shujin pursed her lips: "I'll die."
Yan Zhili said, "Continue."
“I heard my mother mention that my aunt injured herself while saving my uncle and could not conceive again.” Yan Shujin looked at her father: “If my cousin were still alive… well, it’s already happened, there are no ifs. My uncle only has two sons now, one born to Consort Liu and the other to Consort Han.”
Yan Zhili felt a pang of pain when he thought of his nephew who had died young. His nephew was not only intelligent but also very sensible. He had watched his nephew grow up. When he was away from home and missed his wife and children, he would put his feelings on his nephew.
Yan Shujin took a deep breath and said, "Liu Fei's father was one of the first people to follow my uncle, but unfortunately he died young."
If Consort Liu's father hadn't died, given his military achievements, he would have held a high official position, and the palace would likely be a very different place.
“The other one is from Consort Han, who comes from a noble family.” Yan Shujin was somewhat puzzled; she genuinely couldn’t understand: “To appease those people, a princess from the previous dynasty could be made a Noble Consort, but those who followed my uncle didn’t need to be appeased?”
Actually, before talking to her father about this, Yan Shujin hadn't thought so much about it. Once the first question was raised, the rest naturally came to mind: "Uncle only has two sons for now. There may be other sons in the future, but sooner or later one will have to be chosen to inherit the family business. So it's best to treat the two of them equally. I heard Aunt Fang say that in the palace, a son's status depends on his mother's. Consort Liu can only be made a consort, and Consort Han is also a consort."
Yan Shujin secretly observed her father's expression: "So, it's just Liu Fei's daughter, a title, which is a win-win situation for Uncle. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks, and there's no loss. Why not?"
Yan Zhili lowered her eyes slightly and said, "What are you thinking?"
Yan Shujin hesitated for a moment before asking, "Did Consort Liu's father offend your uncle? Or did Consort Liu offend your uncle?"
"I don't know," Yan Zhili said. "I did suggest giving your cousin a title, but your uncle refused."
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