Chapter 440 Daughter
"Women are most afraid of getting caught up in love, because it will make us lose ourselves."
Jiang's mother was a qualified matriarch of the imperial clan, with two sons and one daughter, as well as many illegitimate sons and daughters. Jiang Ning, as the legitimate daughter, was raised from childhood according to the standards of a well-bred lady.
The Jiang family are veteran officials who have served Emperor Jing since he was a prince. They have followed him wholeheartedly since then. Although they are not prominent in the court, their foundation is unshakable.
Jiang Ning smiled and said, "His Highness the Crown Prince is more handsome than most men, making people want to take a second look. Mother, don't worry, I want to be the Crown Princess, not the Crown Prince's wife."
If she were a wife, she would get angry if she saw her husband being affectionate with other women, but the Crown Princess wouldn't.
Being a crown princess is a profession that requires virtue, generosity, and proper manners.
Jiang's father stroked his beard and exclaimed in admiration, "My son is so insightful."
Men are attracted to beautiful women, and the Crown Prince is also a man. That Shen Tanhua lost out because of her family background; otherwise, she would have been the Crown Princess without a doubt.
Jiang's mother sighed, "You may lend your heart to a man, but don't let him possess it."
Jiang Ning couldn't help but laugh, "Where did you hear that from, Mother?"
Jiang's mother felt her face burning when she heard the truth.
"How do you know I heard it from a play? Couldn't it be something I came up with to teach you?"
"Alright, I heard it from a play, it's about a female empress dowager," Jiang's mother sighed.
"It's only now that we can hear plays like this. In the past, when you went out to see a play, it was always about a poor scholar eloping with a noble lady, which was so funny that it made you want to jump out of your skin."
How could a legitimate daughter of a prominent family, raised from childhood, possibly abandon her family and elope with a man to live a life of hardship just because of a few words of love from a man?
If it really comes to that, that woman won't survive either.
Jiang Ning laughed, "That's what the Empress said too. Mother, don't worry, I know what I want, and I'm sure that Scholar Shen does too."
"How can you be so sure?" Jiang's mother asked.
It wasn't that she disliked Shen Sixu, but that woman was too strikingly beautiful and quite talented.
If their daughter were to enter the Eastern Palace, and the two were to fight, Chen Sixu would at least have the upper hand at first.
It's not that she doesn't trust her daughter; men always treat the first woman they fall for differently.
Jiang Ning's smile faded. "Because I saw my kind, and I sensed their presence."
"Mother, I'm really looking forward to it. I want to become the Crown Princess."
...
...
Meanwhile, Qi Jia.
Qi Xiang returned and immediately complained, "Father, I don't want to marry the Crown Prince and become his wife. If I become the unfavored principal wife, it will be of no help to our family."
With a concubine around, the Crown Princess would likely only be a figurehead after marrying into the palace; she wouldn't want to be alone in an empty room.
The Duke of Qi said with some regret, "Since you don't have that ambition, then forget it. I suppose the Crown Prince prefers the Jiang family's daughter."
He also wanted his daughter to become the Crown Princess and give birth to the heir to the throne, but given his daughter's brains, he decided to forget about it.
"What do you mean? Why? Does that mean Jiang Ning is prettier than me?" Qi Xiang asked, looking indignant.
The Duke of Qi sighed.
Forget it, he's not destined to be the emperor's father-in-law.
Just as he was about to leave, he heard his daughter say, "Actually, I like Young Master Lin more. I wish I could marry Young Master Lin."
Lin Mingqian?
Duke Qi couldn't help but say, "You're dreaming. If you have nothing to do, go and rest early. If it were someone else, you might have gotten what you wanted."
"Mother, Father, what does he mean by this!" Qi Xiang persisted. "Marrying Young Master Lin is better than marrying the Crown Prince. He's not a prince, but he's better than one. Our family will be safer in the future. Why can't we do that?"
Lin Mingqian and the Crown Prince grew up together, eating and living together since childhood. Lin Mingqian is slightly more than a prince, and most importantly, he is good-looking.
The Duke of Qi sighed, "Your father has no intention of doing anything. My son, you should wash up and go to bed early, and have a good dream."
"Dad, I'm not sleepy yet, why are you urging me to go to sleep? It's not even dark yet!"
The old nanny standing nearby almost burst out laughing.
...
...
Phoenix Palace.
Lin Anyuan was also asking Murong Yuanzhou.
"A-Zhou, have you thought this through?"
"Are you really going to choose Jiang Ning? Once the imperial decree is issued, it will be too late to back out."
After the banquet ended today, Murong Yuanzhou chose Jiang Ning as his crown princess.
Lin Anyuan feared that Murong Yuanzhou might not have thought things through and would later realize he genuinely loved Shen Sixu, which would hurt both women at the same time.
Having too many women in the inner quarters is actually not a good thing. Their infighting has too many negative effects, and it's rare for women born to the same mother to love each other.
“Brother, I’ve thought it through. Miss Jiang is a qualified Crown Princess, and Xu’er has no objections either.”
Murong Yuanzhou smiled and said, "Only intelligent women can give birth to qualified heirs; fools won't do."
He was attracted to Shen Sixu, but Shen Sixu was indeed not suitable to be the Crown Princess.
"Alright, I will write the imperial edict. Your sister-in-law must be tired after a long day. You should go back now."
Murong Yuanzhou bowed and withdrew.
"Wanwan, why do I feel so uneasy? Do you think our son will grow up to be a jerk?"
Without the Crown Prince, Lin Anyuan casually clung to Ye Wan.
Ye Wan said speechlessly, "He's all grown up now."
She has a strong ability to learn.
Lin Anyuan suddenly spoke again, "Men are all the same."
"Lin Anyuan, are you trying to make me laugh to death? Aren't you a man yourself...?"
Ye Wan laughed so hard that tears almost streamed down her face.
Lin Anyuan was afraid she would laugh herself sick, so he quickly summoned the imperial physician to take her pulse.
"Judging from the pulse, Her Majesty the Empress is likely carrying a princess."
The imperial physician was quite shrewd. Because it was a female fetus, he called it a princess. If it had been a male fetus, he wouldn't have called it a prince.
Although Lin Anyuan is now the emperor, the next crown prince will be surnamed Murong, not Lin.
"Princess?" Ye Wan asked in surprise.
Lin Anyuan exclaimed with delight, "Wanwan, did you hear that? It's a princess! We'll have a daughter now!"
"Why are you in such a hurry? It's not that absolute before the baby is born. What if you have another son? Wouldn't you be disappointed?"
Ye Wan didn't care whether the child was male or female; after all, it was her own biological child.
I'm just afraid that Lin Anyuan will be disappointed.
"No, I love it whether it's a boy or a girl." Lin Anyuan gently touched Ye Wan's belly, his affection genuine.
The imperial physician had already tactfully withdrawn. Could his medical skills be faked? He said it was his daughter, and she was indeed his daughter, and she was now genuinely serving in the hospital. There was no exaggeration.
Ye Wan looked at Lin Anyuan and said, "You like children even more than I do. If I had known this would happen, I would have had more children for you. It's a pity that I'm already this old now. I'll only have this one, and I won't have any more."
Having too many children is bad for your health.
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