The crown prince is frail and sickly, and has neglected state affairs for years. The second prince guards the border, and the fourth prince Xinyi Zigu serves the emperor and is highly valued. The powerful people in the entire Jindu all know that the emperor intends to pass the throne to the fourth prince.
Jiang Songyi recalled her past life, the death of the crown prince and the passing of the emperor. Although there were many twists and turns during this period, such as the empress dowager taking charge of government affairs and the second prince's rebellion, it was the fourth prince Xinyi Zigu who finally ascended the throne.
However, Xinyi Zigu did not sit on the throne for long. On the day he married Jiang Yuyao as his queen, the Western Jin Dynasty was destroyed by Yue Qingyang, the Dongling hostage in the Yongding Marquis's mansion.
The reason why Yue Qingyang unified the Central Plains and sent troops to attack the Western Jin Dynasty was not to wash away the shame of being a hostage in the past, but to compete for Jiang Yuyao. He wanted to marry her as his queen.
If it was not her body hanging on the city wall that day, but she herself was present at the scene, Jiang Songyi would undoubtedly look at this good show with great interest.
However, those people, Xinyi Zigu, Jiang Yuyao and Yue Qingyang, were all the executioners who pushed her to death.
Yang Guifei loved peonies very much. Even though it was still cold in spring, the Yiku Palace was already full of flowers.
Even the butterflies of spring seemed to have a special liking for her, landing on her gorgeous skirt and perching among the peony stamens embroidered with gold thread.
"I have brought my grandson to pay my respects to the Imperial Concubine."
"No need to be so polite."
Yang Guifei's slender hands, as white as snow, were holding a pair of exquisite silver scissors, carefully trimming the branches.
Yang Guifei turned her eyes slightly and glanced at Jiang Baichuan, who was following closely behind Old Madam Jiang. "I heard that the cancellation of the engagement between your Second Young Master and Princess Zi Yan has caused a lot of uproar and even alarmed the Queen Mother. I wonder if the Queen Mother has any censure against the Second Young Master?"
Jiang Baichuan bowed respectfully and replied, "The Empress Dowager is kind-hearted."
Yang Guifei smiled softly, "From my perspective, the Empress Dowager seems a bit old and incompetent. This matter is clearly Princess Zi Yan's fault for her misconduct, and she is still so indulgent. It is really chilling."
Madam Jiang and Jiang Baichuan were both silent, not daring to make a sound.
In the entire harem, only someone as arrogant as Yang Guifei dared to disrespect the Empress Dowager. However, the Empress Dowager was not the Emperor's biological mother, and Yang Guifei was deeply favored, so the Emperor often turned a blind eye to her behavior.
Although Yang Guifei dared to scold the Queen Mother, they did not dare.
Yang Guifei smiled and said, "Second Young Master, there is no need to be discouraged. There are many beauties waiting to be married in the Jin capital. My Princess Mingyao is well-educated and well-mannered. She would never do something as romantic as Xin Yiyan did, visiting Xiaoxiang Tower."
Jiang Baichuan deeply agreed with this point. Although the third princess had a spoiled personality, she was much better than the rebellious Xin Yiyan.
However, he then heard Jiang Songyi's true thoughts.
[Xinyi Mingyao? Humph, she's even more outrageous than Xinyi Yan. Although Xinyi Yan appears unruly, at least no one was killed, and it was consensual. But Xinyi Mingyao's methods are much more despicable.]
Why are these royal princesses so frightening?
Even the old lady was shocked after hearing this, but deep down in her heart, she really didn't want to have anything to do with the royal family anymore.
The old lady spoke slowly, "The Third Princess is beautiful and intelligent, with boundless talent. She should naturally be matched with the most outstanding man in the capital of Jin. My second grandson is unlearned and idle all day, often being punished by his father. My greatest hope is that he will not get into trouble again."
Upon hearing this, Yang Guifei merely smiled softly. She had already made up her mind that there was no way she would marry her beloved daughter to the suave Jiang Baichuan. She simply wanted to take the opportunity to belittle Princess Zi Yan and praise her own daughter's excellence.
She did not mention Jiang Baichuan again. Instead, she pulled Jiang Yuyao close to her side, picked up the peony hairpin she had just cut, and gently inserted it into her hair. She said softly, "The peonies in spring are so beautiful, just like the faces of young girls like you. Yuyao, you are truly a flower among men, so beautiful that no one can compare to you."
When Jiang Yuyao heard this, a shy blush appeared on her face, and she replied softly, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. Yuyao is grateful for the gift of this flower."
Yang Guifei's attitude towards Jiang Yuyao was full of intimacy and love. "Why bother being polite to me? When the spring comes next year and you marry Zi Gu, you must call me mother."
Jiang Yuyao was secretly delighted when she heard this. She raised her eyes quietly and cast a provocative look at Jiang Songyi.
Yang Guifei's gaze followed Jiang Yuyao's, finally landing on Jiang Songyi, whom she had deliberately ignored for a long time. Her tone was obviously cold, "Is this Jiang Songyi, the eldest daughter of the Yongding Marquis?"
Jiang Songyi responded respectfully, "Your Highness, it is you, the subject."
"Lift your head and let me take a good look at you. You grew up in the countryside, so naturally you are not as good as the women who were carefully raised in the palace."
Yang Guifei originally wanted to support Jiang Yuyao and take the opportunity to mock Jiang Songyi, but when she saw the girl's bright and radiant face and compared it with the gentle and beautiful Jiang Yuyao next to her, she felt that the difference was like heaven and earth, and she could not open her eyes to lie and belittle her beauty.
Moreover, Jiang Songyi has a gorgeous appearance, but she is dignified and elegant, and instead reveals a kind of natural beauty.
Concubine Yang glanced at Jiang Songyi. "Did the Marquis of Yongding find this young lady from some remote corner? I see that your manners are quite lacking. I think you and Yuyao are of similar age, but you are not twins. The Marquis of Yongding should not be so foolish as to pass off a concubine's daughter as the eldest daughter. Otherwise, Yuyao's status will be lowered."
The old lady hurried forward and replied respectfully, "Reporting to the Imperial Concubine, there is indeed one thing that the Marquis' Mansion has not revealed, and that is the life stories of Songyi and Yuyao. In fact, it was my eldest granddaughter, Jiang Songyi, who was originally engaged to His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince."
Yang Guifei's expression suddenly turned gloomy. She had already heard about the previous disputes in the Yongding Marquis' Mansion.
Jiang Songyi, the eldest daughter who had just returned to the Marquis' Mansion, not only shamelessly harassed the Fourth Prince, but also pushed Jiang Yuyao into the icy lake, attempting to drown her and take his place.
Now it seems that the old lady's attitude is obviously biased towards Jiang Songyi.
However, she would never allow such a beautiful but vulgar and vicious woman to step into her son's backyard!
At this moment, in front of the gate of Yikun Palace, a young man's voice rang out like an arrow piercing the air:
"My honorable old lady of the Yongding Marquis's Mansion, no matter which daughter I have betrothed to, my heart belongs only to Miss Yuyao. I will never marry that vicious woman Jiang Songyi!"
Upon hearing that his beloved was about to enter the palace to meet his mother, Xinyi Zigu hurried over. However, the moment he stepped into the palace, he heard Madam Jiang declare that Jiang Songyi was his fiancée.
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