Chapter 235 reached a tacit understanding
As parents, naturally everything they do is for their children's benefit. The Empress Dowager watched Prince Rui grow up; although he wasn't her biological son, she felt a deep connection to him. Naturally, she wanted everything for Prince Rui to be the best.
Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Prince Rui clasped his hands together, which were hidden in his sleeves. After a while, he said, "Your subject dislikes the infighting among women in the inner quarters; it's too troublesome. I also dislike women whose hearts are filled with love and affection. Such women require your attention to their feelings, which I also find annoying. Your subject just wants to do what I like in peace and quiet."
The Empress Dowager frowned. Wasn't this still a preference for the Duke of Chu?
"Then find someone dignified and elegant, whose heart is not only filled with romantic love," the Empress Dowager said. "The Grand Tutor's family has a daughter. I have met her twice. She is outstanding in appearance and speaks and acts with propriety. She is quite good."
“Your subject is not pleased,” Prince Rui said. “When I went out of the city earlier, I encountered her carriage, which had broken down. She asked me to take her into the city. I went to see the broken part of the carriage, and it was clearly caused by someone.”
The Empress Dowager was taken aback. "Then what did you do next?"
Prince Rui: "Your subject has sent someone back to the city to inform the Grand Tutor's residence, and asked the Grand Tutor's residence to arrange a carriage to pick her up."
"Pfft!" The Empress Dowager couldn't help but laugh, and then said, "It's not easy for a girl to live with someone as unromantic as you."
Despite saying that, the Empress Dowager still felt that Prince Rui was the best child and should be matched with the best woman.
"Alright, then I'll search more carefully. There are so many women in the capital; surely I can find one that suits your taste," the Empress Dowager said.
Prince Rui neither confirmed nor denied this. The Empress Dowager then asked him what he had been busy with that day. Prince Rui enthusiastically told the Empress Dowager about his research experiments, mentioning several times how Jiang Yu had inspired him.
The Empress Dowager sighed inwardly.
......
Jiang Yu and Marquis Gongyuan of Wei walked out of the banquet hall together. As soon as they stepped outside, they saw Jiang Hongsheng and Jiang Lihui. Jiang Yu called out to the two men, "Lord Jiang."
Jiang Hongsheng stopped when he heard the voice, then walked towards Jiang Yu, "Duke of Chu."
Jiang Yu smiled at him, a smile that sent chills down his spine.
"Lord Jiang, would you like to have a cup of tea with me?" Jiang Yu said.
Jiang Hongsheng couldn't guess what she meant for a moment, but he also wanted to resolve the conflict with Jiang Yu, so he said, "Alright, this official will treat you."
Jiang Yu gestured for them to follow, and the two walked out of the palace together. As they passed the Duke of Wei and the Marquis of Anyuan, Jiang Yu gave them a knowing look.
After leaving the palace, they rode in a carriage for a while and arrived at Zhenghua Street. The carriage stopped at a teahouse, and Jiang Yu and Jiang Hongsheng went inside. After sitting down in a private room, Jiang Yu personally brewed tea, her movements skillful and fluid.
Jiang Hongsheng leaned back, watching Jiang Yu prepare the tea. He instinctively adopted a defensive posture, unsure what Jiang Yu wanted to discuss with him. Clearly, the crisis caused by the rumors had largely passed, but would the Chu Kingdom's guild let it go so easily?
Judging from her past behavior, no. While the Duke of Chu might not be considered vindictive, he's not one to suffer a loss easily. Although they didn't create the rumors, his son spread them.
Let alone the Duke of Chu, even he himself, once he had this leverage, wouldn't let go easily. But what does the Duke of Chu intend to do?
The room was quiet, save for the occasional sound of Jiang Yu brewing tea. Jiang Hongsheng's mind was in turmoil. Just then, a cup of steaming tea was placed in front of him, and Jiang Yu's voice rang out, "Lord Jiang, please try the tea I brewed."
Jiang Hongsheng didn't pick up the tea, but looked at Jiang Yu's face. He saw a faint smile on her face, making it impossible to tell her inner joy or anger.
Jiang Hongsheng withdrew his gaze, reached for the tea in front of him, took a small sip, and said, "The Duke of Chu has excellent skills."
Jiang Yu smiled and poured herself a cup as well. "I've only learned a little about tea brewing. It's said that for tea to taste good, not only must the tea be good, but the water, the heat, and the teaware must also be just right."
At this point, her gaze fell on Jiang Hongsheng's face, and she continued, "Take this rumor about me, for example. Someone has to create it, someone has to spread it, and the way it spreads can't be in the streets and alleys. Finally, someone has to bring it up in public, putting me in a difficult position. Every link in the chain must be perfect. If it's even slightly off, everything we've done will be in vain."
"The Duke of Chu is truly capable; he weathered such a great crisis with such ease," Jiang Hongsheng said.
Jiang Yu drank a cup of tea. "It was just help from relatives and friends; it's nothing to do with my abilities."
This is the truth. The crisis at the banquet started with Prince Rui interrupting Consort Su, followed by Lu Xiaowu and others requesting a marriage decree. The whole affair ended like a farce. Throughout the entire process, Jiang Yu hardly uttered a word.
But this is also because Jiang Yu deserves those people's protection. Jiang Hongsheng added, "This is also because the Duke of Chu deserves it."
Jiang Yu leaned back, adopting a casual posture, and looked at the person opposite him, saying, "Lord Jiang, my Chu State Duke's Mansion has no grudges or hatred with your Jiang family. Even in the court, our two families have no major disagreements."
These words softened the expression on Jiang Hongsheng's face. "Yes, it was indeed my unfilial son who was wrong this time."
"You've been used, Lord Jiang, are you just going to let this go?" Jiang Yu asked.
Jiang Hongsheng lowered his eyes slightly, not responding to Jiang Yu's words. Judging from what happened at today's banquet, the rumors were inextricably linked to Consort Su and the Qingshan Marquis's Mansion. However, now that Consort Su was favored and the Emperor had no intention of suppressing the Qingshan Marquis's Mansion, no matter how angry or resentful he was, he didn't want to take action against Consort Su at this time.
Jiang Yu understood his thoughts, lowered his eyes and played with the jade pendant at his waist, and said casually, "In your opinion, which of the princes is most suitable to be the crown prince?"
Jiang Hongsheng looked at her silently, and after a while asked, "What does the Duke of Chu think?"
Jiang Yu looked up at him, "Eighth Prince."
Jiang Hongsheng's pupils contracted. The seasoned veterans in the court all knew that none of the princes' maternal families had strong influence, and the princes were evenly matched. Under such circumstances, whoever became the crown prince would be the target.
Jiang Hongsheng poured himself a cup of tea. He understood that Jiang Yu's mention of establishing a crown prince wasn't a discussion, but an exchange. His son had attacked first, and now the other party was demanding repayment, offering him terms. If he agreed, all was well; if not, even more drastic measures awaited him.
Is Jiang Hongsheng afraid of the Duke of Chu's mansion?
I'm not afraid, but there's no need to antagonize them. Besides, the Qingshan Marquis's family used his son first, so his actions now are just him getting revenge.
After a moment's thought, he said, "Yes, the Eighth Prince is very suitable to be the Crown Prince."
Jiang Yu smiled again, picked up her teacup and raised it. Jiang Hongsheng also raised his teacup, and the two drank the tea in their cups in one gulp, thus reaching a tacit understanding.
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