Chapter 308 Cannot be exposed to the public
As Zhu Junning left the Prince of Lingnan's courtyard, he looked up at the newly sprouted buds on the willows opposite him. A faint smile curved his lips, a mixture of longing and bitterness in his expression.
"Let's go." She decisively withdrew her gaze and strode towards her courtyard. The maid beside her stepped forward and whispered, "The Dowager Consort has sent word that she wishes to see you."
Zhu Junning gave a faint "hmm" and walked towards Cichun Hall expressionlessly. The two maids beside her exchanged glances, their expressions becoming even more cautious.
Zhu Junning walked at a leisurely pace. She felt a certain dislike for her own grandmother, not because of her repeated attempts to find her marriage partners, but because of the things her grandmother had done in the past.
Leaving aside the fact that she used underhanded tactics to force the late Empress Dowager to her death, she and the late Empress Dowager were originally rivals. Without her scheming and ruthless methods, there would be no current Prince of Lingnan.
However, Grandmother shouldn't have used such means to harm the Duke of Chu's mansion. She didn't mean to defend the Duke of Chu's mansion, but now that the Duke of Chu's mansion has prospered again, if the current Duke of Chu knew what she had done in the past, it would undoubtedly pose a great threat to the mansion.
She dared not underestimate the current Duke of Chu in the slightest.
As she approached the entrance of Cichun Hall, she looked up at the plaque above the gate. The three characters of Cichun Hall were both strong and graceful. It was said that these three characters were written by her grandfather, the former King of Lingnan.
Zhu Junning's eyes held a hint of mockery. She wondered what her grandfather's reaction was after learning about what her grandmother had done to the Duke of Chu's mansion. Without love, there is no hate. Did her grandfather truly not care at all about the hatred her grandmother harbored for the old Duke of Chu?
It's all about self-interest; after all, my grandmother has an older brother who's the prime minister in the capital.
"The Fourth Miss is here." The old woman's voice interrupted Zhu Junning's thoughts. She smiled and said, "I came out of Father's study and found out that Grandmother wanted to see me, so I came over immediately."
"Fourth Miss, please come in quickly, the Dowager Consort is waiting." The old woman gestured for her to enter, and Zhu Junning stepped inside, asking about the Dowager Consort's health with concern, perfectly portraying a granddaughter who cared about her grandmother.
"The Dowager Consort is a light sleeper and wakes up at the slightest noise," the old woman said, lifting the curtain. Zhu Junning bowed and went inside, and a wave of warm, fragrant scent washed over her face. The smell was quite strong and uncomfortable, but Zhu Junning didn't show it at all.
She stepped forward and, smiling, bowed to the white-haired Empress Dowager on the couch, saying, "Granddaughter greets Grandmother."
Pei Tinglan lifted her droopy eyelids, frowned at her for a moment, and then said, "Get up and come sit down."
Zhu Junning smiled and walked to the bedside, sitting on the small stool next to Pei Tinglan. She said, "Granddaughter, I heard from your nanny that you haven't been sleeping well lately. Have you called a doctor?"
Pei Tinglan waved her hand dismissively and said, "When you get old, you always have one problem or another."
“But we can’t be careless. Has he drunk the calming soup?” Zhu Junning turned to ask the old woman standing to the side.
The old woman immediately replied, "She's drinking it, but it doesn't seem to be helping much."
Zhu Junning looked worried. "Then let's change the doctor. Have you told Father?"
The old woman opened her mouth to answer, but Pei Tinglan waved her hand impatiently and said, "There's no need to change doctors, I just have something on my mind."
It's here!
Zhu Junning thought to herself, but her face still showed worry. "What is it that worries Grandmother?"
"It's not your marriage yet." Pei Tinglan said sternly, "Look at the whole of Daqian, let alone Lingnan, whose daughter is eighteen or nineteen years old and still not married?"
Zhu Junning lowered her head and remained silent. She had heard these words every few days and was already used to it. After all, she was her own grandmother, so she just had to bear with it.
Seeing her like this, Pei Tinglan became even angrier, her aged hands clenching into fists. She looked sharply at Zhu Junning and said, "I've found a marriage for you, let's finalize it in a few days."
Zhu Junning suddenly looked up, her impatience still evident in her eyes, and asked, "Which family has Grandmother chosen?"
Pei Tinglan saw the impatience in her eyes and disliked this granddaughter even more. She snorted and said, "You are a princess of the royal family. You will not disgrace your status. Your cousin, Pei Qitang, is the prime minister's grandson and is now a fourth-rank official."
With Zhu Junning's keen insight, he instantly understood why Pei Tinglan wanted to arrange this marriage for him. It was simply to strengthen the kinship between the Lingnan Prince's Mansion and the Prime Minister's Mansion, while also having her serve as the Prince's Mansion's spy in the capital.
She took a deep breath and said silently, "If I remember correctly, my cousin Qitang is already married, and his wife comes from a prestigious family. Does Grandmother want me, a princess, to be his concubine?"
Even with her best efforts to restrain herself, Zhu Junning's tone wasn't much better. But she no longer cared.
"You don't need to worry about that. She's been married into the Pei family for three years without having a child, so there will be room for her," Pei Tinglan said. Her tone was very casual, as if it were a very simple matter.
Zhu Junning wanted to ask her how she planned to make room for her cousin-in-law—was it to mean her death? But she held back, knowing her father would absolutely not agree. It wasn't because of her father's favoritism, but because the relationship between the Lingnan Prince's Mansion and the Prime Minister's Mansion couldn't be exposed to the public.
My grandmother, the prime minister's younger sister, is officially dead.
She stood up, bowed to Pei Tinglan, and said, "This is a marriage arranged by my parents and matchmaker. I will obey my father in everything. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."
She turned and walked away, and Pei Tinglan's gaze at her was filled with a deep sense of malice. Zhu Junning's senses were sharp, and she sensed Pei Tinglan's hostility towards her, but she stood up straight, without a trace of fear or retreat.
The father was a filial son, but in the face of the grand plan of the Lingnan Prince's Mansion, all filial piety had to take a backseat.
Leaving Cichun Hall, Zhu Junning glanced back at the gloomy courtyard one last time before turning and leaving briskly. Back in her own courtyard, she asked her maid, Zhui'er, "When did the Dowager Consort's insomnia begin?"
Zhui'er shook her head, "This servant will go and inquire right away."
Zhu Junning waved for her to do it, and then said to another maid, Shun'er, "Have someone keep an eye on Cichun Hall."
"yes."
Shun'er quickly left, leaving Zhu Junning alone in the room. Looking out the window at the sky, she involuntarily hunched her back. Everyone said she was lucky, born into the Lingnan Prince's mansion and favored by the Prince. But who knew that this wasn't what she wanted? She longed for the opportunity and stage to display her talents, just like a man.
However, no matter how much her father favored her, he never thought of giving her such an opportunity.
"Miss." A moment later, Zhui'er returned and reported to her in a low voice, "The Dowager Consort's illness has lasted for quite some time, probably starting around June or July of last year."
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