The two sisters talked for a long time, and Meng Wan analyzed the situation very thoroughly from many aspects. She actually knew that Meng Qi had not consummated her marriage with Song Chengze, and she bluntly pointed out several major conditions for Song Chengze to sit in that position.
(I didn't want to recommend the book. I originally wanted to quote a passage from the novel "Substitute Bride", but Tomato said it was plagiarized from someone else's work. I have no choice but to ask everyone to read that one. It's also in the second half.)
After Meng Qi calmed down, she said, "I know what's going on. Second sister, there's no need to say more. I have something serious to discuss with you."
Everyone had originally thought that the Emperor, having lost three sons in a single year, would be drowning in grief. After the King Jing incident, the Emperor was indeed bedridden for a while. The Crown Prince, at this time, acted like a filial son and a good grandson to the utmost. Not only did he bring his son to Chengtian Hall every few days, he personally tested medicines and attended to the Emperor, spending many nights resting on the footstool of the Dragon Couch, even sending Lü Chengbao away.
I don’t know whether it was the prince’s filial piety or the effect of the sutras chanted by everyone, but the emperor actually got better again. Not only did he get better, he also wanted to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with great interest.
In the palace, the Queen, Noble Concubine Xiang, and Concubine Xian were successively implicated by their sons. Some died, some were imprisoned. Now the harem is managed by Concubine Lian, with Concubine Xiu and Concubine Jing assisting in management.
After receiving the Emperor's decree to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in a grand manner, Concubine Lian was truly troubled. She had initially been reluctant to accept the position of managing the harem, having declined twice, each time the Emperor rejected her offer. She knew she couldn't refuse again.
Later, Song Chengze entered the palace, and the mother and son talked for a long time. Concubine Lian also realized that given the current situation, she no longer needed to hide it. Even if there was no need to make a big fuss, it was still necessary to be open and aboveboard.
So, she changed her mind. Even if she did nothing, the prince would still be suspicious, so why not make good use of the power in her hands?
The Crown Princess, who had previously never interfered in the affairs of the harem, began to visit the Qionghua Palace more often, paying her respects daily regardless of weather. The two, with fake smiles on their faces, performed the daily act of loving mother-in-law and filial daughter-in-law.
Before Concubine Lian and the others could come up with a good idea, the Emperor ordered the children to prepare a program. No matter what it was, whether it was playing a flute or painting, they had to perform it themselves. Most importantly, the couple had to cooperate in the performance.
When Meng Qi heard the news, the first thing that came to her mind was whether it was Fanghua's idea. Could it be that Concubine Lian and Fanghua wanted to take advantage of the Mid-Autumn Festival to do something?
It was only after she entered the palace again that she realized that this was the emperor's own idea. The palace now was completely different from when Meng Qi first married Song Chengze and entered the palace.
No more tit-for-tat confrontations from Princess Duan, no more sarcastic sarcasm from Princess Cheng, no more indifferent observation from Princess Jing. Meng Qi looked at the vacant seats, suddenly overcome with sadness. What had these women done wrong? They had simply married according to their families', or perhaps the emperor's, orders. It was just that their men didn't stay with them, and they, too, became losers.
"Have you visited Yong'an?" the Crown Princess asked softly.
Meng Qi nodded. After Prince Cheng's failure, the emperor did not vent his anger on this legitimate daughter. After arranging Fanghua's marriage, he even summoned Yong'an personally to arrange a marriage for her.
But Yong'an refused. She knelt there and repented devoutly for the Queen and Prince Cheng. She asked the Emperor to allow her to become a nun. She wanted to practice in the nunnery to make up for the past sins of her mother and brother.
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