Then, in front of the younger generation, Consort Jing actually took the Emperor's arm and asked in a coquettish voice, "Your Majesty, what do you think about betrothing Miss Lu to the Pei family's young master?"
The Emperor's eyes lit up. That old scoundrel Pei Guozhong had already made a scene in the Imperial Study many times.
She cried and begged him to find Pei Yuanzhao a good marriage, saying that his eldest son was only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old and still couldn't find a wife because he had saved the emperor.
The emperor felt guilty when he thought about this. Back then, when the Chonghua Palace caught fire, he was trapped in the flames, and it was Pei Yuanzhao who risked his life to save him.
Pei Yuanzhao was disfigured as a result, becoming the inhuman and ghostly figure he is today.
I heard that recently he has become unable to take care of himself and is lying in bed being helped with his bodily functions.
He felt sorry for Pei Yuanzhao after learning about his misfortune. Back then, Pei Yuanzhao was spirited, handsome, and a very good young man.
After all, Pei Yuanshao was one of the four young masters of the capital, so how ugly could his brother Pei Yuanzhao be?
If it weren't for saving him, how could he have ended up unable to find a wife?
Pei Guozhong asked him to grant her a marriage, but what family would be willing to marry their daughter to such a useless man?
Therefore, this problem has always been a headache for him.
If Lu Ziwei could be married off to him, it would be a good choice.
Firstly, she had been married before and was no longer a virgin; marrying a disabled person after being divorced was considered a good match.
Secondly, it would also be a good opportunity to give the Lu family a warning, so they wouldn't think he didn't know that Lu Ziqian was the one who started the lawsuit.
Thirdly, it could also please Consort Jing, who hadn't allowed him to sleep in her bed for a month since he had confined the third prince to his quarters.
Su Yujiao and Lu Ziwei's expressions changed drastically. They knew that the young master Pei that Consort Jing mentioned was definitely not Pei Yuanshao, especially since he was already married and had children.
However, the disabled Pei Yuanzhao remains unmarried to this day.
What a vicious thought!
Before the Emperor could even announce the marriage decree, Lu Ziwei immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, I am already engaged, and I fear I will have to disappoint Her Majesty's kindness."
Consort Jing's expression changed, and she said coldly, "Does Miss Lu know that deceiving the emperor is a capital offense?"
Faced with Consort Jing's powerful aura, Lu Ziwei turned pale with fright.
Su Yujiao also knelt down: "Your Majesty, Miss Lu did not deceive the Emperor. The marriage certificate is in the Empress's palace."
"Today, Miss Lu and I have come to the palace, firstly to visit the Empress, and secondly to ask the Empress for a small favor."
"Miss Lu wishes to ask Her Majesty the Empress to have the palace embroiderers frame her marriage certificate so that it can be preserved for longer, and also to symbolize that her relationship with Lord Gu will last a long time and that they will be happily married for a hundred years."
Su Yujiao's statement is reasonable, as ancient paper was rough and lacked proper preservation methods.
Some people would write their marriage certificate and then have an embroiderer copy it onto silk for easier preservation.
Of course, these are luxuries that only wealthy families can afford. Ordinary families can't even afford to eat, so they shouldn't be involved in these romantic affairs.
Lu Ziwei breathed a sigh of relief. She thought that Consort Jing wouldn't be so bold as to search for the marriage certificate in her aunt, the Empress, right?
However, Consort Jing had the Emperor's exclusive favor, which meant she could do whatever she wanted in the palace.
"Your Majesty, why don't we go and take a look at the Empress's palace together?"
"Hmm." The Emperor has always doted on Consort Jing.
Lu Ziwei and Su Yujiao exchanged a glance. What should they do?
Where can she get a marriage certificate?
Su Yujiao gave her a reassuring look.
On their way to the Empress's palace, Su Yujiao suddenly clutched her stomach, saying she had eaten something cold and gotten a stomachache.
When she went to the outhouse, Consort Jing specifically asked a palace maid to keep an eye on her, just in case she went to inform the Empress and asked the Empress to prepare a marriage certificate in advance.
Su Yujiao went into the outhouse, but the palace maid did not follow her in; instead, she stood guard outside the door.
Su Yujiao entered the space with her mind and searched for her divorce agreement, which she remembered had an official seal on it.
Then she returned to the modern world and contacted a seal-making shop, asking them to carve one based on an official seal.
In later generations, most of the engraving was done by machine, which was much faster than by hand. As long as the money was right, it could be engraved in minutes.
Moreover, when she entered the space, time outside was frozen.
Even so, she dared not delay too long, for the Emperor and Consort Jing certainly wouldn't wait for her to finish having diarrhea before going to see the Empress.
If she delays too long, and the Emperor and Consort Jing encounter the Empress ahead of time, wouldn't that expose the deception?
After receiving the seal, Su Yujiao imitated Gu Heng's handwriting and wrote two identical marriage certificates, then stamped them before leaving the outhouse.
She ran a few steps to catch up with the Empress and Consort Jing, then handed the marriage certificate to Princess Qingwan, and the group entered the Empress's palace together.
Upon arrival, Princess Qingwan spoke to the Empress first, saying, "Mother, where is my cousin's marriage certificate? Consort Jing doesn't believe my cousin is already engaged and insists on acting as matchmaker for her."
The Empress wasn't stupid; she immediately put on a stern face: "What does Consort Jing mean by this?"
"Weiwei has already kissed Gu Hengding. Is Consort Jing trying to use her power to oppress her?"
"Does the Emperor indulge her like this?"
The Empress looked at the Emperor with cold eyes, and the Emperor felt a moment of guilt.
After all, they were a young couple who had been together for decades and had gone through thick and thin together. Even if the love between them had faded, there was still affection between them.
"Why did the Empress speak so harshly?"
"Consort Jing meant well. Since the marriage certificate is with you, there's no harm in taking a look."
Before the Empress could speak, Princess Qingwan suddenly said angrily, "Fine, I'll go get it."
Princess Qingwan timed it perfectly, entered the Empress's palace, and came out right next to the dressing table.
The marriage certificate contained over a hundred characters, and the two certificates together contained two or three hundred characters, all neatly written and stamped with an official seal.
No one could write this many words in such a short time.
The Emperor and Consort Jing stared at the marriage certificate in silence, surprised that it actually existed.
Upon seeing the marriage certificate, the Empress suddenly became agitated, spewing sarcastic remarks that made the Emperor feel utterly humiliated. He then hurriedly left with Consort Jing.
"Wan'er, what happened?"
Qingwan playfully stuck out her tongue and whispered, "My cousin-in-law gave it to me."
The Empress and Lu Ziwei looked at her in surprise. Su Yujiao smiled and said, "It's hard to explain, so please don't ask, Your Majesty."
"In short, it's good that we were able to turn danger into safety."
The Empress had heard Zhou mention the incident of the dragon robe being used to catch someone in adultery, and she knew that Su Yujiao had some skills in that area.
Now that she has conjured up two marriage certificates out of thin air, they are even more convinced.
With Jiaojiao helping the Crown Prince, what is there for the Third Prince to fear?
Qian'er is blind; he doesn't cherish such a good wife and insists on courting death.
Now look what's happened, such a good daughter-in-law is no longer with the Lu family.
The Empress suddenly had a brilliant idea: if Jiao Jiao couldn't be her nephew's wife, being her daughter-in-law wouldn't be bad either!
Anyway, the Crown Prince is not married yet, and Jiao Jiao is single now. Aren't they a match made in heaven?
As the saying goes, "Don't let the good stuff go to outsiders." It's always better for Jiaojiao to be your own daughter-in-law than for her to be Consort Jing's daughter-in-law.
I heard that when Jiaojiao fell off the cliff, Chu Zhongyuan searched for her for three days and three nights, seemingly more concerned than the Lu family.
Thinking this way, the Empress suddenly realized that Jiao Jiao was very popular, and she couldn't help but feel a strong sense of crisis.
"Auntie, do I really want to marry Gu Heng?"
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