The Ninth Prince seemed to have just woken from a dream, stiffly turning his head to see that it was Lang Ruping.
"What are you doing out here? Is all the food inside ready?"
Lang Ruping nodded.
So the Ninth Prince entered the private room, sat in the main seat, and without saying a word, picked up his chopsticks and started eating.
Everyone was confused, but they all wisely refrained from asking any questions.
I suspect something must have gone wrong, otherwise the Ninth Prince wouldn't be in this state today.
The conversation between the Ninth Prince and the young master of Huicui Pavilion was quickly relayed back by spies from various mansions.
As a result, many families who had designs on Zhao Qingyan began to investigate the Zhao family.
The Eighth Prince, who was always quick-witted but appeared rather simple-minded, went directly to the palace to find his birth mother, Consort Rou.
Consort Rou was always known for her gentle nature.
She is gentle, considerate, understanding, and knows how to be charming, which makes her very popular today.
Consort Rou, who hadn't seen her son in a long time, was overjoyed.
"My son, what brings you to visit your mother today?"
"Come sit here quickly, let your mother take a good look at my son, has he lost weight?"
After the Eighth Prince and his mother finished their performance of showing their deep mother-son affection, they began to get down to business.
"Mother, I have recently taken a liking to a young lady. Although she is from a merchant family, she is remarkably lively and spirited..."
After listening to her son's description, Consort Rou narrowed her eyes slightly, an expression she usually wore when contemplating a problem.
"My son is not a man of strong emotions. Before he marries a proper wife, whichever girl he takes a fancy to, he can simply bring her into the household."
There's no need to report to my mother; the woman we're talking about today must be problematic.
My son, you should tell your mother the truth.
At this moment, Consort Rou was nowhere near as gentle and considerate as she was in front of the Emperor; her face was now filled with a fierce and ruthless expression.
The Eighth Prince was most afraid of his mother's cold face, so he told her about Zhao Qingyan's family background, but concealed the fact that she was engaged.
Consort Rou frowned.
"Even so, you are just a merchant. Is it worth offering a concubine position to you? It would be an insult to the dignity of the royal family."
The Eighth Prince felt quite helpless.
“Mother, that Hui Cui Pavilion is not an ordinary merchant.”
It has been less than a year since it opened in Beijing, but its business is booming. It is said that its owner is a mysterious and unpredictable person.
So far, no one has been able to investigate its background.
Even worse, those who went to investigate the Gathering Pavilion disappeared without a trace, as if they had never existed.
Therefore, I feel that if I want to marry that young master, I must offer him a great deal.
As long as I marry the young master of Huicui Pavilion, I won't have to worry about not being able to use Huicui Pavilion's wealth.
My maternal grandfather was a man of integrity who never spent his life in poverty, but he could certainly provide some support to his children through his connections.
"The only thing I can't do is worry about money, and it's making me very distressed."
It's hard to believe how the Eighth Prince could say such a thing against his conscience. His maternal grandfather, the Minister of Revenue, was arguably the easiest person to embezzle.
Consort Rou's lips twitched slightly.
Thinking along the lines of her son's thinking, she also felt that if her son could use the position of a concubine to get a gold nugget, it would be a very worthwhile deal.
As long as they are not the principal wife, but rather concubines or secondary wives, the son can bring as many as he wants into the household, as long as it benefits him.
"Your Majesty, Consort Rou is waiting outside the palace."
"He said he personally prepared a white fungus and lotus seed soup for you," said the Grand Eunuch Rong Fuhai.
The Emperor rubbed his throbbing forehead.
"Yes, Xuan, I should rest for a while too."
After bowing to the Emperor, Consort Rou nestled into his arms like a fledgling swallow.
"Your Majesty, it has been many days since you visited me. I have missed you terribly."
This is the white fungus and lotus seed soup that I cooked for Your Majesty after tending the stove for two hours. Your Majesty, please try it..."
After the Emperor finished eating and spent some time being intimate with Consort Rou, Consort Rou revealed the purpose of her visit that day.
It just feels like the Eighth Prince made a mountain out of a molehill by promising a concubine position to a merchant's daughter.
In particular, he himself, as the father, had to personally bestow the marriage upon him.
He frowned.
"Let me think about this matter carefully. It is not proper to have a principal wife before she has even entered the household."
Consort Rou once again nestled herself into the Emperor's arms.
"Your Majesty, I'd better be direct. The merchant's daughter is now pregnant with the Emperor's grandson. The doctor says it's almost certainly a boy."
If I don't hurry up and marry him, my first grandson will become a bastard.
It has a bad reputation.
Previously, the Eighth Prince had intended to bring a concubine into the household.
But she was also a strong-willed woman who absolutely refused, insisting that she should at least be a concubine.
Although our imperial family can marry whomever they want,
But isn't she already pregnant with my first grandson? Let her be smug for a few days. If she still doesn't know what's good for her after my grandson is born, I can demote her further."
Consort Rou spoke with righteous indignation, yet also with the delicate tenderness of a young girl, as if she were furious but helpless.
Whether the emperor was blinded by lust or not, he certainly did something he later regretted.
The following day, a eunuch arrived at the entrance of the Huicui Pavilion to deliver an imperial edict. This person was none other than Rong Fuhai, the chief eunuch by the emperor's side.
He didn't believe that the Eighth Prince married a merchant's daughter because they were in love.
I suspected there was something fishy going on, so I decided to come and see what was going on.
So he specifically asked the emperor for the job of delivering imperial edicts.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Zhao Qingyan is diligent, kind, gentle, and simple, beautiful and intelligent... She is a perfect match for the Eighth Prince Jianrong."
"By imperial decree, Zhao Qingyan is hereby granted the title of Consort to the Eighth Prince. Miss Zhao, please accept this decree."
After Rong Fuhai finished reading the imperial edict, he noticed that Zhao Qingyan, who was kneeling on the ground, was not moving, so he gave her a special reminder.
The moment he saw Zhao Qingyan, he felt that this girl was different from others. Her spirit was so strong that she was not the type to fall in love with the Eighth Prince.
Instead of thanking the emperor for his kindness like the others, Zhao Qingyan stood up first.
As soon as she stood up, all the managers, maids, and servants behind her also stood up in a rush.
Even though Rong Fuhai had seen many grand occasions, he had never seen anyone defy an imperial decree and refuse to accept it.
Just as he was about to shout angrily, Zhao Qingyan bowed respectfully.
"Uncle, I really cannot accept this imperial decree."
Not to mention that I have no connection with the Eighth Prince, I don’t even know whether he looks square or round.
As for the young lady, she was already engaged at home, so there is no reason for her to serve two husbands.
Han Xuri, the heir of the Duke of Huguo, knows this matter very well, and I'm sorry to have troubled you, Uncle, to make this trip.
Please also ask your uncle to go back and tell the Emperor the truth.
There must have been some mishap that caused His Majesty to misunderstand.
Please, Uncle, put in a good word for my daughter when you get back.
He then subtly handed a purse to Rong Fuhai.
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