...
Empress Dowager Zheng eventually managed to persuade Jing Huaixu to back down. When it came time to discuss Jing Lu as the principal wife, Empress Dowager Zheng found a reason to send Empress Ye, Yue Jiang, and Jing Yan out of the Changshou Palace.
It was as if they would cause trouble if they didn't get rid of them.
Empress Ye asked Jing Yan to escort Yue Jiang back to rest. On the way, Yue Jiang curiously guessed, "Your Highness, do you think Father Emperor will allow the Third Prince to marry the Zhao family girl?"
Although it was just a guess, Yue Jiang had already guessed that the princess recommended by Empress Dowager Zheng would definitely be a girl from the Zhao family, but she wasn't sure if Jing Huaixu would agree.
As Jing Yan walked out of the Longevity Palace, he already had the answer in his heart: "It's possible. This time, the Empress Dowager recalled the past to the Emperor. The Emperor already felt sorry for Jing Lu's experience this time, so it's not impossible that he might give in a little."
Yue Jiang: "After all the twists and turns, the Zhao family girl was still married to the Third Prince. First, the Second Prince harbored a desire for revenge, but he couldn't touch the Third Prince, so he could only 'coincidentally' run into Cousin Zheng and take his anger out on her."
"Cousin Zheng was no match for her second brother, who was a prince. Her life hung by a thread, and in the end, she lost her innocence."
“Princess Cheng dared to attack the Third Prince without regard for anything else because the Third Prince is a good person and was afraid that she would get sick from being in the snow.”
"She thought she had received some kind of hint and started to have thoughts of climbing the social ladder. Otherwise, given the relationship between Yongshou Palace and Changshou Palace, wouldn't it be too stupid for Princess Cheng to set her sights on the Third Prince?"
In the end, only the Third Prince was a complete victim.
"Your Highness, you actually have such a 'pure and kind' brother!"
"Jiang'er, please stop teasing me. I've known you for a while now," Jing Yan said with a wry smile.
Yue Jiang asked curiously, "Is Your Highness angry?"
Jing Yan shook his head: "I'm not angry. You said it yourself that night. The imperial family is like this. I just don't know why he, who is clearly scheming, has been as innocent as a blank sheet of paper in front of others all these years."
"Was he always like this, or did he become like this without knowing it?"
Yue Jiang listened to Jing Yan's complaints, but after a long time she didn't get an answer, so she had no idea what to do.
...
Jing Huaixu's imperial decree of marriage was issued quickly, and Cheng Suyun learned that she had only been granted the title of concubine.
The Empress Consort was still the Zhao family's daughter, whom both Yongshou Palace and Changshou Palace had fought over. Cheng Suyun went to Yongshou Palace in a frenzy to seek help from Empress Dowager Cheng.
“Grandmother, I am a princess of the Cheng family. Our Cheng family has paid for the Jing Kingdom with lives. How can you make me a concubine?”
"Please help my niece. Go and discuss with His Majesty that I can only marry the Third Prince as his principal wife, and let the one from the Zhao family be his concubine."
Jing Shuo was also unhappy about the marriage. After receiving the imperial decree, he went to Empress Dowager Cheng's palace to make a scene, trying to get her to refuse the marriage.
“Grandmother, I will not marry Zheng Yutong. Whenever I see her, I am reminded of that brat Jing Lu, and I cannot help but feel hatred in my heart. Changshou Palace has always been at odds with us. How can you allow me to marry into that family?”
“Your grandson has no right to speak in front of the Emperor now. I beg you to plead with the Emperor to withdraw this decree.”
"If I can't withdraw, then I'll just let Zheng Yutong be my concubine. I don't want to be tied to her for life."
Empress Dowager Cheng sat in front of the Buddha statue, striking a wooden fish. Cheng Suyun and Jing Shuo argued on either side about announcing their engagement, and the sound of the wooden fish in Empress Dowager Cheng's hand never faltered.
After Empress Dowager Cheng finished striking the wooden fish for the last time, she slowly opened her eyes, turned her head to look at the two juniors who had turned pale with shock, and said with disappointment.
"If you dare to take that step, consider the consequences. If you do something irreversible without thinking, how can I help you?"
She first looked at Cheng Suyun, her eyes full of sarcasm: "Suyun, you poisoned the emperor's son, and now you want to be the emperor's principal wife? Don't you think that's disrespectful to the emperor's authority?"
"So what if the Cheng family has lost lives? The Cheng family has been repaying kindness for over forty years. Those orphans have long won over the court. You are just a princess in name only. How can you compete with the well-regarded Zhao family daughter?"
"Grandmother, Suyun was wrong. Please help Suyun one last time," Cheng Suyun said after being mercilessly scolded, only then realizing her predicament.
Her heart sank to the bottom, her mind went blank, and all she could do was keep begging her great-aunt, hoping she could pull her out of the woods one last time.
Empress Dowager Cheng was not fooled by Cheng Suyun's pitiful appearance and had no more impulse to soften her heart. She remained expressionless and spoke in a sharp tone.
"Do you know you're wrong? You just want to drain the last drop of blood from my body. I've raised you in vain."
"Get out! You dared to covet the title of Princess Consort, and this is the result of your actions. I despise you. You are never to come to Yongshou Palace again."
Empress Dowager Cheng was resolute. Not only did she personally utter harsh words, but she also gave a single glance to the palace servants around her. Those servants dragged Cheng Suyun out, and no matter how much Cheng Suyun struggled or pleaded, it was to no avail.
Cheng Suyun left, and Jing Shuo sat in his wheelchair, feeling uneasy. He clutched the clothes on his knees, trying to imply that his leg injury would make his grandmother show him mercy.
Before he could even speak, Empress Dowager Cheng had already cast her equally disappointed gaze upon him. Her tone was indifferent, yet it was more chilling than when she was angry.
"Didn't you dislike the Zhao family's daughter? It doesn't matter who you marry. Zheng Yutong keeps saying that you bullied her first, but you can't produce any evidence. The responsibility lies with you."
"You want to learn from those people and humiliate the concubines? Shuo'er, if you have something to complain about, complain that you don't have a good grandmother."
"Go back now, and don't come to my place so often in the future."
With a wave of her hand, Empress Dowager Cheng ordered the remaining palace servants to push Jing Shuo's wheelchair out, leaving Jing Shuo with no way to stay.
After the hall fell silent, Empress Dowager Cheng let out a deep breath and then called out, "They've all left, come out now!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down," Xiange said as she came out of the side hall and poured a cup of tea for Empress Dowager Cheng.
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