...
Yuejiang was almost six months pregnant, so she often invited Xiange, whom she "felt attracted to," to the East Palace to relieve her boredom.
The two sat under the pavilion in Yichun Palace, and Xiange told Yuejiang what she had heard in Yongshou Palace.
"Empress Dowager Cheng is completely disappointed with the Second Prince and Cheng Suyun. Today she even kicked them out. Now Empress Dowager Cheng is counting on me to enter the Eastern Palace."
Yue Jiang: "Entering the Eastern Palace is possible, but we need a legitimate reason. I asked the people in the palace about the female official you mentioned before, and it's a bit difficult to arrange."
"First, you must be selected to enter the palace. Then you will be tested at each level. Once you pass the test, you will be assigned to the appropriate department based on your skills. Only then can I bring you to my side."
"The only problem now is that Empress Dowager Cheng will definitely not let you take the exam for female officials. Once she finds out that your progress is far from what she expects, you will definitely be in danger."
"Your Highness, why don't you let me be one of His Highness's concubines? I promise I'll only have the title and will never be an obstacle to your relationship with His Highness."
After Yue Jiang finished her analysis, Xiange's brows furrowed for a moment, and she suddenly had a sudden inspiration.
Yue Jiang returned Xiange with a polite smile and calmly refused: "No, I can't tolerate any nonsense. Miss Xiange, although we are both from Yue Kingdom, we should still be wary of each other."
“We can think of a solution slowly. At worst, I can tell Empress Dowager Cheng directly that I like you and want to recognize you as my sworn sister. But I would feel uneasy if I had to sacrifice my own interests to help you become His Highness’s concubine.”
"Who knows when you'll become dissatisfied with just being a simple concubine."
Yue Jiang was grateful that Xiange had been honest with her about her purpose and even offered to help her, but in the end, the two had only known each other for a short time.
She couldn't possibly blindly trust Xian Ge just because of a little bit of kindness, and even help her create her own threat.
When Yue Jiang refused outright, Xiange stared at her for a moment, but ultimately couldn't see that Yue Jiang had any intention of giving in. She chuckled lightly to ease the tension.
"Your Highness, I was just joking. Please don't take it to heart."
She knew that the Cheng family was planning to send a woman into the Eastern Palace. She originally intended to feign compliance with the Cheng family first, and then reveal her identity to Yue Jiang so that she could successfully obtain a title in the Eastern Palace.
However, when she actually met Yue Jiang, she found that things were more difficult than she had imagined.
When Xiange thought back to the Moon Kingdom, they were taught how to win a man's heart, but they were never told that they could meet a man who would only have one woman by his side.
It's understandable that Yue Jiang wouldn't give in. If she was already doing well as the Crown Princess and no one else was competing for the Emperor's favor, why would she create trouble for herself?
However, Xiange was also curious about how long the Crown Prince of Jing would remain loyal to his cause.
After considering Yue Jiang's words, Xiange shook her head: "Sisterhood is not an option. People who value interests can allow sisters to share a husband. In Empress Dowager Cheng's eyes, although I did not immediately become His Highness's woman, she may still think that I have plenty of opportunities to take advantage of my proximity."
Yue Jiang casually said, "Then what should we do? Are you suggesting we marry someone first?"
"If the Crown Princess were to introduce a man to Xuange, that wouldn't be a bad idea," Xuange readily accepted the suggestion, showing no sign of reluctance.
"Do you really think so?" Yue Jiang's teasing paused, because she could see that Xiange was very serious.
Xian Ge said dismissively, "Having a man here is good for blocking Empress Dowager Cheng's plans. She can't possibly send another woman, whose heart is already known to everyone, into the Eastern Palace."
Yue Jiang hesitated: "Aren't you wronged?"
Xiange felt it was nothing anymore. Although her past circumstances were not honorable, in chaotic times, survival was the only skill.
Having learned these skills with great effort, it was only right for Xiange to make use of them; her eyes shone with a calm and confident light.
"What's wrong with that? Can the Crown Princess give me a naturally charming but fickle lover? Even if he is fickle, we'll see who is the most fickle in the end."
“For us, life is more important than anything else. Back then, the Crown Princess was sent to Anguo for a political marriage, but by some twist of fate, she ended up in Jingguo. You had no choice.”
"I had no choice but to come to Jingguo for my sister's sake, but I still hope to go back to see my sister before I die and see how she is doing."
"Right now, I'd like to ask the Crown Princess to help me vet a few men so I can have a choice."
Yue Jiang admitted that Xiange's words were very clear about her current situation, because she herself had "lost her memory" under limited choices, which was why she wasn't sent to the mine by that blockhead Jing Yan.
Given the urgent need for string music, she listed some types of songs first.
"Do you prefer a majestic general, a refined and easy-going scholar, or a lively and cheerful young man..."
"Your Highness has many people under your command, and they are all young. If you have a favorite, you can choose one, and I will make sure he arranges a formal marriage for you."
“Your Highness, I think I’ve seen all of these types in the Eastern Palace,” Xiange said, covering her mouth with a smile.
She commented to herself, "Lively and cheerful, just like the doctor who took the Crown Princess's pulse. Tsk tsk, he is young and promising, but too obsessed with medicine. Sometimes he is like a child who never grows up. I don't want to become a mother before I become a wife."
Yue Jiang: "..."
Shang Yu: Achoo! Who's talking about me behind my back?
“A refined and easy-going scholar, the Ninth Prince of the Jade Kingdom fits the bill quite well,” Xiange’s voice rang out again. She sketched an image in her mind, first nodding in satisfaction, then shaking her head in disdain.
"But he's in poor health and sickly. What if I ruin his health after we get married? Wouldn't I be burdened with the responsibility of both countries?"
Yue Jiang: "..."
Yu Chuxuan was being held hostage in Jing, and she learned from Jing Yan's words that Yu Chuxuan's return to the Yu Kingdom was far off, perhaps many years from now.
If she has a sweetheart, it must be a girl from the Jing Kingdom. Xiange thinks this makes perfect sense, but her body is indeed weak.
If something happens, and the Jade Kingdom no longer values him, the Jade Kingdom will know that their prince has had an accident in the Jing Kingdom, and they will at least symbolically demand an explanation and will indeed take responsibility.
"A majestic and awe-inspiring general," Xiange couldn't help but laugh.
"Your Highness, are you referring to Wei You or Shan Yi? Wei You is indeed tall and imposing, but he's really stubborn and straightforward, and has no sense of romance."
"Shan Yi is considerate, and he's one of our own from the Yue Kingdom. It's just a pity that he's not as tall and strong as Wei You."
Yue Jiang admitted that Xiange had a sharp eye, so she asked directly, "Which one do you like the most?"
Xian Ge pondered, his brow furrowing unconsciously, as if he were seriously considering the answer.
Suddenly, a greeting came from the direction of the entrance to Yichun Palace. Yuejiang and Xiange both looked in the direction of the sound.
It turned out that Jing Yan had brought Rong Ying in.
Xian Ge gazed at Rong Ying, who was standing behind Jing Yan. He was wearing a smoky blue bamboo-patterned robe with a white jade belt around his waist. He had a tall and straight posture and a firm gait.
He possessed the refined elegance of a scholar, as well as the robust and heroic bearing of a military general.
In particular, Xiange had met him before, and she was more interested in him than others.
"Princess Consort, I want that man."
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