Chapter 098

Jiashan originally planned to go directly to Duanmu Palace to visit Zhao Youze, but because she met the Princess of Qin on the way, she changed her mind temporarily and asked people to go to Changle Palace to pay a visit to Concubine Jing first.

Zhao Youze has gained a firm footing, and life has become easier not only for Jiashan and Zhao Youze, but also for Concubine Jing, who smiles more often.

Seeing Jiashan coming, Concubine Jing was busy serving tea and specifically asked the kitchen to make more of her favorite snacks.

Concubine Jing looked at her with a smile and said jokingly, "What a rare guest. If it weren't for your father's banquet, I'm afraid I wouldn't have seen you."

Jiashan knew that Concubine Jing had no ill intentions, so he smiled and said, "I've become even lazier staying at home. Your Majesty, look at me. I've gained a lot of weight in the past few months."

"You are slim and not too fat now." Concubine Jing said with a smile, "When I was pregnant with Qinghe, I was fat."

"You are still young and you will recover immediately after giving birth." Concubine Jing comforted her.

Jiashan is not too worried about her figure. A few days ago, when she and Zhan Yue were sleeping together, Zhan Yue said that it was more comfortable to hug someone with some meat on his body.

Besides, nowadays, the sleeves are wide, so even if she has gained some weight, it won't be noticeable. She is not trying to learn to dance on her palms like Zhao Feiyan, and there is always something for everyone, whether fat or thin.

Jiashan smiled, and thinking of what Princess Qin said, she was getting angry: "I heard that the marriage of Emperor Youcheng seems to have been brought forward. Does Your Majesty know why?"

Concubine Jing didn't care and just said, "It's early."

"Marquis Pingyang's wife suddenly became ill, so Marquis Pingyang asked His Majesty for permission a month ago, hoping that Your Highness and his daughter would get married earlier." Concubine Jing spoke slowly and softly, "First, I want to celebrate. Second, if something happens to Marquis Pingyang's wife, Li will have to observe mourning for three years, which will delay Your Highness."

Concubine Jing continued, "Your Majesty, seeing that the wife of Marquis Pingyang is really in trouble, how could he not agree? He has already asked the Ministry of Rites to hurry up and decide to let the eldest prince marry Li at the end of this year."

It is now September. At the end of this year, that is, in March, Zhao Youcheng will be crowned king, marry, and establish a government.

The rule of our dynasty has always been that the prince should learn to attend court and govern the country after getting married.

Zhao Youcheng's marriage was originally scheduled for next year, but with Pingyang Hou's urging, it seems that Zhao Youcheng will be able to participate in court meetings soon.

But, is it really such a coincidence?

When my father granted her the marriage, the wife of Marquis Pingyang was still full of life.

Jiashan looked at Concubine Jing suspiciously, and the words he wanted to say were already hidden in his eyes. How could Concubine Jing not see it? With a smile on her face, she said to Jiashan: "When His Majesty entertained the Pingyang Marquis and his family, I was also there."

"The wife of Marquis Pingyang does not look well, but she seems to be still alive." Concubine Jing said with interest, "I think that when the prince successfully marries her daughter and can officially attend court to govern, her illness may heal itself without medicine."

Jiashan smiled faintly and nodded, "Who knows."

Concubine Zhuang and Zhao Youcheng's plan this time was not the best one, it could only be described as a stupid idea.

Yuankang is now quite popular among the scholars in the Qingliu, and is about to surpass Zhao Youcheng, who has been in charge for many years. But no matter how good he is at reading, he is just an armchair strategist.

Zhao Youcheng just wanted to enter the court a few years earlier and show his talent as soon as possible.

However, Emperor Zhanghe was still in his prime, so how could he allow anyone to share his authority? Zhao Youcheng's move might end up with something more than a tiger.

It's really not going to amount to anything great.

Jiashan stopped thinking about him and casually picked up a piece of freshly baked mille-feuille on the table and ate it.

Freshly brewed tea was also added at this moment, and there seemed to be a subtle fragrance floating in the curling tea smoke.

This scene suddenly reminded Jiashan of the days when he accompanied Empress Pei in Kunning Palace when he was a child.

Empress Pei likes to drink tea and is very good at making tea. When she has nothing to do, she spends her free time drinking tea and practicing calligraphy. Her father often praises her for being a woman of both talent and beauty.

Over the years, Jiashan studied hard, just to make Emperor Zhanghe remember Empress Pei and the two of them.

Frankly speaking, although Empress Pei died young, her shadow alone was enough to make Jiashan stand out among Emperor Zhanghe's children.

Memories always seem to be warm and peaceful, and Jiashan couldn't help but smile.

In the tea fragrance in this room, Jiashan asked softly: "Your Majesty, has the Princess of Qin come to the palace often recently?"

Concubine Jing tilted her head to think for a moment, then replied, "Occasionally."

"She seems to be on good terms with the wife of the Marquis of Pingyang," Concubine Jing said. "Recently, Concubine Zhuang has been busy with the wedding of the eldest prince, and often invites the wife of the Marquis of Pingyang to the palace for a short visit. When the wife of the Marquis of Pingyang comes here with her 'sick body', she sometimes calls on the Princess of Qin to come along."

As she was talking, Concubine Jing couldn't help but sigh calmly, and lowered her voice to say to Jiashan: "I always thought she was a smart person, but how come she has become confused in recent years."

Concubine Jing was thinking that no matter who would take the throne in the future, Zhao Youcheng or Zhao Youze, it would not be related to the line of the King of Qin. The King of Qin's wife was getting involved with Concubine Zhuang at this time, which was obviously an attempt to get involved in the establishment of the crown prince.

If the blending is successful, maybe they can get the credit of following the dragon. If they fail, wouldn't they be courting their own destruction? The King of Qin and the Princess are already the most noble of the nobles, so why bother?

Hearing this, Jiashan just smiled. Although Concubine Jing and she were from the same faction, she was not her biological mother after all, so some things were still difficult to tell her.

Unlike Concubine Jing, Jiashan was hoping that Zhao Youcheng would collude with Prince Qin so that she wouldn't have to worry about eliminating this hidden danger in the future.

She sneered softly, "It's up to each individual to decide their own ideas and fate. Your Majesty and I don't need to force it."

After hearing her say this, Concubine Jing realized that Jiashan had her own plans, so she stopped expressing her regret.

She glanced out the window and saw the sun setting in the west. She then said in a casual tone, "Yuankang finishes his archery practice around this time every day. I have sent someone to inform him. I think he will be here soon after changing his clothes."

"You and your brother haven't seen each other for a long time, right?" Jing Fei asked with a smile.

Every month when Zhao Youze takes a day off, he would go to the princess's mansion to see Jiashan. However, it had been more than half a month since his last day off, and Jiashan really missed him.

In front of Concubine Jing, Jiashan did not pretend, and said in a clear voice: "It has been a while."

"Since I left the palace, every time I see Yuankang again, he has changed a lot." Jiashan said with a smile, "I wonder what delicious food my father and the queen gave him this year."

Concubine Jing showed a bright and gentle smile on her face. She said, "How many times have your Majesty and I eaten less than you? Since you became pregnant, the blood swallows have been sent to your house first. Why haven't you grown any taller?"

"I'm afraid it's difficult." Jiashan pretended to sigh and touched her belly, "I just hope the baby in my belly can grow longer, so that you and my father's efforts will not be in vain."

Concubine Jing smiled and touched her nose, saying, "I hope the little one in your belly will be as smart and lovable as you."

"Of course." Jiashan smiled, her face looking particularly charming. She complimented, "Isn't Qinghe as gentle and sensible as the queen?"

Concubine Jing smiled so hard that she could hardly close her mouth. She praised her and said, "You are so sweet."

During the conversation, Concubine Jing frowned slightly and suddenly sighed, "After Shuxian gets married, it will be Qinghe and Hui'an's turn next."

"In two years, Yuankang will also be getting married. Time flies."

In just a few years, the children all grew up, almost like forcing growth.

Jiashan knew what Concubine Jing was worried about, and smiled warmly, saying to her, "Your Highness helps manage the six palaces, and is respected by the Emperor. You are the number one in the palace. Qinghe is also loved by the Emperor, so her future husband will definitely be from a good family."

Concubine Jing's family background was not prominent, and could not be compared with the Pei family and Concubine Zhuang's maternal family. But over the years, she had accompanied the emperor and nurtured Zhao Youze, so she had a long-standing relationship with Emperor Zhanghe.

Shuxian was proud, but she had a proud mother and a royal brother, so she married into a prominent family. I don't know if Qinghe's husband can compare with her.

Concubine Jing responded reluctantly and smiled slowly.

While the two were talking, Zhao Youze finally came over.

He changed out of his sweat-stained clothes after finishing his initial riding and archery practice, and put on a lake-blue silk and linen satin again, with a frost-white leather belt tied around his waist.

His back was extremely straight, and from a distance he looked handsome and elegant.

When he saw Jiashan and Concubine Jing, Zhao Youze greeted them.

Seeing that there was still sweat on his nose, Jiashan waved for him to come over, wiped it for him personally with a brocade handkerchief, and moved Zhao Youze's favorite plum cake in front of him.

After carefully looking at Zhao Youze for a few times, Jiashan asked concernedly, "Are you tired?"

"Not tired." Zhao Youze smiled, clenched his fists, and said to Jiashan, "A few days ago, my brother-in-law came to the palace after court to teach me riding and archery."

"I feel like I've made a lot of progress recently."

When Zhao Youze was blind, he had a special teacher to teach him how to read and write, but he could never learn to ride a horse or draw a bow.

Now that he has seen the world, Zhao Youze has always been passionate about riding and shooting, and he also wants to make up for the regrets of the past ten years.

Seeing Zhao Youze so excited, Jiashan and Jingfei let him go. They asked him some more questions about his homework, and Zhao Youze patiently answered them one by one.

After a round of conversation, Zhao Youze took a sip of the tea in front of him and asked softly, "What were the queen and my sister talking about just now?"

Jiashan and Concubine Jing looked at each other, and Jiashan smiled timidly: "We were talking about the fact that Yuankang will be getting married in two years. I wonder what kind of girl Yuankang likes?"

"Hmm." Zhao Youze put down the teacup, supported his head with one hand, and thought leisurely.

He said, "Anyone who is dignified and sensible like the queen, or someone who is heroic and brave like my elder sister, both are fine."

Jiashan chuckled and said, "Okay, in the future, Sister will definitely keep an eye out for us Yuankang."

"It would be great if Sister could help me keep an eye on it, but it doesn't matter if you don't." Zhao Youze said, "I think my eldest brother didn't marry the woman he loved."

"In this world, there are only a few couples like my sister and her husband who can hold hands with their children and grow old together. If there is a woman who can win my respect, I will also be willing to marry her."

Jiashan smiled helplessly.

Frankly speaking, Zhao Youze's point of view is not wrong. If she had not met Zhan Yue, she would probably choose a husband who could give her respect and freedom.

Unfortunately, she was so lucky to have encountered love in her trance.

Jiashan's heart seemed to be caressed by the spring breeze, and a gentle and sweet smile appeared on his face unintentionally.

She was caught red-handed by Concubine Jing, who was an experienced person. She took one glance at Jiashan's little girl's expression and guessed what she was thinking.

Concubine Jing said kindly, "I'm afraid you are missing your husband, right?"

Jiashan was not shy. Although her cheeks turned slightly red, she nodded lightly and admitted it.

In the past few days, the condition of the old lady Wen was very bad, and the descendants of the Duke of Anguo were all guarding her bedside. Jiashan knew that Zhan Yue and the old lady Wen had a deep affection for each other, so he also sent Zhan Yue back to live.

In addition, he had led his troops out of the city to suppress bandits some time ago, and had not been to the princess's mansion for several days.

Concubine Jing did not embarrass her and said with a smile, "The family banquet is about to start. The prince consort is probably already accompanying His Majesty. Let's go now."

Jiashan subconsciously adjusted her hair and clothes in front of the bronze mirror before going to the front hall with Zhao Youze and Concubine Jing.

In the front hall, Emperor Zhanghe, Concubine Zhuang and Zhao Youcheng were already seated, and Lian Shuxian and her husband were also in place.

As expected, Zhan Yue was there too. He stood sideways in front of Emperor Zhang He, who was talking to him with a pleasant expression.

Zhan Yue was wearing a blood-red robe today. From the side, he looked tall and slender with a slim waist and a strong back.

He was born fair, which suited him perfectly to wear such a gorgeous color.

Under the setting sun, even his usually cold face seemed to become hot.