Chapter 117

Since Emperor Zhanghe was determined to make Zhao Youze the crown prince, his wife would most likely be the Empress Dowager in the future.

Therefore, when Emperor Zhanghe chose a marriage for him, he was more cautious than ever before.

The noble girls of the capital city were influenced by the culture from childhood, so their appearance and upbringing were of course good. But if Zhao Youze became the crown prince, his marriage would inevitably be mixed with political factors. Therefore, it was not enough to just have good appearance and good upbringing.

Once there are too many factors to consider, it is often not easy to make a decision.

Hearing Concubine Zhuang's question, Emperor Zhanghe seemed lost in thought. After a while, he said, "I don't have a complete idea yet."

"The eldest daughter of the Prince of Ningping or the granddaughter of Aunt Jingyang are both excellent candidates," said Emperor Zhanghe. "I also want to hear Yuankang's own opinion."

The Ningping County Prince Yuan family is the descendant of meritorious officials. Their ancestral home is in Hexi. They have been a famous family since the previous dynasty. In their early years, they followed the Taizu Emperor in his expeditions to the east and west. They are one of the few meritorious officials who survived from that time. Some of their family members served in the army, some were sent to various places as officials, or some were doing business in the capital.

The Yuan family is a truly aristocratic family, with qualifications even greater than those of the royal family.

As for the Aunt Jingyang mentioned by Emperor Zhanghe, she was the only legitimate sister of the late emperor. She had a very noble status and ranked first among the Grand Princesses.

Moreover, the Grand Princess of Jingyang was a loyal and fair person, and had great prestige among the royal family. Emperor Zhanghe had always shown favor to her husband and children.

Princess Zhuang, the granddaughter of Princess Jingyang, had also met her before. She was a respectful, filial and generous person.

Both of these families are very good in-laws. Not only do they have prominent family backgrounds, but they can also bring practical help to Zhao Youze.

Even though Concubine Zhuang and Princess Lu already had a tacit understanding, these two girls still made Concubine Zhuang jealous.

Concubine Zhuang focused her attention for a moment, and tentatively glanced at Emperor Zhang He. She whispered, "Your Highness the Fourth Prince is indeed deeply loved by His Majesty."

Zhang Hedi smiled slightly, did not respond, and did not continue discussing this topic.

He glanced at Concubine Zhuang, then said amiably, "Huian's matter has always been on my mind."

As he spoke, Emperor Zhanghe seemed to remember Shuxian. Shuxian had been at odds with Zhong Yu, the son of the Loyalty Earl, since their marriage. The two of them only had a brief period of harmony after Shuxian's miscarriage.

At other times, meeting each other is like meeting enemies.

It really created a pair of resentful couples.

Shuxian and Hui'an are sisters. When arranging a marriage for Hui'an, Emperor Zhanghe would inevitably think of Shuxian.

Shuxian had been imprisoned in the palace. It was only after Zhao Youcheng came back from his tour of Lu that Concubine Zhuang asked Emperor Zhanghe for permission to release her.

Now, although Shuxian was no longer under house arrest in the princess's mansion, Emperor Zhanghe had obviously given up on this daughter. He only did not take away her fiefdom for the sake of Concubine Zhuang and Zhao Youcheng.

Thinking of Shuxian, Emperor Zhanghe couldn't help but have a cold look on his face. He said slowly: "Huian's temperament is quite gentle. I will choose a good marriage for her."

"I hope she is someone who knows how to cherish her blessings," Emperor Zhanghe slowly looked at Concubine Zhuang, with a hint of warning in his words, "Don't learn from her sister."

Concubine Zhuang's face tightened, and she forced a smile and replied, "Yes."

That night, Emperor Zhanghe stayed in Concubine Zhuang's Chengqian Palace. The next day, Emperor Zhanghe got up early to attend court, and Concubine Zhuang helped him put on the dragon robe, and then she did not continue to rest.

While drawing her eyebrows in front of the mirror, she took a sip of the tea brought by the palace maid.

The scent of tea concealed her complexion and gradually calmed Concubine Zhuang's mood.

She paused for a moment, then gently placed the tea bowl on the table and said with her eyes slightly closed: "I haven't seen Huaiqing for a long time."

"Send someone to Prince Lu's mansion to tell the princess to bring the county master into the palace this afternoon." Concubine Zhuang said in a deep voice.

The palace maid replied “yes”.

Concubine Zhuang raised her head, her eyes first passed through the floor tiles at the palace gate, and then continued to the scorching sun. At this time, the autumn sun was just right, but the bald sycamore tree at the gate looked a little desolate, and the fallen leaves were silently blown to the ground when the morning wind blew.

Not even a sound could be heard.

Emperor Zhanghe did not tell anyone else about the fact that Zhao Youze was going to be made the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, except that he came to Chengqian Palace that night to tell Concubine Zhuang about it.

Even Zhao Youze himself didn't know, let alone Jiashan.

Jiashan simply joked with Zhan Yue that "he had misjudged his superiors' intention."

Zhan Yue didn't think much of it. No matter what, it was a fact that Zhao Youze had made great contributions this time, but Emperor Zhanghe had not given him many rewards so far.

Emperor Zhanghe was not a monarch who was unclear about rewards and punishments. According to Zhan Yue's judgment, it was not that he had not yet received the title of Eastern Palace, but that the time had not come yet.

So he was very calm and said to Jiashan frankly: "I am not a living god, of course I will be wrong sometimes."

"However, Yuankang is so ambitious," Zhan Yue yawned and said, "the position of crown prince is almost certain to be secured."

"Really?" Jiashan glanced at him with a smile and said, "Then I want to see if what you said is correct this time."

Emperor Zhanghe finally chose the daughter of Prince Ningping as his principal wife.

When the marriage proposal came out, it was the Duke of Anguo's 50th birthday. After the death of the old lady, Zhan Yue almost completely moved to the princess's mansion, but the Duke of Anguo still had to bear the name of his father, even if he was a completely incompetent father.

It's the Duke of Anguo's birthday, and in order not to give Yu Shi the opportunity to gossip, Zhan Yue and Jia Shan also have to go to the Duke of Anguo's mansion.

Before Zhan Yue left the government office, Jiashan took Xuan Ge'er to the Duke of Anguo's Mansion to talk to Qi and Zhan A'li's mother Yu.

Lady Qi and Princess Lu became pregnant one after the other, and gave birth to their children one after the other.

Unfortunately, Princess Lu prayed hard for a child but only got a daughter. However, Qi Shi unexpectedly gave birth to a son.

This was Zhang's first grandson. Even though Zhan Shaoying's reaction to the child was mediocre, Zhang would never let him down. Zhan Tai also personally named the grandson Zhan Yihong.

Originally, Zhang was planning to raise Hong as her own child. However, knowing her character well, Qi was not willing to do so.

Qi asked her brother and sister-in-law from her mother's side for help, and the prince and his wife from the Qi Lehou Mansion came forward to protect Hong'er and keep him by Qi's side.

Apart from visiting his parents in the morning and evening, Hong'er had no chance to have any in-depth contact with Zhang.

So today, taking advantage of the Anguo Duke's birthday, Zhang came to Qi's room early to see Hong. Seeing Jiashan and Yu were also there, Zhang did not say anything, which was unusual. She just held Hong in her arms and teased him.

Hong'er and Huaiqing are of similar age, both about one and a half years younger than Xuan'er.

The two were still little kids, so the filth of the adult world had nothing to do with them. Jiashan didn't want Xuan to be exposed to the dirty things of the world so early, so he let Xuan and Hong play together.

Xuan'er stayed in the princess's mansion all year round. Although he was accompanied by his parents and wet nurse, he rarely had playmates of the same age, so he was also very affectionate to Hong'er.

Originally, Hong Ge'er and Xuan Ge'er were playing with the Kongming lock and tangram puzzle that Xuan Ge'er brought, while Zhan A'li, who was already in his teens, was reviewing his lessons beside them.

After Zhang came in, she caught sight of Hongger at the first sight. She picked him up from the bed and giggled to make him laugh.

Seeing Zhang, Xuan Ge'er only glanced at her. Because they rarely met, he didn't know how to address her, and he thought Zhang was the housekeeper in the Anguo Mansion.

Although Hong Ge'er recognized his grandmother, he was still a child, and was focused on the toy in Xuan Ge'er's hand. When Zhang suddenly picked him up, Hong Ge'er showed no joy on his face, and he kept throwing himself towards Xuan Ge'er, as if he wanted to continue playing with this little brother.

Zhang couldn't help but look unhappy as her grandson didn't give her face at all.

Originally, Zhang was very dissatisfied with Qi for secretly raising the child. When she saw that Hong'er saw her, he not only did not say "Grandma, how are you", but also cried and did not want her to hold the child.

Zhang then glared viciously in Qi's direction.

Qi, Jiashan and Yu were happily chatting about popular hairpins and naturally did not notice the malicious intent.

Hongger was still struggling in Zhang's arms. Hongger was young and impatient. He found that he couldn't get out no matter what he did. He suddenly started sobbing and yelling, "I, play..."

Because he was restrained by Zhang, Hong'er's voice was not loud, so Zhang, who was closest to him, could hear it clearly. Xuan'er also heard it, but he was concentrating on playing the tangram, so he didn't even raise his head.

However, Zhang really loved this grandson. Seeing that Hong'er's eyes were lingering on the toy in front of Xuan'er, Zhang suddenly smiled, picked up the Kongming lock next to Xuan'er, put it in Hong'er's hand, and motioned him to hold it tightly.

"You want this, don't you?" Zhang looked at Hong'er lovingly and said gently, "Grandma will play with you."

After getting the Kongming lock, Hong'er's expression became better, but he still didn't want to play with Zhang and wanted to go back to Xuan'er. But he was young and not very courageous, so he didn't dare to speak.

I had no choice but to hold the Kongming lock, look at Zhang, and then look at Erxuan for a while.

When Zhang saw that Hongger finally stopped crying, her eyes became even gentler. She held Hongger in her arms, rocking him back and forth and coaxing him gently.

Things seemed to have ended quietly.

However, Xuan'er was a little bully at home. When he saw his things suddenly taken away by Zhang, Xuan'er pouted and became unhappy immediately.

The sturdy little body jumped up from the bed, and Xuan walked to Zhang and Hong, shouting at Zhang: "How dare you!"

They had only had minor quarrels here before, and there was a wet nurse to take care of the baby, so even though the people in Jiashan heard intermittent crying, they didn't take it seriously.

But Xuan'er's "bold" roar was different. He roared very loudly, and there was even a hint of royal bearing in it. Jiashan and the others couldn't help but look to the side.

Xuan'er stood straight with his small body. He took the Kongming lock from Hong'er without any hesitation and said to Zhang with his hands on his waist: "Don't steal my things."

"Otherwise, tell Dad and let him beat you."

"Do you understand?" Xuan raised his head and looked at Zhang fearlessly.

Although he was only as tall as Zhang's thigh, he did not lose his imposing manner due to his small stature. His cold eyes were like sharp swords, just like his father's arrogance back then.

Born with a sense of awe.

This made Zhang suddenly lose her mind and she couldn't help but step back a little.

Zhang was slightly stunned when she found out that she was actually afraid of a child who was only three years old. After a moment, she straightened her back as if she wanted to save face.

She smiled and tried to take the Kongming lock back from Xuan'er. Unfortunately, Xuan had started learning how to draw a bow from Zhan Yue a few days ago, and his strength was so great that Zhang couldn't bend it no matter how hard she tried.

Xuan Ge'er also left several bloody marks on the back of her hand.

In order to avoid further physical pain, Zhang had to let go and continued to talk to Xuan'er, "Xuan'er is the elder anyway. Even if he is only a few years older than Hong'er, he should still behave like an elder. How can you be so stingy to a Kong Mingsuo?"

"It seems that your mother dotes on you too much." Zhang glanced at Jiashan who was walking over and said with a chuckle.

Jiashan frowned, walked to Xuan'er and picked him up.

Xuan Ge'er grew up with Jiashan and would never tolerate anyone distorting his mother. Zhang spoke quickly in the first half of the conversation, so he couldn't understand it, but he understood the second half about Jiashan.

Xuan Ge'er suddenly looked very angry.

He pulled away Jiashan's hand, walked to Zhang's side, and said righteously: "My mother taught me since I was a child that taking something without permission is stealing."

"You are not only a thief, but you also slander my mother. You are so shameless." Xuan Ge'er tilted his little head and said in a baby voice.