Chapter 150: Isn't it bullying to ask about this? Cui is the daughter of...
Hearing Nanny Qin's question, Old Madam Yin's face momentarily turned uncomfortable. She said, "If I don't ask Cui to go, do I, the old lady of the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion, have to go and apologize to Cen myself? Although you are close to me, your status is lower after all. Cen is not the most easy-tempered. If she says something unpleasant, it will not only hurt you, a servant, but also me, the old lady, if word gets out. Instead of that, it would be better to ask Cui to go. After all, they are family, and any outburst of Cen's will is their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law's business. I've heard that they don't get along, so I think this matter is not the only thing to worry about."
Nanny Qin listened to this and felt that the old lady hadn't fully expressed her thoughts. Since the old lady didn't want to talk, she didn't want to ask any more questions. So she nodded and changed the subject, saying, "You must be tired after going out today. Let me help you to the inner room to rest for a while."
Madam Yin nodded, took Nanny Qin's hand, and went into the inner room, where they lay down on the bed. Seeing Nanny Qin about to leave, she stopped her and instructed, "Second son's marriage is settled. Send someone to tell the eldest son and Chun'an about this. Don't let your brother's wife know less about your brother's affairs than an outsider. If it gets out, it will make people laugh."
"In a few days, I'll ask He to bring Lu Danyan to visit us, and ask Chun'an to come back as well. After all, we'll be sisters-in-law in the future, and it's better for us to spend some time together privately so she doesn't feel too restrained once she enters the house."
Nanny Qin nodded, bowed, and stepped back.
Only after leaving the house did she frown. The princess had always disliked the people on the old lady's side, and she had never been disliked in the princess's mansion. However, the old lady had given such an order, and as a servant, she couldn't help but obey. She had no choice but to go this trip.
The old lady is clearly causing trouble for Princess Chun'an.
Thinking of how the old lady had specifically asked Cui to help deliver an apology to Cen at the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion, Nanny Qin was stunned for a moment, then she remembered that when Cui and the prince had just gotten married, they went to the palace to pay a visit to Princess Chun'an. The princess had a good impression of Cui and gave her a lot of things as a reward. Moreover, on the old lady's birthday at the Duke of Cheng'en's Mansion last time, the princess also kept Cui by her side to talk, and gave Cui some respect. Could it be that the old lady was ordering Cui around like this today because she didn't like the princess as her daughter-in-law but couldn't do anything, so she took her anger out on Cui and gave Cui this job that she couldn't refuse.
Now that Cen had brought Lu Danruo back to the Cen family, she didn't know how to vent her anger on her daughter-in-law Cui. She felt that Cui was deliberately causing trouble for her.
If this is true, no wonder the old lady was embarrassed to express her thoughts just now.
Isn't this bullying? But Cui, as a younger generation, couldn't refuse.
Nanny Qin thought about this, shook her head, walked out of Duke Dingguo's Mansion, and went to the Princess's Mansion.
Princess Mansion
Inside the luxurious and elegant palace, Princess Chun'an sat on a soft couch. On a small square Huanghuali table stood an exquisite white jade incense burner. Smoke curled up from it, filling the room with a light and pleasant fragrance.
The maidservant beside her reported to her about the palace affairs: "The Second Prince will be getting married soon and setting up residence outside the palace. He has been quite peaceful these days. He goes to the Qinzheng Palace every day to pay his respects to the Emperor. However, the Emperor doesn't like him very much because of the previous incident. He has only met with him once. The rest of the time, he kowtows and pays respects outside."
"The eldest prince is still the same as before. Every two weeks, he brings his wife to the palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. As for the third prince, Zhaopin wanted to bring him to the Emperor to win his favor. However, a few days ago, Zhaopin was playing with the third prince in the garden and happened to run into the Emperor. The Emperor didn't say anything on the spot, but after returning, he sent one of his eunuchs to the Ministry of Punishment. Zhaopin was frightened and fell ill, and she didn't dare to have any thoughts anymore."
Princess Chun'an listened to this with a calm expression, but a wave of ridicule rose in her heart.
Whatever goes on and on in the palace, no matter whether they are truly well-behaved or pretending to be, in the eyes of the emperor, he is just watching his sons and concubines acting with cold eyes.
In recent years, my father's temperament has become increasingly heartless. Although he still visits the harem, there is not a single one who can be said to be favored.
Although outsiders don't say it, everyone knows in their hearts that the emperor misses his mother who passed away many years ago the most. Now that the queen mother has become a taboo in the palace, no one dares to mention her in front of the emperor.
Who was he showing this look of deep regret to? Wasn't it him and Concubine Shu who forced his mother to death? If he had considered their long-standing relationship, he wouldn't have taken Concubine Shu into the palace and directly given her the title of Imperial Concubine, making a fool of his mother for the world.
Princess Chun'an sneered and said calmly, "My father is no longer interested in beautiful women and has neglected the concubines. No matter how much they care about him, they are just a spectacle. They are not really worth his attention."
The maid didn't dare to respond. Just then, a servant girl came in and reported, "Princess, the old lady has sent Nanny Qin over. Would you like to see her?"
Princess Chun'an nodded lightly. The maid went out and quickly led Nanny Qin into the hall.
"Your servant pays her respects to the princess." Nanny Qin paid her respects respectfully, calling her the princess instead of the madam.
Princess Chun'an showed some understanding between her eyebrows. Nanny Qin was the old lady's confidante, but although she was quite smart, she couldn't persuade the old lady to do stupid things.
She did not offer a seat, nor did she ask why the old lady sent her here.
Nanny Qin knew the princess's temper and didn't dare ask her to ask, so she just stated her purpose directly.
"Reporting to the princess, the second master is engaged to Lu Danyan, the daughter of the second house of the Duke of Weiguo's mansion. The old lady sent a servant to inform the princess of this matter."
Princess Chun'an frowned slightly upon hearing her say this and said, "Didn't the old lady choose Lu Danruo at the flower viewing banquet? How come, just because of what the monk said, she changed the person so quickly? And the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion actually agreed?"
Nanny Qin knew that the princess said this because she actually didn't care who the second master would marry. She was just asking casually.
If the princess really cared about this, she would have sent people to keep an eye on the mansion. Knowing that her mother-in-law, Old Madam Yin, had visited the Duke of Weiguo's mansion today, she would have found out everything.
She explained, "Although it's said that scholars shouldn't talk about strange things, we should still take the predictions of the monks to heart. After all, Second Master's two previous fiancées had accidents. Now that he's getting engaged, he naturally has to be more careful. If there are any more setbacks, I'm afraid Second Master's marriage will be even more difficult."
"The old lady said she'd like to invite Madam He and Miss Lu to visit the mansion in a few days. I thought it would be best if the princess could come back and accompany the old lady to meet her. This would also show the mansion's satisfaction and respect for Miss Lu. After all, the Second Master's reputation as a wife-killer is well known throughout the capital, and the Duke of Weiguo's mansion is taking a risk by agreeing to this marriage."
Princess Chun'an was originally impatient with such occasions, but Lu Danyan was the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Weiguo's mansion after all. Her younger brother was raised as the prince of the Duke of Weiguo since he was a child. He was Lu Danyan's cousin, so she had to give him some face.
Thinking of this, Princess Chun'an agreed.
"Okay, arrange a date and have someone come over to announce it. I'll be there."
Princess Chun'an agreed so easily that Nanny Qin was a little surprised.
Before she could think about it, Princess Chun'an put down the teacup in her hand and ordered, "Alright, go back to the mansion and serve me if you have nothing else to do. You are the old lady's confidant, and I'm afraid she won't be able to leave you for a while."
Princess Chun'an said this, and Nanny Qin had no choice but to respond with a "yes" and turned to leave the hall.
After returning to the mansion, when Old Madam Yin woke up from her nap, Nanny Qin reported that the eldest princess had agreed.
Madam Yin listened to this with a hint of surprise in her eyes: "She agreed as soon as you asked her? Without asking you any more questions?"
"Do you think the princess looks okay? Does she look anything unusual? She's still pregnant. If the second son's wife gets married and has a baby, wouldn't she be upset?"
Nanny Qin shook her head: "The princess didn't show any displeasure."
After all, it was Second Master Pei An who was getting married, not the Duke taking a concubine. With the princess's personality, she probably wouldn't take such a small matter to heart, so how could she be unhappy?
As for the old lady's thoughts, the princess would probably just find them ridiculous. After all, the emperor was in good health. As long as he was alive, the princess would still be favored by him. Even if the princess was still pregnant, even if the old lady had the idea of adopting a child, she would have to consider the emperor's thoughts.
In her opinion, the old lady was old and because the Duke did not grow up in her care, she was a little partial to him and wanted to make plans for the second master's youngest son.
However, the Second Master has been traveling abroad for many years. Even if he returns to Beijing now or even gets married later, he doesn't seem to have any intention of competing with his brother, the Duke.
I'm afraid that the old lady will be a bad person again, and even cause discord between brothers because of this little thought?
As Nanny Qin was thinking this, she heard Old Madam Yin say, "Never mind. Even if she's unhappy, she doesn't want anyone to see it. As her mother-in-law, I don't ask for anything else. I just hope that after Lu Danyan comes home, Chun'an, your sister-in-law, will get along well with her and not act like a princess and treat her sister-in-law with indifference."
Nanny Qin heard the old lady's intention to protect Lu Danyan, and sighed in her heart. It was really difficult for Miss Lu to marry into the family. Which daughter-in-law didn't want to be liked by her mother-in-law? But everyone in the capital knew that Princess Chun'an and Old Madam Yin were not on good terms. Lu Danyan, the new daughter-in-law, on the contrary, had a harmonious relationship with the old lady, and was even more liked by the old lady. Even if Princess Chun'an didn't care, Miss Lu would still have some concerns in her heart.
How to handle the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and sisters-in-law, will be a big worry once Miss Lu enters the Duke Dingguo's Mansion.
......
Princess Mansion
Soon after Nanny Qin left, Princess Chun'an sent someone to inquire about Old Madam Yin's visit to the Duke of Wei's mansion. Initially, she hadn't taken the Old Madam's visit seriously, and she didn't even care which of the women in the mansion would become her future sisters-in-law. But as she listened to Nanny's report, her expression gradually darkened.
"You said the old lady specifically asked Cui to go to the Peony Courtyard to apologize? And Cen, the mother-in-law, mocked Cui on the spot and even took the sick Lu Danruo back to the Cen family?"
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