Chapter 72: The marriage of Zheng Suining, the legitimate daughter of the Kangshou Marquisate, to the Second Prince...
Cui Linghui glanced at her, his brows etched with a hint of coldness. "Yes, your daughter's reputation has been ruined because of what happened before. There's no way I can become the Second Prince's consort."
Seeing Cui Linghui's cold expression, Yulan's heart skipped a beat. She slumped to her knees, "Please forgive me, young lady. I didn't mean that. I was just thinking about you. They say the Second Prince has a fickle temper. He even beat a maid to death while drunk. I was worried you might get too close to him, so I accepted this jade pendant he sent me. In the end, you're the one who got hurt."
"After all, the Second Prince is of noble status, and the world is often harsh on women. If this matter were to become known, how would the young lady cope? If word got to the old lady, there would be no place for the young lady in the Ningshou Marquis's mansion."
Hearing Yulan's words, Cui Linghui sneered and said, "You think I'm stupid and don't understand these principles. You've served me for many years, so I won't hide it from you. I accept this jade pendant from the Second Prince, and from now on I will live in his palace. Even if I can't be his principal wife, I'll be willing to become his concubine."
Yulan was startled when she heard her daughter say this, and her face turned pale. She had served Cui Linghui since she was a child, and everyone in the mansion admired her. Cui Linghui was previously engaged to Prince Lu, and she was flattered wherever she went. But she never imagined that one day she would hear her daughter willingly become a concubine.
Even if the girl's reputation was damaged and her marriage was difficult, she was still the legitimate daughter of the Ningshou Marquisate, and with the support of the Zhenguo Duke's family, after a year or two, the people in the capital would have forgotten about this matter, and the girl would be able to find a good marriage. Being the mistress of the house, in charge of the household expenses, this was the dignity that a noble lady of a marquisate should have.
But the girl said that she wanted to enter the Second Prince’s Mansion and become the concubine of Second Prince Xiao Ze?
Yulan thought that the girl might be possessed by a demon, otherwise why would she have such thoughts.
Thinking of the scene when the girl met the second prince Xiao Ze after the flower-viewing banquet today, and later when the eunuch beside Xiao Ze gave the jade pendant to the girl, saying it was to calm her down, her heart began to beat especially violently.
It was obvious that the girl almost bumped into the Second Prince's arms, but the Second Prince not only did not blame her, but also gave her something saying it was to calm the girl down. How could she not know what he was thinking?
Yulan was speechless for a long time, her eyes filled with shock and complexity.
Cui Linghui saw the look in her eyes and sneered, "What can I do? Whether this encounter was accidental or the Second Prince did it on purpose, he's already had feelings for me, so I can only go along with his wishes. I broke off my engagement with Lu Bingzhi and asked Cui Lingyan to marry into the Duke of Weiguo's mansion in her place. After she becomes the Crown Prince's wife, how much influence do I have in this mansion? Grandmother used to hold me in high esteem and dote on me. As the daughter of the late Madam, I was always the most distinguished girl in the mansion. Even the young masters couldn't surpass me. But what happens now? If I don't try to climb up the social ladder and use this to turn things around, I'm afraid I won't be able to decide my own future marriage, and Grandmother will just arrange a marriage for me."
"That was the last time I had a say. If I ever see Cui Lingyan again, will I be forced to be inferior to her, the Crown Prince's wife, for the rest of my life? Will my children also be inferior to her? How could I allow such a thing to happen and have others look down on me?"
Yulan's face paled, but she was somewhat persuaded by Cui Linghui's words. She hesitated for a moment, then said with some worry, "But, you are the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family. Being a concubine will inevitably lead to criticism and be looked down upon. Even if you are not afraid of people's gossip, if you really marry into the Second Prince's family, I wonder what the future Second Prince's wife's temperament will be like. Will she be able to tolerate you as a concubine?"
Cui Linghui sneered and said, "The royal family has always valued favoritism. How much difference does it make between a principal concubine and a concubine? As long as I can win the Second Prince's heart, I will have a respectable future. If the Second Prince has a better future, I will follow him into the palace. Who knows, I will have an even more glorious life."
Yulan had been serving in the Marquis's mansion since she was a child, so how could she not understand Cui Linghui's intentions? Her face changed, but she gave up trying to persuade him. She only said, "I understand what the young lady is thinking. Since you have this intention, I can only serve you wholeheartedly and take care of you. But the young lady should be more cautious and not let anyone know that you are associating with the Second Prince. Otherwise, it will be bad for your reputation."
"If the young lady wants to enter the palace, she will have to wait until His Highness marries a wife."
Yulan was a little worried, wondering which noblewoman would eventually be the Second Prince's Consort. But no matter which one, she would surely be a member of the capital's noble circle, and would often meet her daughter. Wouldn't it be awkward if one became the Second Prince's Consort and the other a concubine?
Yulan didn't reveal her thoughts at all, and just hid all the insecurities in her heart.
Cui Linghui glanced at her and said, "Alright, get up now. Keep your mouth shut and know what to say and what not to say. Otherwise, even if I want to protect you, the Second Prince will never let you off easily!"
Yulan quickly replied yes, and helped Cui Linghui into the inner room to lie down, then she walked out lightly.
Cui Linghui pressed the jade pendant in her hand under the pillow, thinking about her and Lu Bingzhi in her previous life, and how she felt unwilling to give in and had an affair with Xiao Ze, and how the scandal was finally revealed at the palace banquet and she lost her life.
She sighed softly. She was very unwilling to accept such an outcome. God did not let her start over again, but it was not for her to see her stepsister Cui Lingyan, who was so high and mighty, and make her look up to her for the rest of her life.
Therefore, even if she became Xiao Ze's concubine, she was willing to do so, because she had no other choice but to cling to Xiao Ze. Today, she ran into Xiao Ze by chance. Whether it was intentional or accidental, when she accepted the jade pendant from the eunuch beside Xiao Ze, she felt relieved and understood Xiao Ze's thoughts.
Xiao Ze is a narrow-minded person who is vindictive. He approached her mostly because of Lu Bingzhi and wanted to take her into his house to embarrass Lu Bingzhi.
After all, she was someone who had broken off her engagement with Lu Bingzhi even at the cost of her own reputation, and now she was entering the Second Prince's residence and becoming his concubine, what would the world think of this matter? She was afraid that this matter would become a topic of gossip for the rest of her life, discussing Lu Bingzhi, the prince of the Weiguo Duke.
She understood Xiao Ze's character, and because of that understanding, she felt she could control him. Furthermore, in her previous life, Xiao Ze had never had much affection for the Second Prince's Consort, Zheng. Whenever they were together, he would say that the woman in the palace was dull and boring, with airs and a sense of superiority, not knowing how to serve her husband with tenderness and care.
Cui Linghui now remembers those words of dislike for complaining clearly. In her previous life, she had been hanging out with Xiao Ze to relieve the depression in her heart. Thinking that since Lu Bingzhi did not like her as his wife, she hung out with someone else, and that person was the second prince Xiao Ze. Even if Lu Bingzhi did not know about this, she, the nominal wife of the prince, felt relieved.
At that time, she just listened to those complaints. At most, she was not living a good life, and the Second Prince's Consort Zheng was not living a good life either. This made her feel a little more balanced and felt that she was not the only one with an unhappy marriage. In fact, when she was cuddling with Xiao Ze, she even felt a little superior when she thought of Zheng, the Second Prince's Consort.
Now that she was reborn, she wanted to marry Xiao Ze and become his concubine. Those complaints made her feel at ease. In the future, even if she was a concubine, she would not necessarily be inferior to Zheng, the main wife.
Thinking of this, Cui Linghui felt less uncomfortable with the fear of being laughed at. The one who laughs last is the winner.
She asked Cui Lingyan to marry Lu Bingzhi in her place and become the Crown Prince's wife so that she would not be looked down upon in the future. If Xiao Ze could ascend to that position one day, she would want Cui Lingyan to come to the palace to pay her respects and kneel at her feet. The children she gave birth to would also have to live respectfully under her son for the rest of their lives.
What if Cui Lingyan gets pregnant and has a child?
Cui Linghui thought about this and slowly fell asleep.
......
The next day, news reached the palace that the Empress Dowager had decreed that Zheng Suining, the legitimate daughter of the Kangshou Marquisate, should be married to the Second Prince, Xiao Ze, as his consort. The decree had already been sent to the Kangshou Marquisate, and they only needed to wait for the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to select an auspicious date for the two to be married.
The emperor also awarded another house to serve as the second prince Xiao Ze's residence outside the palace. The Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will also be busy during this period.
When the news reached Cui Lingyan's ears, she felt a little sad. The second prince Xiao Ze had just gotten drunk and beat a palace maid to death, and now he was targeting this marriage. She didn't know whether the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Kangshou would be happy or sad when she received the decree of marriage.
Not to mention, in that dream she heard Qi Shaozhang say that the second prince Xiao Ze had disregarded his dignity and had an affair with Cui Linghui, causing that scandal at the palace banquet.
Just from this, you can know Xiao Ze's character and personality.
Although the Second Prince's wife has a noble status, she will have to know the cold and warmth of the water herself after marrying him. Moreover, her mother-in-law, Concubine Shu, is not an easy person to deal with.
Cui Lingyan shook her head slightly, suppressed these thoughts, and continued to embroider with the needle and thread in her hand.
Seeing this, Birou couldn't help but purse her lips and smile. She said, "Young Madam, you're so indifferent to the news in the palace. Your whole heart is on the Crown Prince. I think I can get this nightgown to the Crown Prince in ten days or so."
Cui Lingyan heard the teasing in Birou's words and couldn't help blushing. "Why are you teasing me? What's the point of caring or not caring? Isn't it natural for a wife to embroider a nightgown for her husband? How can you say that, Birou?"
Birou knew that she was thin-skinned, so she pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "Yes, it's my fault."
As they were talking, footsteps were heard outside, and a maid came in to report, "Young Madam, the old lady sent someone to tell her that the old lady from the eldest lady's family is visiting the house, and she wants you to go meet her."
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