Unfortunately, fate is unpredictable. Just two days after the new emperor ascended the throne, the late emperor passed away, and the entire palace was instantly shrouded in an atmosphere of sorrow.
With the late emperor gone, Jiang's mother's mindset completely changed. In the past, she could restrain herself somewhat due to the imperial authority, but now she felt that no one was backing up the eldest princess anymore.
Her inherent arrogance and shrewishness suddenly surfaced, and she immediately adopted the airs of a mother-in-law.
The eldest princess, having been married for many years without bearing a child, is now completely under the control of Jiang's mother.
At first, Jiang's mother would only mutter a few words in private, occasionally grumbling and venting her dissatisfaction.
But as time went on, she grew bolder and bolder. Just then, the eldest princess's mother, due to excessive longing for the late emperor, lost her appetite and could not sleep at night, and became quite haggard.
She tearfully poured out her heart to the Empress Dowager, pleading for permission to go to Jing'an Temple to pray for the deceased emperor and chant sutras, hoping to soothe her longing for him.
The Empress Dowager and the eldest princess's mother had known each other for many years and had a deep friendship. They had originally planned to go together.
Firstly, her longing for the late emperor was equally deep and profound.
Secondly, she had always had a close and sisterly relationship with the eldest princess's mother, and she was really worried about letting her embark on this long journey alone.
However, at that time, the emperor had just ascended the throne, and the situation in the court was complex and unstable.
The Empress was still young and inexperienced at the time, and was not able to take charge on her own. She needed the Empress Dowager to sit in the rear and direct the situation.
The eldest princess's mother, a woman of great wisdom and righteousness, persuaded the Empress Dowager with earnest words and then packed her bags and resolutely embarked on her journey to Jing'an Temple.
When Jiang's mother learned that the eldest princess's mother had left the capital for Jing'an Temple, she was already calculating in her mind, certain that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor disliked the eldest princess.
He secretly thought that even if the princess suffered injustice or hardship in the future, the emperor would never stand up for her.
The eldest princess's mother originally planned to stay for a few years and then return to the capital to reunite with her family once she had calmed down.
Unexpectedly, the Princess divorced her husband, a shocking event that shook the court and the public.
The eldest princess's mother was far away at Jing'an Temple. Upon hearing this, she was very worried. She was just about to set off to go back and comfort the eldest princess when she learned that the eldest princess had gone out to travel alone.
So he abandoned his plan to return home, only coming back to visit the Empress Dowager during the Lunar New Year each year.
The emperor sat on his dragon throne, his brows furrowed throughout the conversation, and when he reached this point, his face was filled with shock and disbelief.
He suddenly looked at Ning Shuyao and saw her solemn expression. She slowly nodded, confirming that what she said was true. He was so angry that he almost ground his teeth to powder, and his hands unconsciously gripped the armrests of the dragon throne.
He thought to himself: How could I not stand up for my sister? My mother and my sister's mother have always been as close as sisters. I grew up with my sister since childhood, and we have a deep bond. How could I possibly mistreat my sister?
Such unfounded speculation is utterly absurd and ridiculous!
Upon hearing this, the two princes stared intently at the Emperor, their eyes full of inquiry. The Emperor, seeing the looks in his two elder brothers' eyes, was filled with grief and indignation, yet had no words to express it.
It was inconvenient to make a scene at the moment, since this was in the imperial court. If she explained, the young lady from the Qin family would know that her true feelings had been revealed, so she had to consider the overall situation.
So he could only lean back on the dragon throne in frustration, turning his head away, unwilling to look them in the eye, looking just like a wronged child.
Seeing the Emperor's expression, the two princes assumed he had tacitly agreed to the matter. Feeling guilty, they dared not meet his gaze. They were furious and made as if to step forward and argue with him.
Ning Shuyao reacted quickly, reaching out to stop them and gently waving her hand to signal the two to calm down and continue listening.
In the imperial court, the hushed whispers among the officials were like undercurrents surging in the shadows, each murmur carrying an air of solemnity and speculation.
The ministers were all filled with apprehension, their brows furrowed as they secretly reviewed and pondered each past event. Gradually, they all reached a conclusion.
All the signs were like invisible threads, and when connected, the arrows all pointed to Jiang's mother. Without a doubt, she was the one who started all this chaos.
The eldest princess, of noble birth, was raised in the deep palace from childhood and was deeply loved by the late emperor and empress dowager. She was gentle, well-educated, and her words and actions were all in the style of royalty.
Jiang Ling, though born into poverty, was exceptionally talented, learned, and possessed a refined and elegant demeanor, with remarkable eloquence.
Whenever he speaks in the imperial court, he attracts everyone's attention and praise, making him a well-known young talent.
The two were happily married, a match made in heaven. On their wedding day, red silk filled the sky, drums and music resounded, and the entire capital was immersed in the joy of this divinely ordained union.
After their marriage, the two lived a blissful life together.
It is said that Jiang Ling felt sorry for the eldest princess, who had been pampered since childhood and had a rather picky palate, so he personally cooked for her, studying recipes from ancient books to prepare exquisite dishes.
During holidays and festivals, they would personally create calligraphy and paintings full of love and hang them in their bedroom, with the nicknames in the signature revealing their tender affection.
The eldest princess was also gentle and charming. Knowing that Jiang Ling was busy with his official career, she often sewed clothes for him by hand. Her stitches were fine and dense, and every stitch was filled with her concern and expectations for her beloved.
But who could have predicted that such a sudden change would occur? All of this beauty was shattered by Jiang Ling's mother.
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