The meaning behind this was clear to Su Wanyan, a modern person.
However, Su Wanyan still pretended to be clueless and asked, "Your Majesty, what is this...?"
"These are the daughters of officials in the capital. I have selected them for you. They are all exceptionally talented young ladies, and their skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting are beyond question." The Empress smiled and said, "It has been more than half a year since you married Prince Gong. It's time to consider this matter."
Su Wanyan remembered that she had transmigrated here in July of the previous year, and now it was April of the following year. Counting it up, more than half a year had really passed.
"Is this the Empress's will, or the Emperor's?" Su Wanyan asked, looking at the list in her hand with a smile that remained unchanged.
It's not that I necessarily need to know, I just want to figure it out.
If it was Emperor Yuanhe's idea, she thought it was normal; if it was the Empress's idea, then she thought, she didn't seem to have offended the Empress.
However, the Empress laughed it off, saying, "I know you and the Prince have a good relationship, so it's normal that you're unwilling. But this is for the Prince's own good. Born into the royal family, having children for the royal family is the most important thing. Besides, which noble family doesn't take concubines? You can relax. As long as the Prince treats you well, what's wrong with taking a few concubines in the mansion?"
Su Wanyan didn't actually hear everything the Empress said, finding it all too long-winded.
Suddenly, a name caught my eye: "Jing Yunyu?"
The Empress peeked over and smiled, "It's the daughter of the Grand Chancellor. She's sixteen this year, just the right age for marriage."
The list recorded that Jing Yunyu was proficient in playing the zither. The Empress pointed to the character "zither" and said, "I have heard Miss Jing play the zither. She is outstanding and a beautiful young woman."
The surname I heard last time at Fu Bao Lou was Jing. Could it be such a coincidence?
However, this list includes almost all the prominent young ladies of the capital, so it's not surprising that you can see it.
"What does Your Highness think?" the Empress asked with a smile.
Su Wanyan looked up: "Why is the Empress asking so urgently? Does she really want a definitive answer today?"
Upon hearing this, the Empress's expression visibly stiffened, and even her smile faded slightly: "No, I was thinking that if the Princess Consort thinks it's good, then I will take charge of this matter, choose a good day, hold a flower banquet, and invite the Princess Consort to come and have a look."
Su Wanyan smiled and placed the list on the table: "Since Your Highness wishes to take a concubine, this matter naturally does not require Your Majesty's interference. I appreciate Your Majesty's kindness."
Seeing that Su Wanyan was unmoved, the Empress's smile visibly disappeared, but she quickly forced a smile again: "In the end, the Prince is also a member of the royal family. The Princess Consort should understand the responsibilities of being the Princess Consort of Prince Gong. In any case, offspring are of utmost importance."
Su Wanyan lost her patience to continue: "Did I say I wouldn't allow Yu Nanqing to take a concubine?"
She looked at the Empress with amusement: "Why is Your Majesty more anxious than I am about the Prince Gong's residence?"
She simply pushed the list in front of the Empress: "Or has the Empress already decided which young lady to arrange for my Prince Gong's residence? No need to beat around the bush, just be clear."
The Empress felt a lump in her throat, opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately held back, and suddenly laughed: "Everyone says that Princess Gong is difficult to deal with, and I always thought it was others' fault, but I never expected..."
"Your Majesty flatters me." Su Wanyan's smile widened. "Actually, it is Your Majesty who is more flattering. The Xia family and the Marquis of Yuanning are so close. I thought Your Majesty would keep a low profile and wait for the right opportunity."
"..." The Empress clenched her fist in her sleeve and laughed, "I live deep in the inner palace and know nothing about the affairs of the previous dynasty."
“I didn’t mention anything about the previous dynasty.” Su Wanyan’s words were loaded with meaning and implied something.
The Empress could no longer remain seated. Maintaining her smile, she stood up and said, "It's getting late, and I have some matters to attend to in the palace, so I won't disturb you any longer."
Upon hearing this, Su Wanyan stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I respectfully see you off."
After bidding farewell to Su Wanyan, the Empress left with her head held high. The displeasure between her brows could no longer be concealed as she stepped out the door, and even her back seemed to be shrouded in a thin layer of anger.
Su Wanyan didn't have time to pay attention to her expression.
After seeing Xia Yunshang off, Su Wanyan picked up the list again and started looking at it.
This list contains the names of various families and households, and is far more complete than anything she could find out herself.
As Su Wanyan flipped through the pages, she suddenly noticed that Su Muqing's name was also on the list. She frowned and muttered speechlessly, "What's going on?"
Previously, Marquis Yuanning looked down on Yu Nanqing in every way, and Zhen Yuhuai even made sarcastic remarks several times. How can Su Muqing's name still be on this list now?
Is Su Muqing's madness a deliberate attempt to satirize the Prince Gong's Mansion?
However, on the other hand, it also means that the marriage between the Xia family and the Marquis of Yuanning's mansion is impossible. Other noble families probably won't marry a crazy woman, so... they'll just give her to the Prince Gong's mansion.
Qin Shushen from the Imperial Censorate, whom we had met before, was also on it.
Su Wanyan complained, "Is there no one else to marry? Everyone's eyeing Yu Nanqing."
It makes sense. Yu Nanqing is beautiful, has a good figure, and is no longer sickly. Her leg ailment has also healed. If it were her, she would probably rush to flatter and fawn over her, let alone these young ladies who are just beginning to experience love.
Just as he was engrossed in looking at it carefully, a strange female voice suddenly came from the front courtyard corridor: "I heard that your prince's leg ailment has been cured, is that true?"
Su Wanyan's ears immediately perked up.
I don't recognize this voice. Who's here?
"Yes, it's been better for a while now," the maid who led the way replied.
Who cured him?
"The Valley Master of Hundred Dark Valley".
"Heh, I am the Valley Master of Hundred Nether Valley. You can fool others with these words, but you can't fool me." He paused, then added, "Never mind, I'll ask your prince myself when he returns."
The master of Baiyou Valley?
Su Wanyan couldn't help but step out of the front hall, intending to ask someone for help, but she happened to run into the Valley Master of Baiyou Valley.
The woman in the corridor was strikingly beautiful, dressed in a deep blue brocade gown with butterfly patterns, cinched at the waist with a green willow and cloud-patterned belt, and her sky-blue earrings accentuated her already exquisite features.
The two women faced each other across the courtyard. Upon seeing Su Wanyan, the woman didn't stop walking, but only asked, "Who is that person?"
The maid leading the way quickly lowered her eyes: "That is the Princess Consort."
Upon hearing this, the woman stopped in her tracks, suddenly stepped onto the railing of the corridor, and leaped into the air, arriving in front of Su Wanyan.
Although Su Wanyan didn't know what she wanted to do, since the person had come to her and was the Valley Master of Baiyou Valley that Yu Nanqing had mentioned, she was about to greet her with a smile.
But then the woman leaned closer to Su Wanyan's face, squinted at her for a moment, and asked, "So you are Princess Consort Gong?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
