The news that the Crown Prince was going to choose a concubine caused a huge uproar in the capital, and all the noble ladies breathed a sigh of relief.
Before, they had speculated that the prince was reluctant to choose a concubine because of the fifth lady of the Su family?
Does the royal family of the Great Zhou still need a loyal crown prince?
Now it seemed that they had overthought. Su Zhilan's influence in the eyes of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was no more than this.
Afterwards, the Ministry of Rites submitted a memorial, appointing His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to select the candidate in Ganyang Hall on August 22nd.
When Su Zhilan found out about this, she was tying a swing for herself in the garden.
Willows sway gracefully beside the waterside pavilion, and lotus leaves float in the air.
She was enthusiastically tying the swing, while Su Yuanyi was talking about the prince's selection of a concubine.
Su Zhilan said, "I see. It's such a small thing, brother, why are you making such a fuss? He's the crown prince, so choosing a concubine is not a normal thing."
Can she still expect the prince to remain a virgin for her?
Or is she dreaming and praying that when His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he will be able to disband her harem?
This is something that is not even recorded in history books. She is just looking for trouble by thinking this way.
In fact, Song Hongshen returned to his ancestral home, and on the day he announced his identity, she was already prepared for these things.
So she was not surprised to hear the news that he was choosing a concubine.
Su Yuanyi leaned against the tree where the swing was tied, his arms folded across his chest. "You're such a rebel! I thought you were going to run off to the south with Ah Ci."
In early August, the Lin family went to the Ning Wang Mansion to propose marriage. A few days later, Lin Wuchen and Su Shunci both headed south to prepare for the next sea shipment.
Those days happened to be a critical time for Su Yuanyi's imperial examination, but he still kept a close eye on his sister, fearing that she would impulsively follow Ah Ci and leave.
Su Zhilan sat on the tied swing and said nothing.
Su Yuanyi stood behind her, pushing her and asked with a smile, "Tell me, how did you manage to be tamed when you were so rebellious?"
Su Zhilan sighed, "I've been tamed by the red walls and green tiles of the Imperial Palace. Once a person is involved with that place, even the toughest bones can't stand it."
During the days when her fourth sister left, she did have that impulse, but she suppressed it with her reason.
She is the daughter of the Su family. If she dares to do something as rebellious as running away from her marriage, her parents and the Su family will be implicated.
The young ladies who were probably locked up in the inner house would yearn for the vast world outside when they were young.
But for the rest of his life, he would probably never be able to walk out of the hanging flower gate in the inner house.
Su Yuanyi stood behind her, gently pushing Su Zhilan, and suddenly felt a little sour in his heart.
If my sister were a boy, with her talent, she would be more than qualified to be the Minister of Works.
Perhaps the position of queen is more honorable, but he thinks that his sister must be happier if she concentrates on doing what she likes.
When I lowered my head in thought, I suddenly saw a pair of black soap boots.
Su Yuanyi raised his head and saw that it was Crown Prince Song Hongshen.
Just as he was about to salute, he was stopped by Song Hongshen.
Song Hongshen glanced at Su Zhilan, then signaled with his eyes that Su Yuanyi should leave first.
Su Yuanyi thought that it was broad daylight and they were in the garden, so it was okay for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to say a few words to his sister.
There was another reason. Song Hongshen's eyes were so oppressive that he couldn't say anything against it.
Su Yuanyi bowed and retreated to a distance, but did not leave.
Song Hongshen ignored him and stood behind Su Zhilan, pushing her gently.
Su Zhilan heard that her brother didn't say anything and thought he didn't understand what she had just said.
Then he continued, "Brother is not a woman, you won't understand. In fact, sometimes when I think about it, we are not much different from the canary in the cage."
"You said those young ladies were vying to serve the prince, and they all seemed to envy me."
She laughed at herself when she said this.
"But even if a hundred birds pay homage to the phoenix, isn't the phoenix also a bird imprisoned in the palace?"
She didn't feel wronged about marrying Song Hongshen.
To be fair, considering Song Hongshen's character alone, marrying him would be a good choice.
She just felt sad for all the women in the world. Even a noble woman like the queen could not escape the shackles that women were born with.
However, she only dared to say this to her brother. If others heard it, they would definitely scold her for being ungrateful.
After Su Zhilan finished speaking, she didn't hear her brother speak for a long time.
She was about to turn around and ask when she heard a familiar voice behind her, "I remember everything I promised you."
Su Zhilan didn't bother to think about what he meant. She quickly stood up, turned around, and bowed, "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Song Hongshen raised his hand and said, "There are no outsiders here, no need to be polite."
Then he continued, "Regarding the selection of concubines..."
He wanted to explain something to her, but he hadn't figured out how to say it.
This hesitation gave Su Zhilan the opportunity to speak.
"Your Highness, there is no need to explain. You are the Crown Prince, so you should choose your concubine."
Not to mention being the crown prince of the royal family, even in a family like theirs, it is the responsibility of the wife to take a concubine for her husband.
In her early years, she had heard from the nanny around her that men with two acres of thin land in the countryside would be eager to find a concubine to serve them.
After hearing what she said, Song Hongshen didn't explain any further.
Indeed, it is too early to say some things now.
He was just worried and thought that there were rumors everywhere in the capital, so he came to see her.
But he was obviously overthinking it. The fifth young lady of the Su family was living a very good life.
Take this swing, for example. It's beautifully made and sturdy. There are also many brightly colored flowers and plants on it. If you see it being pushed up from a distance, you might think it's a fairy descending to earth.
Seeing him staring at the swing, Su Zhilan thought he wanted to sit on it.
After thinking for a while, he said, "Your Highness, would you like to try it?"
As he spoke, he pointed at the swing.
Song Hongshen's mouth twitched. He was sitting on a swing with flowers and plants on both sides?
After thinking about it, he shook his head and said, "Forget it. I'm afraid it will be crushed by you."
Su Zhilan didn't give in anymore. The two of them exchanged a few more words, and then Song Hongshen turned and left.
After leaving the Shen family, Song Hongshen returned to the Prince of Loyalty's Palace.
As soon as he entered the door, the steward came forward and said, "Your Highness, please go to the main courtyard and take a look. Your uncle and aunt are here and have been making a fuss for a while."
Song Hongshen paused, "What is aunt doing here?"
While asking the question, Song Hongshen was already walking quickly towards the main courtyard where Wang lived.
The steward followed nearby and explained, "My aunt wants to ask the princess to talk to His Highness and let my cousin enter the Eastern Palace as a concubine."
"The princess kept refusing to make the decision, saying she had no say in the matter, but my aunt persisted and refused to leave."
Song Hongshen had not paid much attention to Wang Jinyao in the past few months. He only knew that she had not yet been engaged or married.
When Song Hongshen heard that Mrs. Wang was making a fuss at the Song family because of this matter, he was not very happy.
He hurried to the main hall, and before he reached the door, he heard Mrs. Wang's voice coming from inside.
"Sister, your sister-in-law has never asked you for anything. Today, for Jin Yao, I kowtow to you."
"Just consider that the child is also a daughter of the Wang family like you, so give her a chance to live."
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