Mingxiu patted Chenghuan's head: "Don't worry, nothing will happen. Your father and mother will take care of everything. If all else fails, there's your crown prince brother. Just stay in your room and don't worry us."
"Mmm," Cheng Huan lowered her head, knowing that she couldn't be of much help in these matters.
"There's one thing, your matter with Zhang Tinglu will have to be postponed."
"Mother, what's the point of worrying about these things at a time like this? Let's talk about them later. These matters are more important right now." Cheng Huan said helplessly. How could her own affairs compare to the things right in front of her?
Mingxiu looked at the exasperated Chenghuan with amusement and nodded, knowing that it was good that she knew what was most important.
The plague in the capital lasted for two months before being brought under control by Lei Ting. Thanks to advancements in medicine, although people were afraid of the plague, there were still many ways to treat it. Once the plague was completely under control, everyone was finally able to relax.
When they finally had some free time, Mingxiu and Kangxi had time to check on Chenghuan's situation. In the Qianqing Palace, Mingxiu looked at the things that Kangxi had ordered to be investigated, and it was just as Kangxi had said before. He had been married once and had a child, but his wife had died when she gave birth to the child. After that, he had no women, neither concubines nor maids. His child had always been raised by his two elderly parents. He was not a smooth talker, but he was very handsome and upright, no wonder he was popular.
However, Mingxiu was still not satisfied: "Your Majesty, haven't you found out anything else?"
Kangxi looked up at Mingxiu and asked, "What do you want to find out?"
"For example, some unpleasant things that could lower the score?" Mingxiu gestured with her hand, still unwilling to accept that her daughter might become a stepmother. Although this was a very common thing at the time, Mingxiu just couldn't get over that hurdle in her heart.
Kangxi looked at Mingxiu and sighed. In truth, he was also unwilling. Regardless of the previous wife's situation, as long as Chenghuan married into the family, she would become a second wife, which was an unfortunate fact. He was unwilling for a princess to become a second wife, but Chenghuan liked this person, and he was indeed a good candidate.
Looking at Kangxi's expression, Mingxiu knew that he was probably a really nice person. Mingxiu felt a little discouraged, but she still didn't want to go against Chenghuan's wishes.
After all, the person I'll be spending my life with is Cheng Huan, not someone else, so it depends on her wishes. Besides, she's just like a mother looking at her little chick and thinking no one else is good enough for her. But in reality, even if that's the case, Cheng Huan will still live a very good life after marrying into the family because she's a princess, her father is the emperor, and her brother is the future emperor. No one will bully her, and even if they want to say something sarcastic, they'll have to consider whether they're qualified.
"Alright, Your Majesty, please have someone probe Zhang Tinglu's thoughts. I'll go back and report the results to Chenghuan. Once that's settled, let's make a decision," Mingxiu said somewhat unhappily.
Kangxi nodded, looked at Mingxiu, and shook his head helplessly.
When Mingxiu returned, she confided in Chenghuan: "Chenghuan, your father and I have investigated. Although Zhang Tinglu is a decent person, are you really not bothered by his previous marriage? Also, he has a child. No matter what, you will be his stepmother in public after you get married. Have you really thought this through?"
Cheng Huan looked at the contents of the document and then at Ming Xiu's worried expression. He forced a smile and said, "Mother, don't worry. I've already thought it through. I knew all this before, but this is a very good choice for me. At least it's what I like. And I will stay in the capital after I get married. Didn't Father say that the princess's mansion he's building for me is right next to the capital? After I get married, I'll live in the princess's mansion and come to see you every day."
Cheng Huan genuinely didn't care. Although she had acquired a lot of new knowledge, she thought it was normal. Even if her father loved her mother very much, didn't he still have many concubines? Besides, this person was before her, so it would be fine if there were no more after the marriage.
"Mother is the most important person. I have a lot of confidence. I know that I have my mother, my father, and my elder brother the Crown Prince behind me. They can all help me and support me at any time, so I am not afraid at all." Cheng Huan said confidently.
Mingxiu poked her forehead with a mixture of helplessness and amusement, and couldn't help but laugh: "You."
The mother and daughter were getting along well, but the relationship between Emperor Kangxi and his son was not so harmonious.
"Father, does it have to be him? Can't we choose someone else?" Yinreng looked at the people on Kangxi's list with great disdain.
"Just go, don't make so many mistakes. Besides, it's your sister's idea." Kangxi looked at Yinreng with annoyance.
Yinreng pursed his lips and said, "Fine."
"Your Majesty, I actually asked before, and someone said he liked a girl, but his family didn't approve or something, so he hasn't agreed to it. Your Majesty was a little worried, so I specifically had someone investigate that girl, but we couldn't find anything. It was as if she had appeared out of thin air. Later, I simply asked Zhang Tinglu directly. He really didn't have anyone he liked, but he didn't want to get married before. This girl was just someone he created as a shield to protect his family." How could Yinreng not know? When Chenghuan first fell in love with someone, the first person she mentioned wasn't Mingxiu, but Yinreng.
It could be said that Yinreng was the first to know, as this was his younger sister whom he had doted on since childhood. Yinreng was worried, so he had already sent someone to investigate.
“You are right, this person doesn’t exist, he doesn’t really exist, but Zhang Tinglu didn’t tell the truth.” Kangxi looked at Yinreng with suspicion.
Yinreng nodded affirmatively: "Of course, I can guarantee that."
Kangxi nodded thoughtfully. Indeed, if such a person truly existed, his secret guards would have been able to find out. The fact that they couldn't find out now could only mean that such a person didn't actually exist.
"Alright, I understand. You may leave." Kangxi dismissed the person after using them.
Yinreng pursed his lips and left.
Now that it has been found that this person has no problems, Kangxi naturally wanted to grant Chenghuan's wish, so he directly and decisively issued an edict that he liked Chenghuan and Zhang Tinglu.
When the imperial decree for the marriage was issued, everyone was stunned. No one expected that the first marriage after the abolition of the prohibition on intermarriage between Manchus and Han Chinese would be Princess Chenghuan's marriage.
However, Zhang Tinglu's family members had some suspicions, because Zhang Tinglu had mentioned it to them before.
Zhang Tinglu silently clutched the imperial decree bestowing the marriage upon him, feeling somewhat happy inside.
The only one who seemed somewhat saddened was Zhang Tinglu's eldest daughter. After all, her father was marrying a princess. She wondered what she would do in the future. Silently clutching the hem of Madam Zhang Ying's dress, she felt a little lost.
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