"Oh, you mean white camellia?" Sun Yun couldn't help but laugh.
Then, Zhao Shu stood up and said, "I want to go see my grandmother."
"Let's go in a few days." Sun Yun reached out and pulled her back. "I won't laugh at you, really."
Zhao Shu sat back down, but in her heart she was thinking that it was a bit of a loss to agree to Xie Yun's request so easily.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt cheated.
After thinking for a moment, he instructed, "Have Xiao Zhuzi go and tell Lord Xie to find husbands for Guan Yurong and Liuli."
Upon hearing this, Sun Yun burst out laughing again, "Lord Xie is really unlucky to have you as his in-law."
Zhao Shu ignored her, not because she wanted to exploit Xie Yun, but because she felt it was inappropriate for her to handle the matter. Although she didn't get along with Guan Yurong and Liuli, she still couldn't bring herself to steal someone else's husband. Even though she got there first, the other person already had a legitimate status.
If she encounters someone with a screw loose, they'll accuse her of being a mistress and ruining someone's marriage, but she won't take the blame for that.
Meanwhile, Liuli learned through roundabout means that someone in the Wei family had died. Thinking that she should learn more about the Wei family before marrying into it, she instructed Jiuqing to bring gifts and deliver a message to Zhao Nihong. After having breakfast, she went straight to the Wei family.
Zhao Nihong is doing quite well in the Wei family now. With her son by her side and the Duanwang Mansion having fallen from grace, she has long since put away all her claws and learned to be humble and subservient. Therefore, she has lived peacefully until now, and her son is also smart and clever.
Liuli used to be extremely arrogant in front of Zhao Nihong, but things are different now. Her former fiancé's family has fallen on hard times, and after the engagement was broken off, she had to become Wei Tingsi's concubine, which lowered her status considerably. Meanwhile, Zhao Nihong has a son to rely on, and Wei Zhongshi treats her very well.
When the two met, they first praised the other's son for being cute and sensible, before slowly getting to the point. Liuli took a sip of tea and asked casually, "I overheard something on the way here, saying that one of your younger sisters has passed away?"
In the Wei family, Madam Wei Zhong was very strict, so no one dared to gossip. It was just that outsiders were resourceful and found out. Zhao Nihong could tell whether the words were good or bad, and she knew how to answer. "Hey, he was weak since he was a child. It was a problem he had since birth. His mother invited countless famous doctors to take care of him, but he didn't get better. It's good that he's gone now. Maybe he can be reborn into a good family in the next life."
Liuli chuckled lightly, but inwardly she scoffed, thinking, "You dare to play games with me?" However, she showed no sign of it on her face. "Madam is kind-hearted."
Zhao Nihong chuckled softly, and the two smiled at each other, but nothing more was said. They were originally very close cousins, but now they were going to become sisters-in-law, and even adversaries at that. Naturally, Zhao Nihong wouldn't tell Liuli the truth.
Seeing that she couldn't get anything out of her, she chatted for a few more minutes and then left. As soon as she left, Wei Yunshu came in. "Sister-in-law, what's she doing here?"
"They're just here to inquire about Fifth Sister. They probably think that if she's betrothed, she can manage the household affairs in the Wei family, so they're just asking around in advance." His words were full of sarcasm.
Wei Yunshu sneered, "She thinks she can manage the household affairs? Not to mention that Mother wouldn't agree, even Guan Yurong wouldn't agree."
Speaking of Zhang Zhongkui, Zhao Nihong also felt uncomfortable. However, after years of working in the Wei family, she had already learned to be shrewd and diplomatic. "Don't talk about her. She's just a self-righteous person. You came to see me for something?"
“It’s nothing, sister-in-law. Now that Fifth Sister is dead, who will marry the Fourth Prince?” She sat down and asked, resting her chin on her hand.
This shows that Zhao Nihong and she had a very good relationship. Zhao Nihong was just a concubine, but she called her sister-in-law all the time.
Zhao Nihong poured her a cup of tea, picked up the embroidery next to her and began to embroider, saying as she embroidered, "Whoever Mother wants to go, let them go. Anyway, you won't go."
"Yes, sister-in-law, will the Fourth Prince die?" she suddenly asked.
The mention of the word "death" seemed to send a chill through the quiet room, causing the two to unconsciously shrink back. "What nonsense are you talking about? Fourth Brother is intelligent; how could he possibly die?"
"Will he become emperor?"
Zhao Nihong glanced at her, "I don't know, maybe." In her heart, she hoped that Zhao Bi would become emperor. After all, the crown prince was close to Zhao Shu. If the crown prince ascended the throne, it would be impossible to overthrow Zhao Shu, harder than climbing to heaven.
But if the crown prince fails to become emperor, Zhao Shu will be no threat.
After thinking for a moment, she added, "I think it's very likely."
"Really? Why?" Wei Yunshu seemed particularly concerned, and also seemed to really hope that Zhao Bi could ascend the throne.
“Look, the Crown Prince only has the Empress and Zhao Shu behind him, but the Fourth Prince has Consort Ning, Consort Gui, and Imperial Noble Consort behind him. I don’t know much about the others, but there’s strength in numbers. I believe the Fourth Prince will succeed.” Over the years, she hadn’t been idle either, and she even knew that Consort Ning, Hao Shumei, and Yi De had once been in the same camp.
However, it's clear that even if she put in the effort, she only knows the basics, and now the three of them are outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds.
Wei Yunshu was delighted upon hearing her explanation. "So, the Fourth Prince has a better chance of winning. If our daughters marry into the Fourth Prince's household, wouldn't they have a chance to become Empress?"
"Yun Shu wants to be the empress?" Zhao Nihong asked teasingly.
Wei Yunshu blushed, but stubbornly replied, "No, I'm just happy for the sisters in the manor. After all, being an empress and a model for the world is something that will be remembered in history."
Zhao Nihong didn't expose her, but simply nodded in agreement, "Indeed, the history books only record the empresses, not even the imperial concubines, let alone ordinary women like us."
"The Empress Dowager has recently started ruling from behind the curtain. I heard that even people like Lord Xie and Lord Yang have to obey her decrees. She's really powerful."
Zhao Nihong chuckled. So she envied the Empress Dowager and wanted to rule from behind the curtain.
"Yes, once you become empress, you will have the opportunity to become empress dowager in the future, and you can rule from behind the curtain. The book records that Empress Dowager Xuan of Qin ruled from behind the curtain for decades. Everyone in the country listened to her, and even the King of Qin at that time did not dare to disobey her."
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