Chapter 457 Zhu Yiyi is furious
Over here, Madam Zhu was blocked in the courtyard, unaware of what had happened to her eldest daughter. "Let me in," she said.
A moment later, Imperial Censor Zhu came out of Zhu Yiyi's room. He must not let her know about Zhen'er's matter, or she would cause a huge uproar.
Aunt Xue also came with the First Madam.
He glared at Aunt Xue and said in a deep voice, "From today onwards, you will stay by Yiyi's side and teach her well until she gets married."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Xue exclaimed in surprise, "Who is Master going to marry Yiyi to? Why is he suddenly going to marry her off? Didn't he say that Yiyi would enter the palace..." Before she could finish the word "palace," Imperial Censor Zhu stopped her.
"The Zhu family already has one legitimate daughter who has entered the palace, so they will not send any more girls into the palace. All of you remember this clearly. If anyone dares to say a word out of turn, don't blame me for not showing any mercy."
Imperial Censor Zhu then said to Madam Zhu, "Commander Shang has long taken a liking to our Yiyi. A marriage between the Zhu and Shang families is the perfect match. Madam, please go and make the preparations!"
"Yes." Madam Zhu was quite pleased to hear this, as it meant that the master would no longer force Zhenzhen to create opportunities for Zhu Yiyi.
Aunt Xue was completely bewildered. Didn't the master want Yiyi to enter the palace and win the emperor's favor? Yiyi also wanted to enter the palace.
Aunt Xue continued, "Didn't Commander Shang's wife die two years ago? Master wants Yiyi to remarry him. I heard that Commander Shang has a bunch of concubines in his household..."
"Only the eldest daughter of the Zhu family is qualified to be someone's second wife and principal wife. Once she marries into the family, she will be the mistress of the Shang family." Imperial Censor Zhu had also figured it out. At least Commander Shang was still the commander of the Imperial Guard and a confidant of the emperor. Winning over the Shang family would be a great help to the Zhu family.
Aunt Xue wanted to say something more, but she was intimidated by Zhu Song's piercing gaze. She knew that he could not take advantage of the master's favor and become arrogant. She was not the only concubine in the mansion who was favored. There were others as well. A man's favor was just a novelty for a year or two.
Madam Zhu didn't even go into Zhu Yiyi's room; she simply followed Imperial Censor Zhu. If Zhu Yiyi knew that she couldn't enter the palace and was instead going to remarry, she would probably be furious.
Sure enough, Zhu Yiyi turned pale with anger when she heard the news. Her father hadn't told her who she was to marry.
Aunt Xue chimed in, "Forget it, it's not so bad for her to be Commander Shang's second wife. At least she'll be the principal wife, the head of the household. It's better than being a concubine. Maybe the eldest young lady is even happier than the second young lady. Now that her body is ruined, the Emperor won't use her anymore. He hasn't deposed her only because of your father..."
“What do you know, you ignorant woman? No wonder you’re only fit to be someone’s concubine.” This was the first time Zhu Yiyi had said such a thing to her mother.
Aunt Xue felt a sharp pain in her heart upon hearing this, "Yiyi..."
"Would you choose to marry the emperor or a military man?" Zhu Yiyi asked coldly.
“If I could have my child be the legitimate heir, I would definitely choose a warrior.” Aunt Xue had never agreed to let her enter the palace. “Yiyi, maybe this is our good fortune! Commander Shang is only in his thirties, in his prime, and holds a high official position. If you marry him, you will be the wife of the commander of the Imperial Guard. Your father said that it is because we are surnamed Zhu that you have the opportunity to marry Commander Shang as his second wife.”
Zhu Yiyi was furious. "Why did it turn out like this?"
The Emperor is young and handsome, so why can't she marry him? Zhu Zhenzhen has become like this, yet she hasn't been deposed. Could it be the Empress's intention? Does the Empress not want her to enter the palace?
On the way, the Empress found fault with her at every turn. Even that night, the Empress repeatedly accused her of harming Zhu Zhenzhen. The Empress must have known about her affair with the Emperor in the Plum Garden, which is why she was targeting her in every way.
Of all the concubines in the palace, the Empress only brought Zhu Zhenzhen and Zhang Jingjing with her. It must have been a premeditated plan by the Empress to make Zhu Zhenzhen compete with her.
Zhang Jingjing was useless. With so many opportunities, she could have easily gained the Emperor's favor, but she didn't compete or fight for anything along the way.
Now that her father has confined her to her quarters, she can no longer go out. Originally, she had planned to enter the palace during the Lantern Festival.
"Mother, I don't want to marry Commander Shang. I want to marry the Emperor. I love the Emperor. I'm willing to marry him even if it's without any status or title. Please help me."
"But your father said that Commander Shang has liked you for a long time and has always wanted to marry you. It's better to marry someone who likes you than someone who doesn't like you."
"The Emperor likes me. I just need to wait until the Emperor holds another selection of concubines, and then I can enter the palace." Zhu Yiyi was still unwilling to give up and wanted to wait until after the Emperor's coronation ceremony. Perhaps Zhu Zhenzhen would be banished to the Cold Palace if she entered the palace.
However, ten days later, she received news that Zhu Zhenzhen had been conferred the title of Consort Zhu, a high rank, and was even one of the principal consorts of the six palaces.
Zhu Yiyi went crazy, "Why is she still given a title even though she lost her virginity?"
Just then, Madam Zhu had just found someone from the embroidery workshop to make her some new clothes. Zhu Yiyi looked at the Madam's smug face and wanted to tell her about Zhu Zhenzhen's loss of virginity to anger her to death. However, her father had already given instructions, and the Emperor must have given instructions as well. If people found out that she was the one who spread the news, her father might kill her.
Now she is confined to her quarters again, and can only beg the First Madam to take her to the palace. The Lantern Festival is just a few days away, and in previous years the Emperor would invite ministers and their families to the palace at this time.
Madam Zhu said, "The matchmaker from the merchant family has already taken Yiyi's birth date and time. They are just waiting to take your and Lord Shang's birth dates together to calculate an auspicious date. Yiyi, don't worry, you are the eldest daughter of the Zhu family. Your father also said that he will never let you suffer any grievances. The dowry your mother has prepared for you will not be less than Zhenzhen's."
In fact, Zhu Yiyi also knew that Zhu Zhenzhen had gained a lot when she entered the palace, especially in terms of money. The Zhu family gave her a lot in order to help her build connections and win favor in the palace.
"Mother, have you received an invitation from the palace for the Lantern Festival this year?" Zhu Yiyi said gently, "I want to go see Sister Zhen."
Madam Zhu said warily, "There is an invitation, personally from the Empress Dowager. Your father said you should stay at home and not go anywhere until you get married."
So, Madam Zhu had someone take Zhu Yiyi's measurements and then left. Her dream of entering the palace to replace her daughter was simply a pipe dream; she wouldn't be fooled into being that naive.
Aunt Xue didn't want her to enter the palace either; she preferred her to marry Commander Shang. Although he was a bit older, he wasn't that old, and she would be the principal wife, which was better than marrying someone else as a concubine.
Aunt Xue knew the hardships of being a concubine and didn't want her daughter to become one, so she hadn't come to Zhu Yiyi's room for several days.
Zhu Yiyi then asked her personal maid for help, but it was to no avail. The maid was also afraid of dying, and who would dare to spread any rumors about the empress in the palace?
She must find a way to enter the palace.
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