Chapter 384 How fat is this princess of Nanli Kingdom?
"Now that Consort Chun has been promoted to Imperial Noble Consort, there is still one vacancy among the four consorts. Why not promote Consort Zhao to the rank of consort?" Empress Song Zhuyi said.
“This Consort Zhao has neither a good family background nor any children. How could she suddenly be promoted to one of the Four Consorts?” Song Zhuran stepped in to stop her. “Even if we were to find someone, we should find someone with a decent family background who has studied management.”
"How can someone from a humble background provide adequate assistance?"
"So what if we come from a humble family? My sister was raised in the Song family," Empress Song Zhuyi said coldly. "Doesn't my sister also not have children?"
"Consort Zhao has no children because she has never served the emperor in all these years since she entered the palace. My sister, on the other hand, serves the emperor every day, but why is there no sign of pregnancy in her belly?"
After finishing her sentence, Song Zhuyi looked at Emperor Xiao Yu and said, "Your Majesty, I didn't mean anything by it. I was just worried about my sister's health, since she hasn't been in good health before."
"Perhaps it's also due to fatigue. Why don't we have the Princess Consort of Langya examine my sister's pulse today?"
"Your Majesty, I also hope that the sisters in the harem can bear more children for Your Majesty."
Emperor Xiao Yu nodded in satisfaction, "The Empress is indeed very thoughtful."
Song Zhuran didn't know what else to say, and only said, "Your Majesty, my health has always been taken care of by the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital, and there's nothing wrong with me. Perhaps it's because my fate with children is shallow. Such things cannot be forced. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Xiao Yu waved his hand, "Alright, since my beloved consort doesn't want to look there, let's not look at it anymore."
“It is indeed a bit too high for Consort Zhao to be promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine. Since there is a vacancy for the four Imperial Concubine positions, let’s leave it vacant for now,” Xiao Yu thought for a moment, “How about promoting her to the rank of Noble Lady?”
"From now on, the Empress will still hold the Phoenix Seal, with the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Zhao assisting the Empress."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," said Empress Song Zhuyi.
After the Emperor finished speaking, he looked at Jiang Wan Ning and said, "Princess Langya, please comfort Zhou Shi for me."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty," Jiang Wanning said. "Your Majesty, my mother and younger brother are still shaken, so I'll take them back with me first."
“Your Majesty, I don’t need Zhou Shi and the child to stay in the palace all the time. If I get bored, it would be good if the Princess of Langya could come to the palace.”
Seeing that the Empress had spoken, Xiao Yu could only say, "Alright then."
He turned to Pei Yanchuan and said, "Princess Nanli will be arriving in the capital soon. Achuan, keep an eye on this matter for me."
"Didn't they say it would take another month?" Song Zhuyi's voice involuntarily rose considerably.
Meeting Emperor Xiao Yu's probing gaze, she quickly changed her words, saying, "Your Majesty, I am just a little dissatisfied. This Princess Nanli is too willful."
"One minute they say they'll go to the capital immediately, the next they say they'll wait a month, then they say two days. Doesn't this tiny Nanli Kingdom think they can take our Dongling seriously?"
Xiao Yu's eyes softened. "It's because the princess of Nanli Kingdom encountered some problems on her way to the capital a few days ago."
"Now that the problem is solved, I'm thinking of going to the capital as soon as possible so that we can get married soon. This is also what the prince consort wants."
A hint of disappointment flashed in Song Zhuran's eyes. Her hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched into a fist, her nails digging into her palm, and blood seeping through the gaps between her nails.
"What's wrong, my beloved concubine?" Xiao Yu asked, looking at Song Zhuran, who was in a daze.
"It's nothing." Song Zhuran came back to her senses. "I was just thinking about something fun and got distracted."
Xiao Yu chuckled and playfully pinched Song Zhuran's nose. "What's so funny that you can't help but get distracted even with me right here?"
Song Zhuran lowered her head shyly, "Such things can only be shared with His Majesty."
Upon seeing this, the others bowed and withdrew.
"His Majesty has instructed me to go outside the city tomorrow to welcome Princess Nanli."
Pei Yanchuan said to Jiang Wanning from inside the carriage.
Jiang Wan Ning nodded, "It seems that the Emperor now attaches great importance to Princess Nan Li. I wonder what new cooperation has been reached between the Nan Li Kingdom and the Emperor or the Prince Consort."
Pei Yanchuan closed his eyes, holding Jiang Wanning's hand tightly without saying a word.
That's why he always felt that the matter was directed at him, not the prince consort, but the Southern Li Kingdom, as if they wanted to take away something precious from him.
The next day.
Pei Yanchuan waited outside the city to welcome Princess Yan Chenyu of Nanli, with Jiang Wanning by his side.
"This princess really has quite the airs, bringing the prince and princess along," Ah San muttered behind him.
“I wanted to come and keep Your Highness company. If you’re bored, you can go back first,” Jiang Wan Ning said.
"No, I came along to see what this mysterious princess of the Southern Li Kingdom looks like."
Jiang Wan Ning ignored Ah San.
After an incense stick has burned.
The army escorting the princess from Nanli slowly approached, numbering about a hundred people, with an eight-horse carriage in the middle.
"Huh~ It's said that under the leadership of the new ruler, the economy of Nanli Kingdom has developed rapidly in the past two years, and it's even showing signs of catching up with Dongling. Looking at it this way, it's really true."
“Drawn by eight horses, how fat is this princess of Nanli Kingdom?”
Jiang Wan Ning knew that Ah San was deliberately teasing the other party. The reason for the eight horses was not because the person was too heavy, but because it was their first meeting and he wanted to intimidate the other party.
The carriage slowly approached, stopping thirty meters away from Pei Yanchuan and his entourage. The envoy from Nanli stepped forward to pay his respects, saying, "Greetings, King of Langya."
Pei Yanchuan nodded slightly in response.
"Everyone says that the Prince and Princess have a very good relationship, and seeing it today, it is indeed true." The envoy exchanged a few more pleasantries.
Pei Yanchuan said calmly, "Go in."
Pei Yanchuan mounted his horse, bent down and reached out his hand to Jiang Wanning, who used the slight leverage to get on the horse.
The two rode one horse together.
Pei Yanchuan arranged for the guests to stay at a restaurant near the palace, saying, "His Majesty has specially hosted a banquet at the palace to welcome your princess. Palace staff will come to fetch her later."
"You can rest for a while now."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Pei Yanchuan nodded, took Jiang Wanning's hand, and prepared to leave.
The envoy behind him suddenly said, "Your Highness, our princess wishes to speak with your queen for a few moments. Would it be possible to delay us for a moment?"
Pei Yanchuan wanted to refuse, but the envoy said again, "It seems that Her Highness the Princess found the Princess's face familiar, and she must feel uneasy having come from afar."
Jiang Wanning comforted Pei Yanchuan, then turned to the envoy and said, "Please lead the way."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"I will be waiting for you here."
Jiang Wan Ning nodded.
Upon arriving at the private room where the princess was resting, the gauze curtains fell, and Princess Yan Chenyu of Nanli sat on the bed, quietly watching Jiang Wan Ning.
"Greetings, Your Highness." Jiang Wan Ning simply lowered her head.
Why does the Princess not bow to me?
"Your Highness, you may not know this, but our dynasty has decreed that officials of the second rank and above are not required to perform grand ceremonies when meeting foreign envoys, unless His Majesty of your country is present in person."
Jiang Wan Ning's words seemed to make the other person very uncomfortable.
After a while,
Yan Chenyu slowly stood up, lifted the gauze curtain, and walked to Jiang Wan Ning.
Yan Chenyu wore a veil, and her eyes were even more alluring than Jiang Wan Ning's. There seemed to be a strong hostility in her eyes as she looked at Jiang Wan Ning.
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