Chapter 175: Past Events and Marriage
Cining Palace.
Because the Third Princess took the initiative to marry the princess, Concubine Rong received many preferential treatments.
Because she always stayed out of the struggle, after Emperor Sheng ascended the throne, in gratitude for the eldest princess's contributions, he honored Rong Fei as Rong Taifei and granted her the title of Rong Fei Taifei and allowed her to live in the Cining Palace.
When the eldest princess returned to the capital this time, the mother and daughter reunited and naturally had endless things to talk about, so she took Princess An Ning to stay more often in the Cining Palace.
At this time, dinner was being served in the palace.
Concubine Rong is nearly sixty years old. Her face is round and gentle. Time has left traces on her, and there are fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and on her forehead.
But she was pampered after all, and seemed to be content with her fate. Her eyebrows were thin, long and soft, with the ends of them raised, and it was obvious that she had a very gentle personality.
At this time, Tuoba Ning was chattering about trivial things. Concubine Rong turned her head to look at her granddaughter, her slightly drooped eyes emitting a kind and loving expression like the warm sun.
Seeing that Tuoba Ning was really talking endlessly, the princess could not help but tap the back of her hand and reminded her:
"Okay Ning'er, let's eat first."
Tuoba Ning was just getting into the mood when he was stopped. He couldn't help but puff up his cheeks with anger.
But she couldn't resist the look in the eldest princess's eyes, so she had to stick out her tongue, give herself a way out, and then lowered her head to eat her meal.
Seeing this, the eldest princess shook her head helplessly.
She is still like a child. How can she return to Yue with peace of mind?
Fortunately, I have found a future husband. His family is not very particular about rules and they seem easy to get along with. Now I just have to wait for the right time to announce it.
The three were having dinner when suddenly a palace servant announced from outside: "Tai Fei, the eunuch Fushun who serves His Majesty has arrived."
As soon as these words were spoken, the Princess and Concubine Rong paused, and the mother and daughter crossed the dining table and exchanged glances calmly.
"Come in."
It was the eldest princess who spoke in person.
Eunuch Fushun came hurriedly and bowed to the three masters in the hall. Then he turned to the eldest princess and said respectfully:
"Your Highness, the Emperor has ordered me to invite you to the Imperial Study to discuss important matters with the Imperial Preceptor. I hope you will follow me immediately."
When Fu Shun said this, he bent his back, but when he said the word "Imperial Teacher", his eyes quickly glanced at Concubine Rong.
Concubine Ke Rong looked calm and just looked at the eldest princess with concern.
When Fushun saw this, he breathed a sigh of relief, but he didn't dare to reveal his feelings and quickly lowered his brows.
This afternoon, Minister Cui suddenly submitted a memorial to the emperor, and then said something shocking that even the emperor changed color.
At this moment, Old Lin had been in the imperial study for a while. He was guarding outside the palace and heard nothing. But not long after, an imperial decree came from the palace, asking him to come and invite the eldest princess.
"Mother, I will be back soon."
The eldest princess nodded to Concubine Rong, and left the Cining Palace with Eunuch Fushun.
As he walked along the palace road, Eunuch Fushun's heart was beating fast.
If the princess asked, should he...reveal something?
If what Minister Cui said was true, then the eldest princess had been on the side of His Royal Highness the Emperor's grandson from the very beginning. Even Princess An Ning's choice of Jiang Xun as her son-in-law was a plot set up by the eldest princess and the emperor's tutor.
This is something His Majesty cannot tolerate.
Eunuch Fushun was nervous all the way, but the eldest princess didn't ask a single question.
Seeing the imperial study room coming into view, Eunuch Fushun smacked his lips for a long time, then suddenly quickened his pace and moved closer to the princess, saying softly:
"Mr. Cui talked about old things, and His Majesty asked about marriage."
The eldest princess suddenly raised her eyes and glanced at Eunuch Fushun, who no longer looked anything unusual, and was filled with surprise.
But in a flash, she concealed all emotions in her eyes and did not even respond, as if she did not hear Fu Shun's voice at all.
As soon as he said this, Fushun felt scared.
His loyalty to His Majesty is beyond doubt, but now it involves a dispute over the crown prince, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was so generous and kind, so it's inevitable for him to... favor one over the other.
He was originally worried that the eldest princess would show some strange behavior, but now it seems that he was worrying too much.
You should know that the eldest princess is a legendary woman who "returned home in glory" from the Kingdom of Yue.
When they arrived at the imperial study, Fushun raised his voice, "Your Majesty, Her Royal Highness the Princess has arrived."
"Come in."
Emperor Sheng's voice sounded in a deep voice, and Fu Shun immediately stepped forward to open the palace door and followed the eldest princess in.
The princess knelt down and saluted. When she looked up, she saw Emperor Sheng sitting behind the desk and Old Lin standing beside him. There was no expression on either of their faces.
Elder Lin took two steps forward and bowed to the princess without even raising his head, let alone looking at her or communicating with her.
Emperor Sheng noticed the performance of the two and glanced at Fushun.
Fu Shun understood that the emperor was asking about Concubine Rong's reaction, so he shook his head slightly and walked to stand beside the jade table.
Emperor Sheng looked at the eldest princess in the palace with deep eyes, "Imperial sister, I heard an old piece of news today. In order not to offend the concubine, I specially asked the imperial sister to help me solve the doubts."
The princess was confused when she heard this. "I wonder what old news you are talking about, brother?"
Emperor Sheng said calmly, "I heard that the Concubine Dowager and my teacher are old friends, and they had discussed marriage before. When my sister asked for marriage to the State of Zhao, was it the idea of the Imperial Teacher?"
Upon hearing this, the eldest princess widened her eyes slightly and looked at Mr. Lin beside her in disbelief.
“This…this…”
"Brother, my mother has never mentioned this to me."
As the princess spoke, she looked at Mr. Lin several times, and her shocked expression did not seem fake.
Emperor Sheng frowned slightly. This answer was actually within his expectations.
He had just asked the imperial teacher, and the imperial teacher admitted it openly.
He and Concubine Rong did not succeed in the end, and since there was a huge gap in their status, it was natural for the Imperial Teacher to completely bury the matter in his heart. This was common sense.
This matter is very sensitive and difficult for women to talk about. I believe that there are not many mothers in the world who would bring up the past and tell their children in person.
Therefore, it is reasonable that the imperial sister was unaware of the situation.
Emperor Sheng was just thinking this when the eldest princess came to her senses and immediately shook her head at Emperor Sheng.
"Brother, I don't know what happened back then, but if you ask about the marriage, I won't hide it."
"oh?"
Emperor Sheng immediately glanced at Elder Lin, but heard the eldest princess sigh and kneel down to apologize:
"Brother, I am not as selfless and righteous as you and the people of Sheng Dynasty say. When I took the initiative to propose the marriage, it was really a helpless act."
"Now that Concubine Jing is still in the harem, my royal brother can go and ask her how Concubine Jing pressured my sister's mother."
"In order to protect my mother, I gritted my teeth and made a desperate move. I asked for the marriage before my father. When my mother heard the news, she hugged me and cried bitterly, but everything was already a foregone conclusion."
"My brother asked me about this today, so I dare not hide anything. But if you say that the Emperor's Master is involved, it is really nonsense."
After the princess finished speaking, she was reluctant to stand up.
After a moment, she felt a pulling force coming from her arm. When the princess looked up, she saw that it was Emperor Sheng himself who came to help her.
The princess felt flattered and stood up quickly. Before she could open her mouth, Emperor Sheng suddenly asked:
"Let's not talk about the past. My brother will ask one more question. My sister came back to the capital to choose a husband for Ning'er. At the banquet, Ning'er immediately decided on Jiang Xun."
"Is this the idea of the imperial sister? Or is it the idea of the imperial sister... and the imperial teacher?"
As he said this, Emperor Sheng slightly increased the strength in his hands.
This question came unexpectedly, and the eldest princess was caught off guard and her face changed slightly, and was seen by Emperor Sheng.
Emperor Sheng raised his eyebrows slightly, glanced at Elder Lin, a stern look flashed in his eyes, and then looked at the eldest princess and asked:
"Imperial sister, yes or no?"
The eldest princess' face turned slightly pale, knowing that she could no longer hide it. She nodded slowly under the cold gaze of Emperor Sheng.
Emperor Sheng took a step back, his heart suddenly filled with rage. His brows sank and he was about to explode, but the eldest princess shook her head again at this time.
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