The Ministry of Revenue, after all, dared not actually withhold grain.
If His Highness doesn't head south, they can still make things difficult for a while.
But since Shu Chengfeng is going to the disaster area in person, they dare not delay. They certainly can't let His Highness go south empty-handed, can they?
Therefore, no matter how much or how little, His Highness must have a batch of grain with him.
The court officials all knew His Majesty's attitude towards the Crown Prince.
But they also know that orthodoxy is orthodoxy.
Half of the officials in the court were staunch defenders of orthodoxy, and they were all loyal to the emperor.
But loyalty to the emperor doesn't prevent them from supporting the empress and the crown prince.
Although His Majesty was born out of wedlock, it was because the legitimate son died.
The senior officials mostly supported the Empress, as the Dayan Dynasty still valued the order of seniority, whether the concubines were legitimate or illegitimate.
The crown prince had no bad records and was also capable.
Now they have children.
Unless something major happens in the future, it is basically impossible for His Majesty to change the crown prince.
The crown prince isn't the kind of person who lacks ability and can only rely on his father; it would be extremely difficult to bring him down.
After all, His Majesty's successive bestowals upon the twelfth prince may seem like a sign of favor, but some officials in the court have submitted memorials offering advice and warnings.
After all, one cannot show excessive favoritism to illegitimate sons and concubines.
Even an emperor shouldn't go too far in favoring his concubines and neglecting his wife.
Of course, such advice is useless.
But it at least shows how much officials in the court and the people of the world cared about the status of legitimate and illegitimate children.
Before paying his respects the next day, Shu Chengfeng had Yunji go to the main courtyard to tell him who he wanted to bring.
Murong Liangyuan, Yan Liangyuan, Jin Fengyi, and Li Zhaoxun.
The Crown Princess naturally agreed.
When everyone paid their respects, he told them about it.
Ye Liangdi was extremely displeased and looked very unhappy.
Murong Liangyuan seemed very happy, while Yan Nangui was much calmer in comparison.
Upon returning, Chanyi said, "News has come from outside."
"Okay, go ahead and speak." Yan Nangui sat down.
"The matriarch of the Yan family is currently arranging the marriage of the second young master. She has chosen Yang, the youngest daughter of Lord Yang of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. The wedding will take place in August."
"Lord Yang of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the one of the fifth rank?" Yan Nangui asked.
“That’s right. Lord Yang is over fifty years old this year. He said he’ll be retiring in a few years,” Chanyi said.
"I suppose Second Brother is not satisfied with this marriage?" Yan Nangui laughed.
“The family all agrees. They say that Madam Yang is of the highest caliber in terms of character and appearance, and is also extremely sensible and filial,” Chanyi said.
"If his family background isn't high enough, that won't satisfy him. No matter how good other things are, it won't work." Yan Nangui sneered.
I'm afraid Yan Nanji married this wife with anger in his heart.
How can there be harmony?
Let's see what Yang's abilities are like in the future.
"Also, since that day, the Eldest Princess and the Third Miss have not had any contact. According to what I heard from the Meng family, the Third Miss refuses to back down and has expressed a lot of resentment," Chanyi said with a smile.
"Furthermore, one of Meng Junxian's concubines is pregnant and they are about to make her a concubine. The Third Miss did not object and even intended to make arrangements for her."
"Third sister is truly amazing, so flexible and adaptable." She fights fiercely against her own family on one hand, yet bows down to her husband's family on the other?
"Xiangsi means that she's probably just using this as a temporary measure. The child might not even be born," Chanyi said.
"Hmm, how is Li Shi doing now?" Yan Nangui asked again.
"She's still the same, taking care of herself, but her health isn't very good. She's not the same as before. The doctor said that her body needs to be properly cared for; she has too much coldness, and he's afraid she won't be able to have children."
"Tsk tsk." Yan Nangui chuckled. "I suppose she's in a pretty bad situation right now?"
How many of the Meng family members are truly sincere?
Madam Meng was a heartless woman.
Even if Meng Junxian still has some affection for Li Shi, he is too busy with other matters to care about her now.
Besides, nowadays, men, unless they are like the Crown Prince, are generally not suited for such things.
Otherwise, even the most doting man would back down if he knew his daughter couldn't have children.
After all, ordinary families don't have people like Yan Nangui. She did it because of her father.
But once the Li family is deposed, it's truly gone.
"Yes, the Third Miss is deliberately making things difficult for her, and the Old Madam isn't willing to help her much either. Although Meng Junxian is still willing to take care of her, he can't possibly manage her every moment. She's been through a lot lately. Meng Junxian has taken in a young and beautiful concubine, and now another one is pregnant, so it's clear that her life is tough," Chanyi said.
"Tell Xiangsi not to expose herself, and to lend a helping hand when necessary. If things are peaceful in Meng Junxian's backyard, then all the suffering I've endured over the years will have been for nothing," Yan Nangui said with a faint smile.
"Yes, I remember everything," Chanyi replied.
She thought to herself, if Liangyuan had had this idea in the past, wouldn't the Meng family have been under her control?
But then I thought again, and decided against it, abandoning the Meng family.
A woman like my beloved concubine should aspire to a place like the Crown Prince's residence.
People are all the same; once they've seen something better, they'll develop a dislike for something worse.
Cicada wings and Malabar spinach are like that.
Although he knew that it wouldn't be easy to get by in the Crown Prince's residence, and that the Crown Prince wasn't a man who only cared about love.
But no matter what, compared to Meng Junxian, she is like the moon in the sky.
Meng Junxian was like the mud on the sole of a shoe.
Let's turn around and look at the Yan family again.
Even the once high and mighty eldest princess and her two daughters are now nothing more than this.
But her own beloved concubine is the kind of person who, when she strikes, is deadly.
Moreover, they also have a sense of superiority.
Look, their Liangyuan has come out of that mud pit of Meng Junxian, and now she is the Crown Prince's Liangyuan, living such a good life.
Even the once self-proclaimed formidable third daughter of the Yan family, once she fell for it, was not as fortunate as she had imagined. She was, after all, the eldest princess's own daughter.
With this in mind, Chanyi and the others served her even more enthusiastically.
The Yan family is having a happy occasion, but there's not much joy to be seen.
The place was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, but the servants didn't seem very happy.
It's not that they're so arrogant, it's just that their masters don't seem happy, so who would dare to be overjoyed?
The eldest princess remained indifferent. The second wife's family was sarcastic and unfriendly.
Although the old lady was in charge of organizing the wedding, she only did it in a formal, businesslike manner. The main problem was that the groom was not happy at all and was angry all the time.
Before the Yang family's daughter even entered the household, the people there began to sympathize with her.
She's in a difficult position from the moment she steps in, and her husband is a muddle-headed idiot.
Tsk.
What should we do?
The wild geese were heading south, but the gifts they sent were merely symbolic, just for show.
We can just send some congratulatory gifts on the actual day.
It's all for the sake of the general, so that he won't think I'm too vengeful later.
Holding a grudge is certain, but while I won't treat the father and his two sons terribly, I won't slack off either. I'll definitely make them regret it, at least Yan Lingyun will.
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