Quzhou, the office of the patrol inspector.
When Meng Jianghe met the servants who had come from his household, their faces were ashen and unbearable to look at.
This family affair has caused him so much trouble that he really wanted to tie up his eldest son and give him a good beating.
Regardless, the deed is done, and it's currently very disadvantageous for the Meng family.
He's not in the capital, and now that something's happened, there's no time to fix it. He's really anxious.
The man who came was his trusted confidant, a loyal servant. He said, "Master, the old lady's point is valid. Now that we've offended that person, even if she falls out of favor, she might still show some affection for her father. At that time..."
Meng Jianghe snorted: "Incompetent!"
"Yes, sir, please calm down. The young master already knows he was wrong. Now we should resolve this matter."
Meng Jianghe sighed. Why talk about the future? Even now, he could already feel the pressure from the Crown Prince's lineage.
The Crown Prince had given a thorough review of this year's salt tax figures.
Of course, he couldn't possibly tamper with it, but the fact that the Crown Prince wanted to examine it meant that he wanted to find out what was wrong.
“Even if we wanted to, would we really want to break ties with the Eldest Princess? It’s no secret that she wants to marry the Seventh Prince,” Meng Jianghe said.
"Well... actually... isn't the twelfth prince her favorite? Her youngest daughter is ten years old this year. Although she's a few years older than the twelfth prince, she might still have a chance. But the seventh prince... although he's also favored, he can't compare to the second and twelfth princes. Besides, you, sir, are doing very well for her. With you here, her chances of marrying the twelfth prince in the future are much greater."
Meng Jianghe stroked his beard and nodded: "That makes sense."
Indeed, if he had married the princess's daughter first, he would have been part of the princess's lineage. The relationship would have been much closer than it is now.
In the future, the twelfth prince will inevitably vie for the throne, and at that time...
"I'll write a letter right away, and you should take it back quickly. This matter needs to be done quickly to avoid any unforeseen complications," Meng Jianghe said.
The visitor smiled and agreed.
The letter arrived in the hands of the eldest princess in just four or five days, delivered by fast horse.
Rong Ning frowned as she looked at the letter.
Her two daughters were the third and fourth in the Yan family.
Yan Nangui was the eldest daughter, and the second daughter was the legitimate daughter of the second wife.
The second wife also has two illegitimate daughters, who are five or six years old. Her youngest daughter is only ten years old, and the two illegitimate daughters below her are even younger.
At this moment, it was the fourth daughter, Yan Jinfei, who was serving her. She was always favored, even more so than her slightly less intelligent older sister.
So he took the letter and read it, then sighed, "The Meng family is also helpless."
Although she was only ten years old, she was precocious and was a child who was given special attention by the eldest princess.
“They want your own sister. I don’t think it will work even if I send the second wife’s daughter,” the eldest princess said.
"I only regret that I am too young to share your burdens. In truth, the Meng family may not seem like a high-ranking official's family, but they are actually very important. As the eldest princess, Mother will surely become the emperor's mother-in-law in the future. In Mother's opinion, what are the Seventh Prince's chances of winning?"
The eldest princess leaned back gently in her chair: "Of course, we have a chance of winning."
"Yes, but not by much. If His Majesty insists on deposing the Crown Prince, then the Seventh Prince is about the same age as the Crown Prince." Yan Jinfei laughed, "The Twelfth Prince is favored, but the Eleventh Prince is also favored. It's just that with the Twelfth Prince around, his favor doesn't stand out. Next, the Fourteenth Prince, born to Ye Lingyi, is not good, but His Majesty is still young. Does that mean he won't have any more children in the future?"
"You child, so young, yet you dare to say anything. According to you... your sister should go to the Meng family? Humph, my daughter, actually wants to be a second wife!"
"How could you think that? How could the Meng family dare to do that? Besides, Yan Nangui left through a divorce, so let's just pretend she never existed. How could the Meng family dare to ask my sister to perform the rites of a concubine?"
"Let me think about it," the eldest princess sighed.
Although she was a princess, she couldn't do whatever she wanted.
The long-standing estrangement meant that she wouldn't immediately think of Yan Lingyun in such a situation.
Of course, the letter still needs to be sent, but we'll have to wait until she makes a decision.
The Meng family was certain that the eldest princess would not refuse, so they had already begun making arrangements.
Clearly, they dared not neglect the princess's daughter, so they naturally planned to make the occasion even more lively and grand than when they married Yan Nangui.
Seeing the state of her family, Li naturally demanded to find Meng Junxian.
In the study in the front courtyard, Meng Junxian looked at Li Shi, who was crying and choking in his arms, and felt sorry for her: "Alright, alright, the Meng family is in such a state now. How can we get through this without marrying the Princess? Don't worry, even if I can't make you the official wife, things will be the same as before. I will still love you the most."
Li knew that there was no turning back at this point, and the only option was to gain some benefits.
So they took the opportunity to get some benefits and that was it.
In the Crown Prince's residence, Yan Nangui was unaware of all this news. However, Du Juan had informed her that the Meng family had already made preparations, which meant that it was basically a done deal.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince's residence received news today that the Empress Dowager's birthday is the day after tomorrow. Although the celebration will not be grand this year, the people of the Crown Prince's residence will still go to offer their congratulations.
The special notification was naturally to prepare for Yan Nan's return, since she had never been to the palace before.
The wild geese have returned south.
According to the current rules, any woman of rank can enter the palace, but it depends on whether the person in charge takes her along.
In the Crown Prince's residence, one would generally be accompanied by a concubine of the rank of Liangyuan or above.
In the evening, when it was time for Yan Nangui to return, he ordered someone to prepare the meal.
In fact, the Crown Prince did not come during this period.
On some days he stayed in the front courtyard, on another day he stayed with the Crown Princess, and on yet another day he stayed with Consort Su.
Judging from the ten days or so she's been in the manor, Ye Liangdi's favoritism... well, it's a bit lacking.
But after she had finished her dinner, the Crown Prince unexpectedly arrived. Coming at this hour, he must have already eaten. Nevertheless, she still asked him a question.
Sure enough, I got a reply saying I'd eaten.
The Crown Prince sat down and served tea: "I have some good news for you today."
"Oh? It seems there's good news in the Yan family." Yan Nangui laughed.
Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and her smile was exceptionally charming, with a captivating... wickedness.
"The wedding date for the third daughter of the General's Mansion and the eldest son of the Meng family is set for the sixth day of next month," Shu Chengfeng said.
"So soon?" Yan Nangui laughed. "Then I'll have to prepare some things to add to my sister's dowry."
"Then, what does Nan Gui want to send?" Shu Chengfeng asked with great interest.
“Now that I am a concubine of the Crown Prince, my status is different. Giving me gold and silver would be beneath me. I beg Your Highness to bestow upon me some fine things, imperial items that cannot be exchanged for gold and silver, so as to enhance my third sister’s image,” Yan Nan Gui said.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
