After Meng Junxian left, Yan Jinsi sat alone, lost in thought.
She certainly didn't dare to do anything, she was just verbally defiant.
Inside the palace, the Empress is truly ill this time.
After a series of blows, including the mysterious death of her mother, how could she not fall ill?
Since they were all already locked up, there was naturally no need for everyone to take care of them.
Being locked up isn't so bad; the treatment remains the same, it's just that you can't come out freely anymore.
However, an empress who has lost power is nothing more than an empty shell.
Consort Jing and Consort Xiang managed things quite well, mainly because their subordinates were capable and didn't allow Consort Jing to act recklessly.
After being humiliated during her last visit to pay her respects, Consort Jing no longer does such things.
On the first and fifteenth of each month, people would go to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager; otherwise, they would go about their own business.
The matter of serving the emperor in bed was generally managed by the Imperial Household Department's Bedchamber Office, but it was just a formality. Wherever Shu Chengfeng wanted to go, he would just go directly there.
Just record it in the office later.
Recently, Shu Chengfeng has been visiting Zhaochun Palace the most. Since Consort Chenhui is pregnant, no one dares to say anything.
However, Consort Jing's attitude towards Consort Mei and others who had recently been favored by the emperor was not very good.
As the weather warms up, Yan Nangui goes for a stroll in the garden whenever no one is around.
The pregnancy is very stable, with Imperial Physician Huang keeping a close eye on it; the Imperial Hospital can't afford any mistakes. Besides, Shu Chengfeng is also being watched.
At that moment, no one dared to make a move.
Consort Xiangxian was naturally unwilling to let Yan Nan return to life, but she knew very well that Zhaochun Palace was under constant guard. If she made a move, something bad would definitely happen.
Consort Ning would not intervene; she understood this as well.
What's the rush now? We'll wait until later, and even if we give birth, we'll still have to raise the child.
Given enough time, you'll find the right methods.
There's no need to make a move right now.
That's too risky.
So, after summer arrived, the geese returning south had already gotten a little swollen, but nothing seemed amiss.
Yan Jinfei's wedding is scheduled for April 21st.
His Majesty's bestowal of marriage left Shu Ke with no choice but to accept.
After kneeling to express his gratitude to the emperor, he could only begin preparations.
Fortunately, he had the help of the Eighth Princess, who was already married. Although he was not satisfied with the woman he married, she was still his legal wife.
The Duke of Gong also offered some assistance, so at least she had a place to stay. After all, Yan Jinfei was still a princess, so the Imperial Household Department had to take care of her to prevent things from getting too ugly.
Since it's a wedding for a young man in mourning, there's no need to make it too grand, especially since it involves someone with such an awkward position as the youngest son of the Duke of Gong.
However, Yan Jinfei herself was also embarrassed.
She was already four years older than Shu Ke, and was now twenty-one.
Shu Ke was only seventeen.
The two of them were somewhat mismatched in appearance.
Actually, this wouldn't have happened a few years ago. Now, Yan Jinfei has been worried for several years. Although she hasn't developed any wrinkles, she looks haggard and old.
As for Shu Ke, he was pampered as a child, but suddenly encountered a great disaster, and now he has fallen to this state.
Of course, one dares not disobey an imperial edict, but those who do not like it can still choose not to touch it.
Therefore, on their wedding night, he refused to share a bed with Yan Jinfei.
The next day, when they returned to their parents' home, Shu Ke went, but it was just a formality, and the couple felt awkward watching it.
At this time, Yan Lingyun had already returned to Daiyang Pass, while Yan Nanxu, Madam Yin, and Yan Nanji were still at the mansion.
But they were leaving soon; they were saving the burial plot for the old lady.
"The Empress has sent word that she wants Fourth Sister to come to the palace," said Madam Yin.
Yan Jinfei tightened her grip: "Yes, I'll go tomorrow."
Shu Ke tensed up; he both wanted to go to the palace and didn't want to.
That was his childhood home, but now...
Fortunately, Madam Yin said, "Brother-in-law doesn't need to go. Her Majesty only said to send Fourth Sister."
It's quite a sad story; now, Shu Ke has become a prince consort...
He was originally a prince who was high and mighty.
I really didn't know what to say. How could I possibly have a pleasant expression when facing Yan Jinfei?
It was only at the Yan family's house that he restrained himself and dared not lose his temper.
That night, upon returning home, he took one of the maids from the study into his own room and began to favor her.
Why would they want to go to Yan Jinfei's place?
When Yan Jinfei entered the palace, Yan Nangui was feeding the fish.
In the lake of the Imperial Garden, there were plenty of fish. She scattered fish food and watched the big and small fish chasing each other below.
"Your humble servant greets Consort Chenhui. May Your Highness be well."
"Have you paid your respects to the Empress Dowager?" Yan Nangui asked.
"Yes, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is in mourning, so I dare not disturb her and will kowtow outside," Yan Jinfei said.
The Empress Dowager naturally didn't want to see her, so she could only kowtow outside.
"Fourth sister is newly married, what a joyous occasion! How do you feel?" Yan Nangui handed the fish food to Luo Kui and took the handkerchief from Chan Yi to wipe her hands.
Logically speaking, Yan Jinfei should have been shy at this point.
But she was too shy to show it.
"Thank you for arranging the marriage, Your Majesty."
"Oh, isn't this what your mother wanted back then? I guess I've fulfilled her dream." Yan Nangui smiled faintly.
"Yes." Yan Jinfei didn't know what to say, her heart filled with indignation, but she could only hold it in.
“You see, sometimes people aren’t happy even when they get what they want. Isn’t that right? You were so ruthless towards your own sister back then because you wanted to marry into the royal family. Now that you’ve gotten what you wanted, you’re not happy.” Yan Nangui looked at her.
"Do you still remember that year, in the garden of the manor? It was a fine day like this. You two were feeding the fish, and Yan Jinxiu was smiling obsequiously. What did you say to me?"
Yan Jinfei's hand tightened again. How could she remember...?
She had said many hurtful things to this older sister.
"Don't you remember?" Yan Nangui chuckled. "Yes, you don't remember, but I do. You said that although you are all daughters of the Great General, you are the eldest princess's legitimate daughters, and Yan Jinxiu is the second wife's legitimate daughter. Only I am unclear and ambiguous, neither legitimate nor illegitimate. It's very awkward. My marriage won't be good either. I'm destined to be a concubine."
"Look, Fourth Sister, you're really amazing. I guess I'm just destined to be a concubine," Yan Nangui laughed.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was young and ignorant back then and offended you..." Yan Jinfei knelt down and clenched her hands tightly.
"Why should I kneel down for this one thing, sister? You have offended me in far more ways than just this one time."
Yan Nangui unearthed memories of the past from the corners of his mind.
Yan Nangui was furious back then and wanted to argue, but she didn't know how to say it. She was only a teenager at the time.
He wanted to hit Yan Jinfei again, but was stopped by the servants.
Therefore, they also told Rong Ning and the old lady.
Rong Ning naturally feigned indifference, saying it was nothing, just a minor sisterly dispute.
But the old lady punished her by making her kneel in the ancestral hall all night. When she came out, her second brother scolded her severely, saying that she did not cherish her younger sister and was really unruly.
She argued that Yan Jinfei had insulted her first.
But her second brother neither listened nor believed her, saying she was lying.
They say she's a habitual liar and has a volatile temper. She's not a good person.
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