Chapter 193 You can't abandon me!
The day after Eunuch Hu returned to the palace, he came out again, this time on the Empress's orders.
He repeated what he had told Shangguan Jin yesterday, and Shangguan Jin returned the courtesy.
Then in the afternoon, Shangguan Jin submitted her visiting card to the palace, requesting to see the Empress.
The Empress quickly agreed, and the date was set for the afternoon of the following day.
That afternoon, Shangguan Jin simply dressed neatly according to the rules.
She wasn't wearing makeup, and after talking with Shen Qingyue for almost half the night, she looked a bit tired.
As before, Shangguan Jin got off the carriage at the entrance of the inner palace and walked in.
Along the way, he gave the eunuchs the purses they were entitled to, but he didn't show a single smile on his face.
After entering the Empress's palace, Shangguan Jin performed the full kneeling ceremony with utmost care.
Empress Xu felt a sudden unease when she saw Shangguan Jin's expression.
It seems that the Duchess of Dingguo's reaction was even stronger than she had expected.
However, upon further reflection, Empress Xu realized it was quite normal...
Who would be happy if their family was about to be crammed into their home by an enemy?
"Madam Shen..." Empress Xu had just opened her mouth.
Shangguan Jin, who had just sat down, suddenly stood up and then knelt down again with a thud.
"Your Majesty, you cannot abandon your humble servant!"
"My life has already been very difficult!" Shangguan Jin began to sob softly as soon as she knelt down.
Empress Xu, who had originally intended to exchange a few polite words...
Caught off guard, Empress Xu had no choice but to help Shangguan Jin up herself, and then pull Shangguan Jin to sit down next to her.
"I know you're anxious, but things have already come to this, there's nothing you can do about it."
I had Eunuch Hu pass on a message to you, just in case you get caught off guard again.
We were completely baffled when your daughter was with you that time, weren't we?
Don't worry, now that we know, let's figure something out.
I've practically watched Yao'er grow up; she's the apple of the Duke's eye.
"Your Majesty and I both remember!"
Empress Xu gently comforted Shangguan Jin while patting her hand lightly.
Hearing Empress Xu repeatedly refer to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion as "ours," Shangguan Jin knew that Empress Xu had already brought the Duke of Dingguo's mansion under her control...
After pondering Empress Xu's words again, Shangguan Jin felt much more at ease.
When the empress heard this news, she was probably even more anxious than I was!
It took the combined efforts of Prime Minister Xu and the Empress to bring Marquis Changsheng to their side.
The Empress Dowager's interference at this time is just to make things difficult for them, isn't it?
"Your Majesty, tell me, is this how you bully people?"
So she's targeting our entire prefecture, determined to torment us until we're scattered, isn't she?
I've made up my mind. As soon as the imperial decree granting the marriage is issued, I'll immediately take it to the Duke's grave and weep.
"Why can't the Duke see clearly? Why doesn't he take those people who harmed us away..." Shangguan Jin said deliberately.
Empress Xu...
She also hoped that the Duke of Dingguo could see the truth in the afterlife. If he could take those people away, wouldn't she no longer have any worries?
"Madam Shen, be careful what you say! Walls have ears." Empress Xu offered a few words of advice, feigning concern.
Shangguan Jin wiped her eyes with a handkerchief again, and then said resentfully, "Everyone says girls are precious, but their girls are even more precious."
They're all destined to be empresses; our temple is too small to welcome such a grand figure.
Empress Xu did not speak, but patted Shangguan Jin's hand again.
"Alright, that's enough with the harsh words."
Don't I know you well enough? You're all talk and no action, just indulging in your verbal sparring.
Even if you don't send a formal invitation, I will still summon you to the palace.
Shangguan Jin nodded, wiped her eyes, and then looked at Empress Xu.
"Your Majesty, you're not happy either, are you?"
Empress Xu nodded.
"Who else could be happy besides her?"
I spent most of last night worrying about this. If I were to object, I would be labeled as unfilial, and who could bear that?
His Majesty was not born from her womb; there was more than one layer between them.
His Majesty cannot even find a way to compromise.
Not to mention me..."
Shangguan Jin understood Empress Xu's meaning; she meant that this matter was difficult to handle.
However, if there really is no other way, then Empress Xu has no reason to see me.
So, this is what Empress Xu is doing...
"Your Majesty, do you have any eligible girls in your family? I want to arrange a marriage before that person makes an appointment."
Although it is against the rules to arrange a marriage during the mourning period, I can always get sick and let Jun-ge arrange a marriage to bring good luck.
"Furthermore, as long as she doesn't mind being the legitimate daughter of the Zheng family as a concubine in our household, then let her come!" Shangguan Jin said solemnly.
Upon hearing this, a glint immediately flashed in Empress Xu's eyes.
The Xu family's daughter...
Although the Xu family has no daughters of marriageable age, Madam Shen has expressed her desire to arrange a marriage in the future...
Empress Xu breathed a sigh of relief.
She was worried that she was only interested in one side of the project, but now it seems that she is interested in both.
The Xu family doesn't have any suitable girls, but some noble families that are on good terms with the Xu family do!
As long as Madam Shen gives the consent, I can start making plans for the future.
"Alright, things haven't reached that point yet! There are still seven days until the palace banquet, let's discuss it slowly," Empress Xu said with a smile.
Shangguan Jin sighed.
"Such a good, such a precious girl, wouldn't it be better if they produced and consumed her themselves?"
Knowing full well that I dislike their family, they still eagerly sent their girl over. Sigh!
Empress Xu's eyes flickered.
"Madam Shen, you were absolutely right."
Their girls really are homegrown.
Didn't they want to betroth their second granddaughter to your Jun-ge?
The eldest granddaughter is intended to be betrothed to the King of Qin.
Upon hearing Empress Xu's words, Shangguan Jin was taken aback at first, and then quickly asked another question.
"Princess Qin is still alive! Although Princess Qin's family background is not as illustrious as that of the Duke of Anguo's family."
However, the Qin Princess's family had produced imperial tutors, so it's hard to say that she could command half of the scholars in Dayu like Prime Minister Xu.
But in all the major academies, which family didn't show respect to the Princess Qin's family?
How could the Duke of Anguo's mansion tolerate its own daughter becoming a concubine?
Could it be...?
Empress Xu nodded.
No one could guess what Empress Dowager Zheng and Duke Anguo were plotting.
The reason for not touching the Princess of Qin now is simply to use her family background to win over the scholars.
If the King of Qin were to ascend the throne one day, the Queen Consort of Qin would probably not live much longer.
This is just like when the Zheng family allowed the Xu family's daughter to become Emperor Xiao Jing's empress.
Originally, Empress Dowager Zheng's plan was the same as her current plan for Princess Qin: to get rid of Empress Xu.
Who knew that Prime Minister Xu was one step ahead, making a move that nearly drove Empress Dowager Zheng to despair...
That's why Empress Dowager Zheng didn't dare to harm Empress Xu.
In addition, Emperor Xiao Jing urgently needed the Xu family to fight against the all-powerful Zheng family. He did his best to protect Empress Xu and even helped her give birth to the first prince after his ascension to the throne.
The Zheng family could only swallow their anger and resentment.
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