Chapter 1674 Deliberate

The next day, Zhulan brought the newly written list to the palace to see the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother flipped through the twenty lists, each with fifty names. Nearly a thousand orphans were divided into twenty books. "You are too quick. I thought I would have to wait for a few days."

Zhulan explained, "It's not a problem to always keep detailed records."

The Queen Mother put down the list and said, "I am only the orphan of Zhuangzi in name only. It is all thanks to your hard work that Zhuangzi is what it is today."

"Without you, the development of the village would not be so smooth."

The Queen Mother smiled and said, "The Emperor attaches great importance to the orphans of several manors. Even if I don't explain it clearly, you know it well."

Zhulan breathed even more lightly, waiting for the Queen Mother to say the rest.

The Queen Mother continued, "I won't be able to bear the name by then, but the Emperor told me that men and women will be separated."

Zhulan's breathing returned to normal. She had long guessed that no matter how well she did, she was still a woman, just like her books were written under a pseudonym. Zhuangzicheng Academy was established, and she could not afford to be the dean of a boys' academy.

Zhulan smiled, "I am very happy."

The Queen Mother was puzzled. These manors were all Yang's hard work. Her meaning was very clear. "Why?"

Zhu Lan's eyes sparkled, "I am glad that the Emperor has not given up on the girl."

The Queen Mother also smiled, "It is indeed worth rejoicing."

Zhulan walked briskly out of the Queen Mother's bedroom. On the way out, she met Princess Zhenyue. Zhulan was a little surprised, "Princess."

Zhen Yue said embarrassedly: "I heard that Madam went to the palace, so I waited here on purpose."

"What's wrong Princess?"

Zhenyue motioned for the maid to bring the book over. "This is the book Yuwen wanted. I just happened to know that Madam is coming to the palace, so I ask Madam to help pass it to Yuwen."

Zhulan knew that Yuwen and Princess Zhenyue often corresponded, so she took the letter and said, "I thank the princess on behalf of Yuwen."

Zhenyue smiled, "I often ask Yuwen to help me find things, so I won't bother Madam."

Zhulan waited until the princess left without reading the book. She always paid attention to the privacy of her children.

After returning home, Zhulan asked the maid to give the book to Yuwen. She changed her clothes and Yuwen came to the main courtyard.

Yu Wen held the book in her hand. "This is a book from the Imperial Palace's library. Princess Zhen Yue copied a copy for her granddaughter."

"The books in the library."

Yuwen continued, "The bookstore in the capital didn't have this book. Dad searched for it for a long time, and then I asked the princess."

Zhulan said: "Then you should thank the princess."

Yuwen smiled and nodded, "My granddaughter will not bother the princess anymore in the future."

"Your filial piety is good. Grandma believes that you know your limits. You don't need to explain it to grandma."

Yu Wen smiled, "It is indeed wrong for a granddaughter to ask the princess for a favor."

Zhulan tapped Yuwen's forehead and said, "It's not a big deal."

Yu Wen was thinking that she should be more cautious in the future, even though she had a good relationship with the princess. "Grandma, you just left. The Crown Princess sent an invitation to invite her granddaughters to a tea party."

As soon as Zhulan got off the carriage, the butler reported, "This is the first banquet held by the Crown Princess after her marriage, and there will be many invited guests."

Yuwen: "Yeah."

In a blink of an eye, it was the day of the Crown Princess' banquet, and all the unmarried young ladies in Zhou Hou's Mansion were invited. Yudie and the others dressed up carefully, not for a beauty contest, but for the face of Zhou Hou's Mansion.

It was the first time that the Crown Princess held a banquet and the guests were unmarried ladies. You can imagine how difficult it was to get an invitation.

Zhulan couldn't figure out the Crown Princess' intention. Was she going to take the initiative to choose a concubine for the Crown Prince? That shouldn't be the case. The intention of the palace was clearly that the Crown Princess wanted to give birth to a legitimate son first.

There was a lot of hustle and bustle in front of the Prince's Mansion. Yudie and her friends arrived not too early, and by chance, when they got off the carriage, they ran into Zoya, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Yong'an.

There was also a young woman next to Zoya, Zhuoguyu's newlywed wife.

Yudie and the others didn't pay much attention at first, but when they saw the headdress on the woman's head, their faces changed.

Ever since Marquis Zhou came to her house and slapped her in the face, Zoya hated everything about Marquis Zhou's mansion and was very unhappy with the young ladies there.

Yujiao stared at the headpiece. She was furious. Even if the headpiece her second aunt designed for her third sister was not a copy, it was still 60% similar. She was just about to speak.

Yudie pulled Yujiao and said, "Let's go in."

Yu Jiao took a deep breath. She couldn't make a noise at the door or it would bring shame to the Zhou family. However, she couldn't help but glare at them fiercely before leaving with her sisters.

Zoya was furious. "What do they mean?"

Ye Ying lowered her eyes and said, "I don't know."

Zoya became even angrier. The Zhou Marquis's Mansion was high-ranking and powerful, and she was the daughter of the Duke's Mansion!

Yudie and the others entered the garden. Their faces had returned to normal. Linxi came over first and said, "Cousin."

The Crown Princess came over and said, "Lin Xi was just talking about you guys, and now you're here."

Yudie bowed a few times. The Crown Princess was very busy, so she just said a few words and went away.

Lin Xi smiled and said, "Today I will help entertain the Crown Princess. Come on, I will take you to your seats."

Yu Jiao heard Zoya's voice and became even angrier. She was still young and couldn't hide her unhappiness. Lin Xi asked, "What's wrong?"

Yujiao spoke softly about the jewellery, "Second Aunt said it was the headpiece for Third Sister's coming-of-age ceremony. If she didn't explain it clearly, then it's wrong. Even if she didn't explain it clearly, she shouldn't have borrowed the style!"

Yuyi glanced at her younger sister, and Yujiao remained silent!

Linxi looked over and found that it was indeed very similar to the one her second aunt had made for her. Ye Ying brought it out today, so how would she bring her third cousin out after she came of age?

Yudie was the most angry. She was angry at her mother's hard work. "My mother will be sad."

Yuwen, "Second Aunt will be angry."

Yuyi frowned, "We have no connection with Earl Ye's family. Are you just attracted by the style? I don't think the Countess would be so stupid."

Yu Wen looked at Ye Ying, thinking to herself, could it be that because the Yong'an Duke's Mansion had plotted against her, this person deliberately ordered a similar headgear to show his disdain for the Zhou Marquis Mansion?

Yudie said, "Ignore them, let's talk about something else."

Lin Xi stood up and said, "I'll go take a look."

Yudie reached out her hand but didn't hold on. There were too many people here today, so Yudie could only watch Linxi walk away.

Yuyi comforted her, "Linxi knows what's going on."

Zoya looked at the Crown Princess with disdain. Ye Ying pulled her sister-in-law's sleeve and said, "Your eyes are too straightforward."

Zoya retracted her gaze and said, "Sister-in-law, there are few people in the garden who are of higher status than me."

Ye Ying, however, was not as optimistic as her sister-in-law. The Yong'an Duke's Mansion had no real power, and the only thing it had to offer now was its husband. The Duke's Mansion was only in name, while the families that were plotting to become the Crown Prince's concubines had all the power and connections.

Ye Ying felt someone was looking at her, and when she met the eyes of County Lord Anhe, her heart shuddered. She felt as if she had been seen through, and she couldn't help but look away.

Yu Wen did not retract her gaze. Ye Ying felt guilty, proving that her guess was correct. She thought that the Zhou Hou Mansion would not be enemies with the Earl's Mansion because of the same headgear? Indeed, it would not happen. If the Zhou Hou Mansion really calculated, they might even accuse the Hou Mansion of being overbearing. It was not the same headgear, it was only 60% similar!

Yu Wen sneered in her heart. Seeing Ye Ying peeking at her, she reached out and picked up the teacup lightly. When Ye Ying looked away again, Yu Wen drank the tea in her hand, but her eyes were cold.

(End of this chapter)