The chubby orange cat looked speechless, its expression almost like it had been constipated for ten days.
But he couldn't openly criticize Sun Miaoqing's antics, as that would make him seem tasteless.
Unwilling to give up, she asked, "Do you all really think so?"
Prince Guo explained, "People outside the palace don't know what's going on inside, and they mostly just parrot what others say."
"It is common knowledge that the Emperor favors Consort Cheng, so everyone guesses that this Consort Cheng must be a peerless beauty with both talent and looks."
"Only in this way can I be worthy of my brother's affection."
The chubby orange cat toyed with the black chess piece in its hand and sighed, "If she really had the three-tenths of the benefits that are rumored outside, I wouldn't have to worry about her so much."
Prince Guo was puzzled. "Does Your Majesty mean that Consort Cheng is not someone you can easily get along with?"
"Why does my brother treat her so differently?"
The chubby orange cat shook its head, not wanting to say more, and only said one sentence.
"You don't understand..."
In that desolate tone, Prince Guo could hear the deep melancholy in his voice.
He smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I am all alone and do not understand these things. Seeing how troubled you are, I think it would be better not to marry, so as to avoid a lot of troubles."
Big Fat Orange said, "You're the best at avoiding leisure, but you still have to marry a princess."
"In the end, they act this way because they have feelings for me, and I often can't bear to be too harsh on them."
Prince Guo said, "Your Majesty's compassion for the harem is a blessing for them."
The chubby orange-haired man curled his lips and said, "The Empress Dowager has been saying that she wants to choose a well-bred lady from a prominent family who is outstanding in every way to be your consort."
"You have been unwilling to agree, which not only makes the Empress Dowager uneasy, but also makes many women very sad."
"A few days ago, the Duke of Pei wanted me to act as matchmaker, but I thought I should ask your opinion first, so I didn't agree."
"But what are you really thinking?"
Prince Guo said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your consideration, but I really don't mean it that way right now. I'd like to relax for another two years."
"If I ever meet someone I love in the future, I will definitely ask Your Majesty to grant me marriage. But I still remember how loving Your Majesty and Empress Chun Yuan were back then."
"Although I have no great ambitions, I hope that my future wife and I can live in harmony like my brother and Empress Chun Yuan."
Having said all that, Big Fat Orange knew that further persuasion would be useless.
Mentioning Chun Yuan, Da Pang Ju couldn't help but recall the scene when they first met, when Chun Yuan turned around and smiled under the plum tree.
"It's a pity that Chun Yuan has been gone for many years!" Big Fat Orange sighed.
"No matter how many concubines there are in the harem, no one can compare to her in the end."
"Let's not talk about this anymore, let's play chess..."
*
In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the chubby orange and Prince Guo were busy reminiscing about the late Empress Chun Yuan.
Inside the Broken Jade Pavilion, Zhen Huan was looking at the results of everyone's hard work over the past few days.
That's why, although she didn't attend the palace banquet last night, she also didn't feel like cutting out portraits or going to Yimei Garden to pray for blessings.
Fragments of writing were on the sheets of paper...
Empress Chun Yuan was fond of singing and dancing, especially skilled in music. She was once the most famous dancer in the capital for her "Dance of the Startled Swan".
She was stunningly beautiful, loved gourmet food, and disliked luxury.
Kind-hearted, gentle, and perfect, like a fairy descended from the heavens...
She loves red plum blossoms the most; she's a very tasteful person...
Huanbi and Liuzhu looked at the fragmented information and then at Zhen Huan's thoughtful expression, exchanging bewildered glances.
Huanbi silently thought that not only did the Empress Chun Yuan resemble the young lady in appearance, but they also had many similarities in temperament and hobbies.
If it weren't for the fact that one was from the Zhen family and the other from the Ulanara clan, they would have been completely unrelated. She even suspected that the young mistress and Empress Chun Yuan might have some kind of kinship.
Cui Jinxi brought in a bowl of lotus seed soup and said gently, "My lady, you didn't eat much for breakfast, so I prepared a bowl of lotus seed soup for you. Please have a few bites."
Zhen Huan said, "I feel suffocated and have no appetite."
Empress Chun Yuan was perfect in every way. I don't know if there really is such a perfect person in the world, or if she died too young.
The living can't win against the dead...
Even though she has no love for the emperor now, she is unwilling to be a substitute for another woman forever.
Cui Jinxi said, "My lady, please allow me to ask you a question."
Zhen Huan said, "Ask away."
Cui Jinxi said seriously, "This servant would like to ask, what exactly does Your Highness desire?"
Zhen Huan was stunned, and said dejectedly, "What I want has never changed: to find a single-minded person and stay together until our hair turns white."
"It's a pity that I will never be able to achieve it in my lifetime."
Cui Jinxi said, "Since growing old together in love with your beloved has become a mirage, why doesn't Your Highness pursue something tangible and tangible?"
"Even when it comes to being a stunt double, not all stunt doubles are the same."
Zhen Huan understood Cui Jinxi's meaning: "You mean, you want me to use Empress Chun Yuan to curry favor?"
"I can't do it..."
Liu Zhu said worriedly, "Aunt Jinxi, you know the young mistress's temperament. How could she do such a thing!"
Huanbi hesitated and said, "But how could His Majesty let go!"
"At yesterday's palace banquet, they even asked why the lady was not present."
"If you intend to hide forever, would you really want to ruin your appearance? Besides, even if you were willing to make that decision, who knows if the Emperor wouldn't be enraged..."
Cui Jinxi said, "Miss Huanbi is right. Your Highness is beautiful and intelligent. How can we waste such a precious gem?"
"Taking advantage of the situation is the way of the wise. Empress Chun Yuan and the Emperor have only been together for three years, while Your Highness is still young."
"If you really care so much, why not win over the Emperor's heart? Whether it's for your future or for your family's sake."
"Actually, you don't need to deliberately imitate Empress Chun Yuan. Just be yourself. You must believe that with your talent, you deserve the most favor in the world."
Cui Jinxi really understood Zhen Huan, knowing that deep down, she was an extremely proud and arrogant person.
She never felt inferior to others; on the contrary, she felt that no one else was as good as her.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have said, "Using one's looks to please others, how long can that last?" when he heard that Consort Hua was the most favored concubine in the harem.
Zhen Huan was indeed moved by Cui Jinxi's words, which stirred her competitive spirit.
Young and hot-blooded, unable to bear such injustice...
Zhen Huan said, "You're right. If I don't want to be trampled on like the soil in the Imperial Garden, I have no other choice."
"I'll vent this anger myself; that's the only way to feel good!"
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