Huang Rushuang wanted to climb up the social ladder, but her years of living under someone else's roof had taught her that if she wanted to live a good life, she couldn't show her true colors too quickly, so she could only work slowly.

It was rare for her to go home, and she couldn't tell anyone about her worries. Wanwan was too simple. She was also different from herself. Her mother was a princess, and she was just waiting to be conferred the title of a county lady or a county head.

They all had family backgrounds, and some were even smarter than her. Huang Rushuang didn't learn anything else from the Crown Princess, but she heard her aunt, who had a well-educated family, say that the most important thing for a person is not to see others clearly, but to learn to look down on himself.

With her family background, she would have nothing if she left the palace. Princess Zhenyang was not a person who liked to worry. If she could get a position as a concubine, in the future, perhaps her child would also have a title, and she would have everything when she was born.

As for marrying into a random family, you will suffer, and your children will suffer.

It is difficult to pass the imperial examination, it is difficult to pass the military examination, it is better to be born with a title.

The movements of a small companion in the harem, and the movements of just the princess's daughter, no one cares.

Empress Hong was more concerned about her grandsons Chengyun. The next most important were Princess Changtai and Wanwan's cousins. She felt exhausted just gathering all of them together, let alone Huang Rushuang.

Even after one year of Tamamo, Yao Niang was still very tired and often sleepy, and she also failed to nourish her qi and blood.

It was rare for Yu to bring a card to the palace. When Yao Niang met her, she saw that she looked sad. She couldn't help but ask, "What kind of trouble did you encounter? If I can help, just tell me."

Yu shook her head: "It's not anything else. Do you know your third brother-in-law?"

Wang Zongmu? Yao Niang certainly knew.

He later seems to have married Lady Dou, and the two had a good relationship and had children. However, it is said that Lady Dou treated Song Jie'er harshly, and the relationship was not very good.

"How is he?"

"Even after resigning, he still has the same temper. You know, your father has a very good relationship with him. Isn't it a bit reluctant to let him go?" Yu also sighed.

So that's how it is. Yao Niang breathed a sigh of relief. Wang Zongmu, like Luo Zhizheng, both had the romantic spirit of Wei and Jin, so they got along very well. When Wang Zongmu went to Beijing to take the imperial examination, he lived in her home for several years.

Yao Niang thought it was nothing: "Third brother-in-law has always been unrestrained. People like him are not suitable for being an official, but for being a celebrity. Isn't that good?"

Yu nodded: "Your father also said so. He is stubborn and straightforward, and is not suitable for the officialdom. If it weren't for your father's protection, he would have had a hard time getting to where he is now."

The mother and daughter sighed a few times. Wang Zongmu was only a relative after all. Yu only asked Yao Niang: "How are you? I see you have gained a lot of weight recently."

"I'm not just bloated, I'm really fat."

"I think it would be better if you were a little fatter. You would look healthier. Before, your face was as thin as the size of a palm." Yu also felt sorry for her daughter.

Yao Niang laughed and said, "The prince also said that to me. He always told me to eat more meat. If I ate less, he would criticize me. I couldn't refuse, so I ate more. In the past year, he didn't worry as much as before, so my daughter rested all day."

Yu was relieved: "This is a good thing. I was hoping for you to be like this. By the way, Sister Song is also pregnant. This child is really interesting. She doesn't look like her mother, but is somewhat similar to you."

"We are all relatives, so it's normal for us to look similar." Yao Niang smiled.

"Before, I only thought that her appearance was somewhat similar. Now, when I listen to her voice and expression when she speaks, sometimes I suddenly feel that she looks a lot like you." Yu reminded.

Although Yu usually sympathized with her granddaughter, her daughter's happiness was the most important.

Yao Niang understood immediately that this was because they were afraid that someone would take advantage of her.

She herself was also well-versed in history books. It was said that Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu Zetian had an affair with their sisters and nieces. What's more, it was said that after Concubine Yang entered the palace, her elder sister, Lady Guoguo, also slept on the same bed with Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

As long as one is favored by the emperor, one can achieve great success and all his relatives and friends can enjoy great success.

Mother first told her that her third brother-in-law had been demoted, and then told her about Sister Song. This was definitely not groundless.

In fact, there have been many such things since Gao Xuance took the throne of Crown Prince. Even Concubine Li Guifei's beautiful niece has come to her with vague inquiries, which is enough to prove that her husband is very popular.

Seeing that her daughter seemed to have thought of this, Yu kindly advised, "You can't wait until someone is standing at your door and you are caught off guard. Even though your father always says that he loves me, he keeps singing girls from the opera troupe at home for social events. Men may be loyal to you, but they have to save face outside, and they are most afraid of being accused of being henpecked."

Her daughter has been in the palace for a long time and is not often with the prince. They are together less often than they are apart. Of course, the couple are affectionate when they meet, but you cannot really regard the emperor as your husband. That will be very painful for you.

The emperor will not be bound by anything.

In the blink of an eye, the emperor can accuse you of being jealous. You must know that Xiao Yao Niang has three sons and one daughter. It is a very good situation. You can't lose the big picture for the small one.

Now that Yu came to the palace, she was not here to persuade Yao Niang as her mother, but she came with the ideas of everyone in the Luo family.

Rather than letting those people take advantage of the opportunity and do something ugly, it is better to recommend your own people and arrest their families. This way you can gain a good reputation and keep the situation under control.

Xiao Jiang took this step too late, so her husband really changed his mind, and ten oxen could not pull him back.

If a man changes his mind, a small stream can be transformed into the Yangtze River and the Yellow River in an instant.

Yu is speaking from experience. When she was a young girl, who hasn't dreamed of marrying a handsome man who is the only one for her, and that they would grow old together.

But these are all dreams. Women will always have to face the pain of aging and losing their looks. Instead of having their husbands hide it from them until they can no longer accept it, it is better to prepare for it in advance.

If it was someone else, Yao Niang wouldn't care, but she and Gao Xuance were destined to be together in two lifetimes, and they already had a mutual understanding, which was not something that others could shake.

Moreover...

Yao Niang smiled and said, "Mother, if you were talking about another man, I wouldn't be able to guarantee it, but the prince—"

"He has always been very good to me. Even in front of him, he thinks he should practice Buddhism, blaming me for being a nun. He doesn't have the time to care about other women. Sometimes when he is busy with work, he says that I have delayed his practice. He is very sincere every day."

Yes, Yu hadn’t thought of this yet.

Yao Niang started to act coquettishly again: "Don't talk about this. My daughter is going to go hunting in a few days. If she catches anything good this time, she will definitely give it to you first."

"My dear little ancestor, I just hope you are safe and sound." Yu said unhappily.

I always feel that my daughter seems to have become more mature, but in fact she has not changed.

It was time to go for the autumn hunt. Yao Niang reluctantly left her little daughter and took her three sons to Chengde. Fortunately, Chengde was very close. This time, Yao Niang was in a completely relaxed mood, unlike the last time she went for the autumn hunt when she just got married.

Those who went this time included Empress Hong, the princesses kept in the palace, and even Princess Zhenyang and her husband.

When they arrived in Chengde, Yao Niang yawned and tears flowed out.

While eating, she wanted to sleep frequently and almost buried her face in the rice. It was only when Gao Xuance held her head with his hand and asked the maid to feed her that Yao Niang could quickly rest.

Cheng Yun was puzzled: "Father, why is Mother so sleepy?"

Gao Xuance said unhappily, "It's all because of you. I'm not at home all year round, and she has to take care of you and herself, and she has to worry about you every day. People who worry about others can't sleep well, and they lack sleep all year round. They often can't sleep at night, so they have to make up for it in the afternoon, but they still lack sleep. Fortunately, I'm back and she doesn't worry so much, but she's very sleepy now."

Those little bastards have exhausted his wife.

Cheng Yun felt embarrassed when he heard this, and felt sorry for his mother, so he complained secretly: "Then you still let your mother serve you the food."

"You little bastard, I just made her stand for less than a breath. If not, outsiders will talk about your mother, and you still blame me." Gao Xuance usually served her tea and water in bed, and even helped her go to the toilet, but he was just pretending to do so outside.

Yao Niang was unaware of the quarrel between the father and son. When she went to pay her respects to Empress Hong the next day, Concubine Li Gui, Concubine Duan and other favored concubines were already there, as well as the Third Princess, Princess Changtai, Princess Zhenyang, Princess Xing'an and others were all there.

Yao Niang sat down silently, and everyone exchanged glances with each other. Seeing her rosy face, they probably guessed what happened yesterday.

But she just took a nap yesterday.

Queen Hong also covered up for her daughter-in-law: "Today, the King of Wusi Zang came with his princess to come. I have sent someone to invite the Queen Mother of Jinyang King to come. This King of Wusi is her brother."

Since the death of King Jinyang, Princess Lanfeng has been taking care of her daughter. Gao Jian ascended to the throne, and his wife, Hong, came here with Princess Lanfeng soon after.

After living in Dalin for a long time, Princess Lan Feng's behavior is no different from that of the Han people, except for a slight difference in diet. She still drinks milk tea and is not used to the Han people's tea.

Fortunately, Queen Hong had prepared everything here, and she had someone bring up milk tea when she came over.

Strangely enough, this pair of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Princess Lanfeng has a rosy face, her snowy skin is even whiter, and there seems to be a spring in her eyes and eyebrows, while Princess Jinyang has a bitter face.

Anyone with some experience can see that there is a problem. Queen Hong certainly feels a little strange, but she will not show it. Every family has some dirty deeds.

Just like her own daughter-in-law, because she was so beautiful, Queen Hong had to keep an eye on her, fearing that she would be coveted by others.

After everyone talked for a few words, Queen Hong specifically mentioned to Princess Lanfeng where King Wu Si and she were meeting. Yao Niang waited for her to leave for a while before she was ready to leave.

But she was stopped by Queen Hong. She dismissed everyone and said to Yao Niang, "Do you think Princess Jinyang is a little abnormal?"

Isn't this something that can be understood but not expressed in words?

Yao Niang pretended not to know: "You know that my daughter-in-law likes to be sleepy now, but you didn't pay attention to it."

"I'm just afraid of a secret pregnancy. You have to know that Prince Jinyang is still in mourning, and the Concubine Dowager cannot remarry." Queen Hong was worried. Prince Jinyang was on her son's side. If there was any scandal in their family, wouldn't it implicate her son?

And what about her niece, Princess Jinyang? How will she face people then?

Yao Niang would try to stay as far away from such a mess as possible. How could she possibly express any opinion? She just said vaguely, "This matter is within the Jinyang Prince's Palace. It is not easy for us to investigate."

Queen Hong said, "You are the Crown Princess, the future Queen Mother. You have to come up with a plan on how to resolve this matter, right?"

This is the difficulty of being the second-in-command. It is the second-in-command who is responsible for everything. If things are done well, all the benefits go to the first-in-command. If things are not done well, the second-in-command will take the blame.

Yao Niang was speechless for a moment and could only think of a solution.