Wen was taken aback.
She knew that Jiang Shuwan was not the type to passively accept things, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to forcefully take away the power of housekeeping from her.
However, only the old lady can make the decision on this matter.
Looking at Madam Pei, Madam Wen awaited her instructions.
Madam Pei was caught in a dilemma.
After all, she's the girl she watched grow up...
Madam Pei stared at Liu Yunyan with sorrow in her eyes.
"Grandma, I really didn't mean to break the rules, I just couldn't control my emotions... Last night I dreamed of my mother and my maternal grandmother. They always wanted me to marry into a good family and have a grand wedding..."
Liu Yunyan's tearful lament only made the old man feel even more distressed.
She told the maid to help Liu Yunyan up from the ground, then beckoned Liu Yunyan to come to her side, and then held her hands tightly.
“Yun girl, I have always treated you like my own granddaughter. Your mother, your maternal grandmother, and I all want you to have a good family.”
She paused for a moment, glanced at Jiang Shuwan who was silent beside her, and spoke under Liu Yunyan's expectant gaze.
"However, your wife is right. Since you have chosen to enter the household, everything should be done according to the rules from now on."
"..."
I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
Liu Yunyan froze on the spot, her face as pale as paper, her lips trembling slightly, and her eyes filled with disbelief.
She thought the old lady would give in to her...
After all, it's just a wedding dress...
She's from a distinguished family and is talented; what's wrong with her wearing decent clothes...?
"Grandma, you watched Yun'er grow up..."
With teary eyes, Liu Yunyan looked at the old lady and wanted to struggle a little more, but the old lady had already ordered the maids and nannies to take away her wedding dress and phoenix crown. She also instructed those around her that Liu Yunyan's previous preferential treatment was gone and everything should be done according to the rules for concubines.
"Grandma, I..."
"Girl, please stop talking."
Granny Xia rushed over and pulled Liu Yunyan away forcefully.
"Miss, it's cold. You should go back and put on another layer of clothing."
"I don't……"
"Young lady, please don't be stubborn. But we can't let a piece of clothing cause us to lose sight of the bigger picture!" Granny Xia said in a low voice, forcefully pulling Liu Yunyan away.
The room fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of the burning earth dragon and everyone's breathing.
Jiang Shuwan kept a close watch on Wen Shi beside her.
Madam Wen seemed oblivious, and just smiled at Jiang Shuwan, "What are you standing there for? Sit down, it's been a long time since we've seen each other."
After saying that, he pulled Jiang Shuwan to sit down and chatted casually.
“Wan’er, don’t laugh at me, but I’ve come to terms with it now. As the saying goes, children and grandchildren have their own blessings. I’m too lazy to interfere with Yunzhou’s marriage anymore. As long as the Marquis’s mansion exists, he won’t suffer any grievances.”
“In the past… I was being stubborn, and I apologize to you. Look at how much you worked for Yunzhou’s marriage, and you didn’t get anything in return, and instead you got a scolding from me.”
"Your mother is so sorry!"
"Madam, you flatter me. It's just what a daughter-in-law should do."
Jiang Shuwan smiled broadly, but remained unmoved by reason. However, Old Madam Pei was quite satisfied with Wen's attitude.
After Wen left, he specifically kept Jiang Shuwan behind for a talk.
“Wan, your wife did go too far in the past, but now that she knows she was wrong, you don’t need to take it to heart.”
"Harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things. The court is in a tense situation right now, and Yan Zhi is also in a precarious situation. You must protect the rear for him and not let him be distracted."
"Yes, ma'am, your granddaughter-in-law understands."
As soon as she finished speaking, Qingxing burst into laughter as soon as she stepped outside.
"Miss, what does the old lady mean by this? It sounds to me that the old lady means she has forgiven the lady."
"What can we do if we don't forgive her? After all, she is the Crown Prince's biological mother."
Jiang Shuwan spoke with a distant gaze.
Wen was indeed a good actress. Since returning, she didn't compete with her for control of the household. Instead, she spent her days at home eating vegetarian food, chanting Buddhist scriptures, and serving the old lady.
It could be said that Madam Wen had never been so obedient in her entire life. Now, she had even helped her teach Liu Yunyan a lesson, which made the old lady lower her guard.
What a pity, what a pity, the old lady mistook him for someone else...
The next day, Jiang Shuwan got up before dawn.
Today is the last audition. Although it's just a formality, Pei Shushu is still a little worried.
"Sister-in-law."
Upon seeing Jiang Shuwan, Pei Shushu's initial nervousness subsided.
She wasn't worried at all during the previous preliminary selections, but today was the last round to select for the empresses in the palace.
She has never been to the palace in her entire life.
"Don't worry, no one dares to mess with you now."
Jiang Shuwan patted Pei Shushu's head and led her into the carriage.
As dawn broke, the first rays of pale golden sunlight fell upon the palace gates just as Jiang Shuwan arrived, illuminating the ground and seemingly draping the entire world in a mysterious and beautiful veil.
The palace gates were bustling with activity as ornately decorated carriages slowly came to a stop, the sound of their wheels ringing out clearly in the quiet morning.
Each carriage carried a group of exquisitely dressed young women, their colorful clothes fluttering in the breeze, like flowers blooming in spring, displaying their most beautiful side.
These young women came from all over the country, from the water towns of the south to the grasslands and deserts of the north.
"Sister, I heard that His Majesty has no interest in expanding the harem. This selection is actually for choosing princes."
A pretty young woman with bright, lively eyes suddenly said to her companion.
"If that's the case, then could there be a future Crown Princess among us?"
The woman beside her was startled by what she heard, then her eyes darted around, and she discreetly slipped a purse into the hand of the little eunuch beside them.
“Father-in-law, my family is from Jiangnan, where there are countless exotic flowers and rare herbs. I have heard that His Highness the Crown Prince also loves flowers. I wonder what kind of flowers His Highness likes? If there is an opportunity, I may present him with a few.”
"hehe."
The young eunuch weighed the purse in his hand and said with a smile, "The peony is a national treasure, and His Highness the Crown Prince naturally loves peonies."
"Thank you, sir."
The woman quickly entered the carriage and changed into an opulent outfit, adding a gold-threaded peony to her headdress.
Seeing this, the other candidates followed suit. The eldest prince, the third prince, and even the sixth prince, who had just been granted the title of prince at the age of fifteen, all had candidates inquiring about his preferences. Only the fourth prince had none of them.
"Sister-in-law, the Fourth Prince is brave and skilled in battle. He made great contributions to the Great Jing in the Northern War. But it seems like everyone dislikes the Fourth Prince."
"Once a slave, always a lowly one. Even if we are just women, we would never associate with traitors and rebels. How come the Fourth Miss has never heard of this?"
...
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