"Your Highness, it's getting late. We should get ready to go to the palace. We shouldn't keep the Empress Dowager waiting."
Fu Hanlai had a grievance he couldn't voice, and Jiang Xuelin was equally unable to explain. The Princess Consort of Ping was somewhat helpless and could only interrupt him.
Although she knew the truth, she didn't intend to tell Prince Ping. It was better not to let the prince know, and let him believe that what Ah Shou said was the truth.
Upon hearing Princess Ping speak, Prince Ping finally suppressed his anger and did not continue to rage. He only muttered to himself, "A doting mother spoils her son."
"What did Your Highness say?"
"...It's nothing. The princess is right. We should hurry up and prepare to go to the palace to pay our respects to the queen mother."
The carriages for entering the palace were already prepared, just waiting for the masters to depart. After a simple meal and getting ready, Prince Ping and his wife set off with Jiang Xuelin and Fu Han.
Emperor Xuande doted on his younger brother and naturally did not want him to live too far away after leaving the palace. Therefore, the Prince Ping's residence was very close to the palace, and it only took a short time to reach the palace gate by carriage.
Yesterday, everyone in the capital knew about the grand wedding of the Prince of Ping's heir and the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Jing'an. Even those who didn't go to the streets to watch the spectacle knew how magnificent it was. The dowry carried into the Prince of Ping's mansion dazzled countless people. Even today, many people are still talking about it, saying that the Prince of Ping's mansion has brought back a precious gem.
Of course, some people later countered that the Prince Ping's family was not bad either, and the two families were well-matched, with a handsome man and a beautiful woman.
Jiang Xuelin and Fu Hanlai are indeed very famous in the entire capital, and this fame is not just because of their family background.
As for the escape of a fugitive from the Jingzhao Prefecture yesterday morning, few people paid attention to it. However, the guests who overheard those words in the bridal chamber were discussing it privately.
Princess Ping was originally traveling in the same carriage as Prince Ping, but they stopped halfway and went to the carriage behind.
"They're a young couple in a carriage. What are you doing there, Your Highness?"
Why don't you sit down with me...
King Ping asked, somewhat puzzled.
"It was precisely because only the two of them were there that I thought I should go and check on them. I hope things don't escalate at this time, or the Empress Dowager might get angry."
King Ping: "..."
That makes some sense.
Princess Ping went to the carriage at the back, where the atmosphere was indeed somewhat stiff and silent. She pretended not to see it and got into the carriage directly.
"When you pay your respects later, if your grandmother asks, Ah Shou, don't forget what you said this morning. If anyone misunderstands Lin'er, you'll be in big trouble."
...Although Fu Hanlai is the biological son, it must be said that Fu Hanlai's words this morning were better for everyone and would not cause any more trouble.
Although Princess Ping knew the truth, she pretended not to know anything.
Fu Han opened his mouth, feeling a little regretful that he had impulsively taken on all the responsibility that morning.
ha!
Why did he help Jiang Xuelin?
This girl deserves to suffer!
However, facing the gaze of Princess Ping, Fu Hanlai could only reluctantly agree.
Princess Ping breathed a sigh of relief.
The events of yesterday should not have reached the palace so quickly, but with Consort Fei in the palace who wants to make things difficult for Jiang Xuelin, things are really unpredictable. Princess Ping is just taking precautions.
If Consort Fei really uses this matter to make things difficult for Jiang Xuelin, it will not be good for Jiang Xuelin or for the Ping Prince's Mansion in the future.
In any case, Jiang Xuelin is now married into the Prince Ping's mansion, and Fu Hanlai owes her a life.
Knowing what had happened, Jiang Xuelin scratched her palm, trying to ease her embarrassment.
Jiang Xuelin, who has always hated evil and never shirked responsibility, rarely encountered such a situation.
However, just like Fu Hanlai, Jiang Xuelin silently agreed, knowing that Princess Ping meant well.
Looking at the two quiet and well-behaved juniors, Princess Ping thought to herself that they weren't beyond saving.
Fu Hanlai glared at Jiang Xuelin, but this time Jiang Xuelin didn't glare back—mainly because she felt guilty.
Princess Ping: Let's just ignore these clandestine exchanges.
The guards at the city gate saw the carriage of Prince Ping's residence but did not stop it and let it in directly.
At this moment, in Cining Palace, the Empress was leading the concubines to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager. The room was filled with the sounds of women chatting and laughing. The Empress Dowager was in a good mood today and did not send them away.
Before long, Princess Ping arrived with her son and daughter-in-law. Prince Ping got off the carriage and went to find Emperor Xuande, without following them.
Judging by the time, it was the time when the concubines in the harem were paying their respects. If he went to see the Empress Dowager now, he would likely bump into her. It would be more appropriate to go later.
As Princess Ping said, the Empress Dowager was a kind and gentle old lady with a rather simple nature. Even after so many years in the harem, she hadn't made much progress. Later, when her son became the emperor, she became the biggest winner in the entire harem, so she no longer needed to worry about anything.
She was indeed very satisfied with Jiang Xuelin and rewarded her with a number of fine silks and satins, including the newly presented Yanxia brocade, of which there were only eight bolts. The Empress Dowager had two bolts, and she gave them all to Jiang Xuelin.
In addition to this, he was also given a jade ruyi, a headdress suitable for his age, a coral tree from the South China Sea, and a bushel of the finest pearls.
After the Empress Dowager took action, the Empress naturally wouldn't lag behind, although her reward was less than the Empress Dowager's, so she didn't surpass her.
The Empress was truly satisfied with Jiang Xuelin and the Jiang family's choice.
The Empress was naturally aware that the Third Prince had his eye on the military power of the Marquis of Jing'an's mansion and wanted to marry Jiang Xuelin. If he succeeded, the Third Prince would definitely be a problem for the Crown Prince.
Marquis Jing'an held military power and had a close relationship with Emperor Xuande. His three sons were stationed on the frontier, each a skilled commander. His youngest son, who remained in the capital, was equally intelligent and was about to take the imperial examination.
The Empress certainly did not want this marriage to fall into the hands of the Third Prince and become his power.
The Marquis of Jing'an's family rejected the Third Prince's offer and chose to be engaged to the Prince of Ping's family, which relieved the Empress and the Crown Prince's faction.
Looking at the young couple, how could the Empress be dissatisfied? The gift she gave was only slightly less than that given to the Empress Dowager, truly a generous gift.
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager was even more satisfied with the Empress's performance, but the Consort Fei who followed the Empress could not satisfy her.
The gift they gave as a first meeting was really outrageous.
The Empress Dowager had heard about the Third Prince's desire to form a marriage alliance with the Marquis of Jing'an's family and knew why the Consort was doing so. She thought the Consort was being petty and narrow-minded.
The Imperial Concubine, oblivious to the Empress Dowager's gaze, simply looked at Jiang Xuelin and said with a smile, "I heard that something amusing happened in the bridal chamber yesterday. Is it true, Mother? Do you know about it?"
Princess Ping's eyes turned cold, knowing that the Imperial Concubine indeed knew.
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