"Guarjia clan?"
Changning was shocked.
Is it the Guarjia clan member she's thinking of, the deposed crown princess?
Yinzhen nodded.
He had originally arranged for the fifteenth prince to marry the younger sister of the deposed crown princess. Although Yinreng lost his title and the yellow sash, Yinzhen still valued the Guarjia clan.
Emperor Kangxi was the same; the matter of Yinreng never affected the deposed crown prince's wife and her daughter. He even personally promised her that he would not raise her daughter, Fumeng.
Therefore, the Guarjia clan is still a noble family. Although the Guarjia clan has declined somewhat after Shi Wenbing's death, its foundation remains, and there are several capable members in the next generation. Yinzhen plans to select a few of them.
Moreover, the Shi family actually had a very upright family tradition. Shi Wenbing was good at educating his children, and all his sons and daughters were excellent, especially the deposed crown princess, who was known for her virtue in the palace.
Changning didn't know what to say, so she only asked, "Then... what's his name? What does he look like? Is his character decent? Is he filial? How are his literary and martial skills? Does he have any women serving him in his harem?"
Yinzhen was taken aback. He had originally thought that Changning would ask about the reason behind it, but he didn't expect her to be concerned about this first. He couldn't help but chuckle and answered her questions one by one.
"His name is Fashan. I have met this child. He has grown into a handsome and talented young man. He is also a junior whom the Guarjia clan values highly, preparing him to take on important responsibilities in the future."
He is now studying hard day and night, intending to pass the imperial examinations on his own, and the backyard is very clean.
The Guarjia family's upbringing is quite strict; you can rest assured about that.
Changning nodded. So, this Fashan is indeed quite good.
Hopefully, Yierha's love life won't be so bumpy this time; she really hopes this young girl can find happiness.
The two chatted for a while and then took a break.
Whether it was because the night at Mulan Hunting Ground was too quiet or for some other reason, when Changning woke up again, the sun was already high in the sky.
"Your Highness, you're finally awake! Let's get ready quickly, the princes and their wives are already waiting for you." Chuixue hurriedly helped her wash and dress.
Changning yawned, feeling like a working person forced to work from 8 am.
However, she had a good impression of these Mongolian wives. She had chatted with them before and they were all very easygoing, and their gossip was quite exciting.
But this time she was a little disappointed.
It might be a change brought about by a different identity.
The Mongol wives who were received today were all very well-behaved. During their conversation, they only complained about their poverty, saying that the weather was cold and dry again this year, and they needed the help of the Qing Dynasty to get through the difficulties. They were also worried that their cattle and sheep would freeze to death in the coming winter, and hoped that the Qing Dynasty could provide some usable supplies.
In response, Changning simply gave Chuixue and Tingfeng a look, signaling them to write down the speaker and the content of the conversation. Although she didn't quite understand the intricacies of the situation and couldn't make the decision herself, she felt it was fine to leave it to Yinzhen to handle.
However, after finishing their business, they found that the Empress was very easy to talk to and would even share some novel bubble tea that they had never tasted before, so they couldn't suppress their gossipy nature.
"Ahem, Your Majesty, I heard that you know Prince Ujumchin?"
A round-faced, slightly older Mongolian princess cautiously inquired, watching Changning's expression, afraid of angering her. She was determined that if the Empress frowned even slightly, she would kneel down and beg for forgiveness.
To her surprise, Changning readily nodded: "We have a very good relationship. She is very capable; she was able to subdue Ujumqin all by herself and even saved the emperor's life."
After she finished speaking, the eyes of the Mongolian wives lit up, and they surrounded her, chattering excitedly.
"Really? I never imagined that Your Majesty actually knew her!"
"Yes, yes, we really want to befriend her! She's practically the epitome of a woman!"
"I wonder if she's easy to get along with! I heard she's killed at least a thousand people."
"I don't think so! I've heard about Princess Mengguqing of Ujumqin before. She's such a lively and cheerful person! It's just that her affair with that Prince Amur is such a pity!"
Hearing this, Changning perked up and quickly asked, "What happened? Is Prince Amur still alive?"
Seeing that the Empress was also curious, the man became even more excited and quickly began to speak animatedly: "Prince Amur is now relentlessly pursuing Mengguqing! He's even abandoned his own tribe! Abu is furious! He says that he's what the Han people call a live-in son-in-law!"
Changning was extremely surprised, but she remembered that the Empress should be dignified, so she desperately suppressed her inner gossip and showed no emotion on her face.
The man continued, "Unfortunately, I haven't heard that Prince Mengguqing has accepted him. His devotion has not moved him. Now he stays in Ujumqin, willingly serving as Mengguqing's slave."
The group was about to continue speaking when Changning stopped them.
She felt that if she continued talking, Mengguqing and Amur's privacy would soon be spread throughout the entire grassland.
After seeing off the Mongolian wives, Tingfeng came to report that Prince Ujumchin had arrived and was waiting outside.
Changning's eyes lit up, and she quickly had someone bring her in.
When Meng Guqing came in, Changning felt that she was different from before.
Previously, during the bonfire feast, it was difficult to see clearly as night fell, but now everything is clearly visible.
At the beginning, Meng Guqing was passionate and unrestrained, as free and happy as the Gesang flowers blooming on the grassland.
Later, after being rejected by Prince Amur and betrayed by her sister, she acted impulsively, like a wounded animal retaliating, but this retaliation came at the cost of hurting herself.
Later, upon learning of Abu Eji's death, she became completely corrupted, charging forward relentlessly without looking back, like a suicide soldier walking on a precipice.
After she subdued Ujumqin and rendered meritorious service in saving the emperor, Changning looked at her with a bit of fear, because she exuded an aura of "those who oppose me will perish," as if everything was under her control. The light in her eyes was very firm, as if her only task was to protect her hometown and this land she loved.
But now, she has changed again.
She seems to have truly matured.
He was no longer so reckless, willful, extreme, or dark-tempered. He seemed calm and composed, as if he had seen through the vicissitudes of life and understood the world. Although he still had the majesty of a prince, he was no longer so unapproachable.
Changning is very happy to see this change in her.
What delighted Changning even more was that she could once again proclaim to the world as Meng Guqing, openly and legitimately ruling a region as a woman, leaving a lasting mark on history as the first female prince of Mongolia, and receiving the respect and admiration of the people.
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