To Jiang Yu's surprise, Gu Qingyao diligently ate all the meals sent from Zhaoning Palace at every meal and threw away the greasy stuff.
She does seem to have a strong desire to lose weight herself.
"Your Highness." Granny Ling's expression was far from good as she hurried in from outside. "Miss Bai is also on the list of candidates for the imperial concubine selection. Cen Hai has already informed the Bai family."
Jiang Yu paused, holding her teacup. "Axi is on the talent show list?"
[It's obvious who did this. Ah-Qian has declared she won't marry anyone but her brother. Under these circumstances, they still forced her into a talent show. If she doesn't win, her reputation will be tarnished; if she does, given her temperament, she'll cause even bigger trouble.]
Jiang Yu was somewhat angry. She didn't go looking for trouble, but someone just had to provoke her.
[It seems they're trying to avenge Liu Yuelian and turn the tables on the Liu family.]
"Has Liu Yuelian been sent away?" A cold glint flashed in Jiang Yu's eyes. She sat up straight. It seemed that unless she terrified Consort Rong, she would continue to indulge in wishful thinking.
"Your Majesty, it has been sent away as you instructed."
Jiang Yu nodded. "Go and get the final list of candidates for the imperial concubine selection that Consort Rong has decided on. I want to take a look at it myself."
Upon seeing this, Jiang Yu almost laughed out of anger.
[Are none of the renowned beauties of the capital city on the list? And is there only one daughter of an official of the second rank or above listed?]
A cold laugh rang out, and Jiang Yu's face showed a mocking expression. "Wanji, go to the capital and inquire about any women who are highly praised by the people, regardless of their fathers' or brothers' official positions, as well as those eligible noble ladies. Add them all to the list."
[Isn't Consort Rong trying to scheme? Then I'll prepare more choices for Gu Heng; surely he'll find one he likes.]
"Then Miss Bai?"
"Granny Ling, keep an eye on things. Once A-Qian enters the palace, bring her to Zhaoning Palace." Jiang Yu said calmly. "Tell the outside world that I am unwell and have A-Qian come to the palace to keep me company for a while."
"As for the talent show, it was just that the people below misunderstood it."
[It's rare for Consort Rong to act so thoughtlessly; it seems her recent condition is indeed worrying.]
Just as Jiang Yu had predicted, Consort Rong had been acting like a headless fly lately.
"Your Highness, you mustn't be anxious. Take good care of the little prince in your belly." The personal nanny coaxed her, sweating profusely, but the sounds of slapping and popping continued.
"What little prince? I wish I had never been pregnant with him!" Consort Rong's sharp voice made the palace servants present tremble involuntarily. "Now, the Crown Prince and the Princess are both estranged from me, not to mention the Second Prince from before, who doesn't even want to call me 'Mother'."
"Your Majesty, the young masters are only nine years old; they are still children."
The old woman's voice grew softer under Consort Rong's angry glare, "Where is Gu Qingyao? Has she been eating the meals I send her every day on time?"
“Every time I bring it to you, the plate is empty, so you must have already eaten it.”
Consort Rong finally breathed a sigh of relief. "That wretched woman from Zhaoning Palace, why is she so lucky? She's been bedridden for so many years, yet she miraculously recovered."
Her chest heaved, and Consort Rong was so angry she wanted to grind her back teeth to powder.
"Once Bai Qian enters the palace, I will definitely turn the tables."
This also embarrassed the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion, which she was so proud of.
......
A few days later, the old nanny in charge of the selection arrived at Lingxi Palace with a frown on her face.
"Your Majesty, there are too many young ladies waiting to be selected for the palace, and the Chuxiu Palace is not enough to accommodate them all..." Chen Mama saw the puzzled look on Consort Rong's face and thought to herself that something was wrong. "Her Majesty the Empress has decided to add some more young ladies."
"What?!"
Consort Rong dropped the jade ruyi she was holding to the ground. "Why didn't anyone tell me that the Empress had changed the roster again?"
Upon hearing this, Granny Chen felt a bit of sarcasm. The Empress was the head of the harem. Did she have to explain everything to a concubine before doing anything?
"Bring me the booklet so I can see which new ladies-in-waiting have been added."
When Consort Rong saw this, she was so angry that her mouth almost twisted into a crooked shape. All the things she had secretly deleted had been added back by Jiang Yu exactly as they were!
They also added many women that Gu Heng would take a liking to!
“I am still not as good as the Empress,” Consort Rong said through gritted teeth. “Since there is no room, let’s vacate the Liuhua Palace next door for the young ladies to live in.”
Liuhua Palace, it would be best if those who live there could not keep anything.
After leaving Lingxi Palace, Granny Chen straightened up and curled her lips. If the Empress hadn't entrusted the selection of concubines to Consort Rong, she wouldn't have had to suffer at Consort Rong's hands!
On the other side, Bai Qian carried large and small bags into Zhaoning Palace.
"Your Majesty, when I found out I was going to be selected for the imperial concubine selection, I was so angry I wanted to tear the eunuch who delivered the decree to shreds." Bai Qian sat down casually. "If I enter the harem, my father will have to run to the Emperor and cry every day."
[While A-Qian is staying at Zhaoning Palace for a while, I'd like to ask her and my brother what exactly happened.]
Jiang Yu was amused by Bai Qian's appearance. "Uncle Bai cherishes you so much, how could he bear to see you chasing after my brother so hard?"
Bai Qian fell silent upon hearing this, a rare occurrence. "Your Highness, does the Marquis truly intend to remain unmarried for the rest of his life?"
When she was negotiating the deal with Jiang He, she told him that she also did not want to get married, so they could cover for each other.
But she lied. She had always had someone she wanted to marry, and she wouldn't marry anyone else but that person.
“My brother has been saying this ever since Father and Mother died.” With just one sentence from Bai Qian, Jiang Yu guessed seven or eight parts of Bai Qian’s thoughts. “My brother has too heavy a burden on his shoulders, and he doesn’t want to be distracted by other things.”
"But that's only for now. Who can say what will happen in the future?"
A wise person knows when to stop speaking, and Bai Qian immediately became happy again. "Your Highness, where is the Third Prince? I want to ask him to spar with me and see how much skill the Marquis's disciple has achieved."
"Ayan has only been following his elder brother for a short time, so he can probably only learn the basics."
Bai Qian glanced around and secretly whispered in Jiang Yu's ear, "Your Majesty, there are many complaints about the Liu family and Consort Rong outside. My father has spread rumors about the selection of concubines, adding fuel to the fire. Your Majesty can just sit back and reap the rewards."
[After all these years, Uncle Bai is still the same Uncle Bai. He'd fight to the death for anyone who lays a hand on Ah Qian.]
"It seems I still need to think about what gift to give Uncle Bai in return." A smile crept into Jiang Yu's eyes, as if she had returned to her maiden days.
"Ahem." Bai Qian straightened her robes. "If Your Highness wishes to return the gift, you don't need to return it to my father, just give it to me."
Bai Qian blinked, and Jiang Yu burst into laughter, collapsing into her chair.
"I will definitely create opportunities for you and your brother and lend you a helping hand."
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