In the Eastern Palace, Concubine Qin wanted to see the Crown Prince, claiming she was ill. The Crown Prince then sent Concubine Qin's men to find the imperial physician, saying, "If you're sick, you see a doctor."
"With her body like this..." Concubine Xu was sitting next to the Crown Princess. She knew that she was a concubine and didn't think about fighting for anything.
Since ancient times, there has been a distinction between wives and concubines, and between legitimate and illegitimate children. The fact that the Crown Princess is kind-hearted does not mean that she is willing to let people like them provoke her.
Concubine Xu had no ambitions for the position of Crown Princess, nor did she dream of becoming Empress. She would simply become one of the Four Concubines. She was human, too. How could she not have any aspirations?
"You are obviously in good health, but you always say you are sick. Aren't you afraid that the fake will become true?" Concubine Xu said.
If someone so cruel directly destroyed Concubine Qin's body, it would be useless for Concubine Qin to complain to the Crown Prince. After all, Concubine Qin had been feigning illness and weakness from the beginning. No one else had pretended to be as sick as Concubine Qin.
Men do like gentle women, but the Crown Prince is no ordinary man. He has to manage state affairs. A gentle woman is good, but if she is too spoiled, the Crown Prince may not like her.
Concubine Qin was one of those people who were too spoiled. She always liked to make trouble by relying on her status as the niece of the virtuous queen.
The women in the Eastern Palace all knew Concubine Qin's personality, and none of them wanted to interact with her much. They did have some ideas and wanted to gain the Crown Prince's favor, but they knew their limits and would not do anything foolish.
"Just let the imperial physician take a look." said the Crown Princess.
"That's right. She can't bribe all the imperial physicians." Concubine Xu said, "The imperial physician will know whether her health is good or bad after taking her pulse. If the Crown Prince asks, the imperial physician can't lie."
The imperial physician might say something, such as physical weakness, and some of these words apply to many people.
Others would know the ins and outs of this with just a little thought. The Crown Prince has been in the royal family for so many years, so he must be able to hear it.
This Concubine Qin is really not as good as the former Empress, even though Concubine Xu has never met the former Empress. However, from the rumors about the former Empress, it can be seen that the former Empress is much better than Concubine Qin. If the former Empress also had such a toss with Concubine Qin, then the Emperor would not be obsessed with the former Empress.
"Let her be." The Crown Princess said, "With her like this... who can stop her?"
The Crown Princess was too lazy to care about Concubine Qin, who simply didn't take her seriously. The Crown Princess didn't care much and let Concubine Qin continue to be arrogant. Concubine Qin might not feel much. In fact, the Emperor didn't have a very good impression of Concubine Qin.
Originally, it was the Emperor who wanted the Crown Prince to marry Concubine Qin, and the Crown Prince only visited Concubine Qin from time to time for the Emperor's sake. When the Emperor came to think that Concubine Qin was not a good person, and the little friendship that the late Empress had with her was consumed by Concubine Qin, the Emperor's impression of the Qin family was not much better.
Concubine Qin relied on her status as the niece of the late queen and also on the Qin family.
Since the Qin family was not favored by the emperor, Concubine Qin was able to rise to prominence.
There are a few simple women in the harem, and the same is true for the women in the Prince's Eastern Palace.
Concubine Qin really caught a cold this time, but since the wolf had happened so many times, no one cared about her.
Mrs. Qin Er came to see Concubine Qin. When she saw her daughter looking listless, she felt distressed.
"Mother." Concubine Qin's eyes were slightly red. She was sick, but the prince didn't come to see her. She didn't believe that the prince had so many things to do. The prince didn't come to her, but he went to someone else's place.
"Don't worry, take good care of yourself." When Mrs. Qin Er saw her daughter like this, she knew that her daughter must not be so favored.
"The prince didn't come." Concubine Qin said.
“…” Madam Qin Er tightly grasped the handkerchief in her hand.
Madam Qin Er was also helpless, as they could not force the prince to look at Concubine Qin.
"Just learn from the Crown Princess." Madam Qin Er thought for a long time before saying this.
"Are you trying to imitate someone who looks ugly?" Concubine Qin said, "I'm not that ugly."
Madam Qin Er wanted Concubine Qin to be quiet. They all knew how troublesome Concubine Qin was outside the palace. Madam Qin Er knew that those things were spread by someone with ulterior motives, but if Concubine Qin had not done those things, then she would not have been caught by those people.
After Mrs. Qin Er left the palace, she went to the Qin family's main house and met Mrs. Qin.
Old Lady Qin was helpless when she learned of Concubine Qin's fate in the palace. Even if she sacrificed her dignity and entered the palace, it would probably be useless. It would only make the Crown Prince think that they were using the late Empress to pressure him in front of the Emperor.
How can a man be happy if he is forced to favor a woman?
"She's been rather... rather mischievous since she was little," Old Madam Qin said. "How could she possibly do anything right if you asked her to go to the Eastern Palace? She's learned the rules like a dog's stomach."
Many people know that Concubine Qin does not respect the Crown Princess, and they also know that Concubine Qin had previously suppressed Princess Rongning.
In short, Concubine Qin did too many stupid things.
Old Madam Qin just felt fortunate that each branch had separated, otherwise, it would be bad if other people were implicated by the second branch.
"A concubine is also a concubine." Old Madam Qin said, "Does she want to become the next Concubine Cen?"
"No." Madam Qin Er said quickly, "You also said that she is rather naughty. She just hasn't grown up yet. After a while, she will adapt to the life in the Eastern Palace, and then..."
"Every girl needs to adjust for a few months after getting married," Old Madam Qin interrupted Second Madam Qin. "She's also very careful and cautious when adjusting. How did your daughter do that?"
Old Madam Qin shook her head helplessly. Things had come to this point, and she was still talking about adapting. Wasn't that just making a fool of herself?
Concubine Qin is not trying to adapt to others or the Eastern Palace, she just wants others to adapt to her.
"You are praising her too much." Old Madam Qin said, "For someone like her, I'm afraid it will be difficult for her in the future."
It is not certain whether the Crown Prince will allow Concubine Qin to give birth to the child. Perhaps the Crown Prince thinks that the Qin family is ambitious and that Concubine Qin is going to compete with the Crown Princess, so the Crown Prince may not allow Concubine Qin to give birth to the child.
Even without the Crown Princess taking action, the Crown Prince might do so. He couldn't allow the family of his illegitimate child's maternal grandfather to become too powerful. If he wasn't careful, the maternal relatives would try to destroy the emperor and support a puppet emperor.
From ancient times to the present, how many cases have there been of people using the emperor to control the other princes?
Old Madam Qin did not understand the affairs of state, but she still understood some principles.
"Mother, you have to help her." Madam Qin Er wanted Madam Qin to come forward. Madam Qin was the mother of the late queen. The emperor must respect Madam Qin and give her some face.
"I can't help you," said Old Madam Qin. "The Qin family doesn't just have Concubine Qin, there are other women too. If I risk my reputation now, what else can I do in the future?"
I have to save face, but not at this time.
Old Madam Qin also planned to use that little favor in other places. Because the Qin girl entered the Eastern Palace as a concubine, and if the Qin girl did not pass the entrance examination to the academy, Old Madam Qin could not shamelessly ask the emperor for help.
Otherwise, what would the emperor think? Would the emperor think that the Qin family wanted too much, and wanted to send the Qin family girl to the East Palace and the research institute?
Therefore, the girls of the Qin family can only enter the institute through their own efforts; they cannot enter through the emperor's grace.
If Old Lady Qin really wanted to seek an official position, she would do it for the men in her family, not for the women.
"Don't say those things here," said Old Madam Qin. "If you really want to do good for your daughter, then let her live in peace. Don't continue to make trouble after she's been grounded several times and nothing happens."
Old Madam Qin couldn't help but wonder if it was because Concubine Qin was only under house arrest and did not receive any other punishment, and that even during the period of house arrest, Concubine Qin lived a good life, which led to Concubine Qin having other thoughts.
Sometimes, when someone is nice to you, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he is afraid of you. Maybe that person just wants to flatter you.
Old Madam Qin frowned slightly. The women in the backyard had all sorts of ways to kill people without them even realizing it. Concubine Qin was no match for those women. It was all because of her own arrogance.
"Okay, I'm tired. You should go back first." Madam Qin said, "We've already split up, so don't come running here every time you encounter a problem. If you encounter a problem, you should figure out how to solve it yourself. No one else can help you forever."
"Yes." Madam Qin Er responded. She subconsciously thought that the old lady should have a way, but who knew that the old lady didn't feel sorry for Concubine Qin at all.
After Madam Qin Er left, Mrs. Qin came to Madam Qin's side.
Madam Qin Er just liked to say those things in front of Madam Qin. She just wanted the first wife to help them. Madam Qin Da didn't want to help the second wife too much. If they helped the second wife, the second wife might not appreciate it. Maybe they would think they deserved those things.
"This is the chicken soup I had stewed this morning. Please have some." Madam Qin did not ask about the affairs of the second house. She knew without thinking that it was probably because of Concubine Qin.
"By the way, the second young lady is getting engaged." Old Lady Qin thought of this.
"Yes," Madam Qin said, "Before, because she had to take the entrance exam for the academy, and her cousin was granted marriage to the Eastern Palace, it didn't matter if she married later. Now that she didn't pass the entrance exam, it's time to arrange a marriage early. She should be married by the end of the year."
Mrs. Qin understood this. They couldn't keep their daughter forever. If her daughter wanted to take the entrance exam to the academy, she could take it even after marrying into her husband's family. There was no need for her to pass the exam while still at her parents' home.
However, once a woman gets married, she will most likely no longer have control over her own life. By then, my daughter might not be able to continue taking the entrance exam for the graduate school.
Mrs. Qin was still thinking about her daughter taking the entrance exam for the research institute. She didn't know if she would pass. Others had studied for so many years. Some of them didn't know how to read, but they knew some research knowledge. If they could learn more, they might do better than her daughter.
That's how exams are, some people pass and some fail.
"I originally thought that if she could get into the research institute, it would be okay to arrange a marriage later." Madam Qin originally thought that if her daughter could get into the research institute, then she could find a better marriage.
Madam Qin was quite confident in her daughter at the beginning. They thought that whatever Princess Rongning could do, their children could do too.
Then, these people were slapped in the face by reality.
"Don't wait." said Old Lady Qin.
"We can't wait any longer. If we wait any longer, she will become an old maid and it will be difficult to find a husband." Madam Qin understood this. If her daughter still hasn't been admitted to the graduate school by then, who knows how others will laugh at them.
At present, the emperor has not arbitrarily allowed those people to enter the academy as officials. Aside from the group of people brought by Princess Rongning earlier, all others were admitted to the academy through examinations. As for the servants of the academy, they are just servants, slaves. This kind of people are not officials, so it is different.
"The Xue family should have a suitable man." said Old Lady Qin.
The Xue family that Old Lady Qin was referring to was the Xue Erye family, not the Xue Boye family. They all knew that the wife of Marquis Jingning and the Xue Boye did not get along well. The wife of Marquis Jingning's biological mother lived with the Xue Erye, and the deceased Xue Boye had also put a lot of thought into the legitimate son born to his first wife.
"Yes," Madam Qin said, "but they... don't think they are worthy of our daughter."
Mrs. Qin had previously spoken to Mrs. Xue Er, probing her. Mrs. Xue Er understood Mrs. Qin's intentions and said that none of the sons in the family were good, and that the daughters of the Qin family were very capable and powerful, which was a tactful refusal.
If the Qin family hadn't produced a concubine, Second Madam Xue might have thought the Qin family girl was good. Second Madam Xue just didn't want her family to be involved in those things. There were so many girls in the world, and the Xue family didn't necessarily want the Qin family girl.
Madam Qin originally thought that Mr. Xue's family had a good relationship with the people in Jingning Marquis' Mansion. If her daughter married into the Xue family, she might get a lot of conveniences, and it would also be easier for her to enter the research institute in the future.
However, since the other party had politely declined, how could Mrs. Qin continue to talk about it?
"What's the point of not being worthy? I just don't want to." said Old Lady Qin.
Old Madam Qin had lived for so many years, how could she not know what these people were thinking? These people were just thinking about how much trouble Concubine Qin was causing in the Eastern Palace, and they were afraid that they would be involved if they were not careful.
The Cen family has just fallen, and other families don’t want to fall so quickly.
When Old Lady Qin thought about it now, she felt that letting Miss Qin San enter the Eastern Palace was not a good idea. Unfortunately, Miss Qin San had already entered the Eastern Palace, and they could not change the reality.
In the seaside town, because Liu Yulian and her group were acting in the name of the research institute, which was the name of the court, those people often came into conflict with the researchers. Even those who were in charge of drying salt might have conflicts with those researchers.
In Liu Yulian's opinion, this is normal.
People have been drying salt for so many years, and you come in and say you want to improve the method and expect others to listen to you. How is that possible?
What's more, not all of those researchers had experience in salt drying. Only one or two of them originally lived near the sea and knew something about salt drying.
"They don't listen to us at all." Another researcher said this to Liu Yulian.
"Then let's go somewhere else." Liu Yulian said, "The seaside is so big."
"No other place is so suitable." The researcher still wanted to go to where people dry salt.
"This is your business," Liu Yulian said. "You came here to do research. I'm not asking you to get something for nothing by simply taking over other people's things. Even if you're doing research, what are they supposed to do if you occupy someone else's space? It's their place, and they have the right to refuse you."
This kind of thing is not mandatory, and they cannot delay others from making salt because of their research.
Liu Yulian had reminded them long ago, but some people still wanted to use other people's ready-made things directly.
"Why are you staring at them?" Liu Yulian asked, "It's not like the court hasn't given you money for research. It's a normal and reasonable expenditure, and it's necessary."
Liu Yulian knew that not all places could be used for salt drying, but this required research. Once they had found a suitable location, the question of whether it could be used for salt drying would still have to be verified in practice.
If you fail, keep looking for a place.
Liu Yulian was not afraid of these people failing, and would continue to stand up if they failed. She didn't stay here forever, but those people could stay here forever.
"Remember, you're doing research, not using your status to suppress those people," Liu Yulian emphasized. "Do you understand?"
Liu Yulian said so, and those people had to endure their dissatisfaction. It was mainly because some people were afraid of failure that they wanted to use other people's existing resources.
There were all kinds of people at the research institute, some of whom wanted to take shortcuts, not starting over from scratch or looking for another place. Liu Yulian couldn't tolerate those people. Some of them became arrogant just because they suddenly gained a rank.
It doesn’t matter if it floats, just press it down.
When Miss Duan Wu saw Liu Yulian standing next to the salt field, she did not go up to her and talk to her.
When there were banquets at home, they could sit together and chat. But right now, it was business. Princess Rongning was of high status, and Miss Duan Wu knew her own status. If she always went around her superior to Princess Rongning, it would be too disrespectful to her superior.
So Miss Duan Wu stopped saying those things in front of Princess Rongning. Sometimes what she thought was wrong might actually be right. She was still young and hadn't done any research. Even if she had read books, she might not know much. She still needed to learn more.
Even though she was the only female researcher besides Princess Rongning, Miss Duan Wu knew that she couldn't just say those words in front of Princess Rongning.
Princess Rongning did not give Miss Duan Wu any backdoor just because she was a girl.
"If this doesn't work, go somewhere else, along the sea," Liu Yulian said. "Even if it's a deserted place, you can go there. If there's no house, then build one."
Liu Yulian believes that they should not be afraid of uninhabited places, but should find a suitable place, which is the most important thing.
Those people are researching salt-making, so it is impossible for them to just stay for a few months and leave. They will probably have to stay here for several years.
It's just that Liu Yulian will only accompany them for a few months. She is the director of the research institute. Even though she is young, it is a good thing for her to come and take charge.
As Miss Duan Wu listened to Liu Yulian's words, she thought to herself that Princess Rongning didn't seem petty, and that Princess Rongning wasn't afraid of these people. Miss Duan Wu wondered if she were in the same boat, and she might not be able to stand up to them, which might be related to her lack of research results.
Along the way, those people were quite respectful to Princess Rongning.
Just then, someone ran over and said, "Oh no! Someone fell into the water."
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