Upon hearing this, Madam Lan's expression stiffened for a moment, then she smiled and said:
"It's alright. I understand the Princess's concerns. Our Yingying is a respectable young lady and will not bring shame to the Jingwang Mansion. I don't want to rush into arranging a marriage for Yingying like this. My idea is to let her get to know the Prince first so that they can become more familiar with each other."
The princess waved her hand and smiled:
"We shouldn't interfere too much in the affairs of these young people. I can't force Zixuan to associate with anyone. He will naturally associate with whoever he likes."
As the princess spoke, she smiled and looked at Ye Yuqing, saying calmly:
"I think Yuqing is a good girl, and I like her temperament."
Upon hearing the Princess's words, Madam Lan frowned and looked at Ye Yuqing, who was drinking tea with her head down. Then she smiled and looked at the Princess, saying:
“Your Highness, you may not know this, but I was just thinking of bringing her out to broaden her horizons today. Given her status, we would never dare to try to climb the social ladder by marrying the Crown Prince. I have already found a suitable match for her, but the engagement is not yet finalized.”
The princess raised an eyebrow and looked at Madam Lan curiously, asking:
"It's been said in the capital that the second young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion is still unmarried because of her bad character. I didn't expect that Madam Lan would think so far ahead for Yuqing and has already chosen a marriage for her."
The princess then picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and continued:
"I wonder which family Madam Lan has arranged a marriage for Yuqing with?"
Seeing that the Princess Consort had inquired in such detail, Madam Lan coughed a few times and chuckled:
“He’s a distant cousin of mine. He has a son who’s about the same age as Yuqing, so I made arrangements with him early on. Otherwise, how could I really let Yuqing stay at home and not get married?”
The princess chuckled softly.
"Does what you're saying, Madam Lan, mean that Yuqing is marrying above her station with your distant cousin's child?"
Madam Lan wiped the cold sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and said with an apologetic smile:
"I didn't mean that. It's just that I've spoiled Yuqing. She doesn't act like a proper young lady from a noble family at all. I'm already content that they don't mind that Yuqing is marrying into the family."
The princess raised an eyebrow at Madam Lan with a half-smile.
"Oh? He's an official?"
Mrs. Lan blushed and whispered:
"no."
"Is he a wealthy businessman?"
"No, it isn't either."
The princess frowned upon hearing this. Even though she was an outsider, she felt sorry for Ye Yuqing. So she slammed her teacup down on the table and looked at Madam Lan coldly, saying:
"Madam Lan is quite the mother. Does she really think the second young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion is worthless and wants to marry off to a peasant?"
Seeing that the princess was angry, Madam Lan quickly waved her hand and explained:
"No, no, that person is a student who has just completed his studies; he has a bright future ahead of him."
The princess snorted coldly, looked at Ye Yingying sitting below, and smiled:
"Since it's so promising, then let your daughter Ye Yingying marry into the family. In the future, even if the Prince Jing's Mansion wants to discuss marriage with the Prime Minister's Mansion, it will be the Second Miss Ye Yuqing who will be involved, and no one else will be involved."
As she spoke, the princess stood up and said coldly:
"I'm a little tired today, so I won't keep Madam Lan company. Yuwei, please take good care of Madam Lan for me."
After saying this, the princess left with the help of her maid.
Seeing this, Jiang Yuwei quickly stood up and watched the princess leave. Madam Lan, naturally, couldn't stay any longer either, so she pulled Ye Yingying to her feet and said to Jiang Yuwei:
“Madam Jiang, since the Princess Consort is unwell today, I will not disturb her any longer. I will take my daughter and leave now.”
Seeing this, Jiang Yuwei nodded in response and then arranged for Xia Yue, who was with her, to see Madam Lan off.
Seeing this, Ye Yuqing, who was lagging behind, quickly grabbed Jiang Yuwei's hand and whispered:
"Madam Jiang, I would also like to trouble you to thank the Princess for me. I am not someone who deserves her anger."
No sooner had she finished speaking than she saw Madam Lan turn around, glare at Ye Yuqing, and scold:
"You're still lingering here? Do you really want to stay in Prince Jing's residence and become his heir's wife?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Yuqing blushed and quickly followed.
Jiang Yuwei shook her head helplessly as she watched Ye Yuqing's retreating figure. Ye Yuqing's life was truly difficult. Madam Lan could treat her so openly in front of outsiders; who knew how she would deal with her in the mansion?
The princess stood up for her today, so she'll probably be scolded and punished when she gets back.
Jiang Yuwei sighed and instructed the maids and servants to tidy up the front yard before going to the Princess's Diancui Courtyard. She had come to the front yard early this morning to receive guests, but hadn't had time to perform acupuncture on the Princess yet. Since she had some free time now, she went to check on the Princess's health.
When Jiang Yuwei arrived at Diancui Courtyard, the princess had already removed her makeup and changed into comfortable nightgown.
Upon seeing Jiang Yuwei arrive, the princess quickly pulled her hand, sat her down, and asked:
"So Madam Lan has left?"
Jiang Yuwei nodded, helped the princess lie down on the bed, and then took out silver needles from the medicine box to insert into the princess's body.
The princess hissed in pain.
"Yuwei, after today's inspection, which of these three girls do you find most pleasing?"
Jiang Yuwei didn't rush to speak. Instead, she walked to the table, poured herself a cup of tea, and pondered for a moment before saying:
“The three girls each have their own merits, but I don’t think any of them are quite pleasing to the young master. Only Wang Yurou has spoken a few words with him.”
The princess sighed softly.
"Wang Yuru's personality is really not suitable to be the head of the household. She seems crazy. Perhaps Zixuan felt that she was different from other women he had met, so he took a few more glances at her."
Jiang Yuwei smiled and said:
"Perhaps, Your Highness. Do you have someone you like?"
The princess recalled and said:
“Princess Anping is good-looking and has a good personality, and Ye Yuqing is also good, but her family background is not good. However, if she marries into our Prince Jing’s Mansion, I’m afraid the Prime Minister’s Mansion will not dare to do anything to her anymore. She can become an asset to our Prince Jing’s Mansion.”
The princess paused here and continued:
"However, Ye Yuqing seems to be a weak person. Perhaps she has been suppressed by Madam Lan since childhood and does not know how to resist."
Jiang Yuwei looked at the princess and said softly:
“It’s not that she doesn’t know how to resist, but that she doesn’t dare. Her current situation is really difficult. Her marriage is in Madam Lan’s hands. If she were to fight back now, it would only make Madam Lan more wary of her. She’s endured it for decades, so what’s a little more time?”
Jiang Yuwei poured a cup of tea for the princess and handed it to her, then continued:
"I think that girl is clever. She remembered the princess speaking up for her earlier, and when she left, she secretly told me to tell you to thank you on her behalf."
The princess nodded in satisfaction after hearing Jiang Yuwei's words.
"However, I helped her in a fit of anger just now, and she will definitely have a hard time when she returns to the manor. Next time we hold a banquet at our manor, remember to invite her for me. There is no need to invite Madam Lan. Invite her alone. This way, the people of the Prime Minister's manor will not dare to make any rash moves against her."
Jiang Yuwei nodded in agreement.
"So, Your Highness, you favor Ye Yuqing more?"
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