Chapter 259 Grandma won’t let you suffer
This marriage did happen, but at that time Xiao Ji had just been deposed, and Duke Li Guo went to find Xiao Yuancheng. The two of them had already reached a tacit understanding in their hearts, so the marriage was called off, and later it was officially announced to be cancelled.
Who would have thought that Xiao Ji would be restored to the throne within a few months, and Duke Liguo still looked down on a lame prince, so he kept pretending to be deaf and dumb. Not to mention that later Xiao Ji asked Qingwu to be named his principal wife, and the marriage had been tacitly agreed to long ago.
Now that Xiao Yuluan has come to power and Xiao Ji is very likely to be the crown prince, the Duke of Liguo's Mansion came knocking on the door as if they had smelled something.
Behind the curtain, Qingwu frowned. She had never expected that seeking quietness would lead to such a "past incident".
After a long pause, Xiao Yuluan slowly spoke after watching Duke Liguo's flattering smile. Her voice was calm but carried an unmistakable distance: "Duke Liguo should know that Prince Zhao already has a legitimate wife."
The silly smile on Duke Liguo's face froze for a moment, and he hurriedly said, "Of course I know it, but the late emperor did speak so clearly, and I still have the imperial edict here..." He hurriedly presented the brocade box in his hand.
"Imperial edict?" Xiao Yuluan gently put down the teacup with a soft sound, and her eyes fell on Duke Liguo with a smile. "Duke Liguo, why didn't you bring out this imperial edict earlier or later, but at this moment?"
Her tone gradually deepened, hoping that Duke Li would give up and that she could let him leave with dignity. However, Duke Li still forced a smile and said, "I am in mourning for my grandfather, and the mourning period just ended in July, so..."
Seeing that he didn't understand her expression, Xiao Yuluan simply stopped beating around the bush and asked directly, "Now that the late emperor has personally promised to make her the Princess of Zhao, and issued an imperial decree, what do you want?"
"Do you want your daughter to marry into the palace as a concubine?"
The new Duke of Liguo was not yet over forty years old. When Xiao Yuluan left the palace, he was just a child in his early ten years old and did not know Xiao Yuluan's temper. If the old man had some insight, he would have given up at this moment. Who knew that he would do the opposite.
"...After all, I am the legitimate daughter of Duke Liguo. Your Majesty has decreed that I shall be the Crown Princess... Didn't Princess Zhao grow up in the countryside?"
Xiao Yuluan was originally mocking him, but when she saw that he not only took it seriously but also provoked her and mocked Qingwu's background, anger instantly surged in her heart. She couldn't help but slam the table. The teacups vibrated, and the empress's angry rebuke was heard.
"Duke Liguo, I gave you a chance to leave, but you insisted on getting out, right? Do you think my great-nephew, the Prince of Dayu, is a son-in-law you can summon and dismiss at will?!"
"Or do you think I will make your daughter my principal wife for your sake?!"
The last sentence was filled with thunderous rage. The imperial might poured out without reservation, bearing down on Duke Li Guo like a mountain.
Duke Liguo's legs went limp, and he fell to his knees with a thud. Cold sweat streamed down his face, soaking his collar. Only then did he realize that the empress before him was no ordinary woman.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty would never dare to do that! Your Majesty..."
“Get out!”
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I'm taking my leave!" Duke Liguo dared not say another word. He crawled to his feet and did not even bother to pick up the brocade box containing the "imperial edict". He staggered out of the hall almost using his hands and feet, his back looking very embarrassed.
Silence returned to the hall, leaving only the lingering scent of incense, covering up the ominous smell from the past few days.
Xiao Yuluan rubbed her brows, a trace of fatigue and annoyance flashing across her face. She looked towards the curtain and softened her tone, "Come out! You shameless creatures have already left."
Qingwu walked out slowly from behind the curtain with a complicated expression. He walked to Xiao Yuluan and sat down naturally on the other side of the coffee table. If Duke Liguo could see this scene, he would know how outrageous his mistake was.
Xiao Yuluan still had a lingering stab of anger in her heart. "You scoundrel! What do you think of you and Ji'er?! You said you were born in the countryside... but you didn't even notice who raised you."
Thinking of this, Xiao Yuluan's mind moved, and she held Qingwu's hand, "Grandma won't let you suffer any grievances..."
Qing Wu didn't know what Xiao Yuluan was thinking. She smiled and said, "Grandma, I don't care if they attack my background. I don't feel inferior because I grew up in the countryside."
But Xiao Yuluan was unwilling to let the child she raised suffer such injustice. In terms of status, there was no girl in the world with a more noble status than her little apprentice.
*
No one dared to reveal Qingwu's identity, but the shameless deeds of Duke Liguo quickly spread throughout the court and the country, and the fact that he was scolded by the empress was also spread in detail.
Duke Liguo admitted his mistake to Xiao Yuluan, but privately he was still indignant and declared: "There was an imperial decree first, and his daughter was of noble status, so she should return to her position..."
Xiao Ji, who was on duty at the Ministry of Personnel, was so frightened that he immediately announced in public that there was no way he would change his wife, and Qingwu was his wife for life. He also asked for leave to go home, fearing that Qingwu would be angry when he heard it.
The gentlemen in the Ministry of Personnel laughed and talked for a while, and there was a lot of disdain on their faces when they talked about the Duke of Liguo. Just to suppress Xiao Ji, this treasure, they would also help Xiao Ji in words.
However, this incident eventually became a laughing stock among the nobles and officials in the capital. Even though Qingwu had a good reputation and came from a good family, the fact that she grew up away from home could not be erased.
Shanshan even went to Qingwu's house to comfort him, but saw that Qingwu was not affected at all, and the two of them played happily together again.
"You don't know, now that you're here, those wives of officials who used to disdain to interact with me have actually warmed up to me and are trying to get me to find out about you."
Shanshan took Qingwu's arm and said with a smile, "Now I can also rely on the influence of the princess."
Hearing this, Qing Wu puffed out his chest, acting like a powerful official, and said, "Of course, Shanshan is now a favorite of this princess."
As the two of them were laughing and joking, Baozhu came in and reported, "Princess, His Majesty's female historian and the people from the Imperial Clothing Bureau are here."
Qing Wu knew what was going on as soon as he heard it. He stood up and walked out while saying to Shan Shan, "This is for Grandma's coronation ceremony. She already has the auspicious clothes, but I don't know why she asked the clothing bureau to make another set."
Shanshan now knew the relationship between Qingwu and the Empress, and immediately said, "Your Majesty loves you."
As soon as the two arrived at the main hall in the backyard, the female historian and the palace maids from the Shangyi Bureau were already waiting respectfully. When they saw Qingwu come out, they all bowed.
"We are following the order of Your Majesty to make clothes for the princess in preparation for her coronation ceremony." The female official's voice was steady and clear.
Qing Wu cooperated by stretching out her arms, allowing the maid to measure her, and asked with a smile, "Thank you all for your help. However, it seems that my rank formal dress has already been prepared. Why should the Shangyi Bureau work so hard to make it?"
The leading female historian was Xiao Yuluan's confidant. She smiled slightly upon hearing this and spoke respectfully, "In reply to your Majesty, while the attire of the other princesses follows the imperial order, even the smallest details can demonstrate the royal grace. His Majesty has specially ordered us to make a new set for you, using the highest standards in materials and patterns. We will ensure that your majesty's appearance is outstanding, outshining all the others and stunning everyone."
"The highest standard?" Qing Wu's heart trembled. The dress of a prince's wife was already of extremely high standard. Anything above that would almost be the standard of the crown prince's wife, or even the empress.
Is grandma planning to appoint a crown prince at the coronation ceremony?
This was almost a clear indication. Shanshan held her breath as she listened, her eyes slightly widening.
Qingwu felt a warm feeling in her heart. Grandma wanted to support her in front of the people of the world in the most direct way. If she was appointed as the crown prince at the coronation ceremony and her position as the crown princess was confirmed, then no one would be able to shake her position in the future.
However, the truth is more than Qingwu thought.
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