The fact that the Ministry of Rites had repeatedly revised the betrothal gifts to obstruct Marquis Wuqing's marriage to Nanzhu had already spread within a small circle of high-ranking officials and nobles.
Everyone knew that the Minister of Rites was a staunch subordinate of Princess Xiaoyue, so they naturally assumed that this matter was at the princess's behest, with the aim of preventing the Meng family from marrying Marquis Wuqing.
But in reality, this matter had nothing to do with Meng Qingqian; she herself had only just heard about it.
Minister of Rites Li Gongqin had no personal grudge against He Yuanhao, and who He Yuanhao chose as his daughter-in-law was none of Li Gongqin's business. The fact that the Ministry of Rites acted so resolutely in this matter, daring to offend Marquis Wuqing so thoroughly, must mean that someone was behind it.
Apart from himself, only his mother had the power to order Li Gongqin around in the entire court.
The Empress Dowager's bedroom.
Meng Qingqian, dressed in red, sat regally in the first seat below the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager was always at a disadvantage when dealing with her own daughter. Since she was in the wrong for not allowing Nanzhu and He Yunxiao to marry, she said in a slightly ingratiating tone, "Qingqian..."
Meng Qingqian said helplessly, "Mother, didn't I tell you not to interfere in politics?"
The Empress Dowager said cautiously, "The eldest princess's marriage is hardly a matter of politics."
"Of course it's political affairs. Since ancient times, the affairs of the state have been the affairs of the Meng family, and the affairs of the Meng family are naturally also the affairs of the state. The eldest princess is the emperor's elder sister, how can her weddings and funerals be taken lightly?"
The Empress Dowager, unable to refute her daughter's words, could only repeatedly agree, "Yes, yes, yes."
Meng Qingqian then asked, "Since Mother agreed to Marquis Wuqing's request to marry Nanzhu, why did she send Minister Li to delay it?"
The Empress Dowager said earnestly, "It is indeed a good idea to let Nanzhu marry into the Wuqing Marquis's family. The Wuqing Marquis's family is at its zenith, and it is possible that they will be promoted to dukes in the future. I have also met his mistress, Miss Zhang. She is a kind-hearted person and I don't think she will make things difficult for Nanzhu."
Meng Qingqian asked in confusion, "If that's the case, why doesn't Mother Empress go with the flow and help arrange a marriage between two people?"
The Empress Dowager said with certainty, "I have a feeling something is wrong. Qingqian, I feel that if we let Nanzhu marry into the Marquis's family like this, you will definitely suffer a great loss in the future! How can I just stand by and watch my good daughter suffer? Of course, I have to delay and see what other changes might occur."
Meng Qingqian remained silent.
Her mother wasn't stupid, but she was particularly superstitious about her unfounded intuition.
When the Empress Dowager was in power, she intuitively felt that Han Wenxin was not a bad person. As a result, she was too careless and lost most of the civil officials and military generals who were originally on their side.
"Your Majesty, those in high positions must not act on their emotions."
"Mother knows, that's why Qingqian is in charge. Wait three more years, until your younger brother grows up, then we, mother and daughter, will be free."
Looking at her incredibly optimistic mother, Meng Qingqian sighed inwardly. Externally, the Yan Kingdom was eyeing them covetously; internally, Prime Minister Han was secretly scheming against them. Those in high positions wanted liberation? Not so easy.
"Mother, Xiaoyue will go and see Nanzhu."
"Okay, go ahead."
“By the way,” Meng Qingqian took two steps and turned back, “Chengmao Palace next to Changhe Palace has been uninhabited for many years. Why don’t we let Nanzhu move out of Linxuan Palace? Linxuan Palace is too remote and inconvenient to do things.”
Although Meng Qingqian held great power, the Empress Dowager still made the decisions regarding matters of the harem.
The Empress Dowager shook her head and said, "No. Your father left a will that 'the daughter of the Wei family resides in Linxuan,' have you forgotten?"
Then, the usually magnanimous Empress Dowager changed to a sour tone and said, "When Nanzhu's mother, Consort Xuan, first entered the palace, she became the most favored concubine in the six palaces with the title of 'the most beautiful woman in the world.' She was so popular that she almost overshadowed me, the Empress. However, even so, Consort Xuan still lived in the remote Linxuan Palace. Even the late Emperor never had any intention of letting her move to another palace."
"Forget it," the Empress Dowager said, "These are all old matters. Besides, Nanzhu is getting married soon, and she won't be able to stay in the new palace for more than a few days. Let her stay in Linxuan Palace for now."
...
Outside Linxuan Palace, the entire palace staff stood at the gate to welcome Princess Xiaoyue's arrival.
Meng Qingqian sat in a sedan chair carried by eight men, dressed in red, her face cold. Whether it was the golden phoenix embroidered on her red dress or the well-equipped female attendants with swords silently attending to her at the front and back of the sedan chair, these elements subtly displayed her majesty.
Xing'er and the other maids had already knelt on the ground. Under such pressure, they didn't even have the courage to look Meng Qingqian in the eye.
His Highness is kind-hearted and good-natured, so playful banter is fine. But His Highness's older sister, Princess Xiaoyue, is completely different. She's a ruthless woman who readily resorts to corporal punishment, exile, and murder.
Xing'er still remembered that the last time she saw Princess Xiaoyue, she almost got sent to the brothel by the Grand Princess because she offended her own princess with her words.
For respectable women, the Jiaofangsi (a place where women could live a life worse than death) was a place where they were forced to stay at the Jiaofangsi.
As the carriage landed, Meng Qingqian was helped to her feet by Jian Ling, who was waiting nearby.
With a slight smile, she looked at the only woman present who did not kneel and said, "Namju."
Meng Qingrou was much simpler than Meng Qingqian; she was naturally happy when her sister came to visit her.
She smiled happily and said, "Namju greets her elder sister."
"Let's go."
"Um."
The two sisters walked side by side toward Linxuan Palace. Meng Qingrou, used to being with He Yunxiao, subconsciously hugged Meng Qingqian's arm and then touched her hand with her small hand.
Meng Qingrou has only walked alongside two people in her life: her older sister Meng Qingqian and He Yunxiao. She had always spent time with He Yunxiao, and this subconscious habit had become ingrained.
Meng Qingqian looked at her sister's practiced movements and immediately looked puzzled.
Meng Qingqian: ? ? ? ? ? ?
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