"This nine-section whip is made of green bamboo from Mount Song. The whip body is extremely soft and will not hurt people when played with normally. However, there are hidden mechanisms and weapons inside the bamboo sections. In times of crisis, it can be used to stab the enemy to save your life. It is both offensive and defensive."
Jiang Wan took out the bamboo whip and gave it a brief demonstration to the Empress.
The Empress nodded repeatedly.
"Ah Tang loves playing with these things. His Majesty once bestowed upon her many weapons for women, but she disliked them as mere decorations and said they were boring. You understand her heart best."
"This child is not like ordinary daughters who love poetry and books. She has a lively and unruly personality and often gives me a headache."
She stroked the whip, her eyes full of affection.
"Now that they've got this treasure, they should be smug again."
Jiang Wan said, "If the Great Yong allows its daughters to lead troops, the princess will be the first female general."
"If Tang'er heard this, she would consider you a confidante again." The Empress covered her mouth and laughed a few times, then sighed, "It's only because she was born into the royal family that she could have such a personality. If she were in an ordinary family, she would have difficulty even getting married. I don't ask for anything else, I just hope that she can find a good husband and live a peaceful and happy life."
Her smile was gentle.
"All mothers in the world must share this wish."
Jiang Wan was slightly taken aback.
Perhaps my mother had considered this when she was thinking about her own marriage.
She could never have imagined that she would end up like this.
She asked, "Your Majesty is quite familiar with the women in the capital. May I ask which family in Youzhou Grandmother was a young lady from before she got married?"
The Empress was slightly surprised: "The Elder's wife?"
Everyone in the capital knows that Lady Yuan was the wife of General Song, and that they fought side by side on the battlefield, risking their lives together. However, her background is rarely mentioned.
Even Zhou only vaguely knew that her maternal family was quite famous in Youzhou.
Why did you suddenly ask her that?
The Empress beckoned to her, gesturing for her to sit closer: "She is the daughter of the King of Pingliang in Youzhou."
Jiang Wan's eyes widened slightly: "The Prince of Pingliang? Isn't he..."
The Empress interrupted her and said in a low voice, "These are all old stories. Back then, before the Dayong and Miao regions were at war, General Song passed through Youzhou and entered the Pingliang Prince's mansion for a banquet. He fell in love at first sight with the second daughter of the Pingliang Prince. After returning to the capital, he prepared to propose marriage. However, because the Pingliang Prince's mansion was in mourning at the time, the marriage was arranged first, and the grand wedding ceremony would be held three years later."
"Later, the Miao region became restless, and the late emperor decided to send troops to recover it. Youzhou is adjacent to the Miao region. The King of Pingliang secretly colluded with the Miao region and betrayed Dayong. After the late emperor discovered this, he was deposed and ordered General Song to eliminate him as well. It was at this time that the old lady married into the Song family."
Jiang Wan asked in surprise, "Having things come to this point, is it still possible to fulfill the marriage agreement?"
"Perhaps the King of Pingliang knew that defeat was inevitable and wanted to leave a way out for his daughter, so he sent her to the General's Mansion. General Song was in love with her and specially requested permission to marry her. The late emperor was merciful and did not implicate her in the King of Pingliang's crimes, thus granting their marriage."
Queen said.
"The late emperor was wary of the Miao region and disliked people mentioning the Yuan family's identity, so his subjects naturally kept it a secret. Now that many years have passed, even fewer people know about it."
She patted Jiang Wan's hand, reminding her.
"If you know, pretend you don't. Don't bring it up in front of the Emperor without reason, lest you anger His Majesty."
Jiang Wan suppressed her complicated emotions and nodded.
In her previous life, after she fell off the cliff and returned to the mansion, she had never even seen the face of the matriarch of the Yuan family, let alone knew that she had such a background.
Since the Lady of the Elder is the daughter of the King of Pingliang, and the King of Pingliang had colluded with the Miao people, how could Emperor Jingyuan, who knew the inside story, not connect the book "Strange Tales of Miao Territory" that Ji Huaichuan mentioned a few days ago to her?
Thinking of this, Jiang Wan tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, what exactly is wrong with my uncle's illness...?"
The Empress shook her head: "His Majesty has already made his decision, and none of the court officials dare to say anything more, so please don't ask any further questions."
"I know you're worried. I will ask His Majesty to allow Ji Rong to return to his residence to recuperate as soon as possible."
Jiang Wan remained silent for a moment, knowing that the matter had already been decided by the Emperor, and the Empress could not influence it.
She can only rely on herself.
She obediently replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Alright, don't worry anymore. Go back to the manor early and have two nice clothes made. On Tang'er's birthday, go to the palace early."
The Empress stroked the nine-section whip and said with a smile.
"I will give this to Tang'er at her birthday banquet. She will be very happy."
Jiang Wan agreed, and after sitting for a while, she got up to take her leave.
She had only walked a short distance when she bumped into a young eunuch squatting on the long street of the palace. The water in the basin was unstable and wet her dress.
"Please forgive me, Madam! Please forgive me, Madam!" the little eunuch apologized hastily.
"Never mind," Jiang Wan waved her hand, not taking it to heart.
Biluo used a handkerchief to clean her up, and Jiang Wan looked around and said, "There's no one in the corridor, let's go there to clean up." She said to the palace servants behind her, "You don't need to follow me."
The palace servants nodded in agreement, while Jiang Wan led Biluo toward the long corridor.
Upon reaching the vicinity, after navigating several turns, they finally found Pei Xi hiding in a secluded spot.
Pei Xi was wearing a royal blue embroidered long coat and holding a hand warmer; he seemed to have been waiting for her for a long time.
"Why did you summon me so urgently, Your Highness?" Jiang Wan asked.
Pei Xi gave her a disapproving look: "What is it? Of course, it's about my lifelong happiness! You promised so readily back then, have you forgotten now that you're out of prison?"
Jiang Wan realized that he was referring to her marriage to Miss Xu.
“In a few days, the palace will hold a birthday banquet for Pei Tang, and Xu Shu will also be there. My mother also told me to get to know her well.”
Pei Xi shuddered.
"That tigress, I get annoyed just looking at her, let alone talking to her. You need to think of something!"
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