Chapter 67: Bow and Arrow
In fact, Concubine Sun is not a tricky issue. If we talk about who is the most authoritative in the palace, Empress Dowager Zhang is far superior to Concubine Sun.
Zhu Zhanji himself was very filial. If Empress Dowager Zhang was determined to marry Zhu Yuhuan as soon as possible to avoid some unnecessary disputes, Zhu Zhanji would definitely not delay, as there would be no turning back.
Princess Jiaxing was the beloved daughter of Empress Dowager Zhang, and had shared profits with Zhu Yuhuan since the Taiping Teahouse. A few years ago, the teahouse could be considered a hobby, but now Zhu Yuhuan's business was booming, and the profits were increasing. Several princesses benefited greatly, especially Princess Jiaxing.
So whether it was Hu Shanxiang or Zhu Yuhuan, it would certainly not be wrong to ask her to do things.
Princess Jiaxing smiled slightly and said, "This princess is already 28 or 29 years old and is suitable for marriage. Why rush it? Moreover, you are the daughter of the Emperor's sister-in-law, and your parents are still alive. It is not your place to make comments. If you want to discuss marriage, you must do it the same way I did back then. The Ministry of Rites will post a notice to recruit a husband and carefully consider the candidates. After passing the Ministry of Rites, they will have to go through a screening process by the eunuchs, and finally, my mother, my elder brother, and my sister-in-law will make the final decision. The chosen consort will have to study at the Imperial College for a year or so, and only after he passes the test will the marriage ceremony be granted."
She raised her chin slightly and said, "How can a princess of the Ming Dynasty be so easily married off? The royal family cannot follow the practices of those lesser families."
Zhu Yuhuan couldn't help but be secretly surprised when he heard Princess Jiaxing say this.
Judging from the time they had spent together, Princess Jiaxing and Concubine Sun were old acquaintances, yet she even made sarcastic remarks about Concubine Sun.
This mother and daughter are somewhat similar - feelings are one thing, and interests are another. There is absolutely no such thing as sacrificing interests for feelings, no matter how good the relationship is. I just don't know if this rule applies to this mother and daughter.
Princess Jiaxing continued, "Whenever I enter the palace, I always tell you, Mother, that your talent is no less than that of any man in the court, and we are a close family. Now is the time for you to devote all your energy to your elder brother. Wouldn't marrying be a waste of your talent and ability? Mother has her calculations in mind. No one knows the profits and losses better than her. You and your sister-in-law can rest assured."
Princess Jiaxing was extremely serious when she said this. Since she could make such a promise to Zhu Yuhuan, she must have been at least 70% confident.
Although this confidence was discounted in Zhu Yuhuan's case, it was not completely unreliable. So Zhu Yuhuan pondered for a moment and said, "Aunt has always been the most favored by grandma, so Huanhuan naturally believes in her."
After finishing the business, Princess Jiaxing's face showed a bit more pity, and she said: "You are the eldest brother's daughter. Like him, you are filial to your mother. Mother can see your filial piety alone."
Zhu Yuhuan shook his head and said, "When it comes to filial piety, how dare I be compared with Daddy?"
Princess Jiaxing consoled her, "Sister-in-law is the Empress after all. The Crown Prince is now grown up and has long since accepted you as his mother. How could Big Brother depose or appoint an Empress as he did in his youth? Just live your life peacefully. Why worry about these things?"
Zhu Yuhuan just smiled when he heard this and said, "Not only mother, but even Tongtong can't bear to leave me."
Princess Jiaxing knew that Zhu Yuhuan had made an indelible contribution to the success of Kunning Palace. Once she left the palace to marry, given the emperor's honest and simple character and her brother's favor for the imperial concubine, she would inevitably be overshadowed.
Princess Shunde wanted to be the best in everything, and she was filial to her mother and caring towards her sister. How could she watch the imperial concubine climb over the queen's head?
Princess Jiaxing looked at Zhu Yuhuan and finally couldn't help but sigh. She spoke earnestly, "Actually, we princesses are not like princes. They have hereditary titles. We are lucky to have a life of wealth and honor. We just need to be able to keep ourselves safe. If we are lucky, we can leave some assets for our children. When I am gone, most of these assets will have to be returned, and there will be very little left... In this case, why bother thinking so much? Just make yourself happy."
Zhu Yuhuan didn't expect Princess Jiaxing to say such meaningful words to him, and was slightly stunned.
But these words sounded like advice from Empress Dowager Zhang, but they didn't seem like it.
Seeing her like this, Princess Jiaxing smiled and said, "I say this because I hope both my aunt and niece are well. If my mother had a life like this when she was young, she would be extremely envious."
Princess Jiaxing was close to her mother, Empress Dowager Zhang. Couldn't these words have been a reflection of Empress Dowager Zhang's intention? As a princess who adhered to the rules of the imperial family, Zhu Yuhuan didn't have to worry about her future like other concubines who married into the palace. Even if she didn't have children herself, she could still enjoy a life of wealth and prosperity.
Besides, the princess is the sovereign, and the commoner-born prince consort is the minister. Everything the prince consort has is given by the princess, so how could there be any quarrels and fights like in the homes of ordinary people? Even if it is a bit lonely, a personality like Zhu Yuhuan would not let his life really become a stagnant pool.
Seeing Zhu Yuhuan's lack of reaction, Princess Jiaxing assumed she had persuaded her. She continued, "Huanhuan, you're different from the princesses raised in the boudoir. You know how good life is outside the palace. For some things, you should be like your sister-in-law, letting things take their course and not making things difficult for yourself. Besides, as they say, 'Once the arrow is shot, there's no turning back.' If you meddle in palace affairs, you'll only live in fear for the rest of your life."
Zhu Yuhuan was originally distracted by Princess Jiaxing's words, but when he heard the sentence "Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back", his heart sank.
Some things cannot be turned back once they have begun. It seems that she has not reached the point of no return, but Zhu Yuhuan knows what may happen in the future, so she knows better than anyone that she can only move forward. Once she turns back, there is only the word "death".
Thinking of this, Zhu Yuhuan just smiled slightly and said, "Aunt said this for my own good, I understand."
Princess Jiaxing was talking until her mouth was dry. When she heard Zhu Yuhuan's ambiguous answer, she knew that Zhu Yuhuan didn't take it to heart.
Princess Jiaxing was finally relieved. She took a sip of tea and said, "After all, this is your own business. I hope you can figure it out."
"Huanhuan will remember this in my heart." After saying that, Zhu Yuhuan stood up and said goodbye.
Princess Jiaxing watched her leave, then rubbed her temples.
Her mother, Empress Dowager Zhang, did hint to her that she should persuade her niece, but Princess Jiaxing herself did not quite agree with it.
Zhu Yuhuan had sent account books to the residences of each of the eldest princesses. Princess Jiaxing naturally understood that the "tea shop dividends" Zhu Yuhuan mentioned were actually not that much, not to mention the gifts such as cloth, silk, tea, pearls, etc. that came with the dividends, which were undoubtedly all given by her niece from other industries.
Prince Consort Jing Yuan was summoned again. Seeing Princess Jiaxing looking thoughtful, he cautiously asked, "I wonder what Princess Shunde said just now that has caused Your Highness so much worry."
Princess Jiaxing smiled slightly and said, "I'm not worried. I watched Shunde grow up, and I've long treated my niece as my own child. I don't want her to get married so early."
Once they left the palace, princesses, aside from their regular salaries, could only await occasional imperial rewards or request grants themselves. Sometimes, the emperor would reject grants of land. Ultimately, these were merely temporary "imperial properties" bestowed upon the princesses. In the future, when the princesses were gone, their children and grandchildren would rely on the few remaining properties.
For princesses and their descendants, the more money they have of their own, the better.
It's often said that "a centipede will not die until it's stiffened," but Zhu Yuhuan's estate was under her control. Once Zhu Yuhuan married, she would naturally take care of her own family first, not everyone else. Therefore, neither Princess Jiaxing nor any of the other princesses wanted Zhu Yuhuan to "get married."
To be fair, Princess Jiaxing herself did not have the status and position of her fifth brother Zhu Zhanji, so naturally she would not be as indifferent to the property and money in the capital as he was...
Having said that, the fact that Zhu Yuhuan sent so many things might have been for Zhu Zhanji, and perhaps even more than what he gave her.
Taking various considerations into account, Princess Jiaxing naturally would not try her best to persuade Zhu Yuhuan. Anyway, as long as she could give an explanation to her mother, it would be enough.
What she and Zhu Yuhuan said were indeed from the heart. Now that she had left the palace, the most important thing was to live a good life. If she didn't have anything to ask for, her mother and brothers would have to step back.
Jing Yuan felt a little embarrassed when he heard this and said, "I am sorry for being so rude..."
Princess Jiaxing smiled at him and said, "You and I are husband and wife, why should we be so rude? Let's go to the garden."
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