LIGHTNOVELONLINE
Chapter 207.3
“Then I won’t be wary of her anymore, and you don’t need to mention anything but arranging another marriage. She is an innocent girl who followed your brother at a young age and is filial to me and your father. Compared with Zhu-shi, I don’t know how much better she is. I don’t want to do such a harmful thing.”
Since Wu-shi had already said so, she must have her own reasons. Yaoniang and Huiniang could only listen. Fortunately, she seemed to have really thought it through. It seemed that the words “report to His Majesty” gave her unlimited confidence. It was likely because the shadow that Zhu-shi had cast on Wu-shi was too heavy. Now faced with a second daughter-in-law Wu-shi couldn’t help but overthink.
The mother and her daughters sat together and talked for a long time, mostly about family matters and trivialities. Time passed quickly, and Xiao Shunzi came to relay a message that His Majesty had arranged a banquet to entertain the Yao Family and the Su Family.
The banquet was held in the side hall of Yangxin Hall, and Yaoniang attended it together with Emperor Jin’an. Since they were all relatives, there was no need to segregate men and women.
During the banquet, though Emperor Jin’an didn’t speak much, his actions showed that he highly valued the Yao and Su families.
After the banquet, the Yao and Su families were led out of the palace. Meanwhile, Emperor Jin’an took Yaoniang for a walk in the Imperial Garden to help with digestion.
It was a beautiful scene in early spring, with grass growing and birds chirping, and all things coming back to life. The garden’s scenery was exceptionally lovely.
The two walked side by side, followed by numerous palace maids and eunuchs, not far behind.
“Why are you in such a good mood?”
Yaoniang glanced at him and said, “What’s wrong with being in a good mood?”
Emperor Jin’an looked at her without speaking.
Yaoniang didn’t want to tell him that she was actually happy because he valued her family. When he valued her family, it meant he valued her. Although Yaoniang had known that Emperor Jin’an valued her for a long time, otherwise he wouldn’t have been so good to her, she couldn’t help feeling happy when he did something that showed his appreciation for her.
She was just that pathetic, thin-skinned, and shallow-minded.
With a turn of Emperor Jin’an’s head, he found she was no longer beside him. He turned back and saw her standing under a weeping willow tree, with a silly smile on her face.
He walked over with his hands behind his back, still not saying anything.
Yaoniang felt something move on her head, and when she reached up to touch it, she found a camellia flower had appeared in her hairpin.
And Emperor Jin’an walked away again.
*
Although the Xu Family’s second household had no one in the imperial court, they had connections with Marquis Zhongyong Manor.
The situation eventually escalated beyond everyone’s expectations. They had only intended to use gossip to exert some pressure so that Su Yaoniang couldn’t meddle in the matter and let His Majesty accept Side Consort Xu into the palace. But they had never expected it would blow up into such a big deal.
At first, Marquis Zhongyong didn’t know about it. This was because everything was ordered by Marquis Zhongyong’s wife who was persuaded by her daughter, and she had arranged for her daughters-in-law to carry it out secretly. It was only when it became a big commotion outside that Marquis Zhongyong found out, and he was furious.
“Ignorant! Reckless! What can I say about you? How did this matter become so widespread? Some people have been eyeing the position of the empress like a piece of meat, and they are eager to get involved in any turmoil. At this time, they would do anything to stir up trouble. But you, you actually volunteered yourself to be the scapegoat!”
“I… “
“With this matter blown up like this, even though His Majesty doesn’t say it out loud, he will undoubtedly be angry in his heart. And the target of his anger won’t be the second household of the Xu Family, but us! You foolish woman, you fell into the trap set by Side Consort Xu without realizing it, truly unfathomable!”
Marquis Zhongyong left in anger, and he immediately handed over the authority of managing the household to his younger sister temporarily.
Marquis Zhongyong’s wife received a harsh scolding, and naturally, Xu Zhe’s wife wasn’t spared either. Marquis Zhongyong even contemplated arranging a divorce between his daughter and Xu Zhe, as there was no need for their daughter to be tied to such a family. It was also his short-sightedness that led him to think that Xu Zhe would eventually take over the position of Duke Xuguo, but he never expected that it would all be in vain, and he ended up in such a mess himself.
As for the situation outside, let’s not discuss it for now. When the news reached Side Consort Xu’s ears, she was both trembling in fear and gnashing her teeth.
She hated her family for being useless and feared that she would be left to live as a widow in seclusion forever. While she endured all this, Su Yaoniang was appointed as the empress. On the day of the coronation, she could even hear the commotion from her residence in Haoyue Hall.
Side Consort Xu was truly afraid of being forgotten like this, so she wanted to talk to Side Consort Liu, who was in the same boat as her.
In the past, whenever she went to Side Consort Liu’s residence, she could at least have a cup of tea. But now, to her surprise, Side Consort Liu didn’t even allow her to enter the courtyard.
She didn’t know what had happened, and she felt uneasy. After a few more days passed, the palace suddenly sent someone with an edict to appoint her as a Noble Lady and brought her into the palace.
At the same time, there was also an edict to appoint Side Consort Liu as an Imperial Concubine.
Although the rank of Noble Lady was somewhat low, it still made Side Consort Xu breathe a sigh of relief. But before she could be happy about it, Side Consort Liu suddenly showed up at her place, throwing her belongings around and even slapping her twice.