According to the wedding plan set by the royal family at the end of last year, at the beginning of this year, it shall be the wedding of Prince of Wei, the Sixth Prince, followed by Princess Lexin and Princess Yongfu, and then crown prince Chu Weisang married Xin Fubing and made her the empress.
However, because Empress Dowager Gu and her son died one after another, the crown prince ascended the throne. It was not easy to talk about marriage during the filial piety period of father and grandmother’s funeral. Of course, Emperor didn’t have to keep his father’s filial piety for three years like others, but Chu Weisang asked Empress Dowager Jiang to let him keep it for a year before getting married.
Considering that the new emperor and Xin Fubing were still young, and Empress Dowager Gu previously made rumors that the Jiang Family murdered the former emperor, Empress Dowager Jiang believed that Chu Weisang’s late marriage and his image of filial piety were also beneficial to the Jiang Family. After all, he was pushed to come to power by the Jiang Family.
As a result, this image was just built and was about to be destroyed.
Qiu Yelan gave An to her nursing mother and rushed to Madame Tao to inquire. Because Jiang Yashuang was also present there, Su He didn’t make it clear. The truth was that when Jiang Huizhi and Emperor were found, they even barely wore clothes. Jiang Huizhi’s shoulders and arms were also seen by the servant.
Although the palace maid specially sent by Empress Dowager Jiang to tell Madame Tao described it haltingly, a few words and phrases could help them imagine the scene at that time.
Madame Tao’s face was gloomy and frightening. She said, “Stop talking!” Hearing this, younger people around couldn’t lift their heads. They didn’t dare to continue listening to it.
“Qiu Yelan, you and Xin Fubing have always been good friends. You can comfort her.” Madame Tao tried to suppress her anger and began to arrange, “If you worry about An, let Jiang Yazhu’s wife help you take care of An for a day. Fourteenth daughter-in-law, you take care of our home. If anyone who dares to talk nonsense, beat him to death immediately.”
She told Madame He and Madame Huang, “Although this family is now managed by the Fourteenth daughter-in-law, she is still young. Don’t let those old people bully her. You should also help her.”
Qiu Yelan was unhappy. She went back to her yard to change her clothes. Sheng Shishui followed her to pick up An. She took the opportunity to comfort her, “Don’t be too sad for Cousin Xin. How can Emperor not have many wives? When Cousin Xin accepted the royal family’s marriage, she had thought about today. Although she didn’t expect this person to be her niece, Empress Dowager has always disliked people in the first branch. She will deal with this and explain it to her.”
Qiu Yelan sneered and said, “With my grandfather there, no matter how Empress Dowager will explain to Cousin Xin, Jiang Huizhi will surely marry Emperor. Moreover, you know what the first branch can do, don’t you? Let’s see, even if she can’t win Cousin Xin’s position, she will have designs on the position of Noble Consort. When they have children in the future, the first branch must be hard on Cousin Xin.”
Although Emperor was also responsible for this, he was just a puppet and was particularly afraid of Empress Dowager Jiang. How dared he touch Jiang Huizhi under normal circumstances? It was no secret that Empress Dowager Jiang hated the first branch and didn’t want women who had a relationship with the first branch to be a daughter-in-law.
Now Emperor had an affair with Jiang Huizhi. If it was not suggested or even coerced by Jiang Tianao and his wife, no one would believe it.
The Jiang Family finally defeated Empress Dowager Gu. Now it seemed that Jiang Tianao and his wife wanted to learn from Empress Dowager Gu again. How could they? Jiang Huizhi was not only Xin Fubing’s niece, but also the niece of the Emperor’s eldest sister-in-law. With such a mess, the first branch wanted wealth regardless of their face.
How could Madame Dou have the face to cry in front of Marquess Qin?
Sheng Shishui sighed, “It’s all like this. Let it go. You’d better go and see Cousin Xin! Neither Aunt nor Uncle is in Jing City. Her grandmother also has no idea. She must be mad.”
Qiu Yelan thought so. Sure enough, when she arrived at Xin Mansion, she saw a mess when she entered the door. When she stepped into the back hall, Xin Fubing sat there with a sallow face and a numb look. Her grandmother, Madame Ge, was unkempt and holding her, crying loudly and bitterly.
The two were surrounded by servants who were crying and trying to persuade them. The whole back hall was in chaos.
Qiu Yelan, together with Chunran and Xiaran, tried their best to persuade them, and then they became calm. She asked the servants to help old Madame Ge into the inner room to have a rest. And she took Xin Fubing to her inner room to talk.
“Before I came, Madame Dou had gone to my grandfather to cry. You know his attitude towards the first branch. Although Jiang Huizhi is one of the young generations, my grandfather will certainly ask His Majesty to give her a position.” Qiu Yelan took the tea made by Chunran, drank it to moisten her throat, and hurriedly said, “So I don’t have time to comfort you now. You should know why the first branch sent her granddaughter to Your Majesty’s harem in such a shameless way. You have to deal with it quickly and don’t give them any chance.”
“How can I deal with it?” Xin Fubing cried, “You know my attitude when I first decided to marry. The person I like don’t like me, so I can only listen to the arrangement of my elders. Jiang Huizhi didn’t dare to do this without the elders’ arrangement. Think about it. My destiny is to be a chess piece. I don’t know what it means to live like this. ”
Hearing that she had the intention to commit suicide, Qiu Yelan became more serious and sent all the maids out. She sat next to her, took her hand, and said seriously, “If you want to do so, you will make what the first branch want come true. But think about it, why?”
Xin Fu said coldly, “Why? Just because grandfather Jiang likes Jiang Huizhi more than me. I can see that my life is probably the same as that of Madame Tao Junior…”
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Qiu Yelan interrupted her words that compared herself with Madame Tao Junior, “My grandfather surely takes pity on Jiang Huizhi as she relies on her grandfather and grandmother for life. But doesn’t grandpa like you? Moreover, after entering the Palace, you will live under the hands of Empress Dowager. In front of her, Jiang Huizhi can’t even compare with you.”
Xin Fubing smiled miserably, “There is no one here. Do you still coax me? No matter how Empress Dowager likes me, can she violate the order of grandfather Jiang?”
“You are so confused.” Qiu Yelan shook her head when she heard that, “Is there only Empress Dowager behind you? Have you forgotten your grandfather and grandmother?”
Thinking of Sir Jibei and his wife, Xin Fubing’s eyes brightened, but then darkened. She said, “Because of Jiang Yalan, I have a gap with Mi Yinyin. I seldom visit my grandfather and grandmother these days. Grandfather Jiang is thinking the kindness of his brother, and doesn’t my grandfather think it?”
“Grand uncle thinks about this, but what about your parents?” Qiu Yelan reminded, “I think you should take this opportunity to transfer the fifth aunt and the fifth uncle to Jing City. Otherwise, if something happens like this time, you and your grandmother are the only people in the Xin Family. No one else can go out and help you. If the fifth aunt and her husband were here, wouldn’t the fifth aunt talk about your grievances when Madame Dou ran to her grandfather to cry? ”
Xin Fubing said bitterly, “Do you know why my parents stay in Guanzhou for so many years and don’t return to Jing City? My mother is my grandfather’s only daughter who is alive in the world. Is it difficult for them to return? Because of the wealth of Guanzhou, my father and mother plan to save enough money for generations there before they live. When I wrote my last home letter, I said I missed them. My mother replied that we could be reunited in ten or eight years.”
Speaking of this, she burst into tears.
“That was before!” Qiu Yelan was very angry at the speech. How could the couple do this? But immediately She said, “You must be the empress. If you have a prince, the prince will surely be the crown prince. It is based on the premise that you are not framed by Jiang Huizhi. If so, won’t they come back to help you? I say that directly, can the empress’s family be poor? Guanzhou will be nothing at that time.”
Xin Fubing bit her lips and said, “It’s not just for money, but also for positions. There are many descendants of the Jiang Family. Of course, we should take care of those people first. My father is fine, but my mother… To be honest, she tends to thrust herself forward too much. If my father doesn’t have a good position, she will feel embarrassed in front of her relatives…”
“Isn’t this the best chance?” Qiu Yelan said, “It’s natural for the first branch to give a high-ranking position and compensate for the fifth uncle considering such a thing they did. You don’t need to ask anyone else, just let Empress Dowager ask the first branch.”
“OK. ” Xin Fubing thought carefully and said, “I’m in a bad mood now. Can you help me tell Empress Dowager?”
Qiu Yelan shook her head and said, “No, you must tell it by yourself.”
Seeing Xin Fubing’s reluctant look, she reminded, “Jiang Huizhi will certainly be brought into the harem by His Majesty. As long as my grandfather is here, we can’t change this! However, grandpa can’t pass over Empress Dowager and you, the empress in the future, and decide her position. Grandpa doesn’t have time.”
“So, you go to the Palace immediately to meet Empress Dowager and ask for a position for Jiang Huizhi. But remember, just a position. As for the position, not to mention other things, just because she seduced His Majesty who was still on filial duty in the imperial garden and was seen by many people, it is enough to determine that she lacks virtue. If there is a lack of virtue, can she be in a high position? Are you kidding?”
Qiu Yelan sneered and said, “It’s best to put her under the master of a palace and even are not qualified to raise children so that she can’t covet your position in the future.” This came to her mind when she talked to Sheng Shishui before going out. If there was no accident, Marquess Qin must allow the first branch to fight for Jiang Huizhi’s position second only to the empress.
But if Xin Fubing asked Empress Dowager before Jiang Huizhi’s position was settled, it would make the first branch owe her one favor. It would also make Jiang Huizhi even more unable to lift her head in front of her in the future. As a prospective empress and the younger generation of Empress Dowager Jiang, even if Xin Fubing hadn’t entered the Palace, it was not a mistake for her to express her opinions on Jiang Huizhi’s position.
When Jiang Huizhi’s position was suppressed, Xin Fubing could not only revenge, but also control this niece. Otherwise, the niece would consider when to kill Xin Fubing and be the empress by herself.
Of course, this behavior of helping others after being wronged could get great benefits, but it also required high tolerance. As long as she could bear it, she would have the chance to revenge.
Xin Fubing was silent for a long time before she sighed, “She has robbed my husband and I have to ask for a position for her. Although it is said that this is for my own magnanimous reputation and to frame her again, it’s disgusting to think about it.”
“But if you don’t do that, it will only make you more disgusting.” Qiu Yelan clenched her hands and advised, “The first branch has even done the shameless thing. What else can’t be done? Think about Empress Dowager Ye and Empress Dowager Gu of the former emperor’s reign.” At present, the situation was not good. The elders gave much pressure and the grandchildren had no power to fight back.
Unless Xin Fubing died, she would certainly be the empress. If she didn’t prepare in advance, she would only suffer more losses in the future.
Otherwise, Qiu Yelan wouldn’t try to persuade her to bear this.
“I know!” Xin Fubing, with tears in her eyes, whispered, “I will do as you say.” She held Qiu Yelan’s hands and said sadly, “Will you accompany me into the Palace? I’m very confused. I’m afraid I don’t know what to say when I come to Empress Dowager. ”
“I’ll go with you!” Qiu Yelan sighed and said softly, “Don’t worry. Empress Dowager must be on your side. You just have to show your attitude. Empress Dowager will say it to my grandfather.”