My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 61 Introduction to Taking a Concubine

Rong Yi smiled helplessly at Lu Jinshi and said, "Alright, then I will discuss with the Minister of Rites tomorrow and go to the He family to propose marriage."

Lu Jinshi said, "You must remember to tell the Minister of Rites to emphasize that it is a betrothal gift for the eldest daughter of the He family."

Rong Yi replied, "Mm."

Lu Jinshi whispered to Rong Yi, "By the way, you've already given me the betrothal gifts, so why hasn't His Majesty issued the imperial decree to bestow upon Rong the title of Empress?"

Rong Yi said, "With the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet approaching, the imperial decree to make my mother Empress will likely be issued after the banquet."

Lu Jinshi thought about it and agreed. It was the Empress Dowager's sixtieth birthday, such an important day that it was impossible to make any mistakes. The only way to make her the Empress was after the birthday banquet.

After all, the matter of being crowned empress is a major event, and it's likely that another storm will be inevitable.
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The marriage of the seventh prince to his princess is currently the most exciting event in the court.

The royal betrothal ceremony was a grand affair, with the betrothal gifts for the seventh prince being entirely in accordance with the standards for a crown prince, sparking much discussion throughout the court and among the public.

Ultimately, no subject would dare to offend His Majesty during the prince's joyous occasion, so the betrothal proceeded smoothly with the proper protocol for the crown prince.

The He family of the Yongxing Marquis's residence.

He Jinlan secretly watched from behind the courtyard gate as the palace eunuchs read out the betrothal gift list for the eldest daughter of the He family. The more she listened, the faster her heart beat.

He Jiayi smiled and said to He Jinlan, "Congratulations, sister! Congratulations, sister! The Seventh Prince has given such a generous betrothal gift, which shows that he values ​​you very much."

He Jinlan smiled faintly as He Jiayi flattered her, saying, "It's also because His Majesty values ​​the Seventh Prince."

He Jiayi said, "Fortunately, the bad reputation of you, elder sister, for getting pregnant out of wedlock and losing your father and leaving behind your child has not affected your position as the Crown Princess."

He Jinlan said, "Lu Jinshi dared to try to harm me a few days ago. Once I become the Seventh Prince's consort, I will definitely not let her off the hook. She only has the Empress Dowager as her support, while I will soon be the Crown Prince's consort."

He Jiayi couldn't help but feel worried for Lu Jinshi, who was also from another world.

However, she had warned Lu Jinshi long ago, but Lu Jinshi simply wouldn't listen to her advice.

In this ancient world where imperial power was supreme, did Lu Jinshi really think that the Empress Dowager's slight favor towards her birth mother was enough to make her arrogant?

Let He Jinlan teach Lu Jinshi a lesson, so she'll remember it.

Looking at the betrothal gifts filling the courtyard and seeing the overjoyed expressions of her mother-in-law, brother, and sister-in-law, Liu Xiuxiu felt increasingly worried.

Today, the Minister of Rites came to present betrothal gifts on behalf of the imperial family, but no invitations were exchanged regarding birth dates and times.

Liu Xiuxiu thought that perhaps the royal family already had He Jinlan's birth date and time, and the whole mansion was freed from the gloom caused by the Marquis's death.

Liu Xiuxiu couldn't very well say anything discouraging or discouraging at this time.

Liu Xiuxiu could only console herself that Lu Jinshi was pregnant out of wedlock and had a child through artificial insemination, so she would definitely not become the Seventh Prince's consort. The eldest daughter of the He family should rightfully belong to her Lan'er.
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In the princess's mansion.

Princess Yongjia smiled as she saw Lu Jin enter from outside, "I heard that today is the day my seventh brother proposes to you. What brings you here?"

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "Your Highness has arranged the betrothal, and the elders in the family have been busy with that. I haven't seen my sister go out these past few days, so I came to see her. Seeing that you look very well, I am relieved."

Lu Jinshi was worried that Princess Yongjia was still thinking about that scoundrel Yuan Jie, so he stayed at home feeling depressed.

She originally intended for Princess Yongjia to teach at the academy to relax, but the academy couldn't recruit any female students, so she had to give up on that idea.

These past few days, Lu Jinshi has heard that Princess Yongjia has not left her residence, which has made him somewhat worried.

Princess Yongjia, who was embroidering a longevity pattern, said, "I have been embroidering a longevity pattern for my grandmother in the princess's residence for the past few days, which is why I have not gone out. You don't need to worry that I am sad or upset because I haven't left the residence."

Princess Yongjia hadn't really thought about Yuan Jie much these past few days. Perhaps it was because she had run into Lu Xiao on the few times she went out.

Compared to Lu Xiao, who was such a huge problem, Yuan Jie... Princess Yongjia couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in her heart. It wasn't that she couldn't let go of him, but rather a sigh for the past and the sorrow of being betrayed...

Lu Jinshi looked at Princess Yongjia and whispered, "Sister."

Princess Yongjia smiled at Lu Jinshi and said, "I'm really fine. You and my seventh brother don't need to worry about me too much. I haven't been going out these past few days because I'm rushing to finish making the Hundred Longevity Painting for my grandmother."

Lu Jinshi said, "That's good."

Princess Yongjia said, "There are only a few days left until the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. There are still about twenty birthday characters left, and I'm afraid I won't be able to finish them in time. I originally wanted to give the Empress Dowager other birthday gifts, but after thinking about it carefully, I realized that the Empress Dowager doesn't lack precious birthday gifts, but rather thoughtful ones. That's why I started embroidering them."

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "If you don't mind, I'll embroider with you."

Princess Yongjia handed the needle and thread to Lu Jinshi and said, "I didn't know you could embroider?"

Lu Jinshi said, "I learned a little bit of everything when I was young, including music, chess, calligraphy and painting, dragon and phoenix embroidery, needlework and knitting. I know a little about all of these."

Princess Yongjia watched Lu Jinshi's embroidery and said, "You know a little about this, but I think your embroidery technique is quite extraordinary."

Lu Jinshi said, "I haven't embroidered in a long time, so I've become a bit rusty."

Princess Yongjia looked at Lu Jinshi's embroidery skills and couldn't help but admire her more: "No wonder you grew up in the mountains and fields of Jiangnan, yet your father still betrothed you to your seventh brother. Even your embroidery is so outstanding."

Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "Although my place is in the mountains, it can hardly be called the mountains. I wonder if you have ever heard of the Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion?"

"Who doesn't know the Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion?" Princess Yongjia asked. "Is your place perhaps the site of the Orchid Pavilion?"

Lu Jinshi smiled faintly and said, "Yes, Tianzhang Academy is right next to Lanting. Many scholars and literati come from there because of its reputation, and there are also many great scholars and literati who live in seclusion there. This is why so many students from our Tianzhang Academy have passed the imperial examinations."

Princess Yongjia said, "Rumors say you grew up in the countryside, in a place blessed with natural beauty and talent. It's true that you can't believe everything you hear."

Lu Jinshi chatted with Princess Yongjia. After she embroidered two longevity characters, she heard a burst of ceremonial music.

Lu Jinshi looked in the direction from which the music was coming. That should be the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, right?

Princess Yongjia's embroidery needle involuntarily poked her fingertip.

"Sister..." Lu Jinshi hurriedly asked, "Are you alright?"

Princess Yongjia listened to the music outside and looked at her maid Jixiang beside her, saying, "Go out and find out what's going on with the music."

Jixiang replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

Listening to the source of the sound, Lu Jinshi figured it must be music coming from the nearby Duke Zhenguo's mansion...

However, where did the sound of ritual music come from in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, which was so unpredictable?

Princess Yongjia continued embroidering the "Hundred Longevity Characters" pattern and asked Lu Jinshi, "Have you prepared a birthday gift for the Empress Dowager?"

Lu Jinshi smiled faintly and said, "I've prepared it. I'm not as thoughtful as my sister. I'm presenting a painting of Magu giving peaches to immortals by Wang Guzi, a painter from the previous dynasty."

Princess Yongjia said, "This painting is very valuable, and I'm sure Grandmother will like it."

A quarter of an hour later, Jixiang returned, her face filled with resentment. "Your Highness, this music is that beast Yuan Jie taking a concubine into the household..."

(End of this chapter)