Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Sure enough, the next day, when Emperor Zhaoming went to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, he asked Tanchun with a smile in front of the Empress Dowager:

"Jia was convicted, and I heard that you were so terrified that you wanted to shave your head and become a nun? Why? Ziying finally got the Queen Mother's approval, and you said you won't marry, so you won't marry?"

Tanchun's eyes turned red, and she knelt down to answer: "At that time, I just felt that I... was not worthy of a good life..."

"Nonsense!" The Queen Mother scolded her distressedly, "The Emperor has long said that the nonsense outside has nothing to do with you girls in the boudoir!

"If even you who saved the emperor don't deserve to live a good life, then do your sisters who only know how to eat and drink like fools deserve to live?"

Tanchun kowtowed again with tears in her eyes: "Yes, I am just being too stubborn."

The Queen Mother was relieved and held out her hand to her: "Come, come to me."

Tanchun hurriedly held the empress dowager's hand, stood up and stood beside her.

"It's good that you've figured it out." Emperor Zhaoming looked at her with a smile, and then said, "There will be a war on the border, and Ziying's temperament and the people in the court are watching, so he will probably go to the battlefield as well.

"I expect the Feng family to postpone the wedding date until the war is over and Ziying returns safely, then we can discuss the marriage.

"What do you think?"

Tanchun hesitated for a moment, looked up at Daiyu, bit her lip, and said softly: "The Feng family has a clear and upright family tradition and is loyal to the country.

"They postponed the wedding just in case... so as not to delay me.

“But I don’t think so.

"The Feng family only has this one son. If he goes to the battlefield, he will be in danger of death. If anything happens, the Feng family will be extinct.

“Despite my difficulties back then and my current embarrassment, the Feng family never despised me.

"How can I go with the flow at this time and let others swallow all the sadness and risks?

"I would like to ask for your Majesty's approval. If the Feng family is willing, I would like to marry Feng Ziying before he goes to war.

"If I can leave him a descendant, that would be my way of repaying the Feng family's kindness."

The empress dowager sighed softly, raised her hand to smooth the loose hair on Tanchun's forehead, wanted to stop it, but couldn't say it, so she could only look at Emperor Zhaoming.

Unexpectedly, Emperor Zhaoming smiled and nodded his head in praise: "Yi Min, Yi Min, I really did not make a mistake in giving the word Yi!

"How about this.

“People often marry out of filial piety to fulfill their ancestors’ last wishes.

"I have issued an order to the Ministry of Rites that the emperor will be in mourning for three months and marriage among the people is prohibited.

"Three months later, I will grant you a fiefdom that can be passed down for three generations as your dowry. Pick an auspicious day, and you and Ziying will get married!"

Fiefdom?!

Has there ever been a princess of a different surname who had a fief? It's good enough to have a salary!

Tanchun was pleasantly surprised and knelt down again to express her gratitude: "Your Majesty, I am ashamed to have given you such respect! In the future, I will be filial to my parents-in-law and educate my children well, and will never bring shame to Your Majesty and the Queen Mother!"

"Yes! Yes! That's it, very good!" Emperor Zhaoming nodded with satisfaction.

To show favor is to make others appreciate it and at the same time give something in return.

Tanchun's attitude is neat and sincere, which makes people happy and comfortable.

The Empress Dowager heaved a long sigh of relief, but was reluctant to leave. She pulled Tanchun up and complained to Emperor Zhaoming:

“I had wanted to keep her for another two years.

"——It's all your fault for insisting on fighting!"

Daiyu, who had been invisible at the side, pursed her lips and said, "The Queen is taking her anger out on you again!

"The envoys from the northwest were rude, and the Celestial Empire questioned them, but they still had the audacity to ask for a marriage alliance, saying that they would at least marry a princess back home.

"If we don't fight this battle, then Yimin and I might have to go to the northwest to marry.

"Will you never see us again then?

"Your Majesty, at least 30% of the reason you fought this war was out of filial piety to the Queen Mother - I was afraid that you would be sad without your daughter!"

The Queen Mother's anger turned into joy, and she also became worried: "How did the Northwest know that we have two more princesses?"

"It's not directed at them. Isn't Shouchang also a princess?" Emperor Zhaoming looked down at his fingers, only to find that he had suddenly clenched his fists.

Daiyu sighed and shook her head, saying, "Your Majesty, there is no need to cover up for us. Wang Ziteng deeply hates my sister and me.

"He has been in charge of the nine frontiers for several years. It would be easy for him to deliberately leak some information to the northwestern barbarians, right?"

Listening to Daiyu openly exposing this, Emperor Zhaoming felt the depression in his chest dissipate, his waist and back relaxed a little, and his fists fell on his knees:

"You should learn from the Queen Mother and stay out of the military and national affairs. Especially don't just follow others!"

Daiyu nodded her head and agreed.

The Queen Mother paused, then began to talk to Emperor Zhaoming about the transfer of the Supreme Being's spirit.

After discussing for a long time, the Empress Dowager understood everything, and Emperor Zhaoming took his leave. He looked at Daiyu again and said, "Zhaoqing is here to see me off."

The Queen Mother glared at him: "I knew you were going to listen to this girl telling tales about me behind my back again!"

Emperor Zhaoming chuckled, bowed, and then went out.

Daiyu followed out.

The two of them walked one in front and one behind, with Tao Xingjian and Xiaohong following beside them, and slowly left Jingfuzhai and went to Shengong Academy. Emperor Zhaoming also wanted to live in this place because it was close to the empress dowager.

Emperor Zhaoming and Daiyu asked and answered each other, and slowly recounted in detail everything that had happened in the palace over the past month.

Entering the main hall of Shengong Academy and walking around the bookshelves, one can see a chessboard and tea sets placed under the window.

Emperor Zhaoming sat down, pointed towards the opposite side, ordered Daiyu to sit down as well, and asked Tao Xingjian to bring some hot drinks.

After Daiyu finished speaking, Emperor Zhaoming nodded, thanked her again, and then looked at Tao Xingjian: "You stay, let the others leave."

Tao Xingjian understood what he meant, and with a wave of the whisk in his hand, he drove out all the other palace servants, eunuchs and guards.

Emperor Zhaoming then said, "I have decided to depose the queen and select a concubine. I estimate that preparations will begin after Yimin's wedding."

Daiyu said nothing.

He just lowered his eyes and looked at the bowl of hot drink in front of him.

This is the goat's milk with water chestnut juice that I finally got used to. It's a very nutritious food.

The soil and water in the palace are really good and nourishing.

Five years ago, if I had eaten one cup of this, I would have been too weak to be nourished and would have gotten sick from getting a sore throat.

Now, he drinks without changing his expression...

Emperor Zhaoming waited for her for a while. Seeing that she had no reaction at all, he felt slightly disappointed, but he calmed down in an instant and continued:

"In this case, the Queen Mother must return to the palace to help me.

"As for your marriage, I haven't decided on the right person yet.

"Secondly, with Yimin getting married, the Queen Mother will probably feel lonely, so I want to keep you for two years to accompany her.

"So you will also live in Daming Palace by then, and I'm afraid there will be a lot of messy things.

"This is the mission I assigned to you.

"If you do it well, I will reward you."

Daiyu then sat up straight and bowed in response: "I obey your order and thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

"Don't be restrained. It would be better if everything is the same as before." Emperor Zhaoming said this and looked at Tao Xingjian.

Tao Xingjian was caught rolling his eyes when he turned his head and pretended not to notice the sudden turn of Emperor Zhaoming's face. He looked at Daiyu with a smile and said:

"That is to say, there is no rush, let's take our time to choose.

"If you choose, you can get married smoothly. If you don't, we can serve the Queen Mother in the palace and live a carefree life.

"Don't worry, your majesty will take care of everything!"

Daiyu said "oh", picked up the goat's milk and took a sip.