The Concubine's Daughter Travels Through Time and Space and Takes the Road of Confrontation

As soon as news of the Empress Dowager's illness spread, all banquets and entertainment in Kyoto were cancelled. Even some daring merchants began to stockpile linen and straw ropes.

Three days had passed since the last Peach Blossom Banquet. Unable to resist his brother's pleas, Zhao Qingbo decided to go to Qinghui Garden to test his mother's resolve. While her marriage hadn't been finalized, it was imminent. Qinglu's marriage had already been discussed within her family. It was estimated that within two years, all the sisters' affairs would be finalized.

Next is my younger brother Zhao Qingyu. Judging from my mother's temperament, she should be secretly looking for him now.

Zhao Qingbo came to Qinghui Garden on purpose, as his mother had just woken up from her nap.

"The eldest lady is here." The little girl who opened the curtain shouted inside.

His mother was sitting in front of the dressing mirror putting on her makeup. Zhao Qingbo took the gold hairpin from Nanny Song and pinned it in his mother's hair with his own hands.

Mrs. Ma smiled and said, "How come you have time to come to me today? You must have something to ask of me."

Zhao Qingbo covered his mouth and chuckled. "If I were fine, I couldn't come to see you, mother. Now, I have to blame my younger brother for making this trip today."

"Oh." Mrs. Ma waited calmly for her to continue.

"My younger brother suddenly asked me which young ladies attended the banquet three days ago. He is so bold, there must be a reason." Zhao Qingbo pretended to be mysterious.

Mrs. Ma smiled and glanced at her daughter. "I raised all of you personally. Not to mention your brother, I know what you're thinking. You must be acting as a spy because you're taking advantage of others and are just being soft-hearted."

Zhao Qingbo knew he couldn't hide it anymore, so he smiled and leaned on his mother's back. "Mom, what are you thinking about my brother's marriage? Which daughter do you have your eyes on?"

Mrs. Ma pushed her daughter to sit on the kang beside her, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said bluntly, "Anyway, it's not what you have in mind."

Zhao Qingbo's expression froze slightly. Remembering her brother's request, she decided to say a few more words. "Mother has her own reasons, but I think she's good in every way. You often praise Xu Shiyun's handwriting, but you didn't realize that her handwriting, even at such a young age, is much better than Xu Shiyun's. This shows her strong character."

Mrs. Ma remained unmoved after hearing this. She looked at her daughter's charming face and said earnestly, "If a girl wants to marry well, she must have a strong maternal family behind her. If someone in her family is an official or her brothers are successful, then even if she has many shortcomings, she will still be good in the eyes of others. If she is the eldest daughter of the second branch of the Marquis of Ping'an, I will immediately ask a matchmaker to come and finalize this matter."

It was a pity that the young man from the first branch of the Ping'an Marquisate had no future and only had the title of marquis. On the other hand, the second master Zhang had already achieved the rank of fourth rank at a young age, and his uncle was the Minister of Personnel, so he was expected to become an official in the near future.

As members of the second branch, the only person their family can rely on is the imperial concubine who has no children yet, while the current emperor is getting older year by year.

Zhao Qingbo immediately understood the crux of the matter. "Then what does my mother like?" A light bulb went off in her head and she stood up, incredulous. "Xu Shiyun." "Very sure."

Mrs. Ma neither admitted nor denied, "What our family lacks the least is money, and the Hanlin is noble. Hanlin Xu is very knowledgeable, and the last number one scholar has received his guidance. If Qingyu can get some of his true teachings, his academic performance will surely improve greatly, and passing the imperial examination in the future will not be a problem." Mrs. Ma looked happy, as if she had already seen the lively scene of a group of people beating gongs and drums to announce the good news to her house that day.

"Besides, with the status of our Earl's Mansion, you sisters will have someone to rely on when the time comes."

"As you said, there must be other reasons why my mother asked me many times to send invitations to Miss Lu." Zhao Qingbo said in a bitter voice.

Mrs. Ma did not answer her daughter. If anyone was to blame, it was Brother Yu who had a secret crush on her. Instead of being on guard against her, it would be better to push her to the main house to be the prince's concubine - being so close yet so far away, everyone could have some peace and quiet.

Zhao Qingbo returned to Hanshan Pavilion unsure how to explain this to her brother. Something in her heart told her that her mother's actions were in the best interests of the family, and that she would also benefit. As a beneficiary, how could she have the nerve to criticize her mother's actions? Compared to this, the harm her brother had suffered seemed nothing.

Is this really the case? Zhao Qingbo didn't know.

Suddenly, a strong wind blew outside, and dark clouds rolled in the distant sky. Ignoring the maid's obstruction, Zhao Qingbo opened the window.

Zhao Qingyu came back from school and asked the servant who was looking after the yard, "Has the elder sister come today?" The servant shook his head.

The next day he wanted to go to Hanshan Pavilion in person, but his mother gave him a stack of Buddhist scriptures and told him to copy them within three days and send them to Qingping Temple. By the way, she also told him not to disturb his elder sister because she caught a cold.

After being busy for four days in a row, he just had some free time when he heard the servants say that the Crown Prince's wife was not feeling well, and there was a sense of foreboding in their words.

His mother took his two sisters to copy scriptures, and Zhao Qingyu had no choice but to control his temper and continue waiting.

The marriage of the eldest princess, which had been debated in the court for seven or eight days, was finally settled.

After hearing the imperial edict, Concubine Rong fainted on the spot. Princess Yongle, Tan Yi, stood up and took the imperial edict on behalf of her mother. She looked normal, as if the bright yellow silk in her hand was not the imperial edict that determined her fate, but a piece of blank paper.

Ronghua Palace was quiet. Concubine Rong woke up and saw her daughter sitting beside the bed. She burst into tears and said, "Mother is useless and can't save you."

Qin Yi stood up and hugged her mother's frail body. "Mother, don't worry about me. I have been raised in the palace since childhood, and I am familiar with the classics and collections. You have also taught me carefully. I am 70% confident about this trip south to marry."

"What?" Rong Fei didn't hear clearly what her daughter said.

Qin Yi sat back on the stool and spoke slowly, "My daughter has read all the historical records of the previous dynasty. Among the dozen princesses sent out by the previous dynasty to marry, three of them married into the State of Cao and died of natural causes. One of them, Princess Wenren, was deeply loved by the locals, who even built a temple in her honor. Although the historical records only contain a few words, my daughter has learned a lot. This shows that the State of Cao was not a barbaric and uncivilized place."

She took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from her mother's face, revealing a hint of a little girl's demeanor. "Mother, I often see you sitting alone in the yard, watching the birds and clouds in the distant sky. I also wonder what kind of person I will marry in the future, but after thinking about it, I find it meaningless. For example, you, like Aunt Changning who passed away young, were obviously as talented as men, but were trapped in a cage for life because of their status as a woman."

Qin Yi's eyes were firm. "Time flies, and they never stop working. My daughter's journey westward will help us revise the alliance with the State of Cao, eliminate the Hu bandits, and ensure the safety of the people on our southwestern border." She gave a playful smile. "I also ask you, mother, to write a book and biography for me, so that the world will know that women can also achieve great things."

Listening to her daughter's childish words, Rong Fei felt heartbroken. She hugged her daughter tightly as if saying goodbye. "Once you take the Jade Pass Road, you will never return. Mother only wants you to be safe and sound—"

Emperor Longqing stood outside for a long time. Turning back, he seemed several years older. He abandoned his palanquin and slowly walked back to the Purple Palace. After a long pause beside the dragon couch, he finally reached out and twisted the vase, his bright yellow figure gradually disappearing into the tunnel.