Spring Drunk Chang'an

"The prince's temperament is not like this..." The prince's wife was not surprised and continued to say with a smile.

"Yes, I know!" Song Zhinian shrugged and said indifferently, "But my cousin doesn't like me and only treats me as a younger sister. So, he won't fight for me like he did for Sister Chang'an. So this time, I was granted marriage by the imperial decree and sent to the Eastern Palace. Then, I believe that following me, the Eastern Palace's principal wife, there will definitely be the titles of Crown Prince's Consort, Crown Prince's Consort, and Crown Prince's Consort..."

"Wait for the will."

"My cousin will respect me and let me give birth to a legitimate son first, but that won't prevent the Eastern Palace from having other women and other children. I will still do what I said, and even be even more virtuous!"

"Who made me the future Empress Dowager?"

"Isn't my aunt's lesson profound enough? That's the fate of a queen who doesn't have the emperor's true love. Instead of that, I'd rather rely on our family's power and find a suitable family."

"By then, I'll have a grandfather who's a duke, a father who's a prince, an aunt who's an empress, a cousin who's a prince, and a sister who's a princess. Hahaha, with such a background, no matter what family I find, they'll treat me with great care and hold me in their arms. Even if I marry someone of my lower status, their entire family will chop off a piece of wood and enshrine me as a family ancestor to serve them."

"What's with 'a daughter-in-law becomes a mother-in-law after ten years'? What's with 'being awake at all times and observing the rules'? Hahaha, I'm a virtuous person because I don't smash his ancestral tablets..."

Song Zhinian laughed out loud.

"What are you talking about? Why are you smashing other people's tablets for no reason?" The more the Crown Prince's wife listened to her, the more outrageous she felt. She couldn't help but pat her daughter, then lowered her head and thought about it.

After a moment, Yanran laughed, "What you said does make sense."

"A comfortable life is much more important than superficial glory. Anyway, with us here, you'll always have wealth and a bright future. There's no need to run around!"

"Of course, it's my fault that I can reincarnate!" Song Zhinian tilted his head.

The mother and daughter smiled at each other and walked forward.

I went to discuss the dowry with my family.

-

As soon as the imperial edict was announced in the capital, all the nobles knew about it. Although they didn't understand why the prince didn't choose his cousin who was from his maternal family and had a good family background and was innocent, but instead wanted to adopt a concubine who had been a slave.

Some people who thought they understood quietly spread the word, "Your Majesty's move is brilliant. He used a granted marriage to split the alliance between the Crown Prince and the Cheng'en Mansion..."

"Think about that Prince Song, the prince's father-in-law, who was once a good father-in-law. Now he suddenly becomes a stranger. How could he be willing?"

"Can the lineage of the Crown Prince's wife be willing to have the position of future Queen Mother snatched away?"

"The Duke Cheng'en Mansion and the Queen's family are in cahoots!"

Those who understand will realize the whole world.

Of course, some nobles in the capital also believed it, but no matter what, Emperor Yingwu had already granted the marriage, the imperial edict had been passed on, and the prince had not objected. So no one dared to say anything openly?

Everyone was happy and went to the East Palace to congratulate.

Xiao Chuo naturally showed a happy face and treated people and things with a warm smile. Even his political enemies were welcomed by his smile.

So polite it's outrageous!

The officials who had been beaten by him because of his mood swings were so scared that they lost two and a half souls.

"What's going on? Why are you laughing like that?"

"Is the prince so satisfied with this marriage?"

They were confused.

Someone with understanding came out again, "What if the prince doesn't laugh? Can he resist the imperial decree?"

"Laugh, look at him with such a smile on his face, you might be a coward. I'm afraid our Crown Princess will have a hard time in the future."

Because of an imperial edict, the capital was in an uproar.

However, the Cheng'en Mansion completely ignored it. They prepared the dowry and discussed the wedding date. Song Bin personally met with the Minister of Rites and sent Liu Chang'an's horoscope to the Imperial Observatory...

The wedding date has been set.

There are three auspicious days in total.

October 8th this year.

July 26th next year.

And, December 14th of next year.

All three were excellent days.

Logically speaking, it was completely normal for the Imperial Household Department to prepare for the marriage of a crown prince for a year or two, and the standards should be appropriate to the status of the person. However, Xiao Chuo really couldn't wait.

Three auspicious dates were offered, and he chose October 8th without hesitation. Then...

It’s only been a few months.

The Imperial Household Department was extremely busy, with weddings, wedding ceremonies, auspicious gifts, court beads, decorations, ornaments, wedding receptions, furniture...

Everything has to be arranged by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

It was visible to the naked eye that in just half a month, the head steward of the Imperial Household Department had become so thin that his cheeks were sunken.

Moreover, because she was busy with the prince's marriage, Queen Song intervened. After all, he was her only son. How could a mother ignore his marriage?

Empress Song met Emperor Yingwu in person.

She wants power over all the six palaces.

"I am uneasy about leaving my son's marriage to Concubine Qu. I don't think she would be willing to take charge. So, Your Majesty, please issue an order for Concubine Qu to return the Phoenix Seal."

Standing in the Qiankun Hall, she said this openly.

Emperor Yingwu:...

There is no other way.

The throne is about to be handed over to someone else's son, so is it possible that he can still hold on to the power of the palace?

If I don't give it to you now, what good will it do except helping Concubine Qu offend others?

"Okay, I understand!"

He could only agree cowardly, and then he went to Concubine Qu in person, told her the matter in a gentle manner, and took the Phoenix Seal away despite her objections.

The power of the six palaces returned to the hands of Queen Song.

Emperor Yingwu huddled in the Qiankun Hall, feeling extremely aggrieved.

Concubine Qu was about to explode. She had held the palace power and the phoenix seal for more than ten years.

She was able to stand tall in front of Queen Song and not give an inch because of these things. How could she take them away so easily?

She was anxious and angry, and went to ask to see the emperor several times, but Emperor Tianyingwu refused to see her.

For some unknown reason, Concubine Qu cried every night in desperation. In desperation, she went to her son, Prince Yan, who was recovering from his injuries, to complain.

King Yan: ...

Ever since he truly became the 'Eunuch King', his features had grown increasingly feminine, his voice shrill, and his temperament increasingly harsh. He squinted at his mother and sneered, "Father is about to abdicate. The throne of common rule belongs to the Crown Prince."

"Empress Song is about to become the Empress Dowager. Naturally, she wants power in the palace, and my father naturally dares not resist."

"Mother, don't you understand this situation?"

"What? Your father wants to abdicate? Why? He is still in good health!" Concubine Qu was shocked.

The things that Emperor Yingwu and Prince Yan discussed, such as the military power and forcing the emperor to abdicate, were tacitly kept secret from Concubine Qu. Now, Concubine Qu was still thinking about her son's injury and his failure to become emperor.

What about the crown prince ascending the throne? In her expectation, that should happen in ten or twenty years.

"No, your father cannot abdicate. If he abdicates, what will happen to us, mother and daughter?"