Traveling through time and space

"Mother, yesterday Yuanyuan went to see the villa with hot springs that the emperor gave us. It's so beautiful, Yuanyuan loves it very much. Thinking about how much the emperor loves Yuanyuan, Yuanyuan is very happy." Su Yuanyuan wanted to lean on her mother and act coquettishly, but after sitting down, she found that her mother, who was dressed elegantly, was sitting very straight. She quickly sat back down, "I'm sorry, mother, Yuanyuan is being rude."

"My dear child, you have never called your mother since you were born, and you have never let your mother hold you once. You are a pitiful child. Your biological mother..." The eldest princess' mother stopped talking again. Su Yuanyuan was still waiting, but she didn't say anything.

"Mother, what kind of woman is my biological mother? Have you ever seen her?"

"Yes, I have. I've run into her at several banquets since then. She's a very talented woman, and very beautiful. You bear a strong resemblance to her. She has a very good temper."

"Then mother, Yuanyuan asked something that shouldn't be asked. Why couldn't the emperor marry my mother back then?"

When Su Yuanyuan asked this, the eldest princess's face changed. "There are some reasons. Anyway, don't ask your father about this. Got it?" Su Yuanyuan's heart skipped a beat. Is this a taboo? But she really wanted to understand. Back then, her grandfather was also a second-rank official. It would have been easy for him to marry her mother. Why didn't her father take her in and give her a status even though her mother was pregnant? "That's a matter between them. You won't ask. Just enjoy your father's kindness to you and be your legitimate princess."

Su Yuanyuan sighed deeply, "Mother, sometimes, Yuanyuan would dream about you. When I was a child, I saw others were loved by their mothers and coaxed by their fathers, and Yuanyuan was so envious. Yuanyuan didn't want to be hungry, scolded, or beaten..." The original owner's memory was expressed affectionately through Su Yuanyuan's mouth.

"Okay, okay, everything will be fine from now on," Su Yuanyuan listened to her and lifted the curtain, only to find a family sitting in the carriage that turned over there.

"Mother, that's my eldest brother, and there's a woman and a child." Su Yuanyuan shouted. Su Yuanyuan stood up and stretched her head out. She was not careful and was pulled by her mother and almost fell. "Mother, isn't my eldest brother not married? How come he has a wife and a child? They look quite affectionate, but I can't see what the woman looks like." Su Yuanyuan looked like he wanted to get to the bottom of the gossip, but he didn't notice his mother's changing expression.

"That's his child, but the girl wasn't the one my mother liked. Without the permission of his parents or the words of a matchmaker, my mother let him settle down outside the house," the mother sighed helplessly.

"Mother, it's my eldest brother who likes her. Why don't you help him? Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. He likes and loves the woman he likes. No matter how sweet or bitter the life is, he can experience and enjoy it himself."

"That being said, although your eldest brother is not my biological son, I raised him together with your second brother. His biological mother was my good friend and died during childbirth. I had to take good care of him, but he wanted to marry that woman. How could I agree? In a rage, he set up his own residence outside the palace."

"Mother, children and grandchildren have their own blessings. If you help my eldest brother and let him live a happy life, you will be doing your best for his family and your friends. Isn't the purpose of life to be happy?"

"That woman is not presentable. Although your elder brother is not a prince, he is still the eldest princess's son. How could he marry a woman like that?" His tone was somewhat indignant.

"Mom, his life is his own, you can't replace it." Su Yuanyuan patted her mother's hand. Indeed, one's own life can only be decided by oneself. The car slowly stopped, and it seemed that they had arrived. The mother reached out to help Su Yuanyuan tidy up her messed up hair.

"Princess," a voice came from under the carriage. The two looked at each other, Su Yuanyuan got off first, and the princess got off later.

"Your servant Zheng Li is honored to meet the eldest princess." As soon as she got off the bus and stood still, a group of people came over to greet her. Standing in front was an old woman.

"Madam Zheng, please excuse me. Yuanyuan, this is the family of the old Taifu mansion, Madam Zheng."

"I am a slow-witted woman, but I am honored to meet Princess Anle." After her mother's reminder, the old lady bowed again.

"Mrs. Zheng, no need to be so polite," Su Yuanyuan bent down slightly, pretending to be leaning forward.

"This is my grandson and granddaughter," the old lady pointed at the two young boys and girls beside her. The boy was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with red lips and white teeth, and a heroic and stern appearance. The girl was about thirteen or fourteen years old, with sharp and unfriendly eyes, and did not look like someone who would be easy to get along with.

"Zheng Xi, Yun'er greets the eldest princess and Princess Anle."

"No need to greet you two,"

"Your Majesty greets the eldest princess and Princess Anle." People coming and going came over to pay their respects.

"Mom, let's go in, otherwise we might block this road," Su Yuanyuan whispered to her mother.

"This servant greets the eldest princess and Princess Anle," a group of people came out of the prince's mansion. They were a group of servants. As they entered the mansion,

"Greetings, aunt," a few more people came over, they were all princes and princesses.

"Yuanyuan, it seems we are the last ones to arrive," the mother greeted a few people with a smile.

"Yuanyuan greets everyone, brother and sister-in-law, sister, brother-in-law." Yuanyuan also greeted them. She knew a few of them, including her third brother and fifth sister and their spouses, but she didn't see her tenth sister. No wonder this was a banquet at the Crown Prince's residence; almost everyone would be there, and the princes and princesses returned the gifts one by one. After saying goodbye to everyone, a servant led them to meet today's host, the Crown Princess. "We have quite a few guests today," Su Yuanyuan whispered to her mother, as the servants who came and went were all smiling and welcoming.

"Of course. The Xuanyu Pavilion in front is the main courtyard of the Prince's Mansion." Su Yuanyuan was very unfamiliar with the Prince's Mansion. She had only seen the prince before. Following someone's message, she arrived at the gate of the courtyard of Xuanyu Pavilion.

"Your servants greet the eldest princess, Princess Anle, and the Crown Princess. Please come in." A row of people came out to greet them.

"Yuxuan greets aunt." After entering the yard and just as she was about to go into the main room, someone came to greet her. It turned out to be the Crown Princess He Yuxuan.

"Yuanyuan greets the Crown Princess. I hope the Crown Princess is well," Su Yuanyuan bowed.

"In the past I always greeted her from afar, but today I can finally get close to my sister. Aunt, sister Yuanyuan, please take a seat." The Crown Princess pointed and asked someone to sit down. Su Yuanyuan looked at the Crown Princess in front of her and was quite shocked. Her eyes were red and swollen, and the rouge and powder on her face could not cover them.

"Your servants greet the eldest princess and Princess Anle." There were still many people standing in the room. When they saw the main seat, they all came forward to greet them.

"No need to formalize." Mother raised her hand generously to signal them to stand up and sit in the main seat.

"Your servant Zhao Zheng greets the Crown Princess, the Eldest Princess, and Princess Anle..." Two more women came in from outside, bringing several young daughters into the room to pay their respects.

"Yan'er, you're here." The mother sitting in the seat of honor greeted her. It seemed that they knew each other.

"Everyone, the hydrangeas in the Crown Prince's Mansion are in bloom. You can enjoy them by yourselves." The Crown Princess looked at the people in the room with a frown and a hint of annoyance in her eyes. Su Yuanyuan looked at her closer. How could a woman with an ordinary appearance be the Crown Princess? Su Yuanyuan carefully recalled the events about the person in front of her. Her father was a third-rank official, the Censor He Zifang, and her brother He Xuanzhong was the commander of the imperial guards. He had a very powerful background. Su Yuanyuan was thinking about it when she realized someone was looking at her.

"Let's go see the hydrangeas together." Mother had already stood up.

"Okay." Su Yuanyuan stood up.

"Aunt, let Yuanyuan stay and talk to me." Su Yuanyuan went out, but was stopped by the Crown Princess. This was a bit embarrassing. She couldn't go out or leave.

"Mother, please go ahead. Yuanyuan will be there in a moment," Su Yuanyuan thought quickly, deciding to stay. Most of the people in the room had left, leaving only the two elderly women, the Crown Princess, and Su Yuanyuan. "What's the matter, Crown Princess?" Su Yuanyuan knew she wouldn't keep her here for no reason; they had never spoken privately before.

"Yuanyuan, just call me sister-in-law. You are the legitimate princess and should be the closest to the crown prince."

"Yes, you are siblings, so you should support each other." The two women who were originally sitting in the most senior seats came over and sat closer.

"Who is..." Su Yuanyuan asked.

"I am He Zifang's wife," said the lady who was sitting in the front and had just spoken.

"This is my mother, and that is my aunt."

"Hello, old ladies." Su Yuanyuan greeted them from her seat. "Crown Princess, what can I do for you?" Su Yuanyuan preferred directness over beating around the bush.

"I heard that you are from the countryside and have never had a mother to teach you since childhood. You are quite pitiful. You don't have any roots in this palace or outside. You should be of one mind with the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess." The Crown Princess's aunt looked pitiful for Su Yuanyuan.

"Yes, you have no foundation. When the Crown Prince ascends the throne, you will be the eldest princess, so you must be good to the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess."

"Well, they say the eldest brother is like a father, and the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. You must be wholeheartedly good to the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. They will become your support in the future, and you will not be bullied by others."

"We in the He family have a second legitimate son, the Crown Princess's younger brother. He is a perfect match for the princess, a man of talent and a woman of beauty."

"Yes, the princess is marrying into our He family..." This life is quite beautiful, and of course the two old ladies also sang the same tune.

A loud "bang" startled everyone, and Su Yuanyuan smashed the teacup in front of her. "Two old ladies, these are outrageous words. You shouldn't even think about them in your mind, let alone say them out loud?" Su Yuanyuan stood up angrily.

"Mother, Aunt, how could you say such outrageous things?" the Crown Princess immediately stood up and scolded her mother. "I'm sorry, Yuanyuan, they are ignorant women. Please don't argue with them." The Crown Princess stood up. Seeing her bend over, Su Yuanyuan took two steps to the left, avoiding her greeting.

"Yuxian, we are not wrong. She is just a princess without any foundation. Now the emperor favors her. Will he still remember her after a while? She can only obtain this permanent wealth and honor by relying on our prince's mansion."