Marrying the Crown Prince

Hearing Zhou Zhou say this, Empress Chu understood—this Zhou Yue was the illegitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yongjing.

However, the more prestigious the family, the less they cared about the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. It should be understood that this is a patriarchal society, and outsiders choose their children based on the father's family, not the mother's family.

You should know that only those who are short-sighted and narrow-minded will mistreat their illegitimate sons and abuse their illegitimate daughters.

However, there is not a complete lack of distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. The most unique aspect is that when the Crown Prince chooses his Crown Princess, he will give priority to the legitimate daughters of prestigious families.

It is worth mentioning that in a patriarchal society, the status of illegitimate daughters from prestigious families was higher than that of legitimate daughters from ordinary families.

Therefore, Empress Chu did not look down on Zhou Yue. Instead, she nodded affirmatively and praised her, "Yes, it's good for a girl to be gentle and quiet."

"It's your first time entering the palace, you shouldn't be sent back empty-handed."

After saying this, Empress Chu touched the hairpin in her hair, and finally took off a red gold lotus eight-treasure hairpin, which was also decorated with tassels around her waist.

"Thank you for the gift, Your Majesty." Zhou Yue accepted it, her eyes lowered, looking delicate and tender.

Empress Chu smiled and said, "Alright, it's not easy for your family to meet, so I won't be the bad guy and let you stay."

"Your subject/daughter takes her leave."

"My son, please retire."

Just as Zhou Zhou and Li Ziyan finished speaking, Empress Chu seemed to remember something and quickly said, "Jinyou, stay and talk to me for a while."

It's perfectly understandable for a mother to leave room for her son to speak.

Therefore, Li Ziyan looked at Zhou Zhou with apologetic eyes, "Lunch will be served when I get back."

Empress Chu gritted her teeth silently—well, she's already thinking of leaving before she's even said two words!

Her expression changed so quickly that it was hard for Zhou Zhou not to notice.

If he didn't notice, Zhou Zhou wouldn't say much. But if he did notice, he would say a few more words. After all, it was just a matter of talking, and he wouldn't lose anything.

If this incident could stop Empress Chu from making things difficult for him, that would be perfect.

Of course, winning over the Empress is a long and arduous task.

difficult!

"The food here at Mother's place must be first-rate," she said softly, with a hint of warning in her voice. "I don't have the luck to ask Mother to let me stay in the future. So today, Your Highness, please stay and try it for me?"

Li Ziyan's brow twitched.

"Your Majesty, I take my leave." Zhou Zhou bowed again and left with his entourage.

Watching her departing figure, Empress Chu snorted softly, "She's quite clever."

Li Ziyan sighed and looked at his mother with gentle eyes, "Mother, what important matter do you have that you want me to stay here with?"

"What?" Empress Chu glanced at him sideways, her tone unfriendly. "If there's nothing else, why can't I keep you here?"

"Mother..."

Li Ziyan looked at her helplessly, unable to do anything about Empress Chu's unreasonable behavior.

"Alright, alright, I know that's your wife's family home, so you should go and keep them company." Empress Chu wasn't really being unreasonable. "I just want to say a few words to you."

"The Empress Dowager's magnanimity is beyond compare; she is truly generous," Li Ziyan immediately flattered her.

"Hmph!" Empress Chu gave a haughty snort, quite pleased with herself.

After her moment of pride, Empress Chu got down to business, "What do you think of Zhou Jiu?"

"What?" Li Ziyan was confused.

"Tsk," Empress Chu frowned, feeling that her son was so obtuse. "Her family background is not prominent, and she is the Crown Princess's sister. Her family must be willing to give her up to be a concubine."

Li Ziyan stood up abruptly, implying that he could take back the compliment he had just given his mother.

Empress Chu was startled. "Sit properly while you're talking. What are you doing?"

Li Ziyan's face darkened, and he no longer bothered to feign gentleness. His sharp gaze swept over the palace maids and eunuchs in the main hall.

He bluntly ordered, "All of you, stand back!"

The palace servants in Empress Chu's palace all bowed and quietly withdrew, except for Ruosong, who remained standing beside Empress Chu.

She spoke cautiously, trying to ease the tension between mother and son, "Your Highness, Her Majesty, she just..."

“Aunt Ruosong,” Li Ziyan said, her sharp eyebrows etched with frost, her expression so unfamiliar, “you may also step down.”

"This……"

She was still hesitating.

Empress Chu finally spoke, "Ruosong, you may leave now."

"Yes." Ruomatsu bowed and withdrew.

Meanwhile, Zhou Zhou and the others got along very well.

Grandma Zhou held Zhou Zhou's hand, staring intently at her face, looking her over carefully. Finally, her eyes reddened, and she choked up, saying, "It's alright, it's good that you're alright."

The pampering she received in her childhood was genuine, and in this situation, Zhou Zhou's heart softened completely. "Grandmother, don't worry, His Highness the Crown Prince is very protective of me."

Speaking of this, Old Mrs. Zhou gave Du a wink, and Du understood immediately, looking at Zhou Yue, "Yue'er, look, how beautifully the flowers in the yard are blooming."

Zhou Yue: "..."

I'm all grown up now, you can just say I'm not qualified to listen to the following.

Despite my inner complaints, I still have to take action.

Therefore, Zhou Yue stood up and said, "Yes, sister, I've never seen this flower before."

Zhou Zhou was both amused and exasperated, but she still played along, saying, "Then I'll have Ju Fang accompany you to take a look?"

Hearing that Jufang was going, Grandma Zhou also became interested. "My old bones feel uncomfortable sitting for too long. I'll go for a walk too."

Zhou Zhou understood that the old lady was afraid he wouldn't tell the truth and was preparing to question Ju Fang alone, so she didn't stop her.

After Zhou Yue left, Madam Du sat down next to Zhou Zhou, put her arm around her, and, like a thief, whispered in her ear—

"How is your relationship with the Crown Prince?"

Zhou Zhou feigned ignorance, "They've been very good to me."

"Tsk!" Madam Du frowned, pondering how to phrase this matter more subtly.

Seeing the distressed Du Shi, Zhou Zhou chuckled.

Du immediately understood and reached out to tickle her, "You little rascal, you really drove me crazy just now."

"Good mother, I was wrong, I was wrong." Zhou Zhou begged for forgiveness repeatedly, and only then did the matter pass.

After the commotion subsided, the two became even closer. Zhou Zhou took Du Shi's arm and said, "Mother, don't worry, His Highness is really good to me."

"Judging from your complexion and condition, I know you haven't been wronged," Du replied listlessly, adding, "However, I feel that the Empress... doesn't like you."

After saying that, Mrs. Du found it funny. In this world, how many mothers-in-law actually like their daughters-in-law?

"Don't worry, Mother, I can handle it." Zhou Zhou didn't seem to care.

Who is Zhou Zhou?

In Du's view, ferrying the Chu Empress was only a matter of time.

Therefore, instead of dwelling on that topic, we returned to the original one—

"How are things between you and His Highness?"