Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

  The Empress Dowager’s voice was not low. She obviously wanted everyone to hear this.

  The nobles and ministers who were sitting on the front heard the Empress Dowager’s words, and many of them set their eyes on Qiao Jinniang to watch the show.

  According to the law, a prince could have two concubines at most.

  However, the other five princes all had already had two concubines except for the Crown Prince.

  So the Empress Dowager obviously wanted to marry Li Lingling to the Crown Prince.

  Qiao Jinniang drank a glass of fruit wine sullenly. She should not have believed Lu Chen.

  Since the Empress Dowager had said this, could Lu Chen refuse?

  Lu Chen said, “Grandmother, you’re right. It just so happens that my eldest brother had been guarding the tomb for Imperial Concubine Li for the past three years. He must be very lonely.

  “If you grant Cousin to my eldest brother, he will no longer be lonely, and Cousin can also accompany Imperial Concubine Li who was very fond of her when she was alive.”


  Hearing this, the Empress Dowager said angrily, “Your eldest brother made a huge mistake and caused you to disappear for three years.

  “How could he be worthy of Ling’er? I think she is more suitable for you. You’re only in your twenties but you haven’t had a woman around to take care of you.

  “And Ling’er is smart and beautiful. She is worthy of…”


  Lu Chen interrupted the Empress Dowager’s words and said, “When Imperial Concubine Li was still alive, she always wanted Cousin to marry my eldest brother.

  “Now she has passed away. I think Cousin must be willing to grant her last wish.

  “But the position of concubine is a little low for her. Father, please grant County Mistress Li from Earl Cheng’en Mansion as my eldest brother’s wife.”


  ‘When the people from Earl Cheng’en Mansion heard this, they all turned pale.

  Emperor Huilin sighed and said, “My son is so kind-hearted. Your eldest brother treats you like that but you are still worried about him.

  “Since this is Imperial Concubine Li’s last wish, then I will grant Li Lingling to be the wife of my eldest son. The Ministry of Rites shall choose a good day, on which they will marry in the imperial mausoleum.”


  Qiao Jinniang breathed a sigh of relief and asked Qiao Ruoyi in a low voice, “Is this eldest prince’s mother also from the Earl Cheng’en Mansion?”


  Qiao Ruoyi nodded. “The Eldest Prince is the real grandson of Earl Cheng’en, and his mother, Imperial Concubine Li, is Earl Cheng’en’s daughter and His Majesty’s cousin.

  “Imperial Concubine Xian is also His Majesty’s cousin, but she is the daughter of Earl Cheng’en’s sister. Since her mother died early, she grew up in the Earl Cheng’en Mansion.

  “More than three years ago, the Eldest Prince was involved in the case of the disappearance of the Crown Prince. The evidence that the Eldest Prince harmed the Crown Prince was conclusive, so His Majesty took away his title and wanted to sentence him to death.

  “But for some unknown reason, the Queen interceded on behalf of the Eldest Prince, so His Majesty forgave the Eldest Prince’s death penalty.

  “Not long after, Imperial Concubine Li died abruptly, and the Eldest Prince went to guard her tomb.

  “But in fact, he was banished to the imperial mausoleum and wasn’t allowed to enter Chang’an again. ”


  Qiao Jinniang listened, feeling that it was really not easy to be the crown prince.

  Although Lu Chen was favored by His Majesty, all his brothers hated him to their guts.

  The kinship among the royal family members was really fragile.

  Before they could offer sacrifices to the moon, the Empress Dowager said she felt ill and left Chengxi Palace, apparently angry with the Emperor.

  Tomorrow, there would inevitably be imperial censors complaining about this.

  After the banquet, it was already dark, and the round and big bright moon hung high in the sky.

  The Emperor and the Queen led the ministers and their families to worship the moon, and after that, the palace banquet was over.

  Qiao Jinniang was going back with her family. When she arrived at the gate of the imperial palace, she was about to get on the carriage.

  Lu Chen came over, held her hand, and said to Duke Anyuan and his wife who were very surprised to see this,

  “Duke, Duchess, I want to take Jinniang to float the river lantern. Don’t worry. I’ll send her home after floating the river lantern.”


  How dare Duke Anyuan refuse. He quickly said, “No problem, Your Royal Highness.”


  The Duchess felt that women should be more reserved, but since the two of them had even had a child, she shouldn’t stop Jinniang.

  She could only say, “Jinniang, don’t annoy Your Royal Highness. Come home early.”


  Qiao Jinniang nodded.

  After watching the couple leave, the Duchess asked Duke Anyuan,

  “Didn’t you say that His Royal Highness hated Jinniang? But he didn’t seem to hate Jinniang at all just now.

  “Many ladies came to ask me about the pearls on Jinniang’s head. Those pearls are all of the highest quality. Were they given by His Royal Highness?”


  Duke Anyuan frowned and was confused too. “That’s strange. Jinniang insulted His Royal Highness so terribly last time, but he didn’t mind it at all?”


  It didn’t look like that His Royal Highness did this to win over him.

  Lu Chen brought Qiao Jinniang all the way to the upper reaches of the moat.

  Qiao Jinniang asked Lu Chen, “Where is Tuan’er?”


  “He didn’t sleep this afternoon, so he has fallen asleep now.”


  Qiao Jinniang said angrily, “That Junior Duke Bao is such a bully, yet those people in the imperial palace were all partial to him.

  “Lcan guess how they bully Tuan‘er when you are not around!

  “Just this afternoon, I saw a big bruise on his arm.”


  Lu Chen said, “Tuan’er is not a pushover. He had bitten Bao’er hard. Bao’er is just a kid after all.”


  “He is a kid, but his parents aren’t. They failed to educate their son well.”


  Qiao Jinniang snorted to Lu Chen. “You, the Crown Prince, can’t even protect your own son! Isn’t it sad? It seems that you’re not only impotent…”


  Lu Chen covered Qiao Jinniang’s mouth. “How dare you talk nonsense in public?

  “When did I say I would not take revenge on Prince Qi and his wife?

  “But I am the Crown Prince after all. I can’t do it openly.”


  Qiao Jinniang pushed Lu Chen’s hand away and said, “And the Empress Dowager. You refused to marry Li Lingling with Imperial Concubine Li as the excuse.

  “But what if the Empress Dowager directly issues a decree and gives you a concubine?”


  Thinking of this, Qiao Jinniang felt like a fishbone stuck in her throat.

  After all, the Empress Dowager was the Emperor’s biological mother, Lu Chen’s grandmother. It was normal for her to give a concubine to her grandson.

  Besides, she was the Empress Dowager. It was completely justifiable for her to bestow a concubine to the Crown Prince.

  After all, it did not interfere in the selection of the crown princess, and she didn’t need to discuss with the Emperor and the Queen to give Lu Chen a concubine.

  Qiao Jinniang took off the jade bracelet on her wrist and gave it to Lu Chen. “Old Madam Zhou gave this to me. Take it back.”


  Lu Chen said, “Since I’ve promised you I won’t take any concubines, I’ll keep my word.

  “If the Empress Dowager could do that, she would have done it much earlier. And my father won’t let her force me. You can be rest assured. Just keep this bracelet.”


  Qiao Jinniang still didn’t believe Lu Chen. Filial piety was advocated nowadays. Could Lu Chen keep saying no to the Empress Dowager?

  “Even if you can refuse the Empress Dowager, what if your father wants you to marry a concubine in the future?

  “Or what if your mother wants you to marry one? They are your parents and the most honorable people in the world. Can you disrespect their orders?”


  Qiao Jinniang didn’t take back the bracelet. She said dully, “I’m really afraid of the harem fight. Lu Chen, I grew up in Myriad Taste.

  “although Myriad Taste is not a paradise, the troubles there are just trivial matters.

  “But if I am just slightest careless in the harem fight, I may fall into an abyss.

  “I’m really scared…… Please let me go