Zheng Xiao said helplessly: “I’m not your sister-in-law anymore. You can turn to Old Madam for help.”


  “Old Madam is in seclusion in a temple, and we are not allowed to see her. Alas, it’s just our retribution. We have no one to blame.” Second Madam looked at Qiao Jinniang who was on the side and asked, “Jinniang… do you still blame your sister and me for our offense to you?”


  Qiao Jinniang said, “Second Aunt, what happened in the past is over and done with. Sister Ruofeng is still young. You don’t have to hurry to marry her off.

  “After Grandmother comes back, she will definitely find a good husband for Ruofeng.”


  Second Madam sighed and said sadly, “My poor daughter!

  “Why did she admit that she was in correspondence with Prince Mediocre!”


  Qiao Jinniang said, “It’s better to say it now than to say it after marriage and then get divorced by her husband.”


  Second Madam thought her words made sense and felt a bit better. Then she thought of Qiao Ruoyun and said,

  “By the way, Sister-in-law, do you know that Ruoyun is looking for a Yangzhou Thin horse for her husband?

  “She is really stupid.

  “Young Master Qin treated her so well, yet she kept pushing her man to other women!”


  “You have to remind her about this. She has been dull and weak since she was a child.

  “If she really finds her husband a concubine who can win her husband’s favor, how can she still maintain her status as the mistress?”


  Zheng Xiao sighed. “Ruoyun has been married for almost three years but still has no children yet, so she is very anxious. “Her mother-in-law is not harsh to her, but her grandmother-in-law who despises her background keeps nagging her about children every day.

  “So finding a concubine for her husband might get that old woman to shut up.”


  Second Madam empathized. Her mother-in-law was nice to her, and even though her husband had several concubines, he still didn’t get a son.

  Second Master Qiao was so disappointed and simply gave up. Second Madam sighed. “Alas, when can women in the world be freed of the shackle of having to give birth to a son?”


  When Qiao Jinniang heard the words, she said, “Sister Ruoyun has just had a miscarriage less than a year ago, but now she has to find her husband a concubine under the pressure of public opinion. Alas, why can’t she live an easier life?”


  If she were Qiao Ruoyun, if the Qin family forced her to find her husband a concubine, she would definitely choose to divorce and return to her parents’ home.

  She was brought up with care and love. Why did she have to bear such humiliation?

  But Qiao Ruoyun was not her. Since she chose to surrender, Qiao Jinniang was not in a position to say anything about it.

  If she went to persuade Qiao Ruoyun to divorce, the latter might blame her.

  Second Madam complimented Qiao Jinniang. “Jinniang is really a lucky girl.

  “I heard that the Ministry of Rites is already preparing for the Crown Prince’s wedding. It won’t take long before you can marry into the East Palace as the crown princess.

  “This whole Chang’an is looking forward to you marrying into the East Palace as soon as possible.”


  Qiao Jinniang smiled and said, “Do people hate me so much that you want to lock me up in the East Palace as soon as possible?”


  Second Madam said, “Of course not, now that the crown princess has already been chosen, the crown prince’s first, second and third concubines will also be chosen soon. So the whole of Chang’an is looking forward to it!”


  Qiao Jinniang took a sip of tea. “Then I’m afraid they will be disappointed.” Second Madam asked in confusion, “Why?”


  Qiao Jinniang smiled and said, “Because I won’t allow my husband to take any concubines!”


  Second Madam tentatively put her hand on Qiao Jinniang’s forehead. “You don’t have a fever, but why are you raving?”.

  Qiao Jinniang smiled and said, “I’m not raving. I won’t allow my husband to take any concubines. If the Crown Prince becomes my husband, he’ll have to accept it too.”


  Prince Huai had returned to Chang’an, and his mansion was built.

  After entering the mansion, Consort Huai held a grand banquet.

  Consort Huai was from the Empress Dowager’s natal family and had a lot of connections in Chang’an.

  Almost every powerful family in Chang’an had received invitations to the banquet.

  The Duke Mansion was no exception, and Consort Huai was even considerate enough to send the invitation to Qiao Jinniang’s house, not to the Duke Mansion. Qiao Jinniang was very impressed with Li Lingling who was the first scheming woman Qiao Jinniang had seen since she came to Chang’an.

  Not to mention that Li Lingling had always wanted to marry into the East Palace.

  Although Zheng Xiao didn’t want to attend to the Duke Mansion’s affairs, begged by Duke Anyuan, she still helped Duke Anyuan prepare the gift.

  Since Prince Huai had returned to Chang’an and had his own mansion, all the nobles in Chang’an would attend this banquet.

  Therefore, early this morning, the gates of Prince Huai Mansion were crowded with people and vehicles. Qiao Jinniang and Qiao Ruoyi were in the same carriage with Fulu.

  Fulu said to Qiao Jinniang, “My eldest cousin has always been gentle and nice, but Li Lingling, as you know, is not easy to deal with. “I’m really upset when I think that I’ll have to see her at every palace banquet in the future. She is such a nuisance!

  “As soon as Prince Huai returned, Li Lingling held such a grand banquet. It seems like she is really afraid that people in Chang’an will forget

  her.”


  Qiao Ruoyi said to Fulu, “No, she should be afraid that people in Chang’an will forget Prince Huai.

  “Prince Huai’s reputation nine years ago was no worse than that of Prince Mediocre a while

  ago!”


  Fulu remembered, “Yes, when the Crown Prince was still a child, Prince Huai had already been famous for his wisdom in governing the country.

  “But then Prince Mediocre gradually made his name, and my eldest cousin gradually became a prince who only liked painting and calligraphy. “My parents said my eldest cousin was trying to avoid suspicion…”


  Qiao Ruoyi said, “Exactly, the Eldest Prince is a smart person. Nine years ago, he was already in his twenties.

  “But His Royal Highness was only an eleven-year-old boy.

  “The Eldest Prince was already in his prime, and if he still had the talent to run the country, people would inevitably think he was more suitable to be the crown prince.

  “His Majesty would have been unhappy if he heard those words, so the Eldest Prince pretended to only like calligraphy and painting and looked to be uninterested in politics.

  “And in exchange, the Queen protected his life when he was abandoned by Earl Cheng’en Mansion.

  “He is actually quite smart.

  “Now he is still the respected Prince Huai.

  “But Prince Mediocre who prided himself on the talent of running the country and wanted to seize the throne has become a commoner.”


  Qiao Jinniang disagreed with Qiao Ruoyi’s opinion.

  She thought if Prince Huai really had no intention to compete with the Crown {rince for the throne…


  Why did he have to purposely avoid suspicion?

  Was he hiding what he really wanted in his heart?

  When they arrived at the gates of Prince Huai Mansion, Li Lingling was greeting the guests at the front door. Looking at this, who wouldn’t praise Prince Huai for having a good consort?

  And who wouldn’t exclaim about the impermanent fate!

  They had thought that Li Lingling was over since she was married off to the Eldest Prince and sent to the Imperial Mausoleum, but she had become Consort Huai and returned to Chang’an.

  Now Prince Mediocre had been demoted to a commoner, and the Eldest Prince had become Prince Huai, everyone suddenly remembered that Prince Huai was very outstanding ten years ago.

  More importantly, Prince Huai was the Emperor’s eldest son!

  His mother was His Majesty’s cousin. In terms of bloodline, he was not much worse than His Royal Highness.

  The noble ladies gossiped in twos and threes.

  “I heard that Li Lingling was raised by the standard of the future crown princess. This banquet is held almost perfectly.”


  “I wonder if His Royal Highness regrets giving Li Lingling to Prince Huai?”


  “Shh! Aren’t you afraid of losing your head?”


  “Mrs. Tong, I’m telling the truth, can Qiao Jinniang manage the entire East Palace?”


  Mrs. Tong smiled and said, “Only when she can’t handle it and doesn’t have the ability of Li Lingling can our daughters have an easier life in the East Palace!”


  A lady beside her echoed, “Mrs. Tong’s words are very true. If the crown princess is very capable, the Crown Prince’s concubines will have a hard time. “If Qiao Jinniang doesn’t know how to manage the East Palace, perhaps our daughters will gain the right to manage the East Palace, right?”