At the Qiao family’s banquet, Qiao Jinniang had been used to being complimented by everyone.

  During the banquet, someone mentioned that the eldest daughter of the Zhou family had returned to Luoyang.

  Then the people began to talk about the Zhou sisters, who were very famous in Chang’an twenty years ago.

  Twenty years ago, His Majesty had been on the throne for nearly ten years, but the Zhou family held nearly one-fifth of the military power of the country, which put the royal family on alert.

  At that time, the Zhou family was in their heyday. The two daughters of the Zhou family were as beautiful as immortals, and the matchmakers who came to propose marriage almost stepped flat the threshold of the Zhou family’s door.

  But things changed when Imperial Concubine Zhou died of a serious illness.

  The Zhou sisters went into the imperial palace to express their condolences and met Emperor Huilin.

  Then less than a hundred days later, His Majesty said that he had found the candidate for his empress.

  Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he had been urged by all the ministers to establish an empress, but he didn’t for the next ten years.

  When His Majesty said that his empress would be the daughter of the Zhou family, everyone was shocked.

  What was even more puzzling to everyone was that the eldest daughter of the Zhou family left Chang’an when her sister’s wedding was approaching.

  “There were rumors back then that Zhou Qinghe left Chang’an that year because the one His Majesty took a fancy to was actually Zhou Qinghe, and it was Zhou Qinghe whom His Majesty loved and wanted to make his empress.

  “But she loved freedom and didn’t want to be restrained by the rules of the imperial palace, so she left Chang’an.

  “The Empress was actually Zhou Qinghe’s substitute, and received Her Majesty’s favor in Zhou Qinghe’s place.

  “Now that Zhou Qinghe is back, I’m afraid there may be another State Lady!”


  In the past, there were emperors who conferred their mistresses the title of State Ladies, and their status equaled the empress.

  Listening to the ladies’ conversation, Qiao Jinniang remembered that when she met Zhou Qinghe a few days ago, she said that the Empress stole her identity. Was what she said true?

  No, according to Emperor Huilin’s ability, if he really loved Zhou Qinghe, he would have a hundred means to keep her by his side instead of pathetically using her sister as a substitute.

  Qiao Jinniang couldn’t figure it out for the time being, and said coldly, “Madam, I don’t know where you heard this rumor, but you’d better not spread rumors!”


  The ladies didn’t expect to be heard by Qiao Jinniang and hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, begging for mercy.

  Qiao Jinniang fined her for copying the scriptures a hundred times as a warning to others.

  After the banquet, Yuyan whispered in Qiao Jinniang’s ear, “Your Highness, there is news from the palace that Her Majesty granted Zhou Shihui the title of County Mistress Yuquan.”


  Qiao Jinniang was puzzled. Why was she suddenly granted the title of county mistress?

  The Duke Wu Mansion had been deprived of their nobility title, so the title of county mistress must not have been requested by the Empress.

  But Zhou Shihui would probably be even more presumptuous with the title of County Mistress Yuquan.

  Qiao Jinniang returned to the East Palace and asked Lu Chen about it, “Is the title of county mistress so cheap that a random person can get it?”


  Lu Chen said, “I don’t know why my father gave her this title, but he said that this was what she deserved…”


  “I remember that you’ve investigated Zhou Shihui, and her father was just a literati from Yinzhou?”


  Qiao Jinniang said with puzzlement, “But I don’t think the women of the Zhou family are willing to marry an ordinary scholar.”


  Lu Chen said, “I’ll have my men investigate it again. By the way, my secret guards have sent a letter from Yinzhou, saying that they’ve found Nuomi’s parents. Do you want them to come to Luoyang?”


  Qiao Jinniang: “Are they in good health? If they can come to Luoyang, let them.”


  If they were not in good health, it would be impossible for them to travel all the way to Luoyang.

  But if possible, Qiao Jinniang wanted to see them in person. Even if they were Nuomi’s biological parents, she wanted to check if they were good to Nuomi.

  If they didn’t treat Nuomi well, then she wouldn’t let them take Nuomi away.

  “By the way, can you be sure that they are really Nuomi’s parents? I don’t want to let Nuomi down.”


  Lu Chen said, “They can tell the birthmark on Nuomi’s body.”


  “Then why didn’t they register with the government to look for their missing daughter for so many years?”


  Lu Chen said, “According to the information found by my secret guards, the couple was rescued after being swept away by the flood. At that time, they could hardly make ends meet and had three other daughters and a son waiting to be fed, so they had no time nor energy to look for their daughter, Xiangxiang.

  “Their family fled to Lingnan with the refugees. After they established themselves there, they thought about going back to find their daughter.

  “However, Lingnan was too far away, and they didn’t have enough money to go back to Yinzhou.

  “This time they went back to Yinzhou because their son was about to get married, so they went home to worship their ancestors, and looked for their missing daughter Xiangxiang by the way.”


  Hearing this, Qiao Jinniang said, “What kind of parents are they? They could come back to Yinzhou for their son, but not for their daughter? It’s better for Nuomi not to meet them.”


  Seeing Qiao Jinniang angry, Lu Chen comforted her. “They must have their difficulties. I think you should ask Nuomi if she wants to meet them. After all, she has been looking for her family for all these years.”


  Qiao Jinniang said, “Then I’ll call Nuomi over and ask her if she wants to meet her biological parents.”
……

  When Fulu heard that Zhou Shihui was County Mistress Yuquan now, she frowned and asked Shou’an,

  “Mother, how could Zhou Shihui become a county mistress? Is she really the illegitimate daughter of Imperial Uncle? That’s what everyone says!”


  Princess Shou’an gently tapped Fulu’s forehead and said, “What nonsense are you talking about? If your uncle heard what you said, he would scold you.”


  Fulu pouted and said, “But now that she is a county mistress, she’ll be on an equal footing with me. Then she will be able to provoke me every day and won’t be put into jail!”


  Princess Shou’an said, “You can hide from her in the future.”


  Fulu snorted. “Why should I avoid her? I must play lovey dovey with Qiao Lu right in front of her eyes and make her jealous to death!”


  Prince Consort Qin and Qian Yin happened to come over together, and they laughed when they heard Fulu’s childish words.

  Fulu snorted. “Dad, I’m going to be disgusted to death by that woman. Why are you still laughing at me? Now that Zhou Shihui is a county mistress, she’s only going to get worse.”


  Prince Consort Qin said to Fulu, “If you feel disgusted, there is a way to prevent you from being disgusted.

  “While your Uncle Qian is still in Luoyang, hurry up and get married. After you get married, Zhou Shihui can only give up!”


  Fulu said shyly, “Okay, it’s up to you, Dad.”


  While Fulu was shy, she didn’t forget to wink at Princess Shou’an.

  Princess Shou’an smiled. “Alright, alright, I’m going to the Qiao family to discuss your wedding date.” Then she turned to Qian Yin. “Your Highness, do you need me to propose to Qiao Ruoyun for you by the way?”


  Qian Yin cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness, don’t make fun of me.”


  Princess Shou’an laughed. “Although Qiao Ruoyun is a divorced woman, there are many men who want to propose to her.”


  Qian Yin said, “I had sworn to my mother before she died that I wouldn’t get married until I found Xiangxiang!”


  Fulu said, “Xiangxiang? Me?”


  Prince Consort Qin explained, “Your Uncle Qian is talking about his niece, his elder brother’s daughter, Xiangxiang, who was missing in the flood when she was 3 years old. Your Uncle Qian has searched all over Datang but can’t find her.”


  Qian Yin said, “Xiangxiang is a little younger than Fulu. There are so many people in the world that I don’t know when I can find her… I don’t even know if she is still alive…”