"My unfilial son has done such a disgraceful thing. I don't have the face to see my sister anymore!"
In the Administrative Hall, Zhangsun Wuji said with an ashamed expression.
Empress Zhangsun frowned and said, "Chong 'er is usually very cautious. Why would he make such a serious mistake at such a crucial moment?"
"Isn't it because he was eager to gain merit and compete with Mo Jiazi?" Zhangsun Wuji said bluntly.
Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but sigh. Speaking of which, the cause of this matter was probably the aftermath of Zhangsun Chong and Princess Changle annulling their engagement. She originally thought that so many years had passed, but she didn't expect that it would cause such a huge disturbance.
"Chong 'er is in the wrong. Now that the two of them are married, they should live their own lives and not have any more disputes." Empress Zhangsun reprimanded.
Zhangsun Wuji said righteously, "Chong 'er asked for it this time. His crimes will be dealt with according to military law. I won't have any objections."
Zhangsun Wuji knew Empress Zhangsun's temperament very well, so he spoke righteously.
Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but sigh. Zhangsun Wuji could place righteousness above family, but as his aunt, she couldn't ignore her nephew. She had to help him. At least, she couldn't let Chong 'er be punished by military law.
"I didn't come here today to plead for that unfilial son, but for Prince Jin." Zhangsun Wuji changed the topic.
"Slave Zhi?" Empress Zhangsun didn't understand.
Zhangsun Wuji shook his head slightly and said, "The young slave is already an adult, and it's time for him to get married. The Empress may not know, but within a month after the Empress left, the eternal love between Prince Jin and the Mo Family's Eldest Senior Sister had spread throughout the entire Chang 'an City.
"Slave Zhi and Mei Niang? Their age difference is a little too big! " Empress Zhangsun was surprised. This was also the first time she heard of it. However, even she had an impression of Wu Meiniang. She was a rare lady from a good family. It was just that she was a little too old.
"Wu Meiniang is a little too old, but my nephew's heart is on her. If I rashly object and Chong 'er's incident happens again, I'm afraid …" Zhangsun Wuji stopped. He took the initiative to mention of Zhangsun Chong. Firstly, he wanted to plead for Zhangsun. Secondly, he wanted to pave the way for Li Zhi's consort.
"If they are willing, it's a good thing too." With Princess Changle and Zhangsun Chong as an example, Empress Zhangsun sighed. In terms of status, Wu Meiniang was the daughter of a Duke, and she was Senior Sister Mo's famous Senior Sister Mo in Chang 'an City. Other than being a little too old, her appearance and status were enough to match the position of Prince Jin's consort.
Zhangsun Wuji smiled bitterly and said, "This is a good thing, but Wu Meiniang doesn't like Slave Zhi. Now, it's just Slave Zhi's wishful thinking. If this goes on, it's not a good idea. Therefore, I suggest to immediately choose a consort for Slave Zhi."
"Choose a consort?"
Empress Zhangsun frowned. She didn't despise Wu Meiniang for being too old, but Mei Niang actually despised Slave Zhi. This made her, as a mother, dissatisfied.
"Wu Meiniang relies on Merton's favor, so she usually doesn't care about anything and has her eyes on the top of her head. Prince Jin, on the other hand, has just experienced his first awakening of love and has yet to come into contact with any woman in the world. If the Empress gives the order to choose a consort, and if Wu Meiniang agrees, she will naturally attend the consort selection. This is a situation where everyone is happy. If Wu Meiniang doesn't agree, there will naturally be a beauty selected.
Prince Jin's consort … "Before Zhangsun Wuji finished his words, Empress Zhangsun instantly understood his meaning. Instead of dragging it out, it was better to cut the Gordian knot. There were so many beauties in the world. Perhaps after seeing so many beauties, Li Zhi would turn his head and forget about Wu Meiniang.
"If Consort Jin is chosen and Slave Zhi is still in love with Mei Niang, what should we do? If Mei Niang agrees, then how are we going to answer to the other daughters of the aristocratic families?" Empress Zhangsun frowned. Now that Prince Jin, Li Zhi, was in love with Wu Meiniang, everyone knew that he was going to choose a consort for Prince Jin with great fanfare. In the end, it was all to be a supporting role for Wu Meiniang. After it ended, they would be sent back. Even the imperial family wouldn't be able to answer to them.
"So, brother's suggestion is to leave two positions for Consort Jin. One will be reserved for Mei Niang, and the other will be reserved for the other daughters of the aristocratic families. This way, wouldn't it be the best of both worlds?" Zhangsun Wuji cupped his hands and said.
Empress Zhangsun smiled bitterly, "That's the only way."
If it was just a concubine, those aristocratic families wouldn't be willing to marry their daughters of the first wife over. Only the position of Consort Jin would make those aristocratic families spend a lot of money.
Very quickly, the news that Prince Jin was going to choose a consort spread throughout the entire Chang 'an City. Instantly, the aristocratic families in Chang' an City were in an uproar. They all recommended the most outstanding women suitable for marriage from their families. This wasn't because they thought highly of Li Zhi, but because they were preparing for a rainy day.
Then, the news of the battle in the grassland spread. The Crown Prince's decision was wrong, and the Crown Prince's position was slightly shaken. Instantly, all the aristocratic families took action. If one day, Li Chengqian made a mistake, the one most likely to ascend the throne would be Li Zhi.
Even if this possibility was very small, the aristocratic families couldn't miss out on their influence on Li Zhi. Similarly, a marriage alliance was the best method. At the very least, they couldn't let Wu Meiniang monopolize Li Zhi. Or rather, they couldn't let the Mo Family monopolize Li Zhi.
"This time, Prince Jin's consort selection is a big event. There are a total of two Consorts Jin, and the daughters of the first wives of the aristocratic families in Chang 'an City have all signed up."
"More than that. I heard that even three of the daughters of the first wives of the five families have already entered Chang 'an City. The other four families are probably still on their way."
"But in my opinion, most of these daughters of the aristocratic families are just foils. Prince Jin's consort must be Wu Meiniang. The Mo Family pursues the monogamy system. How can the Eldest Sister of the Mo Family agree to polygamy?" Another person broke the news and caused a stir.
The Mo Family pursued the monogamy system. After the marriage law of the Tang dynasty only stated that marriage was voluntary, the Mo Family added the freedom of divorce on this basis and even used a prenuptial agreement as a guarantee.
"I'm afraid this is also the reason why Wu Meiniang didn't agree with Prince Jin at the beginning!" A discerning person sighed. The biggest obstacle between Wu Meiniang and Li Zhi was the difference in ideas. The Mo Family's ideas were more open-minded and advanced, while the rules of the royal family were more old-fashioned and conservative.
"So what if she doesn't agree? How can the rules of the Mo Family compare with the rules of the royal family? For ordinary people, the Mo Family and the Lady can only choose one. But this time, Prince Jin chose two consorts at the same time. It seems that he is going to enjoy the blessing of two wives." Someone snorted.
There were two completely different styles of women in Chang 'an City. One was the Mo Family's women. Most of the Mo Family's women received school education. They were open-minded before marriage and could have many relationships. They didn't know needlework but were knowledgeable and had a job. After marriage, they insisted on the monogamy system and didn't hesitate to divorce many times. The other was the Lady cultivated by the Confucian ideology. Before marriage, she didn't go out of the house. She was knowledgeable and good at needlework. She was slightly less charming than the Mo Family's women, but after marriage, she allowed polygamy.
Both of these women were good matches that men in Chang 'an dreamed of, but each had its own advantages and disadvantages. Countless men in Chang' an tossed and turned in bed, but they couldn't have their cake and eat it too.
Now it seemed that for the royal family, the fish and the bear's paw were both in their hands.
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