Everyone did not know why Jiang Ruan would say such a great opportunity. Xia Yan sneered in her heart, thinking that Jiang Ruan was just putting on an act to gain the Empress Dowager's sympathy.
Even so, there was no lack of wives of officials, and women were always soft-hearted in this aspect. Thinking that Jiang Ruan had lost her mother when she was young, and now that her birthday was just around the corner, she could not even satisfy such an ordinary wish as looking at the peach blossoms with her mother.
Jiang Xin Zhi did not expect Jiang Ruan to say this, and sighed in his heart. As an elder brother, even if he wanted to make it up to Jiang Ruan in every way and let her live a carefree life, his mother would always be an irreplaceable existence. No matter how steady his sister usually looked, she was just an ordinary little girl who wanted to seek maternal love.
On the Zhao family's side, Zhao Guang, Zhao Yuanjia, Zhao Yuan Feng and Zhao Yi all sighed in unison. Madam Li, who had long shed tears, said in a low voice, "Why did Mei 'er leave so early? It must have been hard for Ruan' er to miss her so much. How sad must it be to not have a biological mother by his side?"
Zhao Yulong and Zhao Feizhou also sighed, but only Zhao Yuan Ping's gaze was deep. He would not assume that Jiang Ruan was simply reminiscing just because she had said so. In fact, in Zhao Yuan Ping's eyes, Jiang Ruan was a person with a clear purpose. She did everything with a purpose, and she had a wonderful foresight for her purpose. It was really inconceivable to say so. But every seemingly ordinary action that Jiang Ruan did now, in the end, could become an indispensable part of her goal.
Moreover, in Zhao Yuan Ping's heart, Jiang Ruan was not a person who acted on emotions. There must be some meaning behind her words. But, what exactly was it?
When the Xia family saw this, they were all dismissive. Xia Jiao Jiao, in particular, cursed Jiang Ruan in her heart, thinking that she was just a foxy woman who wanted to put on a lovely and moving appearance.
The Xia family did not like it, but there were many men present who had tender and protective feelings for the fairer sex. Seeing the beauty dejected, they only wanted to protect her in the palm of their hands. Especially Gu Yi, whose heart was almost melted by Jiang Ruan's frown. When Guan Liang Han saw this, he asked Xiao Shao curiously, "What's the matter with that Gu boy? From the looks of it, you've also taken a fancy to that girl from the Jiang family? "
Mo Cong clicked his tongue in wonder. "One family has a daughter, and a hundred families seek her. Now that Deputy General Jiang is in power, the originally unremarkable Eldest Jiang Miss has also risen along with him. It's a good thing, a good thing. "As he said this, he casually said to Liu Min, who was sitting beside him," Lord Liu, don't you agree? "
Liu Min casually responded with a few words, somewhat absent-minded. Ever since the Emperor appointed him as the zhuangyuan, he trusted him very much. Almost without any effort, he became a third-rank official. If one were to say that Jiang Xin Zhi was the fastest promoted young general in the Great Jin dynasty, then he was the fastest promoted young civil official in the Great Jin dynasty. This was originally a good thing, but the more he entered the Imperial Court, the more he felt that life was difficult. Many people tried to trip him up in the dark. Some were jealous, and some pretended to flatter him. Every day, he had to wear a fake mask to deal with people. This was not the career that Liu Min wanted.
Every time this happened, he would think of the stranger who had exchanged letters with him in the Imperial College. That person had also talked to him about the way of being an official. At first, he had only felt that the other person was too slick and not upright enough. Now, he felt that it was a kind of cleverness and cleverness that looked at all things.
However, that person never appeared again.
Xiao Shao carefully observed Jiang Ruan's every move. He also noticed the Empress Dowager's absent-mindedness. There was a trace of doubt in his heart, but he did not show it on his face. He sat alone and leisurely sipped his tea, attracting the infatuated gazes of the crowd of women.
The Empress Dowager finally recovered and said, "What is this wish? Aijia wants to hear your reason."
"Of all the things in the world, nothing is better than the happiness of family by one's side." Jiang Ruan smiled and said, "However, this subject's daughter and Mother have long been separated forever. In this life, there will never be such an opportunity to look at the newly bloomed peach blossoms in Ning Shui Valley. Ruan niang only hates that when Mother was still alive, we did not look at the peach blossoms a few more times, leaving behind a lifetime of regret that is impossible to make up for. "
With every sentence she said, Empress Dowager Yi De sat up a little straighter. Although the expression on her face did not reveal anything, Jiang Ruan knew that Empress Dowager Yi De had heard her words deeply.
That's right, everyone knew that Empress Dowager Yi De was cold and ruthless. She could even use her own son and daughter. As long as it was for the world, she could give up everything. At that time, Princess Yuan Rong was in the prime of her life and already had a sweetheart. She was unwilling to marry into a foreign country, but she was locked in the palace by Empress Dowager Yi De. Princess Yuan Rong begged bitterly, but Empress Dowager Yi De did not soften her heart. In the end, Princess Yuan Rong had no choice but to marry into a foreign country. However, not even three years later, she died in a foreign country because she was too worried. Empress Dowager Yi De did not even allow Princess Yuan Rong's body to be transported over. Thus, Princess Yuan Rong could only sleep in a foreign country forever.
Those who knew of this matter all thought that Empress Dowager Yi De was too ruthless. Even her own daughter was so vicious. But in fact, in her previous life, Jiang Ruan had learned from Xuan Li that Empress Dowager Yi De was not a cold-hearted person. In fact, she valued her three children very much. At that time, the death of the First Prince was an accident. Princess Yuan Rong's marriage was also an act of helplessness. On the day of Princess Yuan Rong's marriage, Empress Dowager Yi De cried for a whole month in the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful. When the news of Princess Yuan Rong's death came, Empress Dowager Yi De even wanted to go with her. If it were not for the fact that the Emperor's throne was still unstable and needed support, Empress Dowager Yi De would not have allowed herself to live. The person Empress Dowager Yi De loved the most in her life, and the person she felt the most guilty about, was Princess Yuan Rong.
Xuan Li had once found someone to carefully investigate the events of that year. Because Empress Dowager Yi De was too concerned about the Emperor's throne, Xuan Li found a woman who looked like Princess Yuan Rong and entered the palace to study with her. Xuan Li had also specially instructed that woman. Not long after that woman entered the palace, she was' accidentally 'seen by Empress Dowager Yi De. She was summoned to the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful. After a few days, that woman became a junzhu. Not long after, Empress Dowager Yi De suddenly died.
In her previous life, Xuan Li's explanation to Jiang Ruan was that his biological grandmother missed Xiao Gu all day and was overly worried. Thus, she had specially found someone who looked like Princess Yuan Rong to make her happy. At that time, Jiang Ruan had thought that Xuan Li was being filial. Now that she thought about it, Empress Dowager Yi De's sudden death could not be separated from that woman who had been conferred the title of junzhu.
No matter what, now that time had turned back, and she was fortunate enough to arrive before that woman entered the palace. Even Xuan Li had not thought of investigating Empress Dowager Yi De's past. If she could not gain Empress Dowager Yi De's trust, it would be too unjustifiable.
Empress Dowager Yi De looked at Jiang Ruan quietly, her gaze unexpectedly gentle. Everyone thought that the cold and hard Empress Dowager had been moved by the tragic life experience of the Eldest Jiang Miss, but no one knew the excitement and surprise in her heart at this moment.
This was because whether it was Jiang Ruan's dressing, smile, or words, they were exactly the same as Princess Yuan Rong!
When the late Emperor passed away, her position as Empress Dowager was unstable. The First Prince, who was still the Crown Prince, was plotted against and killed, and the Second Prince was appointed as the new Emperor. In desperation, she could only think of using Princess Yuan Rong for a peaceful marriage.
Princess Yuan Rong stayed in the depths of the palace all year round, and people did not have many opportunities to see her. At that time, Princess Yuan Rong also liked to dress in peach pink. She was obviously a young lady of marriageable age, but she still liked to wear her hair in a single spiral bun, with a rose hairpin in her hair. With one look, one could tell that she was the pampered daughter of some family. Princess Yuan Rong had an excellent temperament. Although she was kind and pure, she was also excessively sensible. When she found out about the peaceful marriage, although she was unwilling, she did not stubbornly refuse to comply like the rumors said. She still remembered that day when Princess Yuan Rong boarded the bridal sedan, she gave her a long bow and said goodbye with a smile, "This time, the mountains are high and the rivers are long. I don't know if I will be able to return to the land of the Great Jin Dynasty in the future, and look at the peach blossoms in Ning Shui Valley with Empress Mother." She slowly said, "Take care."
Every time Empress Dowager Yi De thought of Princess Yuan Rong's farewell bow, she felt an incomparable pain in her heart. The consequences were just as Princess Yuan Rong had said. The mountains were high and the rivers were long, and they, mother and daughter, would be forever separated. They would never be able to look at the newly bloomed peach blossoms in Ning Shui Valley together again.
Now, Jiang Ruan was dressed exactly like Princess Yuan Rong. When she gave her long bow, there was a sense of familiarity. The words she said made Empress Dowager Yi De feel as if she was seeing Princess Yuan Rong's voice and smile after dozens of years. She abruptly closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Almost all the people who knew about what had happened in the past were no longer in the court. The words that Princess Yuan Rong had whispered to her could not be known by a second person. Jiang Ruan was still young, so naturally, no one had deliberately made her say it.
The more she looked at Jiang Ruan, the more she felt that she resembled that person.
In this world, was there reincarnation? If there was, could Jiang Ruan be the return of Princess Yuan Rong?
Empress Dowager Yi De did not know that Jiang Ruan was indeed a reincarnated person, but she was not the kind and sensible Princess Yuan Rong who had sacrificed herself for the sake of the overall situation. She was the reincarnation of the cowardly and ignorant Jiang Ruan, who had been deceived to the point of being covered in blood and tears. She had been reincarnated into the Jiang Ruan who talked cheerfully and wittily, but secretly killed people like scything flax.
The reincarnation of the world had its own cause and effect. In this life, the words that Xuan Li had said to her had become the best tool for her to deal with Xuan Li.
The longer Empress Dowager Yi De remained silent, the more her heart ached for Jiang Ruan, the pitiful Miss of the Minister's fu. When Princess He Yi saw Empress Dowager Yi De acting like this, a trace of displeasure flashed in her eyes, and her gaze towards Jiang Ruan became somewhat sinister. Jiang Su Su's complexion was pale. She was born with fair skin, and this made her look even more like a piece of snow-white paper. Her usually elegant and refined facial features were now dull and tasteless, as if she was suffering from an illness.
When Imperial Consort Chen saw that Jiang Ruan did not take advantage of the situation to make any other requests, the smile on her face became even more gentle, and it even contained a faint sympathy and comfort. It was like a young girl passing by a lake in Jiangnan, inadvertently seeing an injured rabbit, and holding it in her palms with an incomparable heartache. She said, "Poor child, this person has already passed away. You should look more at the future."
The future? Naturally, it would look at the future. Jiang Ruan slightly lowered her head. In the future, she would watch as these people were destroyed bit by bit, becoming sacrifices for her revenge.
"Many thanks to Your Imperial Highness for being considerate." Jiang Ruan said.
"BenGong suddenly thought of something," Imperial Consort Chen smiled and looked at the Emperor, "Your Majesty, previously, this concubine thought that this Eldest Miss of the Jiang family was a good person. She knew when to advance and when to retreat, and was also very courteous. Now that I have heard her say this, my heart is also distressed. This concubine would like to trouble Your Majesty to grant this concubine a wish. "
"What is my beloved concubine's wish?" The Emperor was in a high position and did not have too much soft-heartedness. His memory of Princess Yuan Rong was already very faint, and Jiang Ruan was no different to him. At this moment, hearing Imperial Consort Chen's question, he took the opportunity to ask.
Imperial Consort Chen smiled and looked at Jiang Ruan, "Such an obedient child, this concubine does not know if this concubine will have the good fortune to let her be this concubine's daughter-in-law."
Silence, the entire audience was silent.
When Jiang Su Su heard Imperial Consort Chen's words, her complexion became deathly white, and even her lips were pale. Her whole body swayed, and she seemed to be on the verge of collapsing. Fortunately, Xia Yan was calmly supporting her from the side, otherwise, there would have been an accident.
The faces of the Zhao family also froze. What did Imperial Consort Chen mean by this?
"Beloved concubine means …" the Emperor asked.
"Little Eighth's current age is also at the age of marriage, but this Eldest Jiang Miss is still young. She can be engaged first, and when she reaches the marriageable age, she can enter Little Eighth's fu and become the mistress of the household, Little Eighth's legal concubine."
If it had been silent just now, at this moment, only the sound of people sucking in a breath of cold air could be heard.
It was actually the legal concubine.
Although Jiang Quan's status was not low, if Jiang Ruan were to become the Eighth Prince's concubine, it would still be somewhat of a social climber. If she were to become a side concubine, then it would be more appropriate. From Imperial Consort Chen's words just now, everyone had thought that she wanted Jiang Ruan to become a side concubine. Who would have guessed that the moment she arrived, she wanted Jiang Ruan to become the legal concubine? Now, anyone with the slightest bit of insight would know that the Eighth Prince might be the future heir apparent, the future Emperor of the Great Jin dynasty. Wouldn't Jiang Ruan become the Empress? This was a matter of small capital and huge profits.
Jiang Quan's expression was complicated. He had always wanted to rope in his relationship with Xuan Li. In order to maintain a more stable relationship, it would be best if he could marry a daughter over. Now that Imperial Consort Chen's words had exposed the secret desire in his heart, he naturally couldn't ask for more. But how could that person be Jiang Ruan? Why not Jiang Su Su?
Jiang Xin Zhi fiercely clenched his fists. He hadn't expected that his good intentions would actually turn into the current situation. Although he wasn't optimistic about Xiao Shao, he didn't like Xuan Li even more. No matter what, Xuan Li was a member of the imperial family. What was the imperial family? They had groups of wives and concubines, and the intrigues and schemes in the inner courtyard were even more dangerous than in the imperial court. How could he let Jiang Ruan go to such a place? Why did Imperial Consort Chen want to drag Jiang Ruan down? Wouldn't it be better if it was Jiang Su Su? Jiang Quan was happy. This was the best of both worlds, why did it have to be Jiang Ruan? Jiang Xin Zhi made a decision in his heart. If the Emperor agreed, even if he had to fight against the imperial edict with all his meritorious services, he would exchange it for Jiang Ruan's freedom.
When Xiao Shao heard Imperial Consort Chen's request, he frowned. His beautiful eyes glowed with a cold luster, like a fine black gem. However, his long eyelashes drooped down to hide the emotions in his eyes. Only his temperament became even colder.
He raised his eyes and glanced at Jiang Ruan. Jiang Ruan's head was slightly lowered, and her expression could not be clearly seen. Xiao Shao's heart was moved. No matter what, Jiang Ruan was only an eleven-year-old girl. She hated Xuan Li so much. Although he didn't know why, she would definitely not be willing to marry Xuan Li. Imperial Consort Chen was favored by the Emperor. If the Emperor agreed, Jiang Ruan would definitely not be able to resist the imperial edict.
His heroic brows knitted tightly. In fact, it wasn't that he was completely helpless. If he went up to the Emperor at this moment and asked to marry Jiang Ruan, he could avoid the fate of Jiang Ruan marrying Xuan Li. However, Jiang Ruan might not necessarily want to marry him. Xiao Shao had taken over the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He had traveled outside all year round, and had also been infected with some of the habits of Jianghu. However, he also understood the rules of the aristocratic disciples in the capital. He understood what marriage meant to a woman. With his temperament, he would never marry in this lifetime. Jiang Ruan was his benefactor who had saved his life. Even if this benefactor was only eleven years old, if she was in danger, Xiao Shao would definitely abide by his original vow and lend a helping hand.
However, was Jiang Ruan really willing to change from the Eighth Prince's fu to the Jinying Wang fu?
Empress Shu suddenly burst into laughter, "How can Jiejie be randomly matchmaking? Not to mention whether or not Eighth Highness knows about this matter, the Eldest Jiang Miss in front of you is also Minister Jiang's most beloved daughter. Jiejie, why don't you ask if Eldest Jiang Miss is willing to marry Eighth Highness?"
This tit for tat, Imperial Consort Chen did not even frown. She turned to look at Jiang Ruan, her tone becoming increasingly gentle and amiable, "BenGong has forgotten. Miss Jiang, do you fancy my Xiao Ba?"
This question was cordial and witty, as if it was a banter from an ordinary family. However, Jiang Ruan silently sneered in her heart. Imperial Consort Chen's question was really good. What could she say? If she said no, it would mean that she looked down on Xuan Li. Not to mention in front of so many people, even the Emperor would be the first to not forgive her. However, if she said she liked him, wouldn't that be jumping into a pit of fire?
Everyone held their breath, waiting to hear Jiang Ruan's answer. The womenfolk were naturally indignant. The men, like Gu Yi and Jiang Xin Zhi, wished that they could rush up and immediately take Jiang Ruan away from this troublesome place. Dong Yinger and Zhao Jin secretly broke into a cold sweat for Jiang Ruan. To them, they naturally knew that Jiang Ruan had never intended to marry into the imperial family. Zhao Guang was greatly shaken. The granddaughter he had just recognized was so quickly involved in this struggle for the throne. For the first time, Zhao Guang felt his own incompetence. He did not dare to block the entire General fu to help Jiang Ruan resist the imperial edict, even if his heart was bleeding at this moment. Li shi, who had followed her daughter-in-law to the female side of the banquet, almost twisted the handkerchief in her hand into pieces.
Jiang Ruan seemed to be in a very difficult position. She did not immediately answer, "This..."
She lowered her head even more, but in her heart, she was calmly counting.
Imperial Consort Chen's smile deepened, "Unexpectedly, such a shy child. Your Majesty, this concubine sees that this is an excellent marriage. I wonder if Your Majesty is willing to be the matchmaker? Help Little Eight find a suitable person. "
The Emperor's expression was relaxed, and he did not seem to want to obstruct her.
Xiao Shao's expression was cold and cheerless. He thought for a moment, and with one hand on his teacup, he was about to stand up and ask the Emperor to marry him. Unexpectedly, just as he was about to stand up, he heard a cold and hard voice say, "Aijia is not willing."
Jiang Ruan counted to three in her heart. Hearing this, her lips curled into a smile, and she slowly raised her head. Following that person's words, she firmly said, "Replying to Imperial Consort Chen, Ruan niang is not willing."
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