The queen was quite satisfied with Rong Qing'er. Although she was the legitimate daughter of the Duke Rong's Mansion, in fact, she was just a favored concubine's daughter raised under the name of the legitimate mother. Or perhaps, to secure a good marriage for her, she was given the treatment of a legitimate daughter.
A few days ago, the crown prince repeatedly urged the queen to quickly bestow a concubine consort on Prince Yu. The queen always granted the crown prince's requests, and this time was no exception. However, she hit a soft nail with the emperor.
"Ye'er has a cold - natured personality and is not interested in women. Don't mention the matter of a concubine consort again."
After visiting Concubine Ying, the emperor stopped by the queen's palace on his way.
"Your Majesty, Ye'er is no longer young, yet he has no heirs," the queen said.
"After he was enfeoffed as a prince and left the capital, there is no one to assist him in his large mansion. So, I..." The queen further persuaded the emperor. "That Song Jinyu is really too young. It would be better to first marry a concubine consort for Ye'er so that he can live a better life in Liuzhou."
The emperor was a bit impatient. Concubine Shu Gui didn't plead for Zhongli Mingye to have a concubine consort in front of him, but the queen was so eager to do this. He was a bit tired when he came in and was too lazy to deal with such matters.
"Do as you see fit!"
Hearing the emperor's words, the queen immediately felt that this matter could be accomplished. "In that case, I will issue the imperial edict!"
After the crown prince got the news, he was extremely delighted. He and Ouyang Jinse had a hearty drink in the Moonlit Tower.
"Is Song Jinyu really as arrogant as you described?"
Ouyang Jinse reclined in the beauty's arms, her eyes hazy. "Your Highness wants the world, while I only want her..."
"Oh?"
"She's just a woman. If you want her, I'll reward her to you in the future," the crown prince said.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Ouyang Jinse lowered his eyes, a sarcastic smile flashing across his face.
In Prince Yu's Mansion, Zhongli Mingye was in a gloomy mood. He sat in the pavilion and played the qin facing a pond of lotuses. Suddenly, he remembered the scene of playing the qin for Song Jinyu last year. At that time, they had just known each other for a short while and were just beginning to taste the sweetness of love. He had intended to teach her to play the qin, but unfortunately, the beauty had no interest and even laughed at him with a storybook. In a flash, he had fallen in and was deeply immersed.
Seeing that the prince was in high spirits, Qingfeng didn't dare to interrupt. He waited until the sound of the qin stopped and then softly said, "There's news from the palace. The queen has bestowed Rong Qing'er of the Duke Rong's Mansion as the concubine consort of Prince Yu."
"Zheng..."
The string broke! Sensing that the person in the pavilion was in a bad mood, Qingfeng didn't know whether he should continue.
"Is there anything else?"
That solemn voice was devoid of any emotion.
"The queen hopes that she can help Your Highness manage Prince Yu's Mansion."
Zhongli Mingye stood up, a sarcastic look on his face. "Humph..."
"I hate others interfering the most!"
"Your Highness, the queen's imperial edict has been issued. What shall we..." Moreover, the fact that the queen could issue the edict meant that she had received the emperor's tacit approval.
Zhongli Mingye had a cold look on his face and didn't say a word for a long time. After Qingfeng reported, he wanted to leave. Unexpectedly, he heard, "Is the queen so idle? Find a few beautiful women and send them into the palace."
"Tell them it's my tribute to the emperor."
"Besides, it's inappropriate for the concubine consort to enter the mansion before the main consort." The daughter of the Duke Rong's Mansion, the person chosen by the queen, was mostly intended to control him. If he really married the concubine consort, given Jinyu's temper, she would definitely ignore him.
After much thought, in the face of the queen's imperial edict, he had no choice but to accept it. However...
Before his letter could reach the palace, Rong Qing'er was actually sent to Liuzhou City by the Duke Rong's Mansion.
This was a big trouble!
"Miss... Why is the queen in such a hurry to send you to Liuzhou City?"
Since Rong Qing'er was appointed as the prince's concubine consort, her status in the Duke Rong's Mansion had risen significantly. The other concubine - born sisters in the mansion were all envious of her.
"It doesn't matter. There's no one to manage the prince's mansion. Maybe that's the reason," Rong Qing'er said.
Compared to Zhongli Mingye, she was actually more curious about the prospective princess. She had heard that the princess was betrothed by the emperor on the spot. Because of her young age, she had to wait until she came of age to marry Prince Yu.
However, although her birth was much more noble than Song Jinyu's, she had to be subordinate to Song Jinyu. Rong Qing'er couldn't help but feel jealous and hateful, completely forgetting that although she was from the Duke Rong's Mansion, she was originally the daughter of a singing and dancing concubine. Only because of her beauty was she valued by the Duke Rong and raised under the name of the legitimate mother.
It was better to arrive in Liuzhou City earlier. With her own abilities, she could win the heart of Prince Yu. Then she could defeat Song Jinyu and become the main consort.
Her aunt had forced the mistress of the mansion to make concessions again and again in this way. Now, because she had become the prince's concubine consort, the people in the Duke Rong's Mansion thought more highly of her and her mother.
Speaking of her aunt, although she was from a dancing - girl background, she had won the favor of the Duke Rong and was almost on an equal footing with the mistress. Naturally, Rong Qing'er had inherited her aunt's beauty and methods.
When Rong Qing'er's carriage stopped in front of Prince Yu's Mansion, the words of the mansion's steward completely extinguished Rong Qing'er's ambition.
"The prince said that the emperor is unwell and has just recovered from a serious illness. As a son, he must show filial piety."
"Therefore, there will be no wedding in Prince Yu's Mansion."
The people from the Duke Rong's Mansion stood there in a daze, and the people around were whispering. Rong Qing'er's face flushed and then paled when she heard this. She never expected that she would be rejected!
Xing Jian continued,
"The prince also said that after he marries the princess according to the imperial edict, he will choose another day to welcome Miss Rong into the mansion."
Rong Qing'er endured the shame and motioned for the maid to lift the curtain. She said softly, "In that case, Qing'er understands."
"However, Qing'er was ordered by the queen to enter Prince Yu's Mansion."
How dare Prince Yu disobey the queen's imperial edict? She didn't believe that she couldn't enter the mansion today!
Xing Jian said leisurely,
"The prince said that for Miss Rong's reputation, he has reserved the best rooms in the largest inn in Liuzhou City."
"You can stay as long as you like."
What did this mean? The people from the Duke Rong's Mansion were all stunned. Xing Jian maintained a polite smile. "The prince is also doing this for Miss Rong's own good."
The maid couldn't help but say, "This is the queen's imperial edict!"
Xing Jian said curiously, "Which of the prince's words doesn't comply with the queen's imperial edict?" Yes, Prince Yu's Mansion agreed to welcome the concubine consort, just a bit later. Since the person had come, it was inappropriate to stay in the mansion, so she had to stay in the inn!
Rong Qing'er was so angry in the carriage that her face was distorted. On the first day she came to Liuzhou City, she hadn't even seen Prince Zhongli Mingye's face and was driven to the inn.
"Come back!"
She was so angry that she couldn't even maintain her gentle and proper appearance.
Ouyang Jinse calculated the time. Rong Qing'er should have already arrived in Liuzhou City.
"Send someone to pass the news to Yan Fei..."
Imagining Song Jinyu's angry and disappointed face, he actually felt very happy. Ouyang Jinse didn't understand when his hatred for her had engraved into his bones.
As long as he could cause trouble for her, he felt happy. But the next moment, he felt sad. Once upon a time, their relationship was so good. She used to call him "Brother Jinse!"
The last time they met, she just called him "Ouyang Jinse".
"Bang..."
He slapped a rockery in the garden to pieces. The servants passing by were so frightened that they scattered in all directions.