Just then, the Queen spoke again, "Your Majesty, it occurs to me that Princess Qin has come of age. It's high time to start looking for a suitable match for her. We've been so busy lately. If we have some free time... After all, she's a royal princess, and the preparations are no easy task. If we delay for another year, Princess Qin will be seventeen."
Royal princesses are different from other noble ladies. When a princess gets married, it usually takes about two years for the preparations. Usually, the search for a suitable match starts as soon as the princess comes of age. Once a match is found, the construction of the princess's mansion will begin. Then, with the six wedding rituals, it generally takes two to three years in total. If the process is delayed too long, it's indeed inappropriate.
The Emperor turned his head and asked, "Does the Queen have any suitable candidates in mind?"
The Queen shook her head. "I've been devoting myself to Buddhist practices recently and haven't paid attention to this matter."
The Emperor took a bite of the fruit that Princess Qin had picked for him and replied, "In that case, let Concubine Jing and Noble Lady Qi handle the matter of selecting the future son - in - law."
The Queen admonished again, "Princess Qin is the only princess in the palace and Your Majesty's own daughter. We mustn't be careless. We need to be extremely careful and meticulous."
Concubine Jing quickly agreed.
Lu Wanning stole a glance at Princess Qin and winked at her, indicating that she should speak up for herself. She was also a princess, two years older than Princess Qin. Since she was still unmarried, why was Princess Qin in such a hurry?
However, Princess Qin remained as wooden as ever, as if she hadn't noticed at all.
It was the Queen who, seeing this, gave a smile and looked at Lu Wanning. "Ning'er, is there something wrong with your eyes? Is it a muscle spasm? Come here and let this palace take a look."
Lu Wanning had no choice but to force a smile. "Yes... I've felt a bit uncomfortable since this morning. Your Highness, take a look. Are they red?"
The Queen examined her carefully and lovingly stroked her forehead. "It's nothing serious. Maybe you got up too early today. Go back and rest more."
Not long after, the music and dance began. The Queen watched the lute - playing girl on the stage intently. She turned to the Emperor with a smile. "Your Majesty, do you still remember that when I was young, I played the lute in the Prince of Zhennan's mansion?"
The Emperor looked up at the Prince of Zhennan, squinted his eyes, as if recalling his childhood. He waved his big hand and pointed at the princess. "I remember. That day, I went to the Prince of Zhennan's mansion with my father. You and the princess were playing the lute. The princess's performance of *High Mountains and Flowing Water* impressed my father so much..."
His words paused, and he subconsciously looked at the Queen.
The Queen lowered her eyebrows and smiled faintly. "Yes, Father was full of praise for Sister's lute - playing. He even said that if Sister were a few years younger, she should enter the Eastern Palace and become the Crown Princess."
Lu Wanning's heart skipped a beat. She raised her eyebrows and saw that Lady Wei gave Lu Hongxi and the princess a gentle push on their backs respectively. Lu Hongxi immediately pulled the princess up and walked to the front of the hall to kneel down.
"Your Majesty the Queen, my wife is not very talented. She is just obsessed with playing the lute. Back then, the late Emperor was just joking. It shouldn't be taken seriously."
The Queen smiled charmingly. "The Prince of Zhennan is being too cautious. This palace knows my sister well. Whether it's her appearance, disposition, talent, or bearing, she is one of the most outstanding noble ladies. Just as the late Emperor said, if Sister were the same age as me, perhaps the position of the empress would belong to Sister."
The princess also quickly said that she didn't dare to accept such praise, and the sweat rolled down her forehead. "Your Highness, you're over - praising..."
But the Queen ignored her. With slightly red eyes, she looked at the Emperor. "Speaking of which, if it weren't for the late Emperor's words back then, this palace might not have entered the palace... This palace's talent and virtue are far inferior to Sister's."
Seeing the Queen being so modest, the Emperor was deeply touched and also recalled the events of his youth. At that time, he had married the Queen into the palace as ordered by his father and mother. Although they couldn't be called deeply in love, the Queen had indeed done her best.
"How can you be inferior to the Princess of Zhennan? You're sisters after all," the Emperor said in a gentle tone. "You're the Queen, my legitimate wife. When you make mistakes, you should be punished, but I won't neglect our long - standing relationship."
Tears glistening in her eyes, the Queen immediately knelt down and sobbed, "Your Majesty, it's this palace's fault. This palace has let Your Majesty down."
The Emperor personally helped her up. "Don't say such things. Someone, confer the title of First - Rank Lady Shaohua on the Princess of Zhennan."
Lu Wanning was stunned. What? You feel sorry for your daughter - in - law, but why are you rewarding my mother? But then she understood. Although the Emperor was touched, he still retained his rationality. He disliked the He family. Due to the Queen's and Sheng Chenyi's faces, he only demoted them to the rank of earl instead of completely suppressing them like the Fu family.
It was impossible to reward the Queen and Sheng Chenyi now, as that would be like slapping himself in the face. So he decided to reward the Queen's elder sister. Firstly, it showed his respect, and secondly, as the princess was a female, it was also an opportunity to commend the Prince of Zhennan for voluntarily giving up his power this time.
It seemed that the actions among the royal family were not ordinary.
As for the Queen, her actions didn't seem to bring her much direct help at first glance. It only seemed that the Emperor didn't dislike her. But on the other hand, the once - estranged sisterly relationship was re - established. The Prince of Zhennan's mansion once again became the Queen's, and even Sheng Chenyi's, backer.
Sure enough, overjoyed, the Queen quickly thanked the Emperor on behalf of the princess and then said to the princess with a smile, "Sister, congratulations on this great joy."
The princess was still in a daze as she thanked the Emperor. She followed Lu Hongxi back to their seats and sat down. The two of them hadn't even figured out what had just happened.
The Queen continued to chat with the Emperor. Her eyes fell on Sheng Chenyi, and she spoke again, "Your Majesty, today is a joyous occasion, and this palace also has a personal request. Prince Chen is already twenty - three years old, but he only has three concubines around him. He has neither a principal wife nor a secondary wife. After all, this palace is his mother, and I'm a bit worried..."
Noble Lady Qi also smiled. "Yes, Your Majesty. I remember that when You were twenty - three, Prince Chen was already one year old."
Hearing this, the Emperor only picked up some food with his chopsticks and gave it to Princess Qin. After thinking for a while, he said, "We're still in the period of mourning."
Noble Lady Qi frowned and said again, "The Empress Dowager has always sighed that she hasn't been able to hold her great - grandchild yet."
The Emperor frowned for a moment, looking a bit displeased.
Noble Lady Qi quickly got up to plead for forgiveness. "Your Majesty, it's this humble concubine's fault for speaking out of turn. Please punish this concubine."
It was the Prince of Benjun who laughed heartily. "Your Majesty, you don't have to blame the Queen and your concubines for being impatient. Today is a happy day for You. We people of the Great Zhou Dynasty value having many descendants. Your Majesty, You're older than this subject, but this subject already has three grandchildren. Lang'er, go and pay your respects to His Majesty."
The two - year - old Lang'er was supported by the wet - nurse and stepped forward. He said in a childish voice, "I wish Your Majesty a long life as the East Sea and a longevity as the Southern Mountain."
Sure enough, the Emperor's attention was attracted by this cute little child. He immediately waved his hand and asked someone to bring the child over. He held the child in his arms and played with him for a while. Then he looked at his youngest son, who was already over six years old. His son was quite timid and shy, far less innocent and lovely than this two - year - old child.
Yes, if Chenyi had gotten married earlier, his eldest grandson might have been born long ago.
A faint smile appeared on the Emperor's lips. He hadn't liked this idea before, but now it was different. Now, Prince Chen couldn't cause any trouble. Even if he had descendants, the Emperor didn't have to worry.
"You're right, Queen. If it weren't for your rule that no concubine's son in Prince Chen's mansion should be born before the principal wife's son, this palace's granddaughter might be as old as Lang'er by now. Someone, bring this palace's jade thumb - ring and bestow it on the young heir of the Prince's mansion!"