"Ze'er is here. Tell me, what on earth is going on?"
It's said that a mother gains honor through her son, and a son gains status through his mother. Since the Crown Prince grew up and won the emperor's favor, the Empress owes her current stable position entirely to the Crown Prince.
Currently, the favored concubine in the harem is the Imperial Concubine. If it weren't for the Crown Prince's excellence, it would be hard to say whose hands the position of the Empress would fall into.
Therefore, the Empress relied heavily on this son and didn't hide anything from him.
When the Empress saw the Crown Prince coming, she waved away the maids around her, only leaving her personal nanny to serve beside her.
The nanny respectfully poured a cup of tea for the Crown Prince and handed it over.
The Crown Prince waved his hand and didn't take the tea. He said to the Empress, "Mother, the third younger sister was also instigated by others. You know her temperament."
The Empress was, of course, well - aware of what kind of person this concubine - born daughter was. To be honest, if it weren't for the emperor's favor towards the Imperial Concubine, with her temperament, it was uncertain whether she could be named a princess!
However, among those noble daughters of the aristocratic families who flattered Qin Zhaoyang, none of them would have the guts to instigate a princess. So, the Empress asked in surprise, "Who on earth has such audacity?"
"Mother, who else do you think it could be?"
"The Second Prince, right?" The Empress wasn't surprised.
The Imperial Concubine had only one son. That was why she took Qin Zhaoyang in and raised her. It was nothing more than to provide the Second Prince with an extra helper in the future.
Now, seeing that she intended to arrange a marriage with the Marquis of Dingguo's Mansion. Although the Marquis of Dingguo's Mansion was not as prosperous as before, it was still a century - old aristocratic family. The Xie family was known for its poetry and propriety. All previous marquises had been highly valued by the emperor and had participated in government affairs. They had a good reputation not only among the aristocratic families but also in the academic circles.
The late old marquis was even more popular among scholars. Although he didn't enter the court due to the former Emperor Dezong, he taught in the Imperial Academy. It was no exaggeration to say that his students were all over the country.
If the Crown Prince married a daughter of the Xie family, he would not only gain the support of some traditional aristocratic families but also increase his weight in the emperor's heart.
The Empress slapped the table angrily. "I knew that side wouldn't be so quiet. Does she think that if she messes up this marriage, it will benefit the Second Prince?"
Hearing this, the Crown Prince's lips curled slightly, and he said sarcastically, "Since childhood, isn't it true that whatever the Second Brother couldn't get, I couldn't get either?"
Since childhood, his mother hadn't been in the emperor's favor, and he hadn't yet grown powerful. He didn't know how many secret losses he had suffered at the hands of that mother - son pair.
The Empress felt a pang in her heart and quickly said, "Ze'er, don't worry. This time, mother will definitely not let that mother - son pair succeed. If you really like that Xie Fengran, even if I have to force the Xie family, I will definitely fulfill your wish!"
The Crown Prince shook his head. "If we do so, it won't be a marriage but a feud. The old lady of the Xie family has always emphasized rules. She has a just and upright personality and doesn't like the powerful. If it weren't for the current marquis's incompetence, the old lady of the Xie family probably wouldn't have wanted to marry her granddaughter into the royal family!"
Since the Empress had mentioned the girl from the Xie family to him, before he met Xie Fengran, he had investigated the affairs of the Marquis of Dingguo's Mansion and naturally learned about the old lady of the Xie family.
It was just that she had misjudged the Sun family.
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes. Before the Empress could speak, he continued, "If mother forces them like this, it may not be appropriate. I have an idea that we can try."
The Empress perked up, leaned forward slightly, and quickly asked, "What's the method?"
The Crown Prince didn't play hard - to - get and directly said, "Now that Zhaoyang has made such a ruckus, if the old lady of the Xie family knows about it, she will definitely not want to marry her granddaughter. But what if the person who instigated Qin Zhaoyang is from the Marquis of Dingguo's Mansion?"
The Empress's eyes lit up. "You mean..."
The Crown Prince leaned back and nodded. "Yes, the concubine - born daughter of the Xie family. She was invited by Qin Zhaoyang. The words she said today should have been told to her by that concubine - born daughter of the Xie family."
"In this way, even if the old lady of the Xie family doesn't want to marry her granddaughter, considering the concubine - born daughter, she can't not marry!" The Empress's lips showed a faint smile. "At that time, I'll just suffer a little and cover it up. The Marquis's Mansion will have both face and benefits, and they will surely be willing."
The Crown Prince nodded. Suddenly, remembering something, he warned, "This matter should be done quickly rather than slowly. The marriage with the Xie family should be arranged early to avoid any changes."
The Empress was about to ask what other changes there could be as long as the Xie family's issue was resolved.
But then she thought that her son was right, so she didn't say anything.
After the Crown Prince finished discussing the marriage with the Empress, he left in a hurry. He had a lot of things to do outside. He had just come to inform the Empress.
The Empress thought for a while and then sent someone to invite the old lady of the Xie family.
It was better to clear some things up earlier.
Unexpectedly, the maid who went to invite the old lady of the Xie family said that the old lady had left the palace with the concubine - born daughter of the Xie Mansion. She had specifically left her personal nanny to apologize to the Empress.
Nanny Su knelt on the ground, kowtowed, and respectfully replied, "Please forgive the Empress. The old lady has taken the second young lady home. She asked this servant to apologize to you first. After she goes back and deals with the second young lady, she will come into the palace in person to apologize. I hope the Empress will understand."
The Empress's eyes rolled. She looked at Nanny Su and didn't come back to her senses for a long time.
This meant that she hadn't even met the old lady of the Xie family, and the old lady had already left on her own?
Normally, no one would dare to do such a thing. But when the old lady of the Xie family heard about the "good deeds" that Xie Yunxi had done, she couldn't wait for a moment. Regardless of whether it would attract attention or be embarrassing, she directly took Xie Yunxi back to the mansion.
Anyway, there was still Xie Fengran. Moreover, the reputation of the Marquis's Mansion wasn't supported by just Xie Yunxi. Instead, if she was left to attend the dinner, God knows what other troubles she might cause.
Since the person had already left, what could the Empress do? She couldn't make things difficult for a servant. After saying a few words, she sent someone to take Nanny Su to serve Xie Fengran.
In her heart, she thought that she must summon the old lady of the Xie family into the palace tomorrow.
Xie Fengran didn't know that her grandmother had left her in the palace. It was only after seeing Nanny Su that she found out.
She opened her mouth but couldn't say a word.
The Empress, seeing that the old lady of the Xie family had left, sent someone to call Xie Fengran and the Fourth Princess over.
When she saw the Empress, Xie Fengran immediately knelt down to apologize without saying a word.
With a guilty look and tears in her eyes, she said, "It's my fault, Your Majesty. I've failed to live up to your kindness. I didn't protect your gift well. I deserve to die."
The Empress originally wanted to hold Xie Fengran's hand and praise her a few times. But unexpectedly, she heard this apology. She coughed uncomfortably.
After all, the person who pushed Xie Fengran was the Third Princess. If it were someone else, she could still put on a stern face and scold a few words at this moment.
But since it was her own family member, after thinking for a while, she said gently, "Miss Xie, don't be so panicked. It's just a bracelet. I'll reward you with two more."
Xie Fengran showed a surprised and flattered look on her face. She said sincerely, "Your Majesty's kindness is deeply appreciated. I'm very touched. Thanks to your not disliking me, if Your Majesty rewards me with more items, I will surely take them home and offer them up. I will take good care of them and will never damage them in the slightest, so as not to fail your deep affection and kindness!"