Chapter 1346: Chapter 1344: Reconciliation (Part 2)
"Our master is truly frugal!"
"Other mistresses make many sets of clothes each year, all kinds and colors!"
"But not our master! Every year, she just makes one or two outfits for the festival, and the rest she wears are old clothes!"
"Where can you find such a master?!" one Palace Maid said.
Another Palace Maid chimed in.
"Isn’t that so?"
"Our mistress, like the Emperor, has the world in her heart!"
"The Empress has said that those silks in the warehouse are very valuable, and someday they’ll be sold, and the silver donated!"
The other Palace Maids nodded one after another.
"I heard that the master’s allowance also saved up a lot! All to be donated!"
"The master is truly kind!"
The Little Palace Maids chatted eagerly.
Zi Ning heard this unintentionally and scolded them.
"Is the master’s business something for you to gossip about?"
"Shut up at once!"
The Little Palace Maids were not afraid of her either.
They apologized symbolically, stuck out their tongues, and slipped away.
Zi Ning wasn’t angry; she sighed and laughed, putting the matter behind her.
The days at Duanning Palace were leisurely and lively, lively yet quiet, and quiet yet lively and interesting, leaving Xia Ruqing very satisfied.
While she was busy with the palace attendants in the back garden.
Hong Yun from Xihuai Palace arrived, and after a serious conversation with Zi Ning, she left.
It was about The Eldest Princess.
Zi Ning, naturally not daring to hide anything, handed her work to a Little Palace Maid beside her and went to the backyard herself.
...
Hong Yun told Zi Ning everything about the palace outside in detail.
Zi Ning then relayed it to Xia Ruqing in the same way.
After hearing it, she nodded.
"The outcome is quite good!"
"Consort Zheng did well this time! Go to the warehouse and find something good to reward her!"
Zi Ning nodded to show she remembered this.
Xia Ruqing thought for a moment and then asked,
"Does The Eldest Princess still lack people?"
"If necessary, go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and pick a few more for her!"
Zi Ning shook her head.
"Shouldn’t be lacking, right?"
"You need not worry about these things, for Consort Zheng is there!"
Xia Ruqing looked at the square courtyard in front of her and then at the garden embankment under her feet, sighed,
"Yes!"
"This matter is not something I should meddle in!"
After saying this, she continued to work diligently while Zi Ning stayed close to attend to her.
After working for half a day, she finally planted several seedlings of young melons by her own hands, watered them herself, and left satisfied.
Zi Ning and Zi Yue dared not delay, quickly stepping up to assist her.
The days passed by day by day.
...
The issue with The Eldest Princess was resolved, and with Consort Zheng overseeing it, there should be no more problems.
The Second Princess had Consort Hui, and being favored with a likable personality, there was no issue either.
Next was the marriage of the Third Princess.
The Third Princess was already sixteen this year and should have been betrothed long ago.
However, due to losing her birth mother early on and having a similarly meek temperament, Xia Ruqing and Consort Yun had agreed to keep her for another two years.
To wait until after her coming-of-age ceremony at sixteen to discuss marriage was not late.
Now, her coming-of-age ceremony had passed, and at sixteen, it was precisely time to speak of marriage.
Previously, Consort Yun had someone in mind, another scholar.
But after the incident with The Eldest Princess, she could no longer trust scholars.
This indeed caused quite a headache.
"What to do? I can’t possibly marry her off to a Military General, right!"
At her wit’s end, she came to consult with Consort Zheng.
Consort Zheng, having just dealt with The Eldest Princess’s affairs and holding a really low opinion of scholars, said,
"I don’t see any problem!"
"What’s wrong with Military Generals? Some of them from Martial Families are outstanding!"
"Moreover, this is not the time of the ancestors; those who followed to war are not all rough folks!"
"Today’s Military Generals pursue a fine balance of culture and martial skills!"
After thinking, Consort Yun nodded.
"Then I’ll go back and inquire further!"
She leaned tiredly on the soft couch opposite Consort Zheng and said helplessly,
"Because of this matter, I haven’t slept well for three months!"
"Even if she were my own, it wouldn’t be any different!"
Consort Zheng empathized.
"How could I not know!"
"Just hang on for a bit longer! You are her Mother Consort after all!"
"If it doesn’t work out, there’s always the Empress, she’s the legitimate mother, she can’t ignore this matter!"
Consort Yun nodded.
"You’re right!"
"The Empress won’t ignore it!"
...
A month later.
Consort Yun brought her compiled list of all the eligible unmarried young men from the Capital City’s noble families to Duanning Palace.
"Here they all are, please have a look, Your Majesty!"
Xia Ruqing, looking at the thick stack of documents, was a bit overwhelmed but took it and patiently read through it.
"There are civil officials, and there are Military Generals!"
"Do you have any preferred choices?"
Consort Yun pointed out several names.
Xia Ruqing looked at them and nodded.
"I have noted them down!"
"I’ll send someone to inquire. If there are no surprises, we can choose one from your selection!"
She spoke as if it wasn’t of much concern to her.
Indeed, it wasn’t a major concern for her.
What’s the joke? She was already busy with her children’s matters, let alone worrying about others!
Moreover, the Third Princess was a child of the Shih Family.
She knew better than anyone how much hardship she endured at the Shih Family.
Therefore, why should she care about their child?
In fact, she felt that if she didn’t actively sabotage, it was an act of kindness and she was almost moved by her own benevolence!
Consort Yun was somewhat surprised by this and thought, after all, it made sense.
She didn’t say much further and straightforwardly left with the list.
...
In April.
Xia Ruqing and Consort Yun, after various investigations, selected Chen Youjun, the eldest grandson of the Duke Chen’s Residence.
The Duke Chen’s family had been loyal for generations, having rendered distinguished service in diplomatic battles during the ancestries’ times, earning the title of Duke, inheriting it unbroken.
By Duke Chen’s generation, they had already been lords for five generations.
Though the Chen Mansion lacked real power, their matrimonial connections were extensive and still held considerable face and strength in the Capital City.
Chen Youjun, as the youngest and most promising scion of the Duke’s Mansion, already held the position of Fifth Rank General in the Ministry of War at a young age.
It was said he climbed up by his own merits on the battlefield.
For a young unmarried gentleman, that was no small feat.
Hence, he was considered young and promising.
Xia Ruqing was very satisfied with this family, as was Consort Yun.
"It seems like an honest family, and martial individuals have no intricate customary restraints!"
"The Third Princess will surely live comfortably married into that family!"
Xia Ruqing nodded.
"Then we’ll settle it!"
"Yes!"
Consort Yun was jubilant.
The biggest matter under her hand was finally settled, wasn’t it?
She was delighted, happy, immensely relieved!
Nothing else would tire her out as much, of course, apart from preparing the dowry.
...
In May.
The Emperor decreed that Chen Youjun, eldest grandson of the Chen Family, would wed the Princess, and the entire court celebrated.
In June.
The families exchanged betrothal gifts, formally engaged, and the six ceremonies began.
In August.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs began preparing the dowry for the Third Princess!
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