"My third brother has a girl he likes, but he has been delaying proposing to her because he is in mourning for his mother," Miao explained.
"If you are sure that you are not interested in her, then don't marry her." Jiang Changning said.
Miao said with a sad face: "In order to let Princess Xiaochang have a meal, Princess Yiya promised Princess Xiaochang that if Third Brother passes the imperial examination, she will let him marry her."
"With my third brother's talent, he will definitely pass the imperial examination, and then he will marry Princess Xiaochang." Luo didn't want a sister-in-law of such a noble status.
"But I'm also worried that Princess Yi Ya will interfere and cause my third brother to fail the exam." Miao quickly added.
"Princess Yiya can't reach that far. She can't interfere in the imperial examination. Sister-in-law, don't worry."
"As for Du Xin's success, Princess Yi Ya will marry Princess Xiao Chang to him. That is Princess Yi Ya's wishful thinking. With the Prince of Jin's Mansion around, she wouldn't dare to forcefully seize a decent man."
"Puchi" Luo couldn't help laughing, "I've only heard of good women, but never heard of good men."
After hearing what Jiang Changning said, the two sisters-in-law of the Zhou family felt a little relieved.
After sitting for a while, the two said goodbye and left.
In the evening, before Jiang Changning had time to talk about this, King Jin asked, "I heard that the girl from Yiya's family has taken a fancy to your grandpa."
"Your Highness is well-informed." Jiang Changning handed him the teacup.
King Jin drank a sip of tea and asked, "What does the Zhou family mean?"
"I firmly believe that he has a lover. I will come to propose marriage after the mourning period is over." Jiang Changning told the Zhou family's sisters-in-law truthfully about what they were worried about.
Prince Jin smiled faintly and said, "The Zheng family can't cover the sky with one hand."
The position of Prince Consort of Zheng was a sinecure. Although Zheng's father occupied the position and refused to retire, he had no real power any longer. It was impossible for him to interfere in the imperial examination.
It wasn't just Princess Xiaochang who had her eyes on this poor student; there were several other families as well.
These people are not as lucky as Zhou Duxin. They have the support of Prince Jin's Mansion and do not need to pretend to be submissive.
Of course, there are also people who enjoy doing this and marrying a daughter-in-law from a wealthy family is of great help to their career.
These things have nothing to do with Jiang Changning. She just wants Zhou Duxin's future to not be affected by Princess Yiya.
Time flies and it’s the Lantern Festival.
The Prince of Jin's Mansion is celebrating the Qiao family's anniversary, so it's not convenient to go out to view the lanterns.
Early in the morning, the maid brought Yuanxiao for breakfast.
When King Jin saw Jiang Changning had eaten a few, he stopped eating. "But was I really mad yesterday? I made you lose your appetite."
Jiang Changning glared at him. The man spoke more recklessly, "This thing is hard to digest. If you eat too much, your stomach will bloat."
"That's true." Prince Jin nodded in agreement.
After the meal, Jiang Changning saw Prince Jin out.
Although the Prince of Jin did not have to attend the morning court on the Lantern Festival, the Spring Examination was approaching and as the Minister of Rites he was very busy and had to report for duty at the yamen.
"Your Highness, please go early and come back soon. I will wait for you at home." Jiang Changning said in a virtuous manner.
The King of Jin smiled and touched her cheek. "I will be back immediately. I will never let the princess wait like a fool."
The couple joked for a while, and then Prince Jin took Chang Youzhong out, while Jiang Changning went to take care of Princess Kang Ren's outing.
Today is the Lantern Festival, and also the anniversary of the Qiao family. According to the customs of Daqin, we have to go to the ancestral hall, bring the tablet to the palace for worship overnight, and then send it back to the ancestral hall tomorrow.
This matter should have been undertaken by the son, but Qiao had no sons, only a daughter, Princess Kangren, so naturally Princess Kangren was the only one who could do this.
When Jiang Changning went to Liuxuan Courtyard, Princess Kangren was still eating Yuanxiao. When she saw her come in, she hurriedly stood up and said, "Aunt Wang."
"Just eat yours. No need to be so polite." Jiang Changning walked to the side of the concubine and asked her as usual whether she slept well at night.
"Okay, sleep till dawn." The toffee said with a smile.
It was a big festival, so the concubine listened to the advice, "Okay, it happens that I am full too."
After a few more small talk, Jiang Changning brought Princess Kang Ren out and said, "Everything has been arranged. You can just go and invite her."
"Thank you, Aunt Wang, for taking care of it for me." Princess Kang Ren said gratefully.
"Silly boy, what's there to thank for?" Jiang Changning smiled, "You guys follow the princess out and protect her well. Don't let anyone bump into her."
Several maids answered yes in unison.
After seeing off Princess Kang Ren, Jiang Changning asked his servants to hang lanterns in every courtyard in the mansion.
It should have been hung yesterday, but because it was the Qiao family's anniversary, although there was no need to observe mourning, it was not appropriate to be too festive, so the lanterns were only hung on the fifteenth day to fit the occasion.
Princess Kangren's carriage left the palace and headed towards the royal ancestral hall.
The ancestral hall dedicated to the royal relatives is on the left rear side of the imperial palace, a little distance away from the Prince of Jin's Palace.
It is closer to go through the palace, but Princess Kangren's carriage cannot pass through the palace, so they can only take a detour.
It rained heavily last night and the road was a bit slippery. The carriage was not moving very fast and it took almost an hour to reach the ancestral hall.
Princess Kangren got off the carriage, and the official guarding the ancestral hall came over to greet her and asked, "This humble official greets the princess. I pay my respects to her."
"Your Excellency, there is no need to be so polite. I am here today to bring my mother's tablet back home to be worshipped during the anniversary celebration. Please lead the way." Princess Kang Ren said politely.
"The Princess of Jin has sent someone to greet us. Everything is ready. Please come in, Princess." said the official.
Led by the minor official, Princess Kangren walked into the ancestral hall accompanied by four guards and two maids.
The ancestral hall is closed all year round, and there is a foul smell mixed with incense inside. Princess Kang Ren subconsciously raised her hand to cover her mouth and nose, but she put it down immediately.
The official stopped and said, "Princess, your mother's tablet is up there."
Princess Kang Ren looked up at Qiao's tablet with a hint of sadness in her eyes. Although they did not have a deep mother-daughter relationship, they were blood relatives after all.
A maid brought the gold and silver foil and the paper burning basin placed nearby, while another maid brought the futon.
Princess Kangren burned incense and knelt down.
As she burned the gold and silver foil, she whispered, "Mother, my daughter is living a good life. Uncle Wang and Aunt Wang treat her like their own daughter. You don't have to worry about her over there."
After she burned the gold and silver foil, she covered the tablet with a red towel and walked out holding it in both hands, "Mother, your daughter will take you back to celebrate the anniversary."
Holding the tablet, he walked out of the ancestral hall, got on the carriage, and headed back.
The carriage was moving steadily forward when it suddenly stopped.
Fortunately, the maid helped Princess Kangren so she did not fall.
"Uncle Dian, what's wrong?"
"Princess, someone suddenly ran out and fell in front of the car."
Princess Kangren signaled her maid to open the car door, and when she looked out, she saw a man slumped under the horse's hooves.
"Lianpeng, go down and ask if he is injured?" Princess Kang Ren looked at the figure and thought it looked like a young man. As a noble lady, she had no choice but to get off the car and ask in person.
The maid got off the carriage as ordered, walked over and asked, "Master, are you hurt anywhere?"
I still used the mobile phone code. My right arm was weak. I don’t know if it damaged the nerves in my hand.
(End of this chapter)