At the gate of Fushou Palace, it was Gao Yanyun again who met Jiang Changning and his servant.
"Greetings, County Lady. May you be well." Gao Yanyun saluted. "Congratulations, County Lady."
"Sister Gao, you're welcome." Jiang Changning helped her up and stuffed a purse into her hand. "Congratulations."
Gao Yanyun pinched it lightly and found a dough stick. She smiled and said, "Please come in, County Lady. The Queen is waiting for you inside."
After entering the palace, Gao Yanyun led Jiang Changning and his servant to the east hall where the empress dowager lived.
"Your Majesty, Princess Chun'an is here." Gao Yanyun reported while standing outside the door.
"Let her in." said the Queen Mother from inside.
As soon as Jiang Changning entered, she saw the empress dowager, who was wearing a dark blue dress and sitting on the kang by the window. A palace maid was kneeling beside the kang, playing chess with her.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager." Although Jiang Changning had a higher rank, she came here today to express gratitude, so she still had to perform the ceremony with great ceremony.
"Yanyun, help him up quickly." The Queen Mother smiled, "I remember you can play chess, play a game with me."
Gao Yanyun stepped forward and helped Jiang Changning up. Jiang Changning took the place of the palace maid and sat on the edge of the kang to play chess with the empress dowager.
Jiang Changning's chess skills are average, mainly because she doesn't like to delve into it and only plays it occasionally to kill time.
"You two, come out with me." Gao Yanyun took Xiulan and Liuye out.
The palace maid brought in tea, Jiang Changning picked up the cup and pretended to take a sip.
She remembered what Aunt Peng said and tried not to eat or drink in the palace.
"Pah" the Queen Mother placed a piece on the chessboard, "Xiao Ning'er, why did you suddenly move out of the banker's seat?"
Jiang Changning stood up and said, "Reply to the Queen..."
"Don't be so reserved. Sit down and talk." The Queen Mother said with a smile.
Jiang Changning had no choice but to sit back on the kang. "To answer your majesty's question, Changning's surname is Jiang. It's fine for me to stay at the Zhuang family as a guest, but it would be impolite to marry out of the Zhuang family."
"Isn't it because the Zhuang family wants you to bring concubines into the palace?" the Queen Mother asked sharply.
Jiang Changning's expression did not change, and a gleam of brilliance flashed in his lowered eyes. "I only found out about the banker's plan when I moved. I didn't know about it before."
"Xiao Ning'er, jealousy is a big taboo for women." The Queen Mother stared at Jiang Changning with sharp eyes.
"Your Majesty, it's not that Changning is jealous. It's the Zhuang family who is asking for rewards for their kindness, which makes Changning disgusted." Jiang Changning's words had hidden meaning. She had never asked for rewards for her kindness.
"Is that so?" The Queen Mother smiled.
Jiang Changning didn't care whether the empress dowager believed this statement or not. If she could handle it, that would be the best. If she couldn't, and the empress dowager wanted to appoint two more concubines, she didn't care.
The Queen Mother drank a few sips of tea and asked, "Chun'an, why did I give you this title?"
"In reply to Your Majesty, Changning believes that 'Chun' means honest and simple, while 'An' means still and stable. Chun'an means simple and stable." Jiang Changning only said the literal meaning.
"It's good as long as it can be simple and safe." The Queen Mother skipped the topic and asked, "Xiao Ning'er, do you still need the willow leaf?"
Jiang Changning leaned forward and said, "Your Majesty, Liu Ye can be of great help."
For nearly a month, she deliberately left Liu Ye aside and ignored her.
Liu Ye is quite sensible and honest.
But now it seems that everything is just superficial.
"She has learned the rules quite well. When you marry into the palace, she will be able to lend you a hand." The Queen Mother smiled.
A hint of understanding flashed across Jiang Changning's lowered eyes. It turned out that Liu Ye was placed by the Queen Mother to monitor her.
The Queen Mother would point it out directly because she was sure that she couldn't resist.
Jiang Changning gently placed the chess piece in his hand on the chessboard.
The Queen Mother may not underestimate others. The game has just begun and it is still unknown who will win.
Liu Ye, she will not move for the time being, but it is impossible to monitor her or dominate her.
"In reply to Your Majesty, after receiving the imperial decree for the arranged marriage, Changning asked someone to inquire about it, but the rules of Prince Jin's Mansion are very strict, so we know very little." Jiang Changning frowned slightly and said with a distressed look.
"The Princess Dowager of Prince Jin is a powerful person. Of course you can't find out anything." The Queen Mother said with a smile.
Jiang Changning raised his eyes to look at the Queen Mother and pleaded, "My Queen, please tell Changning."
The Queen Mother laughed, "The Jin Wang Concubine's maiden name is Yan, what do you think of?"
Jiang Changning hesitated for a moment, "The Yan family of Shu County." Jiang Changning replied.
"Not only is Jin Wang Taifei from the Yan clan of Shu County, she is also the niece of Imperial Noble Consort Zhaoxian. If Imperial Noble Consort Zhaoxian had not been childless and died young, it would still be unknown whether Emperor Guangzong could have taken this position."
Jiang Changning's eyes moved slightly. He didn't expect that the Queen Mother would speak so frankly about the palace secrets.
Guangzong, also known as the late emperor.
He reigned for sixteen years and could be considered a wise or benevolent ruler, nor was he a foolish or tyrannical ruler.
Based on what he did during his reign, future historians will not think very highly of him.
Not only was he mediocre, he also relied heavily on his relatives by marriage, which led to his becoming too powerful to be controlled and caused the Chenglong Disaster.
"The old Prince Jin had four concubines in total, and seven wives in total. However, apart from the two sons born to Yan, the Prince Jin's Mansion had no other children. This shows how powerful Yan was."
Jiang Changning frowned slightly. Although the Princess Dowager of Prince Jin was very capable, wasn't the old Prince Jin too lustful
Like father, like son. It seems that the King of Jin is also a womanizer.
"Yan once wanted to marry her niece to the eldest son, but Emperor Xiaozong betrothed Qiao's daughter to Helian Feng. Qiao is the descendant of Qiao Fu, a founding hero. It is said that she is respectful and gentle." The empress dowager sneered twice, full of sarcasm.
"I haven't heard of that, but I heard that she is good at managing the household." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
The Queen Mother said sternly, "Changning, that is the Prince of Jin's mansion. You are the legitimate Princess of Jin. You should be in charge of the household affairs. Do you understand?"
"Changning understands." Jiang Changning bowed. It was just to let her compete with Concubine Dao for the right to manage the household supplies.
"Qiao has been married into the palace for nine years, and her roots are deep-rooted. But you don't have to be afraid. I will marry you to the King of Jin, and I won't watch others bully you."
Jiang Changning stood up and knelt down, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will never forget your kindness to me."
"Good boy, get up quickly." The Queen Mother smiled with satisfaction.
The Queen Mother had finished what she wanted to say, and the game was over.
"Changning, take your leave." Jiang Changning took the gifts given by the Queen Mother and led two maids out of the palace.
As soon as she left, the emperor arrived.
The emperor saw the teacup on the maid's tray and asked, "Has the queen mother's guest left?"
"Let's go, my son. Do you know who it is?" the Queen Mother asked with a smile.
"Who is it?" the emperor asked casually.
"It refers to the Princess of Chun'an who was given to the King of Jin."
"Princess Chun'an, I just mentioned her to the King of Jin. From what he said, he seems to be blaming my mother. He said that marrying an orphan girl with no family background would save the family from worrying. But now that she has a fiefdom and a title, it is actually a troublesome matter."
The Queen Mother smiled smugly, "I want him to be in trouble and have unrest in his inner house."
The emperor also laughed, "Mother, this chess move is very clever."
"The rebellion of the princes has occurred in every dynasty. Although Emperor Xiaozong did not allow the princes to go to their own vassal states, even if they were trapped in the capital, they would not behave themselves. It is very necessary to guard against the princes."
The emperor agreed, "What the queen mother said is true."
The Prince of Jin was a major concern to him, and only by getting rid of the Prince of Jin could his throne be secure.
The Prince of Jin, who was feared by the mother and son, left the palace and went to the Langhuan Bookstore on Dingfu Street in the east.
(End of this chapter)