After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

The Empress Dowager nodded thoughtfully, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes. "Don't you think this girl's manners are quite remarkable? Most country girls aren't like this!"

That's why they say experience is the best teacher; he spotted the problem immediately.

The Empress hesitated and frowned, "Your Majesty, I will send someone to investigate and we will find out."

She didn't believe the abbot of the Buddhist temple would dare to plot against them; there must be another reason.

Seeing that her grandson remained silent, the Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is Sixth Prince thinking?"

Murong Chen snapped out of his thoughts, smiled, and said, "It's fine as long as Grandmother and Mother make the decision."

He never had any expectations of getting married. Shen Tian's appearance today was an unexpected surprise for him. Fortunately, he didn't dislike her. If things work out, great; if not, it didn't matter.

Upon hearing this, the Empress smiled with satisfaction and immediately ordered an investigation.

Whatever the royal family wants to know, they can find out in less than half a day.

When the Empress Dowager and the Empress learned that Shen Tian had been in the capital for over a year, and that Murong Xu had frequently visited the Yong'an Marquis's residence during that time, even bringing Princess Qingfeng with him, they could naturally guess Murong Xu's intentions.

The Empress Dowager was already dissatisfied, and now she was even angrier. "The second prince is becoming more and more outrageous! He doesn't do any important work and spends all his time staring at women."

The Empress's reaction was no better than the Empress Dowager's. Although Murong Xu was not her son, she had raised him. She was ashamed that the son she had raised was a lecherous and idle man.

"Mother, we cannot continue to let the Second Prince go on like this. After returning to the palace, I will report to the Emperor in detail. It is time to let the Second Prince gain some experience."

The Empress Dowager agreed wholeheartedly, saying, "I will handle this matter; you should not intervene."

The Empress and the Second Prince were not biologically related. Considering the Sixth Prince's marriage, the Empress Dowager had already made up her mind.

Of course, the Second Prince was also her grandson, and she didn't want to wrong Murong Xu, so after returning to the palace, she specially sent someone to summon the Marquis of Yong'an and Princess Qingfeng for questioning.

Only then did they realize that Murong Xu not only had his eye on Shen Tian, ​​but had also used underhanded tactics, thankfully without success.

The Empress Dowager was furious and presented all the evidence to the Emperor.

The Emperor was furious that his most favored son was so two-faced. He roared in anger and vented his frustration by sending Murong Xu to the border for training, while Cen Mingxue was carried into the Second Prince's residence as a concubine.

This result deeply dissatisfied the Cen family.

But both thunder and rain were imperial favors, and the Cen family dared not object, so they could only silently endure it.

Cen Mingxue longed to marry the Second Prince as a concubine or a high-ranking concubine. In the end, she got her wish, but she was a lowly concubine. When she got married, she didn't even have a proper wedding ceremony. She was carried into the mansion crying.

Murong Xu was furious and resentful, but he couldn't show it, so he vented all his anger on Cen Mingxue.

Fortunately, he knew that Cen Yingfan was powerful at the border, so he didn't go too far and even took Cen Mingxue with him on his journey.

Now let's talk about Shen Tian.

After leaving the Buddhist temple, the family first went back to Xiji Mixed Food Shop. They thought that Su Chuan and the others had finished their work and could leave, but they didn't expect to be delayed for two more days.

Everyone can set off now.

An imperial envoy suddenly arrived at the palace, issuing an edict to appoint Shen Tian, ​​the adopted daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an, as a concubine of the Sixth Prince. Shen Tian was stunned upon receiving the edict, while Huang Xinghua and Shen Dagou were dumbfounded.

When did Shen Tian become the adopted daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an? And who is the Sixth Prince? Murong Xu?
Su Chuan and the others looked at each other, completely at a loss for how to react.

Tang Yu was the first to come to his senses. He respectfully stepped forward, presented the gift of thanks, and humbly asked, "My lord, what is the meaning of this imperial edict?"

The imperial envoy dared not be pretentious when facing the family of the newly chosen concubine of the sixth prince, and replied very politely, "His Majesty knew the concubine's birth chart and that she and the sixth prince were a match made in heaven, so he issued an imperial decree to bestow the marriage upon them. This is a great joy!"

"Thank you, sir." Tang Yu bowed in gratitude, but still couldn't understand.

As soon as the imperial envoy left, Huang Xinghua and Shen Dagou were both dejected.

"All our efforts have been in vain!" Huang Xinghua said, tears welling up in her eyes.

Shen Tian felt sorry for her. "Mother, everything is predestined and we have no control over it. Don't be sad. At least the Sixth Prince is not Murong Xu. I am still a concubine. I will enjoy happiness after I marry him. Don't be sad."

Huang Xinghua was even more heartbroken upon hearing this. "How could I not be sad! It's all because your parents are incompetent that you married the Sixth Prince. If you suffer any injustice in the future, we won't be able to stand up for you. Waaah!"

"Mother" Shen Tian was sad and heartbroken.

Liu Laosan strode in, supported by his attendants. "Sweetie! I thought that with the Second Prince being banished to the border by the Emperor, your problem would be solved. I never expected that the Empress Dowager and the Empress would take a liking to you! It's fate, it's all fate!"

The Emperor originally intended for you to enter the Sixth Prince's residence as a concubine, but I argued strongly, saying you were my goddaughter. Only then did the Emperor grant you the status of a secondary consort. I hope you won't blame me for acting on my own initiative.

Huang Xinghua wiped away her tears and shook her head vigorously, "Lord Marquis, you've done so much for Tian Tian, ​​we're too grateful to blame you! You're right, it's all fate, it's my daughter's fate, we couldn't stop it!"

It's not that they didn't try, but that they couldn't change the outcome.

Liu Laosan sighed as he listened, "Although the Sixth Prince is ill, he is the Empress's own son and is virtuous and has not had a concubine yet. He is kind and gentle and does not fight or compete. It would be better for Tian Tian to marry him than the Second Prince."

"The Second Prince is..." Shen Dagou frowned.

Liu Laosan said helplessly, "It's the young master Murong you met at my residence before. The eldest prince died young, and the second prince is the oldest among all the princes. Apart from that, he was raised by the Empress and is in good health. Before the matter at the Buddhist temple was discovered, the Emperor had high hopes for him and he was very likely to be the next crown prince. Now that this has happened, he probably feels a sense of crisis."

"Why say all this! You wouldn't understand. Just look at the Second Prince's harem. Besides his principal wife, he has a secondary wife, two noble concubines, four good concubines, and countless maids and concubines. If Tian Tian really enters the Second Prince's residence, she can forget about her future. That's why I've been trying to stop him all along."

Huang Xinghua hadn't expected Shen Tian's previous situation to be so dangerous. With this comparison, she was now able to accept Shen Tian becoming the Sixth Prince's concubine.

"My lord, when will my daughter get married?"

Since she couldn't change the situation, she could only do her best to plan for her daughter's future.

Seeing that she had come to her senses, Marquis Yong'an breathed a sigh of relief and pondered, "Since she is my goddaughter, she can marry out of the Marquis Yong'an's residence. It just so happens that Xiaotai is here too, so she can help Tiantian make arrangements as her elder sister-in-law. Her Majesty the Empress knows our situation and has prepared a dowry for Tiantian in advance. Those things can be carried directly to the Sixth Prince's residence."

Huang Xinghua looked up in surprise, "Your Majesty the Empress is preparing a dowry for Tian Tian?"

Why did she feel like such a wonderful thing had happened to her family?

When has it ever been the case that the bride's dowry was prepared by the groom's mother-in-law? Unprecedented and likely to remain so. (End of Chapter)