My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 95 The Power of the Empress's Relatives
Princess Qingyun, completely bewildered by the words of the Princess Consort of Jin, asked, "Sister-in-law, what do you mean? What does this have to do with Lu Jinshi?"

Princess Jin said, "Oh dear, I was too talkative. My sister, just take it with a grain of salt and don't take my words to heart."

Princess Qingyun asked, "Elder sister-in-law...did you say that it was the Seventh Prince's wife who brought together the marriage between Prince Lu and Princess Yongjia?"

Princess Jin whispered, "Cousin Qingyun, I'm only telling you this, so don't go around spreading it. Wasn't it Lu Jinshi who instigated Yongjia's divorce from the previous Prince Consort Yuan?"

"Lu Jinshi must be afraid that her position as the Seventh Prince's consort is unstable, so she specially arranged for her cousin to marry Princess Yongjia, so that Princess Yongjia could help her secure her position as the Seventh Prince's consort."

Princess Qingyun frowned deeply.

Princess Consort Jin said, "Princess Yongjia is five years older than Young Master Lu, and she can't have children. If it weren't for Lu Jinshi's intention to use Princess Yongjia's influence to secure her position as the Seventh Prince's consort, Young Master Lu would never have married Princess Yongjia. This Young Master Lu is truly pitiful."

Princess Qingyun gripped the handkerchief in her hand tightly.

Princess Jin smiled and said, "Sister Qingyun, I have to go now."

Princess Qingyun bowed as she saw Princess Jin off.

Princess Jin returned to the Prince's residence.

Upon seeing Prince Jin arrive, Princess Jin hurriedly said, "Your seventh brother and sister-in-law are truly cunning; they've even set their sights on Princess Yongjia."

The Prince of Jin looked at the Princess of Jin and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Princess Consort of Jin said, "Just now I heard my cousin Qingyun say that the young heir of the Prince of An's mansion is going to marry Yongjia. The young heir of the Prince of An's mansion is the same age as your seventh brother, but is five years younger than Yongjia. Qi Yi really will stop at nothing to win the position of crown prince."

Qi Yi knows the Empress Dowager favors you, and now he's having Lu Xiao propose to Yongjia, while he himself has married the daughter of Princess Mingzhu. It's all to gain more support from the Empress Dowager. Qi Yi's methods are truly shrewd.

Prince Jin looked at Princess Jin and said, "Yongjia wants to marry Lu Xiao? How is that possible? Since the founding of the Great Sheng Dynasty, no consort has ever held real power. How could she possibly marry Lu Xiao?"

“Cousin Qingyun’s words could not possibly be false,” Princess Consort of Jin frowned and looked at Prince Jin, saying, “Your Highness, this Qi Yi is truly despicable. He is willing to marry the daughter of Princess Mingzhu, who has a child before marriage, in order to secure the position of Crown Prince. Now he is even using his brother-in-law’s marriage.”

Prince Jin said in a deep voice, "Who becomes the crown prince depends on real ability, not on marriage. Father Emperor has always been extremely biased towards my seventh brother, yet he did not make him the crown prince earlier and allow me to enter the court. I think Father Emperor is wise, so you don't need to worry so much."

Princess Consort of Jin looked at Prince Jin's boots and said, "Your Highness, where are the boots I gave you a couple of days ago? Why aren't you wearing them?"

The Prince of Jin said slowly, "I'm giving it to my seventh brother."

Princess Jin's face darkened. "Those boots were made by Sun Xian herself. How could you give them to Qi Yi? Your Highness, aren't you helping Sun Xian and Qi Yi to get married? Aren't you afraid that Qi Yi will eventually marry Sun Xian as his concubine and become the Minister's son-in-law?"

Prince Jin smiled and said, "Aunt Mingzhu couldn't tolerate her husband taking a concubine back then. Lu Jinshi must have been a jealous woman. Sun Xian becoming the Seventh Prince's concubine is not a blessing for the Seventh Prince, but a curse."

Princess Jin said, "What if Lu Jinshi can tolerate Sun Xian?"

The King of Jin said, "Do you think every woman is as virtuous as you?"

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty."

Upon hearing his queen's words, the Prince of Jin frowned in anger.
-
in the palace.

Emperor Huiyuan and Consort Rong entered Shou Kang Palace together.

Inside, Consort Xian stood up and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty, Imperial Noble Consort." Lu Jinshi also bowed with Rong Yi, saying, "Father, Mother."

After Emperor Huiyuan and Consort Rong paid their respects to the Empress Dowager, Consort Rong took Xiao Zhang'er from the Empress Dowager's side, her eyes filled with joy.

After Emperor Huiyuan took his seat, he asked, "Mother, may I ask what brings you here?"

The Empress Dowager said, "I summoned you here because of Yongjia's marriage."

Emperor Huiyuan said, "Yongjia has encountered the wrong person before, finding such an ungrateful scoundrel as Yuan Jie. I will definitely choose a suitable and talented young man as Yongjia's future consort."

The Empress Dowager said, "I have one such talented young man right here. In the whole of Chang'an, apart from the sons of our Qi family, there is no better young man than him."

Emperor Huiyuan asked, "Oh? Which family's young master is the Empress Dowager referring to?"

The Empress Dowager chuckled and looked at Lu Jinshi, saying, "Miaomiao's cousin, Lu Xiao, the heir of Prince An, I've liked this child since he was little. He was always poised, sweet-talking, and filial..."

Emperor Huiyuan's expression changed and he said, "How could it be Lu Xiao? He is several years younger than Yongjia. Moreover, Lu Xiao is the only son of the Prince of An's family. The Lu family only has one son in his generation. Yongjia is ultimately... Alas, Mother, this marriage is really inappropriate."

The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "There is no need to worry about the matter of offspring. Yongjia already has Lu Xiao's child."

Consort Xian exclaimed in shock, "Your Majesty, are you saying that my Yongjia is pregnant?"

Lu Jinshi smiled faintly and said, "Yes, my elder sister is pregnant."

The Empress Dowager clasped her hands together and said, "May Buddha protect us, thank you for your protection."

Emperor Huiyuan looked at Rong Yi and asked, "Yi'er, what do you think of this marriage?"

Rong Yi smiled faintly, "A marriage that strengthens ties between relatives and brings double happiness is a good match."

Emperor Huiyuan said to Rong Yi, "Come outside with me."

Rong Yi replied, "Yes, Father."

Rong Yi followed Emperor Huiyuan outside the hall. Emperor Huiyuan dismissed the palace servants and said, "Since the founding of the Great Sheng Dynasty, no imperial consort has ever held real power. Yuan Jie is an exception, and it was only because I have only one daughter, your elder sister, and your grandmother dotes on her. It would be inappropriate to make an exception for Lu Xiao now..."

Rong Yi said, “Father, although my sister is a princess, she is still your daughter. She is of noble birth. Why would she lower her standards for a husband just because of her noble birth? The Lu family is loyal to Father and the royal family. Even if you marry my sister, the Lu family will not harbor any disloyal thoughts.”

Emperor Huiyuan said, "The Lu family is already the maternal relatives of your Crown Princess. If you marry your elder sister as well, the Lu family will be the only powerful family in the court. In the future, Miaomiao will be the only one in your harem."

Rong Yi smiled and said, "Father, I have already sworn to Jinshi that I will not have any concubines or mistresses in the future. I am not just making this up, but I am certain that Jinshi will be the only one for me."

Emperor Huiyuan frowned and said, "You are quite infatuated."

Rong Yi simply smiled and said, "Now that my elder sister is pregnant with Lu Xiao's child, Father, please don't try to separate us. Let's do what's best for us."

Emperor Huiyuan said, "Enough. Yongjia has had a hard time these past years. Now that she has a child, it is a joyous occasion for the royal family. Your grandmother can finally be happy. But don't regret it later. The Lu family is powerful and their relatives are too dominant. Sooner or later, I will hand over this empire to you."

Rong Yi said, "Your subject understands."