Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

After the Empress Dowager left, Yuan Chun stood up with the help of her personal maid.

She passed through the beaded curtain and came before Jia Lian.

The two cousins ​​met for the first time in nearly ten years.

In Yuan Chun's mind, when she first entered the palace, Jia Lian was nothing more than a spoiled and ignorant young boy.

Because of family circumstances, and because Jia Lian was not academically successful, she never gave her cousin much of a second glance, even though he was quite handsome from a young age.

Who would have thought that eight or nine years later, his own cousin would have changed so much.

He's definitely become more and more handsome, and his aura has improved too...

Jia Lian naturally had an impression of Yuan Chun, which was left to him by his predecessor. In fact, Yuan Chun was only two or three years older than him.

However, unlike him, Yuan Chun was raised by Grandmother Jia, who held a supreme position in the Jia family, and was loved and pampered by her. This was completely different from him, who was abandoned and neglected by his drunken and lecherous father after his mother's death.

Their social status naturally differed drastically.

Therefore, Jia Lian even remembered the deep jealousy that his predecessor had harbored towards Jia Yuanchun since childhood.

Of course, there is also a tendency to harbor unrealistic admiration for others...

After all, Yuan Chun was the only jewel of the Jia family at that time. She was intelligent, beautiful, and radiant. This was perfectly normal and understandable for the little lecher who had learned a thing or two from Jia She since childhood.

In Jia Lian's view at this time, Yuan Chun has lived up to his unrealistic expectations, and has not gone astray until now, but has become even more beautiful and charming.

Her round and plump face looks very auspicious.

In this respect, she shares a similar approach with Xue Baochai.

Because there were at least a dozen palace maids and eunuchs around, Jia Lian did not dare to overstep his bounds. He glanced at Yuan Chun briefly, then bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Highness, the Noble Consort."

At almost the same time, Yuan Chun withdrew her scrutinizing gaze from Jia Lian, nodded in response, and then said, "Brother Lian, the Empress Dowager has a lot of affection for you, which is why she was willing to betroth Princess Zhaoyang to you. You shouldn't have angered her."

Princess Zhaoyang is the most outstanding of all princesses and even county princesses, how could you…”

Yuan Chun naturally wanted to take the opportunity to persuade Jia Lian to obey the Empress Dowager's decree, but seeing Jia Lian's calm face and deep eyes, she knew that Jia Lian was clear-headed and determined, and that she could not persuade him.

In addition, the Empress Dowager had tried both soft and hard tactics, but to no avail, and she could not find any particularly powerful words to say, so she did not speak again.

However, an old eunuch from Weiyang Palace chimed in, "Your Highness is right. When it comes to our Princess Zhaoyang, there's nothing to say. In all my years in the palace, I've never seen a princess more outstanding or more favored than her."

The Empress Dowager has taken a liking to General Jia and is willing to marry His Highness to her; this is a blessing the General has accumulated over many lifetimes. General Jia, please consider this carefully and do not disappoint the Empress Dowager's good intentions.

The old eunuchs in the palace, especially those who could become the chief eunuch of a palace, were all clever, quick-witted, and adept at reading people's expressions.

Putting aside Jia Lian's background and future prospects, just considering the Empress Dowager's attitude towards him, it was enough for them to be friendly and ingratiate themselves with him.

Despite the Empress Dowager's previous anger and harsh words towards Jia Lian... When I served the Empress Dowager during the New Year, I never saw her speak so much with a foreign official, or be so determined to give her precious darling to him to be ruined.

Despite being contradicted, she didn't actually fly into a rage!

It should be noted that when the Empress Dowager entered the palace, she rose to the position of Empress in just a few years.

After His Majesty ascended the throne, he was naturally promoted to Empress Dowager, becoming the most honored woman in the land. Over the years, has she ever needed to repeat herself when she spoke or did anything?

Let alone a second time, as soon as she expresses an idea, people immediately rush to do it.

The Empress Dowager was a quiet and unassuming person. Apart from the Emperor Emeritus and Princess Zhaoyang, she rarely spoke to anyone else.

When has a situation like today ever occurred before?

Furthermore, considering that the Empress Dowager summoned His Majesty yesterday morning specifically to discuss rewarding General Jia, it is quite clear that the Empress Dowager truly cherishes General Jia's kindness in saving her life.

Therefore, as long as Jia Lian doesn't take things too seriously and is quick to agree to the Empress Dowager's request, he can always regain his promising future.

穀胱

Such people deserve to be fawned over and flattered until they are beaten to death.

"Thank you for reminding me, Father-in-law."

Jia Lian wouldn't want to offend these senior eunuchs in the palace for no reason, so he simply replied before saying to Yuan Chun, "The Empress Dowager is a person who can distinguish right from wrong and whose virtue is unparalleled. She won't really hold a grudge against me."

After saying that, Jia Lian smiled and asked, "By the way, it's been so many years since I've seen my elder sister. I wonder how she's doing in the palace?"

Now I am no longer the spoiled brat I used to be, and I have some skills. If you ever need anything from me, please don't hesitate to ask, and I will do my best.

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern..."

Yuan Chun was caught off guard by Jia Lian's sudden concern for her at the Tianma Palace, and replied casually in a daze.

But she had no time to reflect on her own life. She wanted to persuade Jia Lian again, so she whispered, "Brother Lian, you really need to consider the Empress Dowager's words. You are still young and have a bright future ahead of you. Don't offend the Empress Dowager because of a moment of loyalty."

As for Feng Yatou...

The Empress Dowager and Princess Zhaoyang are both magnanimous people. If you truly feel sorry for her, why not wait until the princess enters the household, and then ask the Empress Dowager and the princess to bring her home? I believe the Empress Dowager and the princess will agree, given your sincerity.”

As Yuan Chun spoke, she glanced at the people around her.

The old eunuch and the others smiled knowingly. Consort Jia was very good and clever; she knew we would relay these words to the Empress Dowager.

Jia Lian was also a little surprised that he had failed to change the subject. Yuan Chun dared to say such things here, which clearly showed that she had some understanding of the Empress Dowager's temperament.

To be honest, Yuan Chun's suggestion is a good compromise. Observing the Empress Dowager's attitude, the chances of it being achieved are quite considerable.

But marrying a princess is definitely not a good job.

People from the royal family might be easy to talk to once or twice, but over time they'll realize how ruthless things can be.

Putting everything else aside, if he were to marry a princess, just the fact that he married Miaoyu alone would be a major obstacle in the future!

"Thank you for reminding me, big sister. I will seriously consider it."

After Jia Lian finished speaking, he said "please" and then, escorted by eunuchs, he and Yuan Chun left Weiyang Palace one after the other.

……

Jia Lian had his own ideas and wouldn't listen to advice, leaving Yuan Chun helpless.

After all, they were just cousins ​​and didn't have a deep relationship since childhood. Saying too much would be useless and would only cause the other party to feel disgusted. So Yuan Chun could only watch helplessly as Jia Lian left the inner palace.

However, this matter is of great importance. As a member of the family, Yuan Chun was sent to this position by the family and should naturally share the family's burdens.

Therefore, without much thought, after returning to the palace, he summoned Xia Shouzhong and asked him to send a letter to the Rongguo Mansion.

The chief eunuch of the six palaces served all the concubines and, strictly speaking, was the empress's person.

The reason for using Xia Shouzhong instead of a eunuch from her own palace was twofold: firstly, it was inconvenient for a eunuch from her own palace to leave the palace; and secondly, it was to show the Empress and others that she was doing something upright and aboveboard, not something secretive or underhanded that could be kept hidden.

As for an old eunuch like Xia Shouzhong, seeing that Yuan Chun had just been promoted to Imperial Concubine and was gaining momentum, he naturally tried his best to flatter her and soon accepted the order.

While Yuan Chun was still wondering whether Grandmother Jia and the others could persuade Jia Lian, a palace maid placed by the Dowager Consort came to report: "The Dowager Consort summons you."

Yuan Chun sighed inwardly, but dared not be negligent, and could only pack up and go.

To be honest, she hadn't realized it before when she was just a lady-in-waiting by the Empress Dowager's side, but now she suddenly understood why the Emperor Emeritus disliked her.

Even she, in comparison, would rather serve the Empress Dowager.

Being with the Empress Dowager felt like being bathed in a spring breeze. Moreover, she had a hunch that the Empress Dowager's recent unusual friendliness towards her must have an ulterior motive, but she couldn't sense any malice, so she was willing to be close to her.

Of course, this idea must not be revealed to the Dowager Consort.