After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

As soon as you step through the threshold of Cining Palace, an intense, almost overwhelming fragrance of agarwood wafts towards you.

Xiao Mingyue glanced at the people sitting in the hall and already had a good idea of ​​what was going on.

The Empress Dowager sat at the head of the table, with a string of eighteen-bead tangerines beside her. Consort Liang sat beside her, smiling as she peeled tangerines for the Empress Dowager.

There was another person sitting in the seat below.

He wore a blue robe and a square scarf on his head, with a white jade pendant of decent quality hanging from his waist. He sat upright, looking quite dignified and proper.

Xiao Mingyue paused for a moment.

Wang Changhe.

When the Empress Dowager saw her enter, a kind smile immediately spread across her face. She beckoned and said, "Mingyue has arrived. Please sit down. I was just thinking about you."

Xiao Mingyue bowed and took her seat, accepting the teacup offered by the palace maid.

The Empress Dowager held her hand and chatted for a while about the lively lantern festival. She then asked her how she was feeling lately and whether she was eating on time. Her tone was very kind.

Xiao Mingyue agreed to all of them, waiting for her to get to the point.

Sure enough, the Empress Dowager changed the subject and brought up Wang Changhe.

"Mingyue, look at this young master Wang. He is the eldest son of Academician Wang of the Hanlin Academy. He was the second-place winner in last year's autumn imperial examination. His talent, learning, character, and appearance are all first-rate."

The Empress Dowager released her hand and gestured with her chin toward Wang Changhe.

"I know you resisted marriage before because you hadn't met someone suitable. Why don't you take a look at this young master Wang?"

Wang Changhe stood up at the opportune moment and bowed deeply to Xiao Mingyue.

"My name is Wang Changhe. I have long admired Your Highness's reputation. It is my great honor to meet you today."

He straightened up and added, "Although my lifelong learning is not enough to fight on the battlefield, I am willing to spend the rest of my life sharing Your Highness's worries and troubles, and managing the trivial matters of Your Highness's household, so that Your Highness has no worries."

Xiao Mingyue's gaze fell on Wang Changhe's face.

His features were fairly regular, but his narrow eyes revealed a sharp and shrewd edge, and he had a greasy, calculating air about him.

Suddenly, the image of another person appeared in her mind.

His whole demeanor was clear and serene; just standing there, one felt a sense of tranquility and purity, an openness and integrity emanating from within.

Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, the Empress Dowager's smile deepened.

"What do you think, Mingyue? You have to get to know people to know if they are good or bad. Young Master Wang is renowned for his talent and has a gentle nature. I think he is a good match for you."

"The plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom today; you and Young Master Wang might as well take a stroll there."

Wang Changhe immediately bowed: "If Your Highness does not find me uncouth, I would be willing to accompany Your Highness to appreciate the plum blossoms."

Xiao Mingyue finally picked up her teacup and gently stirred the floating leaves.

"No need."

The Empress Dowager's smile faltered.

Xiao Mingyue looked up at her and said frankly, "It's not that I'm against marriage, but I already have someone I like, so there's no need for Mother to make arrangements."

The hall fell silent.

Wang Changhe's smile froze on his face, and he stood there, caught in a dilemma.

The Empress Dowager slowly twirled the beads with her fingers, her voice still gentle: "You have someone you admire? That's quite rare; I've never heard you mention it before."

Xiao Mingyue said, "I have only recently made up my mind and have not yet had a chance to inform the Empress Dowager."

"Which family's young master is he? What is his family background?"

Xiao Mingyue picked up her teacup and took a sip: "He is a guest in my household. Although his background is not illustrious, he is of excellent character and talent, gentle and courteous, which suits my taste very well."

Wang Changhe couldn't hold back his smile.

Consort Liang glanced around and quickly whispered, "Your Highness, marriage is a matter of great importance concerning the royal family's reputation. This retainer... isn't he just a commoner? It might not sound good if word got out."

The Empress Dowager placed the prayer beads on the table, and the jade beads made a soft sound as they touched the tabletop.

"Mingyue, you are the Princess Zhenguo, personally appointed by the late Emperor. Even if your husband is not from a high-ranking family, he should still have official rank and title."

Xiao Mingyue put down her teacup, her tone leisurely.

"When choosing a son-in-law, I do not need him to have power or fame, because I have all of those things."

She smiled slightly: "The Empress Dowager should understand me best. Weren't all the previous imperial consorts handsome and refined young men?"

The Empress Dowager's expression was displeased. She turned to Wang Changhe and said, "Young Master Wang is renowned for his talent and handsome appearance. He is one of the most promising young men in the capital. Mingyue, why don't you take a closer look?"

Xiao Mingyue followed the Empress Dowager's gaze to Wang Changhe, her eyes slowly sweeping over him.

Wang Changhe felt uncomfortable under her gaze, but he still forced himself to keep his back straight.

The next moment, she withdrew her gaze, picked up her teacup, and slowly shook her head: "I don't like it."

Wang Changhe's face flushed instantly, the heat spreading from his neck to his ears. His voice trembled as he said, "Your Highness, what is it about me that displeases you? Please enlighten me."

Xiao Mingyue glanced at him and sighed impatiently.

"As I just said, I only have a fondness for handsome men, and you..."

"Too ugly."

Two words, spoken lightly, yet they were like a resounding slap in the face.

Wang Changhe froze on the spot, all color draining from his face. His lips trembled for a long time before he finally found his voice and turned to bow to the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, I am feeling unwell today and must take my leave now."

The Empress Dowager remained silent, her face grim.

Consort Liang stepped in to smooth things over: "Young Master, please don't be angry. Someone, escort Young Master out of the palace."

Two palace maids entered and bowed to lead the way.

Wang Changhe gritted his teeth and thanked her, then gave the Empress Dowager a hasty bow before turning to leave. He tripped over the threshold and had to grab a palace maid's arm to steady himself.

The palace doors closed again.

The Empress Dowager's kind expression faded considerably: "Mingyue, you've deliberately made me look bad today."

Xiao Mingyue stood up: "Your child wouldn't dare."

"Since you look down on Wang Changhe so much, I'd like to meet this retainer who has won your favor. Just who is he?"

Xiao Mingyue remained humble and respectful: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, there will definitely be opportunities. It's just that my beloved is shy, so I'm afraid I'll have to persuade her slowly to avoid frightening her."

The Empress Dowager stared at her calm face, her fingernails digging into her palms.

"Let me make this clear from the start: the consort of the Princess's residence cannot be allowed to act on a whim."

Xiao Mingyue smiled and said, "Of course... we can only get married if we receive an imperial decree."

Seeing that she was completely unmoved by reason, the Empress Dowager waved her hand wearily.

"That's enough, you may go back today, I'm tired."

Xiao Mingyue bowed and took her leave.

The beaded curtain rustled softly, and only the faint sound of the fire in the charcoal brazier remained in the Cining Palace.

Consort Liang placed the peeled tangerines into a small white porcelain dish and handed it to the Empress Dowager, speaking in a gentle tone.

"Mother, what should we do about the Princess's stubbornness?"

The Empress Dowager did not touch the dish of tangerines, but slowly picked up the eighteen fruits on the table.

"She said this on purpose for me to hear. She wanted to tell me that she would rather choose a commoner than accept someone I arrange."

Consort Liang placed the silver token back into the dish. "Since that retainer is in the Princess's residence, he must be quite trusted by her. Should Your Majesty send someone to investigate?"

The Empress Dowager's fingertip paused on a jade bead, and after a moment she said, "Of course we must investigate."

"A retainer with no connections or background who could be used by Mingyue to avoid marriage must have some ability."

Consort Liang replied in a low voice, "Your subject will have someone take care of it immediately."

The Empress Dowager raised her hand to stop her, "No rush."

"If I rush to investigate today, she will see that I have lost my composure."

The Empress Dowager placed the string of beads on the table, and the jade beads made a soft sound as they touched.

"Wang Changhe has suffered such humiliation today; the Wang family will probably not be able to swallow this insult."

"Let the Wang family investigate themselves."

The Empress Dowager gave a cold laugh: "He has always prided himself on his talent and good looks. How could he stand someone telling him he's ugly to his face? When he gets back, he'll find out who that retainer is."

Consort Liang smiled and replied, "If the Wang family finds out anything, they will naturally report to the Empress Dowager. At that time, the Empress Dowager can reap the benefits without having to bear the stigma of interfering in the eldest princess's marriage."

The Empress Dowager took a sip of tea, her expression softening slightly. "You are indeed smarter than before."

Consort Liang hurriedly rose and bowed, saying, "Your subject is dull-witted and learned everything from Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager leaned back against the soft pillows, her gaze falling on the gilded Boshan incense burner in the corner of the hall.

"Over the years, Mingyue has relied on the late emperor's favor and held military power, so he has become increasingly reckless in his actions."

"I originally intended to choose a more docile husband for her, so that she would not continue to act recklessly in the court."

"Who knew she wouldn't even give me that much face?"

Consort Liang said in a low voice, "The Princess holds military power, so the Emperor shouldn't push her too hard."

"If things really escalate, the court officials will probably say it's a fight between royal family members."

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly, "Marriages shall be decided by imperial decree."

"If I don't arrange a marriage between her and that retainer, what can she do?"

Consort Liang followed up, saying, "What the Empress Dowager says is true. No matter how strong the Princess is, she cannot marry without permission."

The Empress Dowager pressed her fingertip on the Buddhist prayer beads, "If she really dares to cross the border into the palace, I will teach her a lesson for her disrespect."

Consort Liang thought for a moment, then said, "But what if the Eldest Princess goes to ask His Majesty for help?"

The Empress Dowager glanced at her. "The Emperor will not agree."

"He'd love for me to suppress the moonlight for him, so why would he personally find her a suitable husband?"

Consort Liang nodded slightly: "As for Wang Changhe, does Mother still intend to continue to try and bring them together?"

The Empress Dowager was silent for a moment. "Wang Changhe is useless. He lost his composure today because of two sentences. Even if he enters the Princess's residence in the future, he may not be able to control her."

Consort Liang said, "Then shall we choose another one?"

The Empress Dowager slowed her movements as she counted the prayer beads. "The Wang family can be used, but we cannot rely solely on Wang Changhe."

"Tomorrow, you should pass on a message to Madam Wang, saying that I know that Young Master Wang was wronged today."

"Let her understand that I still value the Wang family."

Consort Liang replied, "Your subject has remembered."

She paused, as if hesitating, before cautiously speaking, "Mother, I have another matter... I would like to ask Mother for a definite answer."

The Empress Dowager looked up at her.

Consort Liang lowered her head and lowered her voice even further: "Your Majesty has been summoning Jingchen to the Imperial Study more often lately, and I... am not sure what Your Majesty means."

She raised her head, her eyes filled with urgency: "Mother, does the Emperor have... any intention of establishing an heir?"