In a flash, another three days passed.
It had already been six days since the official matchmaker went to the Qin residence with the marriage proposal.
Qin Shuying showed no signs of anxiety whatsoever. She continued doing what she should do – still reading books and still preparing her dowry with great fanfare.
Although Ziteng knew she had made various arrangements, she was somewhat unable to contain herself. She asked: “Miss, you’re not anxious, but this servant is already so worried I’m getting internal heat.”
Qin Shuying smiled: “Rest assured, there are people more anxious than us.”
“Princess Fu’an?”
“Exactly.”
“Why doesn’t Princess Fu’an ask His Majesty for an imperial edict to fulfill her wish?”
Qin Shuying shook her head: “His Majesty is not a foolish ruler. How could he forcibly break up people’s marriages?”
Although Ziteng understood this reasoning and knew her question was unnecessary, she still felt uneasy, pacing back and forth in the house somewhat anxiously.
Everyone wanted both reputation and to achieve their desires – where could such easy matters exist?
By the eighth day, blisters had appeared on Ziteng’s lips. Lu Ye said to Qin Shuying in bewilderment: “Miss, Ziteng has been drinking mung bean soup every day these past days. How can she still get blisters? Has the weather really become this hot?”
Ziteng was stunned and glared at her.
Nanny Fu laughed: “Alright, once the matters Miss has arranged are carried out, Ziteng’s blisters will quickly disappear.”
Princess Fu’an was equally anxious and heated up – she not only had fire in her mouth but also on her face.
During the Guangbin Tower incident, she had been eager for revenge and applied thick face powder to barely cover her scars. Who knew that after the incident occurred, staying there for an entire day without proper skin care made her scars much worse.
After returning to the palace, she spent many days caring for her skin. Even so, the imperial physician told her that because her skin hadn’t received proper care that day, the situation had worsened considerably. To return to that day’s condition would require at least ten more days of treatment.
She endured her anger while caring for her skin. Before it was fully healed, she heard that the Liu family had hired an official matchmaker to go to the Qin residence with a marriage proposal, and she immediately threw away the beauty cream the imperial physician had carefully prepared.
During these eight days, she had finally restored her skin.
However, Concubine Kang told her not to pursue Liu Junqing anymore. Since Qin Shuying wanted to marry Liu Junqing, let her marry him. Later, she would arrange a good marriage for her.
Princess Fu’an’s eyes reddened. Where would there be better marriages waiting for her?
Speaking of nobility, in the entire capital outside the imperial family, there were only the Western Expedition General’s Residence and Duke Chu’s residence.
Mo Yiting from Duke Chu’s residence was already discussing marriage. Liang Zhe had that kind of temperament. Although Liang Zhe’s twin younger brothers were praised to the skies, Princess Fu’an looked down on them from her heart, not to mention they belonged to Consort De’s faction.
As for other civil officials, such as the four Grand Secretaries, they all held high positions and great power. Their families had promising sons, but among their legitimate descendants, none were of suitable age.
Then there were the first-rank officials – generals and civil officials. Many outstanding sons were at marriageable age, but each was plain-looking. How could they compare to Liu Junqing?
Actually, Princess Fu’an was being too particular. Even if Liang Zhe and Mo Yiting caught Princess Fu’an’s eye, the Emperor would never allow them to marry a princess.
Decades of established rules couldn’t be changed just like that.
Even Princess Yongjia could only marry a wealthy merchant’s son, let alone Princess Fu’an?
Princess Fu’an, being in the midst of it, couldn’t think of this, but Concubine Kang and the Seventh Prince had considered it.
Supposedly, in another two years, His Majesty would order a nationwide selection of prince consorts. The prince consorts chosen then would never compare to someone as talented as Liu Junqing.
If Liu Junqing were unmarried and allowed to marry the princess, it might not be impossible.
Although the Liu family was a prominent clan in Huzhou, their foundation in the capital was still shallow, so it wouldn’t break the current rule that imperial princesses don’t marry into powerful noble families.
If they missed Liu Junqing and waited another two years, Princess Fu’an would either be sent for diplomatic marriage, married to a general’s family guarding the borders, or married to a wealthy merchant.
Back then with Princess Yongjia, the Emperor pitied her, so he didn’t send her for diplomatic marriage or marry her to a military man. The former meant never returning and never seeing family again, the latter could easily result in widowhood.
Ultimately, he chose a wealthy merchant. Although merchants’ status couldn’t compare to officials, when a princess married into their family, that was another matter entirely. But reality was one thing, and being repeatedly harmed by Qin Shuying and unable to marry Liu Junqing was another.
Originally, Concubine Kang and the Seventh Prince still retained some rationality.
However, Princess Fu’an’s words stirred up their fighting spirit. Princess Fu’an had said: “Imperial Mother, I understand everything you’ve said, but losing to Qin Shuying like this – I really can’t accept it! Moreover, if I lose to Qin Shuying, doesn’t that mean you’re losing to Lianpin? You’re both concubines. Look, now she’s about to trample you into the dust! Furthermore, if we don’t fight now, Imperial Brother will soon be at the age for engagement. When Lianpin interferes again, Imperial Mother, we’ll be completely defeated!”
Concubine Kang remembered how during these days, every time Lianpin saw her, she had changed from her former hostile and mocking expression to smiling sweetly while pretending to be virtuous and magnanimous. That appearance was hateful to recall – Lianpin was certain she would be firmly pressed down and unable to rise!
Concubine Kang smiled coldly repeatedly. Did Lianpin think that just because His Majesty had reprimanded the Mu family, she had gained advantages and benefits? If her daughter’s marriage didn’t turn out well and her son’s marriage also didn’t turn out well, wouldn’t all her years of planning be in vain?
Concubine Kang’s rationality instantly dissipated. She agreed to Princess Fu’an’s request and had been secretly planning how to kill three birds with one stone these past days.
On the ninth morning, news came from the palace that Princess Fu’an had fallen ill the previous night.
Although there was an Empress in the palace, Empress Wen was bedridden with long-term illness. The one who truly managed the six palaces was Consort De. Since Princess Fu’an had become ill after eating the palace’s regular meal portions yesterday, Consort De naturally couldn’t escape responsibility.
However, Consort De didn’t take this matter to heart at all.
She went to see Princess Fu’an once, raised her phoenix eyes, and said to the managing aunt beside her, Aunt Yang: “Since the imperial physician said she needs several days of care, then do as the imperial physician said. Concubine Kang, you really can’t even take care of one person properly. Who are you crying like this for?”
After speaking, without looking at Concubine Kang’s expression, she turned and left, too lazy to even put on an act.
After Princess Fu’an slept unconsciously for one hour, she awoke and told Concubine Kang that she and Qin Shuying were good friends and wanted her to enter the palace to keep her company and talk.
Concubine Kang went to Fenglai Palace to request permission, and Empress Wen had no objections.
Thus, Qin Shuying entered the palace.
When people in the Qin residence learned that Princess Fu’an had summoned her to the palace, they speculated wildly – envying, being jealous, and hating, everything imaginable.
However, Qin Lulu was full of worry. Whether Princess Fu’an liked or disliked Qin Shuying, Qin Lulu already knew in her heart. It was just that in such matters, she had no place to speak.
She went to Yilan Garden, hesitating to speak, and finally left with one sentence: “Be careful in everything.”