Phoenix Hairpin

  Lu Mingyu couldn't find out the truth, and immediately turned her face: "It's so late, Your Highness should return to the palace earlier. I won't see His Highness off."

   After saying that, she turned around and left.

   Li Jing was not annoyed, got on the horse, and returned to the palace slowly in the night wind.

   On the same night, some people were full of pride, some people were depressed, and some people washed their faces in tears.

   In the inner courtyard of Qiao's mansion, Qiao Wan wept silently in her boudoir.

The maid Jin'er whispered to comfort: "Miss don't cry. The imperial decree for the marriage has arrived at the Lu family, and the marriage between His Royal Highness Li Jing and Fourth Miss Lu has been finalized, and there is absolutely no way to change it. The slave knows that the young lady is sad, but the matter has come to this point. It is useless to think too much.”

  Qiao Wan was a lady from a respectable family, reserved and introverted. Even when she was deeply sad and heartbroken, she would never howl and cry out loud.

   She just sat there quietly, dazed, her eyes were red and tears flowed for a while.

  Jin'er persuaded her for a long time until her mouth was dry, and Qiao Wan wiped her tears and fell asleep.

   How can you sleep this night?

   Don't mention Qiao Wan, even Old Lady Qiao felt unhappy in her heart.

"Over the years, the Empress has always liked Wan'er, and she called Wan'er into the palace from time to time." Old Lady Qiao whispered angrily to Old Man Qiao: "Wan'er and Li Jing are about the same age, they like each other, and they are cousins. I always thought that the Empress intended to make Wan'er the Second Prince Consort."

  Who would have thought that a Lu Mingyu would appear in the middle!

   The most irritating thing was that Empress Qiao didn't say anything at all before. Everyone in the Qiao family thought that Qiao Wan would marry Li Jing, and today Emperor Yongjia issued an imperial decree for the marriage.

   Even if no one dared to speak more, Old Lady Qiao felt embarrassed as if her face has been slapped.

   Old Man Qiao Ge was not feeling very happy either. He glanced at Old Lady Qiao who was chattering endlessly: "That's enough. Don't say such things again in the future. The affairs of the imperial family should not be discussed by courtiers with loose tongues.."

Old Lady Qiao was indignant: "The one sitting on the phoenix chair is our daughter. The Emperor on the dragon chair is the son-in-law of our Qiao family. Li Jing is the grandson of your direct relative. I can't say how he is married?"

Old Qiao Ge's face turned cold, and his voice sank: "There is a difference between rulers and ministers. The one who lives in the Jiaofang Palace is the Empress of the Great Wei Dynasty. The one in the Jinluan Palace is the Emperor of the Great Wei Dynasty. Even though I am the Chief Minister, when I meet the second prince, I also have to bow."

   "It's different now. If you don't even understand this truth, don't enter the palace in the future!"

Old Lady Qiao was so angry that she slapped the old Qiao Ge hard: "Yes, yes, I'm a fool, I don't understand anything. Go to your study, so as not to be implicated by me and become a confused person who is not clear about right and wrong. "

   Old Qiao Ge was slapped with fire by this slap, and without saying a word, got up and went to the study.

  …

   The next day, Old Lady Qiao entered the palace.

  There were not so many rules in the new dynasty. If you want to enter the palace, first hand over the token, and when Empress Qiao agrees, you can enter the palace for an audience.

   Old Lady Qiao was the mother of Empress Qiao. She didn't even need to hand over the token. She could enter the palace if she wanted to.

   Empress Qiao listened to the report from the palace maid, sighed in her heart, and got up and greeted her mother at the palace gate in person. Old Lady Qiao was very polite, and saluted Empress Qiao first: "The minister has seen the Empress."

   Queen Qiao stretched out her hand to support Old Lady Qiao, and said with a smile: "Mother is too polite, hurry up and let's speak in the hall."

  As usual, she affectionately helped Old Lady Qiao into the Jiaofang Hall.

Old Lady Qiao was sulking, and after she sat down, she opened her mouth to congratulate her: "Yesterday, the Emperor issued a decree to marry Fourth Miss Lu for His Royal Highness. The court lady was also very happy when she heard about this happy event. Entering the palace today, I came here to congratulate the Empress and His Royal Highness."

  She said congratulations, but her words were a bit blunt.

   Empress Qiao sighed again and winked at Cailan.

   Cailan nodded slightly and led the maids to retreat.

  Without the outsiders, Empress Qiao whispered softly, "Don't be annoyed, mother, listen to me first. I know that my mother is annoyed and unhappy in her heart, and Ah Jing's marriage is really a secret affair."

   Old Lady Qiao was about to open her mouth to grab a few words. When she thought of the advice of Old Man Qiao last night, she swallowed the words that came to her lips.

  She just heard Empress Qiao say: "I have always liked Wan'er. But Ah Jing, the one he likes is Fourth Miss Lu. This is his lifelong event, how can I beat him."

   "I originally thought to find an opportunity to tell my mother about it first. I didn't expect that the Emperor would issue an imperial decree so quickly. It made me a step late and made my mother unhappy."

   After all, Empress Qiao had never opened her mouth to propose marriage, not even a verbal engagement.

 Even if you don't explain anything, it makes sense.

   Old Madam Qiao looked at the dignified and elegant Empress Qiao with little apologetic eyes, her stomach full of anger and annoyance suddenly turned into depression.

   That's it!

   At this point, she really shouldn't say anything anymore. Even if they are biological mother and daughter, their identities are different now, and she cannot blame anyone. She also cannot blame Li Jing.

   Can you really blame Li Jing for not liking Qiao Wan?

Where did such words come from, Your Majesty?" The old lady Qiao regained her composure and replied, "I came to the palace today to offer my congratulations, and nothing more."

   "Miss Lu Si is born into a prestigious family, and her looks and talents are top-notch. She and His Highness are a match made in heaven."

   "In the future, with the help of King Xingyang, His Highness will also be a great help in the court."

   Old Lady Qiao was neither old nor dizzy. Once she turned the corner, she spoke very smoothly: "Thousands of good things are not as good as my heart. Your Highness is pleased with Fourth Miss Lu, and this is the most important thing."

   "Wan'er is the daughter of our Qiao family, and she has some talent in the capital. There are not a few people who come to the door to propose marriage. When Wan'er's marriage is decided, I will come to the palace to announce the good news to the Empress."

   Empress Qiao smiled genially: "Okay, then, I will definitely add a thick dowry to Wan'er."

   Old Lady Qiao rarely entered the palace, so Empress Qiao wanted to have lunch.

   After the court dispersed, Li Jing also came to the Jiaofang Palace, where he met Old Lady Qiao. He was quite affectionate, opened his mouth, and called "Wàizǔmǔ". (1)

   Old Lady Qiao has always loved her wise grandson and smiled cheerfully: "His Royal Highness has made a marriage plan, and will soon marry a wife and live in the Prince's Mansion. It will be much more convenient to move around with the Qiao family in the future."

   Li Jing smiled and nodded in response.

  After lunch, Li Jing personally sent Old Lady Qiao out of the palace. When he returned, Empress Qiao sighed softly: "Ah Jing, your grandmother is not happy, I'm afraid that your grandfather also has an estrangement in his heart."

   In her heart, children are the most important. But because of the estrangement between her son's marriage and her parents, it was not strange that he was not happy.

  Li Jing said: "My mother never really planned to make my Qiao biǎomèi my consort. (2) Shouldn't you have expected this result? Why should you feel disappointed now?"

   Empress Qiao was speechless.

   Li Jing added: "In this world, it is not possible to make everyone happy. It is inevitable that my wàizǔfù (3) and wàizǔmǔ are unhappy. In the future, I will go to Qiao's house more often, and hopefully, everything will be alright."

1. Maternal Grandmother i.e. Mother of my mother

2. Daughter of my mother's sibling who is younger than me

3. Maternal Grandfather i.e. Father of my mother

T/N I think the Empress was really unfair to her natal family. Even in the previous timeline, she chose a different daughter-in-law for military power. But she gave indication to her natal family that she might consider her niece as her daughter-in-law and was not clear from the beginning about it. 

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