Chapter 93
"Report to the Empress, Su Zhaorong came to congratulate." The palace maid reported respectfully.
Empress Qiao nodded slightly: "Let Su Zhaorong come in!"
After a while, Su Zhaorong, who was beaming, entered the Jiaofang Hall.
Su Zhaorong's beauty was beyond doubt. Among all the concubines in the harem, Su Zhaorong was the most beautiful. Emperor Yongjia also had some affection for Su Zhaorong. Otherwise, with Su Zhaorong's status as a dancer, it could have been better to take the child and leave the mother. Otherwise, how could she be carried in as a concubine?
Empress Qiao naturally looked down on Su Zhaorong very much.
However, Su Zhaorong gave birth to two princes, and she bowed her head in the harem, and there was nothing wrong with her except for crying. Empress Qiao usually pretends she does not know this person.
Today, Su Zhaorong came to congratulate her with a face full of spring breeze, saying all the good things in her mouth. Empress Qiao smiled faintly: "The marriage of the Third Prince is also really good. This palace should also say congratulations to Su Zhaorong."
It is not only good but unexpectedly good.
Concubine Qin felt a little sour in her heart, and hurriedly said with a smile: "Yeah, the concubine did not expect that the Emperor would grant marriage between the Third Prince and the daughter of the Meng family."
Empress Qiao didn't expect it either.
On that day, she also was moved to consider Meng Yunluo to be her daughter-in-law!
Thanks to her cautious nature, she didn't even mention it to Princess Hui'an, let alone Emperor Yongjia. Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing.
Su Zhaorong's request to marry Meng Yunluo for his son was impressive.
Su Zhaorong swept away the depression of the past few days and said with a smile: "In front of the Empress and Concubine Qin, this concubine does not need to hide it. This marriage was requested by the concubine from the Emperor."
"When I went, the concubine was very nervous. Unexpectedly, the emperor quickly agreed. He asked the Marquis of Guangping yesterday afternoon, and today he ordered the marriage."
Concubine Qin couldn't see Su Zhaorong's complacent face, and glanced at Su Zhaorong with a half-smile but not a smile: "The Marquis of Guangping deserves to be straightforward, so it can be seen that he likes the Third Prince very much."
Empress Qiao replied calmly: "Those rumours that were spread without shadows in those days should not be taken as true. The Third Prince is so outstanding, and the Marquis of Guangping has such a good son-in-law, there is no reason to be unhappy."
Su Zhaorong: "..."
Su Zhaorong couldn't hold back her smile anymore, she was full of resentment in her heart.
At that time, she was a dancer who was a servant. Because of her beautiful appearance, she began to serve guests at the age of fourteen. When she was bought for a lot of money and sent to the Meng family, she thought that she will be in the Meng family's inner courtyard in the future, so she shyly sent some looks towards the Marquis.
Marquis Guangping was greedy and lustful, so he couldn't help hooking up, and he arrived at her couch in a few days.
She tried her best to figure it out, wanting to get up close to this big tree, so that she would not be bumpy and tossing and turning from now on.
Meng Hui, that bastard, talked a bunch of sweet words on the bed, coaxing her into courteous service. In a blink of an eye, she was sent away again.
Fortunately, she had good luck. After serving Li Yuan once, she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. After giving birth to a son, she was carried as a concubine. In the backyard of the Li family, she finally had a place of her own.
Not many people knew about the affair between her and Meng Hui, but there were a few. Both Empress Qiao and Concubine Qin in front knew about it. Back then, there were many unpleasant rumours in the backyard of the Li family, and some people even viciously suggested that Li Hao was not a member of the Li family.
She knelt in front of Li Yuan, confessed her feelings, and almost fainted from crying.
Li Yuan was quite generous, he didn't mind, and he also issued a strict order that no one was allowed to talk about it.
The son grew up day by day, his appearance and bearing were most like his own father. Li Yuan had always liked Li Hao as a son. After a long time, those vicious rumours that had no shadows had subsided.
Over the years, Li Yuan sat on the dragon chair, and the sky was prosperous. No one dared to mention these past events.
After all, she was insignificant, but the dignity and majesty of the Emperor cannot be questioned. Who would dare to doubt Li Hao's blood, didn't that put a green hat on Emperor Yongjia's head?
At this time, Concubine Qin and Empress Qiao sang together, deliberately exposing her old past and embarrassing her.
…
Su Zhaorong swallowed the sullen breath and opened the topic with a smile: "The concubine came to congratulate the Empress today, and secondly, I also wanted to ask the Empress. Since the marriage was granted by the imperial edict, what should I do next?"
Concubine Qin was also very concerned about this issue, and immediately echoed with a smile: "Yes, the concubine is also thinking, even if it is a marriage, the three matchmakers and six hires that should be available are indispensable."
Empress Qiao nodded slightly: "Just follow the old example of the Eldest Prince!"
On that day, the eldest prince was granted a marriage edit first, then accepted the betrothal letter, set the date of the wedding, and married the Liang family. However, these things were handled by Concubine Meng personally.
Was Empress Qiao planning to push the marriage of the third prince and the fourth prince to them?
Concubine Qin was secretly happy.
Concubine Qin was favored by Empress Dowager Zhao, and outside the palace was supported by the Marquis of Puyang. If someone wanted money and had money, they will be able to handle the family affairs beautifully.
Su Zhaorong was a little flustered.
She can't compare to Concubine Qin. There were not many private houses in hand, and there was no one to rely on outside the palace. If she didn't ask Empress Qiao, how can she handle it?
Su Zhaorong couldn't hold back her anger and hurriedly said: "I don't know a few words, let alone these things. Ah Hao's marriage, I kindly ask the Empress to take care of it."
Empress Qiao did not respond immediately but first glanced at Concubine Qin.
Concubine Qin felt agitated in her heart, and immediately said, "Yes, my concubine has never done such a big thing, so I implore the Empress to decide."
Empress Qiao smiled lightly: "The Third Prince and the Fourth Prince are born to you, and are also the sons of this palace. How can this palace not ask about such important matters as marriage? You can rest assured!"
Concubine Qin and Su Zhaorong bowed and saluted together, thanking the Empress for her grace.
Empress Qiao's eyes flickered slightly, and she said warmly: "Get up! Běngōng is the Empress, and these are the responsibilities of běngōng. Why do you need to thank me?"
When the Eeldest Prince got married two years ago, Concubine Meng Guifei personally managed the marriage with the approval of Emperor Yongjia. This also made Empress lose face. This is what Emperor Yongjia promised, so she couldn't help it.
This time, she will never allow anyone to take away the rights and dignity that belong to the Empress.
Empress Qiao said with a smile: "For such a big event, the palace should be lively. Běngōng (1) will instruct the imperial dining room to prepare the palace banquet."
Then she smiled and instructed Concubine Qin: "You go to the palace for the birthday party. Ning Gong, please invite the Empress Dowager to join us for some fun."
Concubine Qin replied with a smile.
Su Zhaorong never has any share in doing such decent errands.
Empress Dowager Zhao didn't even see Empress Qiao very much, let alone Su Zhaorong, who was a dancer.
Su Zhaorong was in a very good mood today, so she didn't take this trivial matter to heart.
In Su Zhaorong's view, Lu Mingyu hooked up with the Second Prince for revenge. Fortunately, she was quick-witted and snatched Meng Yunluo to be her daughter-in-law.
After this marriage, the Marquis of Guangping will win over outside the palace, and in the harem, she can join forces with Concubine Meng. She no longer has to be afraid of Lu Mingyu.
1. The Royal "I" for a queen. It means this palace.