vstars Chapter 519 The Emperor and Empress Visit
Chapter 519 The Emperor and Empress Visit
The next day, Emperor Shenwu arrived at the gate of the eldest princess's mansion.
The grand imperial carriage did not stop and entered the gate of the Grand Princess's residence. On both sides were guards and palace maids kneeling on the ground to pay their respects.
Emperor Shenwu helped Lan Qingwu get off the dragon chariot. When they were about to walk inside, Lan Qingwu grabbed Emperor Shenwu's big hand. Emperor Shenwu turned around and looked at Lan Qingwu in confusion.
Lan Qingwu said softly, "Your Majesty, please go in and visit Mingzhu first. I heard that the women from the Qingjiang Marquis's residence have been staying at the Princess's residence for the past two days, and I want to go and see them."
Emperor Shenwu understood, and he glanced at Lan Qingwu with his narrow and long phoenix eyes. She was afraid that Princess Mingzhu would get emotional again after seeing him, and she didn't want to cause any more trouble. Besides, the women in the Qingjiang Marquis's Mansion also needed to be disciplined. He, Emperor Shenwu, could ignore and blame the eldest princess, but what qualifications did others have to point fingers at the royal bloodline!
Emperor Shenwu nodded: "Then I will go in first."
Lan Qingwu watched Emperor Shenwu enter the house, then she turned and walked into the main hall.
In the main hall, Lan Qingwu was leisurely drinking fragrant tea. Her slender white fingers held the teacup and gently fiddled with the floating tea leaves, occasionally taking a sip nonchalantly.
The women of the Qingjiang Marquisate who had paid their respects to the Empress were not feeling so well. The Empress's attitude had put pressure on them, and even the Qingjiang Marquis' wife was subconsciously wondering if anyone in her family had done anything wrong recently.
The two gossipy Mrs. Jiangs who had been at the Grand Princess's residence these past few days were trembling with fear, walking on thin ice. Their mouths were always busy these past two days, and their words were all about how it was unlucky to bury the child who died young in the ancestral tomb, and that it would bring bad luck to other younger children.
Unexpectedly, the Emperor and Empress suddenly came to the Grand Princess's Mansion. It seemed that they were dissatisfied with the actions of the Qingjiang Marquis' Mansion. The two Madam Jiangs were afraid at this moment. They remembered that, no matter what, Princess Mingzhu was also His Majesty's direct bloodline and the first child. No matter how the emperor had neglected her in the past, when something happened, his first reaction was to support his daughter.
Thinking of this, Madam Jiang Er and Madam Jiang Si lowered their heads involuntarily. Madam Jiang Si even looked at Madam Qingjiang Hou with a pleading look in this stagnant and depressing atmosphere.
The Empress sat on top, while the three of them stood trembling with fear. The Marquis of Qingjiang received her sisters-in-law's pleading glances and rolled her eyes inwardly. She couldn't control her mouth. What had she done earlier? She regretted it now, but it was too late! But the Marquis of Qingjiang had no choice but to step in and protect them.
The wife of the Marquis of Qingjiang sorted herself out and coughed lightly, breaking the overly quiet hall.
"Your Majesty, we are so sorry for the sudden arrival of you and His Majesty! Whatever your wishes are, as long as the Qingjiang Marquisate can fulfill them, we will go all out and do whatever it takes, even if it means danger!"
Lan Qingwu finally raised her head and looked at the three of them. She reached out and gently placed the teacup on the table. There was a "dong" sound, and Mrs. Jiang Er and Mrs. Jiang Si couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Lan Qingwu said slowly, "A few days ago, the Imperial Palace sent the head maid Ruhan to take charge of the young master's funeral. I heard that the ladies had great objections to the young master being buried in the Jiang family's ancestral tomb!"
The wife of the Marquis of Qingjiang looked unhappy. "Yes! Your Majesty... No, what I meant was that there were some disputes in the family at the beginning, but the Marquis single-handedly withstood the pressure from the clan. I and others have absolutely no doubts!"
Lan Qingwu smiled softly, "The young master has royal blood, and he's the eldest grandson of Madam Qingjiang. I'm sure Madam can't bear to see the young master's soul left without a care in the world."
Ruhan corrected quietly, "Empress, His Majesty has already conferred the title of Prince Mu on the young master!"
The wife of the Marquis of Qingjiang hurriedly said, "Of course, An'er is my grandson!"
After saying this, Madam Qingjiang Hou realized that she hadn't withstood the pressure from the women in the mansion for her grandson who had died young. She had also heard too much gossip from the two sisters-in-law in front of her, saying that children who died young were unlucky. At this point, any promises she made in front of the Empress were pale and powerless.
Even though this grandson died young, he still had royal blood flowing in his body and was already the Prince of Mu, personally conferred by the emperor.
Madam Jiang Er continued, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. We are staying at the Princess's residence out of concern for your nephew and niece-in-law. We'll see if we can help."
Mrs. Jiang Si also said, "Yes! Yes! I... am staying here to help!"
Lan Qingwu said calmly: "Really?"
Her voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it gave people an inexplicable sense of pressure.
The wife of the Marquis of Qingjiang paled, knowing she could no longer remain silent. She quickly took the lead and knelt down, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. It is my fault that I failed to control the people in the Marquisate in time, and the rumors have disturbed Your Majesty and Your Majesty!"
In fact, the wife of the Marquis of Qingjiang was also worried in her heart, and she felt that this grandson would bring bad luck to her other sons and daughters. She didn't only have the eldest son, the prince consort.
When the eldest son-in-law asked to marry the eldest princess, the wife of the Marquis of Qingjiang was reluctant. Princess Mingzhu was of noble status. If her eldest son married the princess, their whole family would have to bow to the eldest princess. The eldest daughter-in-law would naturally be superior to herself, and I believe no mother-in-law would be willing to do that.
However, her son insisted on his own way and said that the prince consort of this dynasty could have a bright future as long as he had real talent and hard work. The wife of Marquis Qingjiang could not control her son, and Marquis Qingjiang also agreed that his eldest son should marry Princess Mingzhu. The wife of Marquis Qingjiang had no choice but to give up.
However, since they got married, the eldest son has indeed been having bad luck. The eldest princess, who was originally dignified and generous, has become paranoid, always vaguely opposing the beloved queen. Even during her pregnancy, she was reprimanded and punished by His Majesty, and her fiefdom and estate were even taken back. The dissatisfaction in the heart of the wife of the Marquis of Qingjiang grew like weeds.
The eldest son married the princess, but instead of helping her, he actually hindered his son! At this moment, all the neglect he showed towards this grandson could only be attributed to the influence of the eldest princess.
Mrs. Jiang Er and Mrs. Jiang Si realized what was happening and knelt down to apologize. Only then did they clearly feel that the dignity of the royal family could not be trampled upon or insulted!
Lan Qingwu's voice was slightly cold: "Madam Qingjiang Hou, you said that Prince Mu is your grandson. If your mansion has always been kind and filial, then he is your grandson. Otherwise, he can only be the son of Princess Mingzhu, a member of the royal family, and he has nothing to do with your Qingjiang Hou Mansion!"
"These days, the Grand Prince Consort has been worried about the Grand Princess. The entire Princess's Mansion is like a sieve, with rumors swirling around. Madam Qingjiang, you are indeed responsible for failing to supervise properly!"
"If you can't tolerate Prince Mu, I can report to His Majesty and have the child buried in the imperial mausoleum! What do you think?"
The Dasheng Dynasty was not without precedent. Many of the princesses' descendants were buried in the imperial tomb, and several were even directly given the surname "Zhou" by the emperor at that time.