novelhk Chapter 355 Princess Changning's Marriage
Chapter 355 Princess Changning's Marriage
The palace banquet begins
On the high platform below, singing and dancing were taking place, while Emperor Shun'an was talking to Rui Ge'er.
"Rui-ge'er, is it fun outside?"
Rui Ge'er: "It was fun! There were so many interesting things. Daddy and Mommy took us to so many places."
"Do you still want to go out and have fun?"
Rui Ge'er nodded and then shook his head: "I want to go out, but Father doesn't have time."
He knew very well that the reason he was able to go out and play for so long was because Wen Zongji had time.
Emperor Shun'an asked him with a smile, "What if your maternal uncle takes you out to play?"
Rui-ge'er was taken aback and asked, "Uncle, will it take a long time?"
Emperor Shun'an raised an eyebrow: "What if it's also two months?"
Rui Ge'er pursed his lips and shook his head: "Then I can't go out with my great-uncle. If I'm away from home for too long, my father and mother will miss me."
"Will Rui-ge miss them?"
"Yes."
Although he was precocious and his reserved personality made him seem very steady, he was still only a five-year-old child and couldn't be away from his parents for too long.
Emperor Shun'an patted his little head: "Then when Rui-ge'er is a bit older, and your parents don't have to worry about you anymore, you can go out to play with your great-uncle again, okay?"
Rui nodded: "Okay."
The Crown Prince listened quietly to their conversation, his gaze subtly complex. He glanced at Emperor Shun'an but said nothing.
……
On the other side, Fengyi Palace
When Lingjie attended the palace banquet for the first time, the women all gathered around her.
"As expected of the daughter of the Princess of Anhe County, she bears a resemblance to the princess. She will surely be a stunning beauty when she grows up."
"Both the county princess and Lord Wen are exceptionally handsome, so their children are naturally no less so."
"The county princess and Lord Wen are a perfect match. They have been married for several years, and Lord Wen has always only had eyes for the county princess. Their relationship is so good that it is the envy of many."
"..."
Pleasant words are given away like they're free; Pei Rujing has become immune to them after hearing them so many times.
After exchanging a few perfunctory pleasantries with them, he took Lingjie to find the Princess.
At this time, Madam Wei and Mei Yilan were also present, and Madam Wei also brought her legitimate daughter, Zhi'er.
When Zhi'er saw Ling'er, her eyes lit up. She let go of Wei Shi's hand and ran to Ling'er's side with her short legs, calling out, "Sister!"
Lingjie was very familiar with Zhijie because Zhijie always insisted on sleeping with her.
"Sister~"
They are cousins, but they are as close as biological sisters.
Zhi'er looked up at Pei Rujing and said, "Aunt, I want to play with my sister."
Pei Rujing let go of Ling Jie'er's hand: "Go play."
Zhi'er took Ling'er's hand and said very seriously, "Aunt, I will protect Ling'er."
Pei Rujing smiled and cooperated, saying, "Aunt trusts Zhi'er."
Zhi Jie'er immediately felt a great responsibility and nodded emphatically.
With maids following them, they wouldn't leave Fengyi Palace; they'd stay within the palace grounds, right under their noses, so there was nothing to worry about.
Mei Yilan said enviously, "Daughters are so much better. They're so sweet and soft, and they're so sweet when they grow up. My husband is just a handful. He beats me up when he's angry, but that only works for a few days. After that, he's back to causing trouble."
"All boys are like this; they'll get better when they're a bit older and start their formal education."
Mei Yilan is not optimistic about this: "I'm afraid he'll end up like my husband."
Pei Shirong was a typical illiterate person; getting him to read was more difficult than getting him to practice for an extra hour.
Madam Wei said gently, "The boy is still young, he hasn't even started his formal education yet, how can you, as his mother, be discouraged already?"
Mei Yilan quickly denied it: "Sister-in-law, I'm not discouraged, I just said a few words."
She still had some hope, since he was her own son.
"Little sister, isn't Rui-ge'er about to start his formal education?"
Pei Rujing nodded: "After the New Year, my husband will invite Mr. Yuan to give Rui-ge'er his early education."
"Mr. Yuan is a recognized great Confucian scholar. He has taught many students over the years and has a great reputation. He is the perfect person to enlighten Rui Ge'er."
Yuan Tianxi regained fame with the help of the Beijing Daily. In most people's eyes, he had no other faults except for his love of drinking.
Yuan Tianxi never let drinking interfere with his teaching, so more and more people asked him to teach.
After all, there aren't many great scholars who are so approachable and can be invited with money.
Pei Rujing originally had no objection to Yuan Tianxi, and since Wen Zongji had already made the decision, she was even less likely to object.
……
After chatting for a while, Princess Changning arrived.
She walked into the hall, looked around, and went straight to Pei Rujing: "Cousin, I'm so bored. The Empress Dowager is keeping me from leaving the palace."
Princess Changning walked over and began to complain.
Both Wei and Mei Yilan smiled after hearing this.
Pei Rujing looked at her and said, "You'll be getting married in a few months. After the wedding, you'll live in the princess's residence and won't need to return to the palace. Just bear with it for a few more months."
Princess Changning rolled her eyes: "That's what my mother advised me too."
They're trying to fool her like a child.
"Where did you say something wrong?"
"Of course you're wrong. The wedding is in a few months, there's no need to keep me from leaving the palace now. It's one thing to not let me go to Jiangnan with you, but to not even let me leave the palace."
The eldest princess looked at her: "You're getting married soon, aren't you curious about your future husband, Changning?"
Princess Changning was slightly embarrassed upon hearing this, but still said gracefully, "The consort that my mother personally chose for me must be excellent. Besides, even if I entrust myself to the wrong person, with my father and brother by my side, I will not be wronged."
After saying that, Princess Changning glanced at the Eldest Princess.
Even the worst case would be someone like the eldest princess.
As the legitimate princess of the emperor and empress, as long as she can stand on her own two feet, no one will be able to wrong her.
Although Princess Changning was simple-minded and had been pampered by the Emperor and Empress since childhood, she was by no means someone who would suffer injustice.
It should be said that someone who can give Pei Rujing a headache would never allow herself to be wronged.
The eldest princess was very pleased to hear this: "It's best that Changning thinks this way. You have the blood of the Great Chu royal family flowing in your veins, and whether your life after the wedding is good or bad will not change this fact."
For other women, getting married is like being reborn.
This does not apply to the eldest princess, nor does it apply to the Changning princess.
Princess Changning nodded: "Aunt, Changning understands."
That's why she was so relaxed about the wedding. Although she was occasionally nervous, it didn't occupy all her thoughts.
Otherwise, she wouldn't still have the mind to complain about not being able to leave the palace.
This is more than just being carefree.
Pei Rujing said, "I had my husband inquire about that person. He's a good person, at least he's sensible."
Being clear-headed means understanding what should and shouldn't be done.
In fact, the Great Chu did not restrict the imperial son-in-law from entering the court. In fact, because of his status, he was more likely to be given important positions, since the imperial son-in-law was considered one of the emperor's own people.
The only restriction was that the prince consort could not take a concubine.
This is not explicitly stated in the law; as long as the prince consort can persuade the princess, he may take a concubine if he wishes.
Compared to the benefits one could gain, not being able to take a concubine was a very small price to pay.
While some people may not be able to do it, others still believe they can.
Therefore, the imperial son-in-law in this dynasty is different from that in the previous dynasty; he is a highly sought-after man, and many people are willing to become one.
Especially for the husband of a legitimate princess, it is a ladder to heaven!