"Song Wanchu, how dare you! Who do you think you are to lecture this princess?"
"Lingyang, that's enough!"
A frown of anger had started to form between the Queen's eyebrows.
Although Song Wanchu's words were a bit aggressive, they were not malicious slurs.
Lingyang had been spoiled since childhood. She was arrogant, self - willed, and did whatever she pleased. In contrast, Wanchu was gentle and dignified. If Lingyang hadn't provoked her repeatedly, Wanchu wouldn't have fought back.
"Mother, you're taking her side instead of mine? I'm your own daughter! It's bad enough that Crown Prince favors her. Now you do too! What kind of princess is she? She has no blood relation to our royal family at all! It's just that Father showed her some favor!"
Princess Lingyang was extremely aggrieved. She threw down her chopsticks and started to cry loudly.
With such a commotion, the Queen had no appetite for dinner.
She looked at Princess Lingyang with helplessness in her eyes.
Because of her obsession with marrying Liang Yuzhou, Lingyang had done many crazy and extreme things. The Queen had beaten and scolded her, but to no avail.
Lingyang was no longer a child. She dared to act so arrogantly because she knew that as the only princess of the Great Zhou, no one would really do anything to her.
The Queen could only scold her a bit.
Song Wanchu stood up to take her leave.
"Your Majesty, I was too rash with my words today. I come to apologize."
She knew when to advance and when to retreat, and was both dignified and polite.
How the Queen disciplined her daughter was her own business and the business of the royal family.
She was sensible enough not to interfere in such matters.
The Queen then looked at Princess Lingyang, who was being unreasonable and unruly. She couldn't help but think that her daughter was worlds apart from Wanchu.
Even if Liang Yuzhou was blind, he wouldn't like Lingyang.
It was a pity that Lingyang still couldn't face reality.
Her pride wouldn't allow her to lose to Song Wanchu.
The Queen had long intended to arrange a marriage for her.
Over the years, she had selected many eligible young men from various noble families.
There were quite a few outstanding ones.
Back then, Liang Yuzhou had taken Lingyang's breath away at first sight. It was almost impossible to find a man in the capital who could rival him.
After Song Wanchu left, Princess Lingyang stopped pretending to be pitiful.
But her mood was still far from calm, and her eyes were filled with venom.
The Queen sighed and said earnestly, "Lingyang, do you know why Second Master Liang would rather be a Taoist priest than return to the Duke's Mansion to inherit the title of heir?"
"He just doesn't want me to pester him anymore, so he refuses to return to secular life!"
Princess Lingyang answered without thinking.
The Queen smiled faintly. "Lingyang, you think too highly of yourself. No matter what Second Master Liang does, the first person he always considers is Wanchu.
The old Duke's misjudgment back then led to General Song's sacrifice on the battlefield. This is a hurdle that the Liang and Song families can never get over. Although the sins of the father should not be passed on to Second Master Liang, this knot has always been in Wanchu's heart.
To keep Wanchu by his side and let her get along with him without any burden, Second Master Liang is willing to give up everything. He cut his hair to sever ties with the Duke's Mansion and got rid of all the labels related to the Duke's Mansion.
Tell me, how many men in the world can abandon everything for the woman they love?
Do you think that by threatening Wanchu, confronting her, and shouting at her, you can make Second Master Liang take a second look at you? All you're doing is making Second Master Liang more vigilant and disgusted with you!"
Princess Lingyang was speechless.
She didn't feel touched. Instead, the jealousy in her heart was burning fiercely.
Why did it have to be Song Wanchu who was cherished and cared for by Liang Yuzhou?
The Queen could tell from her expression that she hadn't listened. She sighed in disappointment.
What else could she do? She could only tell the servants around her to be more vigilant!
...
Concubine Lan returned to the Fragrant Pavilion in a daze.
Lu Siming hadn't left. He was waiting anxiously and excitedly for news.
As soon as he saw Concubine Lan looking dejected, he knew that the plan had failed completely.
Concubine Lan complained angrily to Madam Yang. "You said she had to come just when I was about to see the Emperor! She wasted my time, and the Queen got there first!"
A shadow fell over Lu Siming's eyes. He was already pale, and with a gloomy expression, his whole aura became even more menacing.
"Mother, there's no need to blame yourself anymore."
He was consoling Concubine Lan as well as himself. "The Emperor issued the imperial edict to arrange the marriage between Shi Luohan and Princess Yaoguang so quickly. It seems that he has long fancied Shi Luohan as the general to restore the country. Even if you had gone and asked for an imperial marriage for Uncle, the Emperor might not have agreed."
Gao Zhao was a good - for - nothing drunkard.
Among the Gao family, except for Grandfather Gao Tianyu, who had made great military achievements and was granted the title of Marquis, none of the other brothers or descendants were capable.
If the 50,000 troops were inherited by Gao Zhao in the future, they would all turn into a bunch of good - for - nothing drunkards.
It was very possible that the Emperor would take back the military power of the Gao family when he saw that Gao Zhao was useless.
He had to figure out a way to get these 50,000 troops under his command before the Emperor had such a thought.
The princes of the Great Zhou were not allowed to have military power, not even the Crown Prince.
However, there were exceptions.
For example, when there was an emergency on the border or the war situation was critical, the Emperor could appoint capable princes as generals to lead the troops to fight.
But they had to hand over the military power after returning to the capital.
Currently, there was a war on the border.
When spring came in March, the Hu people began to plunder south again.
Although the scale was not large, it still caused quite a few border conflicts.
The Emperor intended to send 50,000 troops to help defend the border areas such as Hengzhou and Liangzhou.
He just hadn't found a suitable candidate yet. Since the war situation on the border was not particularly critical, he wasn't in a hurry.
Lu Siming's mind was racing.
Once the news of the imperial marriage between Shi Luohan and Princess Yaoguang spread, Gao Zhao's reputation would be ruined.
Not to mention getting any justice, the Gao family would become the target of public criticism.
If Grandfather could volunteer to go to the border, it would at least redeem some of the Gao family's reputation.
However, Grandfather was already 66 years old. The Emperor was worried about his health, so he hadn't sent him to guard the border immediately.
What if he had a young and capable deputy by his side?
Lu Siming suddenly saw a glimmer of hope.
As he left the Fragrant Pavilion, he ran into Princess Lingyang.
"Sister, what's wrong? You look so dejected."
Princess Lingyang and Lu Siming had a fairly close relationship.
Since there were no conflicts of interest, and Princess Lingyang was simple - minded, Lu Siming was willing to dote on her.
It was better to have one more relative than one more enemy.
Princess Lingyang had just been scolded by the Queen. She was extremely aggrieved and indignant. She grabbed Lu Siming's sleeve and poured out her grievances.
"Second Brother, tell me, what's wrong with me compared to Song Wanchu? Liang Yuzhou is crazy about her. The Crown Prince favors her, and even Mother doesn't take my side..."
As she spoke, she stamped her feet and wiped away her tears.
Lu Siming handed her a handkerchief and comforted her gently. "Princess Lingyang, you are of noble status and doted on by everyone. Why do you lower yourself and compare yourself to Song Wanchu?"
His mind was as tortuous as a mountain road. Seeing Princess Lingyang's aggrieved and indignant expression, his tone became even gentler. "It's just that most men in the world like charming and delicate women. Second Master Liang is like this, and so is the Crown Prince."
Lingyang was still angry because she hadn't been able to teach Song Wanchu a lesson.
Lu Siming's words reminded her.
"Thank you, Second Brother. I'm going out of the palace!"
She then ran to the Yukun Palace and told the Queen that she was bored and wanted to go out for a walk.
The Queen thought that it was only natural for her to be in a bad mood after being scolded today.
So she agreed.
Watching Princess Lingyang's carriage leave the palace, Lu Siming smiled smugly.
If Cheng Simian, who was so proud, knew about the past between the Crown Prince and Song Wanchu, would she still be willing to marry the Crown Prince?
She would probably feel like there was a fishbone stuck in her throat!
Even if the marriage couldn't be cancelled, this matter would become a permanent thorn in her heart.
In the future, she and the Crown Prince would surely drift apart!
Cheng Simian was at home, looking through the family genealogy.
Two people sent by the Queen had come. One was Nanny Qing, who had once been a maid in front of the Emperor and was well - versed in the matters of serving the Emperor in bed.
The other was Aunt Fang.
Whenever Cheng Simian came across someone she didn't recognize in the genealogy, she would ask them.
Shuyi came in, looking nervous. "Miss, Princess Lingyang is here!"