Nanny Cui, who had served Concubine Chen since she was young, said, "Your Ladyship, please calm your anger! Since the matter has already happened, we should try our best to make up for it!"
"Humph! Make up for it? Xu Yuantao messed up all my plans today! I have to re - plan! However, the Emperor has already promised me that I will be in charge of the matter of selecting a consort for the Fourth Prince. I must do my best to find the most suitable princess consort for Han'er!"
"Your Ladyship, since the time is short now, do you want this servant to collect the portraits of the unmarried young ladies from the noble families in the capital?" Nanny Cui offered to share Concubine Chen's burden.
"Go ahead! Collect all the portraits, talents and personalities of the adult and unmarried daughters from families of fifth - rank officials!"
"In the following days, I'm going to have a good discussion with Han'er! Tomorrow, you summon Han'er and the Tenth Prince into the palace!"
Nanny Cui took the order and went to handle the matter. Concubine Chen, however, sat in the room, recalling the young ladies from the families of important court officials in her memory.
Concubine Guo in the Huaqing Palace also learned about what had happened in the morning court. She felt a mixture of joy and worry.
Her son, Xiao Jinnan, was already twenty - two years old this year. Not to mention in the royal family, even among ordinary people, he was long overdue for marriage.
Although she was anxious and wanted to mention it to the Emperor, on the one hand, she was not in favor with the Emperor, so her words did not carry much weight in front of the Emperor. On the other hand, the older Fourth Prince Xiao Hanzhi had not yet married. Naturally, her son could not get married before the Fourth Prince, who was favored by Concubine Chen.
Now that the Marquis of Xuanping had brought it up in front of the Emperor and the Emperor had nodded in agreement, she was naturally happy. Life in the palace was lonely. Having a daughter - in - law, or better yet, a grandson to accompany her would make her days more bearable.
Therefore, she was very willing to discuss a marriage for the Seventh Prince Xiao Jinnan.
However, she also had concerns. She was worried that the Emperor would casually issue an edict to arrange a marriage for her son without her knowing anything about the girl's family. She didn't know if the girl would be compatible with her son's personality.
Even if the Emperor considered her opinion, with her rank as a concubine and her son's status, they were no match for Concubine Chen and her son. Even in the matter of marriage negotiation, her Nan'er would surely get the ones left over by Concubine Chen.
In her heart, her son was the most outstanding in the world and deserved the best wife in the world. But unfortunately, in terms of power, she was no match for the Queen, and in terms of the Emperor's favor, she was no match for Concubine Chen. She had nothing to compete with them.
She was an open - minded person. Now she only hoped that her son would live a safe and smooth life.
Although Shen Li was only in the Shen Mansion and Shen Junming didn't tell her about this matter, she got the information from the Night Hidden Division and knew about it immediately.
Shen Li handed the note with the news to Jiaoyue and the other two.
"This matter is getting more and more interesting!" Shen Li said excitedly as she tightened her grip on the black chess piece in her hand.
"Miss! Selecting a consort for the Fourth Prince? Then we... Miss, you..." Actually, Jiaoyue wanted to ask if Shen Li would be sad.
"What's wrong? What are you trying to say about your miss?" Shen Li naturally knew that Jiaoyue was worried about her secret admiration for Xiao Hanzhi. She was afraid that Shen Li would be happy and rush to him after hearing this news.
However, she was no longer the old Shen Li. The only feeling she had for Xiao Hanzhi now was hatred! The only thing she would do was to take revenge!
Apart from that, she didn't want to have any more relationship with Xiao Hanzhi.
"Put your hearts at ease! Now your miss has opened her eyes and will no longer be interested in such a person!"
Hearing this, Jiaoyue quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Although Miss had become much smarter in the past few days and was no longer the weak and bullied girl she used to be, and she hadn't mentioned the Fourth Prince Xiao Hanzhi at all these days.
But Jiaoyue knew Shen Li well. She knew that Shen Li attached great importance to feelings. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been bullied by the Second Branch of the family like that before without complaining.
She was also very stubborn about feelings. Sometimes, once she made up her mind, no one could persuade her to change. So Jiaoyue was afraid that she still had feelings for the Fourth Prince Xiao Hanzhi.
The next day, Mrs. Shen got dressed early and was about to take Shen Miao back to her natal family. Unexpectedly, as soon as she walked out of the courtyard gate, she saw Shen Li standing outside. Shen Li looked so calm and composed, as if she had been waiting for them on purpose.
"Auntie!" Shen Li stepped forward to pay respects first.
"Humph!" Since the last incident, Mrs. Shen had hated Shen Li even more. Now she simply ignored her and walked ahead on her own.
"I just heard from the servants in the mansion this morning that auntie was going out! Auntie is going to visit your parents. Why didn't you tell me?" Shen Li followed closely behind Mrs. Shen and Shen Miao and asked with concern.
"Sister knows now, doesn't she? And you came here especially. Do you also want to go to my grandparents' house? But it's a pity. You'd better stay at home. My grandparents' house is too small to accommodate you, sister!"
Before Mrs. Shen could say anything, Shen Miao sneered.
"Sister is right. I was indeed waiting here on purpose today! I haven't seen my grandparents for a long time, so I've prepared some small gifts for them! Please take them back for me. It's my little token of affection."
Shen Miao glanced at the food box in Jiaoyue's hand, snorted and said nothing. It was Mrs. Shen who asked the nanny beside her to take it.
Then Mrs. Shen took Shen Miao into the carriage. Just as the carriage was about to set off, Mrs. Shen suddenly stopped it. Then a maid beside her went back into the mansion.
"Eldest Miss! The Second Lady invites you to go to the Shen Mansion with us!" The Shen Mansion the maid mentioned was naturally Mrs. Shen's natal family.
Shen Li just went back to change her clothes, redid her makeup, and then went out of the mansion with Jiaoyue and Hanyue.
Outside the mansion, Shen Miao was already impatient. She kept complaining that Shen Li was slow, and at the same time blamed Mrs. Shen. "Mother, why did you ask her to go to grandparents' house? What can she do there? She's such an eyesore!"
Mrs. Shen raised one corner of her mouth and showed a sinister smile. "Be patient for a while, Miao'er! Mother will surely come up with a way to deal with her this time! I guarantee that she won't be able to return safely this time!"
Seeing that Mrs. Shen had said so, Shen Miao endured her temper and stopped complaining.
However, when she saw the gorgeous - looking Shen Li, she still couldn't help glaring at her several times.
Mrs. Shen's natal family was far from the current Shen Mansion. It was in the west of the capital. The carriage took nearly an hour to get there.
As soon as she lifted the curtain, Shen Li saw a row of people standing at the door of the Shen Mansion. Apparently, they were waiting to welcome Mrs. Shen.
"We've finally been able to welcome you, sister!" As soon as Mrs. Shen got out of the carriage, a woman walked down the steps of the Shen Mansion. She walked up to Mrs. Shen and affectionately took her hand.