activa-t Chapter 364 Dilemma
Chapter 364 Dilemma
Most people would rather have their titles taken back than give them to outsiders. Moreover, if one adopts a son, most of the family property will still be inherited by the son. Wouldn't it be good for the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion to leave the property to Madam Huo?
The Marquis of Changping's suspicion was unfounded, but the prince did not stop him from checking. "The man is right here. If you are worried, you can check to see if he is in disguise."
The Marquis of Changping stood still. The prince said, "Thank you, Minister of Justice."
The Minister of Justice glanced at the emperor, and only stepped out when the emperor didn't say anything.
The Ministry of Justice investigates major cases, and there are all kinds of calculations and methods that you can't imagine. There is nothing that the Ministry of Justice has not seen. He carefully examined it and reported to the emperor, "Your Majesty, I have carefully checked it and there is no trace of disguise."
The prince simply called in a few more ministers to investigate, then reported to the emperor, "This branch of the Zhenguogong Mansion has been in Qizhou for decades and is a wealthy family in Qizhou. If there are still ministers in the court who have doubts, they can send people to Qizhou to investigate. If there is indeed any fraud, I will be guilty of the same crime as the Zhenguogong Mansion."
The Emperor said, "I am very pleased that the Zhenguogong Mansion still has a clan. After acknowledging his ancestors and returning to his ancestral home, I will adopt a son and allow him to inherit the title."
"Your Majesty is wise!"
All the officials shouted in unison.
It was expected that the emperor would allow the Duke of Zhenguo to adopt a son and inherit the title, but the princess finally put her mind at ease after hearing it.
The princess held Shen Tang's hand and said, "This is all thanks to you and Madam Jiang. Please help my mother and the Duke of Zhenguo thank her..."
Shen Tang said, "This is what I should do. When my husband went to Qizhou to pick someone up, he sent someone to inquire. Old Master An is quite prestigious in Qizhou and his family tradition is upright. He is of the same clan as the Zhenguogong Mansion and will definitely be able to revive the Zhenguogong Mansion."
But I really have to thank my cousin and Mother Du for this.
The princess was in a good mood, but her happiness didn't last long. Something bad happened. The maid came in and said, "Princess, Concubine Ye has sent someone to invite you into the palace again..."
The maidservant couldn't remember how many times Concubine Ye had sent someone to invite the princess.
No one knew what had happened between the princess and Concubine Ye. In the past, whenever Concubine Ye invited her, the princess would go to the palace. If she was really delayed by something, she would go to the palace the next day. Last time, it was delayed for a few days, and Concubine Ye sent people to invite her for several days in a row, so the princess went. This time, the princess seemed determined not to go to the palace again.
On New Year's Eve, the princess accompanied the prince to the palace for a banquet. Concubine Ye wanted to talk to the princess alone, but the princess declined on the grounds that she had drunk a few glasses of fruit wine and was not drunk enough.
In previous years, the princess would go to the palace specifically to wish Concubine Ye a happy new year and chat with her. However, this year she has not gone yet and the princess has no plans to go.
Over the years, the princess knew in her heart that Concubine Ye had never been looking for her for any simple reason. She just remembered that Concubine Ye's father died saving the Duke of Zhenguo, and she couldn't bear to refuse. In fact, the moment Xie Guimo sacrificed his life to save the Prince of Qi, she no longer owed Concubine Ye anything.
Concubine Ye is willing to help the second house and Concubine Jiang. That is her business. The princess cannot and will not interfere. But she was clearly plotted against and the news was reported to the palace. The princess can't do anything about it.
She was actually quite afraid of meeting Concubine Ye.
Before, the princess would find reasons to refuse, but now she doesn’t even bother to find reasons.
Mother Yun said, "Ask someone to tell Noble Concubine Ye that she is very tired these days. When she is free, she will go to the palace to pay her respects to Noble Concubine Ye."
The maid retreated.
The princess didn't take it seriously, but within a quarter of an hour, a maid came in and said, "Princess, Concubine Ye greets the Madam and has entered the palace..."
The princess's face darkened.
Shen Tang clearly felt that the princess was angry.
It was obvious that Concubine Ye was trying to control the princess in a roundabout way. If the princess refused to enter the palace, she would ask Madam An to enter the palace.
Mrs. An has been staying indoors for many years. Now that she is finally in a better mood, she is dragged into these messes again.
Shen Tang said, "Now that the Zhenguogong Mansion has a successor, it's normal for Concubine Ye to congratulate Madam An."
Shen Tang didn't want the princess to be forced into the palace by Concubine Ye. If there was a first time, there would be a second time.
In fact, Shen Tang couldn't understand it. The people who made the decisions in Jingyang Palace were the prince and Xie Guimo. The princess could neither convince the prince nor make Xie Guimo work. Why didn't Concubine Ye give up?
The princess nodded, "Mother knows."
Shen Tang sat with the princess for a while and then returned to Chenxiangxuan.
It was almost noon when Si'er came in and said, "Princess, Madam An is here."
The princess returned to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion just two days ago. Madam An came to the Prince of Jingyang's Mansion after meeting Concubine Ye. She must have come to help Concubine Ye pass on a message.
Worried, Shen Tang wants to go and take a look.
Mrs. An had not been to the Jingyang Palace for many years. The princess came to greet her, and when they arrived at the Peony Courtyard, Shen Tang had just arrived.
After entering the room and sitting down, the princess asked, "Why is my sister-in-law here?"
Mrs. An said, "Noble Concubine Ye knows that you are angry with her and refuse to enter the palace to see her, so she asked me to persuade you."
The princess asked, "Just for this little thing, I sent you to the palace?"
Mrs. An said, "That's not entirely true. We've found the Duke's cousin, and Concubine Ye is happy for the Duke's Mansion. But you..."
The princess said, "It's difficult for my sister-in-law to be caught in the middle."
Mrs. An shook her head. "Noble Consort Ye said there was a misunderstanding between you two. Consort Jiang asked her to protect the Jiang family's daughter. She thought that Prince Jingyang was half Jiang's blood after all. She could help but didn't because she was afraid that Prince Jingyang would be angry with you. If she knew you were so unhappy, she would not help you no matter what."
Shen Tang said, "Why does Concubine Ye think that my father would vent his anger on my mother because of this? It's not like my mother forced the Jiang family to embezzle money."
In fact, Mrs. An also found it strange. Apart from not allowing the princess to interfere in court affairs, Prince Jingyang has always been good to the princess. Moreover, Xie Guimo has grown up. If the prince dares to vent his anger on the princess for this matter, Xie Guimo will not agree.
Besides, as for the engagement, the prince only needs to acknowledge it, and the princess does not need to agree.
A general king couldn't even protect the position of his son's wife from a daughter of the Jiang family.
If the prince really asks the emperor for help, the emperor will most likely agree, so there is no need to do anything unnecessary.
The more I think about it, the weirder it seems.
Shen Tang said, "Noble Concubine Ye is worrying too much. In fact, if Concubine Jiang wants to see her, she can just refuse."
As long as Concubine Jiang doesn't meet her, she won't have the chance to speak.
Mrs. An had lived in peace for too long, and her reaction to these twists and turns was particularly slow. After Shen Tang reminded her, Mrs. An came to her senses and asked, "Why does Concubine Ye want to see Concubine Jiang?"
No one in the room knew whether there were any spies belonging to Concubine Ye, and Shen Tang didn't dare to say more.
Madam An didn't ask any more questions. "I don't know much about what's going on outside the Zhenguo Mansion. She just asked me to help persuade you, so I came here. You don't have to take it to heart. I don't know much about Concubine Ye, but I know you. If you weren't really angry, you would definitely not refuse to see Concubine Ye."