freenovelworld Chapter 349 The Empress's Intention!
Chapter 349 The Empress's Intention!
The Empress was still hesitating when a palace servant came to report that the Crown Princess and Prince Changsun had come to pay their respects.
"Let them in."
"Yes, ma'am."
The Crown Princess entered accompanied by Duanmu Chen, bowed, and greeted the Empress. The Empress then had someone prepare a seat for her.
"Chen'er, I've heard that you've been doing very well in your studies these days. Even your grandfather has been praising you, which shows how hard you've been working. However, you're still young, and your health is the most important thing. Don't overwork yourself."
"Yes, Grandmother."
"Come here, your uncle and aunt were just talking about appointing a concubine for your fourth uncle. Come and take a look and see if there's anyone you'd like to take a look at. Since my decree hasn't been issued yet, I can accommodate you for now."
The Empress's words were somewhat joking, and the people below naturally smiled and remained silent. However, when Duanmu Chen heard about the matter of establishing a concubine, something seemed to flash in his eyes. Then, he turned his head and saw several portraits placed to the side of the Empress.
"Grandmother is indeed biased. You've already chosen a concubine for Fourth Imperial Uncle, why don't you think of choosing a few close friends for your grandson to keep him company?"
Upon hearing this, the Empress raised an eyebrow and poked his forehead. "You child, I'm asking you this! Besides, don't you have your mother above you? There are some things you should ask your mother first."
The Crown Princess's smile froze slightly; she felt there was something off about the Empress's words, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"Grandmother, are these portraits of the young ladies from various families?"
“Exactly! Your fourth uncle is a prince, so even if she were to become his concubine, her status couldn’t be too low, could it? But it hasn’t been decided yet. I’ll discuss it with your grandfather later.”
Duanmu Chen glanced at the portrait and saw that it contained the name of a concubine's daughter from the Duke of Lu's mansion. His heart tightened. "Grandmother, is there also a daughter from my maternal uncle's family?"
Upon hearing this, the Crown Princess's expression changed several times; there were even people from the Duke of Lu's mansion among them.
The Empress's eyes swept over the Crown Princess's face seemingly unintentionally. "Hmm, she's just a concubine's daughter. I think it would be too much of an honor to give her the status of a secondary consort. Although the Duke of Lu's mansion is my maternal family, the fourth prince's status is what it is. If the fourth prince is pleased with a concubine's daughter, I wouldn't mind giving her the status of a secondary consort."
Concubine?
Duanmu Chen was taken aback. “Grandmother, the concubine’s daughter of the Duke of Lu’s family already has a high status. Isn’t this concubine status too low? In my opinion, no one will gossip about the position of secondary consort.”
The Empress smiled faintly, "You child! You only see that she is a concubine's daughter, but you don't know that her mother's background is too low. She is only from a royal merchant family. For someone of such status, it is already an honor for me to give her the position of a concubine."
As she spoke, the Empress picked up another scroll. "Take a look at this one. She is also my brother's illegitimate daughter, but this one could be a concubine."
Duanmu Chen only glanced at the portrait. The woman in it was indeed beautiful, but he really didn't understand much else about her.
The Duke of Lu's family was very powerful and wealthy; otherwise, his younger brother would never have been granted the title of Duke of Ying back then!
The two brothers were both dukes, and such a prominent family naturally had a large population. Duanmu Chen was a generation younger, so it was understandable that he didn't understand.
The Empress knew he was somewhat confused, and smiled, "Although she was also born out of wedlock, her mother came from a good family, a family of scholars for generations, and one of her ancestors was even an imperial tutor. Naturally, the daughter raised by such a woman would be different!"
The Empress spoke calmly, her tone completely unwavering, but those listening below felt as if their hearts were in turmoil!
Especially the Crown Princess!
The Empress's words just now seemed insignificant at first glance, but upon closer examination, they carried a very different meaning!
The daughter of a concubine from a royal merchant family could only be paired with a concubine of the Prince of Changle.
If it were an ordinary merchant, it would be fine! But the Crown Princess knew that the concubine of the Duke of Lu was indeed from a royal merchant family, and her family had been royal merchants for three generations. It was said that when this concubine married the Duke of Lu, according to etiquette, there was no need for a grand wedding. However, the Duke of Lu did not want to wrong her, so he insisted on setting up several tables in the mansion and gave the concubine the status of a noble concubine.
Not only that, it is said that when the concubine entered the Duke of Lu's mansion, in addition to a dowry of dozens of taels of silver, her family also sent out countless properties as part of her dowry!
Such a woman, placed in the Duke of Lu's mansion, was actually considered to have a very low social status!
It must be said that at this moment, the Crown Princess was experiencing a complex mix of emotions.
Even a noble lady whose ancestors were once imperial tutors was only a decent concubine in the Duke of Lu's mansion. Just how extensive were the connections of the Duke of Lu's mansion?
The Crown Princess's family background wasn't bad either; they were a prestigious clan. However, compared to the Wang family behind the Empress Dowager, they were nothing more than insignificant nouveau riche!
Although Duanmu Chen, who was standing to the side, did not think as much as the Crown Princess, he could still tell that the Wang family's power, while not overwhelming, was enough to make them the head of a prestigious family!
Wang Zishu sat there, his back already feeling a bit cold, and his palms were all sweaty.
The Empress's words, though seemingly casual, were actually more effective than simply stating how powerful the Wang family was! They are something the Crown Princess should ponder deeply.
"Enough, why should I tell you all this? This is about choosing a concubine for your fourth uncle. You can't even think about these women; they're too far apart in terms of seniority."
After the Empress finished speaking, she jokingly added, "What? The beauty in this painting is so pleasing to the eye that you can't bear to look away?"
Duanmu Chen then came to his senses, his face slightly flushed, "Grandmother is joking with her grandson again."
"Haha!" The Empress laughed several times. "Alright, I'm just reminding you." Then, she turned to the Crown Princess. "Didn't you mention choosing a wife for Chen'er a while ago? Why haven't you made any progress yet? Are there so many noble ladies out there, and our Chen'er doesn't like any of them?"
"What nonsense! Grandmother, I just don't want to get married so early and be kept in check. It makes me unhappy!" Duanmu Chen said, shaking the Empress's arm.
The Empress's face darkened, and she feigned anger, saying, "Nonsense! You are the Crown Prince's eldest son and the eldest grandson of our Duanmu family. How can you say such things? Even if you are married, so what? Who would dare to restrain you? In the future, you are destined for great things. How can you be controlled by a woman?"