Empress Su felt depressed and yet still said with a big smile, “You've just voiced the mind of parents! If the child is too insensible, her parents have to worry much about her! However, if the child is too sensible, her parents will also feel sorry for her! Anyway, since the child was born, parents have been always concerned about her!”

“Since the parents are concerned about her, they must guide her properly.” The Grand Princess, not interested in her euphemistic complaint, said casually, “After all, it is better to make others feel sorry for her than let others hate her, right?”

In front of the Empress Dowager, the Grand Princess did utter harsh words.

No matter how socially active Empress Su, she couldn't help feeling embarra.s.sed. After an instant, she finally said with a forced smile, “Can't agree with you more.”

She hinted that she would educate Princess Changxing in the future. The Empress tried to ease the situation for herself, “You are the luckier one. Needless to say, Yourui is rather clever. Moreover, Yixiao is also a sensible and lovable girl. When they are married to your sons, they will pay filial piety to you together. Undoubtedly, you will be the most enviable one by then!”

Seeing that the Grand Princess was still fondling the lynx in silence, the Empress realized that she must be dissatisfied now. Hence, the Empress had no other choice but to wave at Song Yixiao to summon her and take off a pair of rings from her waist, saying, “I like sedate and beautiful girls as you most. This pair of Rosy Sun and Hazy Moon Rings are the antique pa.s.sed down from the previous dynasty. Just take it as a gift for you at our first meeting. Wish you a happy and healthy life with Xubai in the future!”

Judging from the flowing light and color of the Rosy Sun and Hazy Moon Rings, although she had never heard of them before, Song Yixiao was sure that it must be invaluable so she didn't dare to accept them.

However, Jinguo Grand Princess cooled down then, “Due to the civil strife in the State of Xianluo about 100 years ago, large quant.i.ties of craftsmen died in the burnt city and thus the craftsmans.h.i.+p of making the Rosy Sun and Hazy Moon Rings was lost. Therefore, the Rings were ruled out among the tributes. Afterwards, the central plains underwent the fire, havoc, turmoil caused by war and very few of the Rings were well reserved, especially the flawless ones. I'm afraid that this is the only one pair in the whole imperial palace. It is such a dear present!”

The Grand Princess was angry that her niece insulted the daughter-in-law-to-be, which indirectly gave a slap in her son's face, she also knew that Song Yixiao was not married to her son yet. Given the ident.i.ty disparity, the Empress and the Princess could never apologize to her.

Now that the Empress agreed to educate the princess and take out the precious Rosy Sun and Hazy Moon Rings as compensation, which was kind of her apology. If she kept badgering, she couldn't gain too many benefits. Instead, she would court envy for her son and daughter-in-law-to-be.

“Sister, I'm so flattered. Regardless of the value, if it is only left in the treasury, what's the point?” Since the Grand Princess said so, Empress Su was finally relieved and said smilingly, “Moreover, such exquisite things can look great only on the young girls!”

“Auntie, you are biased!” As this disturbance was about to end, the Empress Dowager was going to give Song Yixiao a seat. Unexpectedly, Commandery Princess Nanzhang suddenly said enviously, “I've asked for the pair of Rosy Sun and Hazy Moon Rings before, but Auntie always beat around the bush and slighted it over. Now that Miss Song is here, you just give the rings to her without saying anything.”

Empress Su forced a smile and didn't know how to respond.

Luckily, Jinguo Grand Princess just forced her to show her att.i.tude. Now she would like to ease the relations.h.i.+p so she answered for her, “Zixiang, how can you be so willful? Think about it. How many gifts have you received from your auntie since your childhood? Since when she leaves you out? Now she only gives your cousin's future wife a gift at the first meeting that for your cousin's respect. Why do you have to envy her too? Do you think that your auntie cannot give any present to anyone but you?”

“Sister, Zixiang was kidding!” Daiguo Grand Princess couldn't stand her daughter being harshly scolded by her auntie, saying disgruntledly, “Why do you take it so seriously?”

“With so many seniors here, other girls all behave well and nicely. Only she dares to interrupt!” Jinguo Grand Princess said impatiently, “How impolite she is! Is there any problem with me reproaching her for a bit?”

Daiguo Grand Princess blushed instantly, “If you don't like me, you can scold me directly. Why do you vent your anger on her?”

“Do I need to vent my anger on my niece?” Jinguo Grand Princess glimpsed her sneeringly, “If I want to teach you a lesson, I can do it anytime. Don't make it sound like I haven't taught you any rule!”

“You!!” Daiguo Grand Princess had lived a good life since she was born. Even Emperor Xianjia always yielded to her. How could she tolerate being disgraced in public like that? She patted the table and rose, “You think I…”

“Both of you, shut up!” The Empress Dowager didn't look happy after Commandery Princess Nanzhang spoke. Now her two daughters were quarrelling awfully, she eventually shouted at the end of her forbearance, “How old are you? How can you make such a row like babies? Are you aware that you are seniors in front of the young?”

As the Empress Dowager flew into a rage, the two sisters finally cast a cold glance at each other and apologized reluctantly, “Mother, I'm sorry! I've acted improperly. Please punish me!”

Just then an imperial servant came in, reporting that Miss Sikong that was engaged to Prince of Liang, and Miss Xie who was engaged to the heir of Earl Yiping, were waiting outside the hall.

Empress Su and the others took the opportunity to mediate the situation and persuaded the Empress Dowager into easing anger, “Today you've agreed to meet the kids. Now that they are waiting outside the hall. It will not be inappropriate to keep them waiting for long. It is a piece of your kindness and you had better not scare them off!”

The Empress Dowager didn't intend to punish her two daughters. She was only angry with them for arguing before the young and acting inappropriately. Therefore, after the Empress and the others said something nice, she said with a nod, “Let them in!”

After a while, Sikong Yiluo and a pretty girl about her age walked into the hall together. After making a curtsey properly, the Empress Dowager asked Sikong Yiluo casually and yet paid extra attention to Miss Xie. Then Daiguo Grand Princess said, “If Sister Luguo were still alive, she must be so happy to see her son get married.”

Song Yixiao finally took a tumble. The heir of Earl Yiping must be the child of the deceased Luguo Grand Princess, one of Emperor Xianjia's sisters.

No wonder the Empress Dowager paid extra attention to the fiancée of her grandson who lost his mother.

“All of you, take a seat!” The Empress Dowager was satisfied with Miss Xie's performance. After finis.h.i.+ng asking the regular questions, she asked the servants to bring three embroidered chairs for the girls to sit on.

Two of the three embroidered chairs were placed behind Jinguo Grand Princess and one was put behind n.o.ble Consort Cui. Obviously, their seats were arranged to sit next to their future seniors. Jinguo Grand Princess was ranked between Jinguo Grand Princess and Daiguo Grand Princess so Miss Xie was made to sit behind Jinguo Grand Princess.

After Song Yixiao sat down, Pei Yourui gave her a nice smile. In return Song Yixiao smiled at her too and then gave a smile to Miss Xie. They didn't finish greeting each other via eye contacts. Daiguo Grand Princess glanced around and suddenly frowned, “Where is Miss Cui? Her home is not far from the imperial palace. Why hasn't she arrived since Miss Sikong and Miss Xie living in the south of the capital are here?”

Then she pointed the fingers at n.o.ble Consort Cui, “I don't mean to criticize you on purpose. Yet, you know, these girls are all from wealthy families. Now that they've arrived, she is still long in coming and makes us wait for her?”

Actually, n.o.ble Consort Cui was also worried about her niece. Hearing that, she gritted her teeth in secret but in front of the Empress Dowager and the Empress, she had to apologize, “Your Highness, you are not aware that Jianlian was ill the other day. Although she has become well since two days ago, she is still not fully recovered. I am wondering whether she is postponed because of that.”

“She was sick not long before?” Daiguo Grand Princess, rolling the bracelet on her wrist, said with a faint smile, “Alas, didn't she just receive the imperial decree of marriage arrangement at that time? Upon receiving the imperial decree, she just fell ill. Was it because she was too unblessed to undertake the royal gift?”

She turned to the Empress Dowager, “Mother, if Miss Cui can't be the side concubine of the Crown Prince, I think that you had better subst.i.tute her with another girl. After all, it is not easy for the Cui Family to raise a daughter, is it?”

The Empress Dowager cast a glance at her with a frown and said nothing.

“Jianlian must be flattered to be chosen by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.” n.o.ble Consort Cui felt horribly furious and yet didn't show her anger on her face, saying smilingly, “But Your Highness has worried too much. We are all human beings. Inevitably, we may get sick sometimes. Moreover, she has got recovered.”

Daiguo Grand Princess laughed, “Since she has been recovered, why isn't she here by now? Is she ill again? The Eastern Palace is in the charge of the Crown Princess and the side concubine has nothing to worry about but to serve the Crown Prince. Yet, if she often falls sick, will she be a burden for the Eastern Palace? How can she give birth to babies for the Crown Prince?”

By saying so, she basically a.s.serted that Cui Jianlian must be unable to have any child or even live longer. n.o.ble Consort Cui couldn't help appearing angry regardless, “So funny! You know, the feast of the Shangsi Festival was held on the mountainside this year. Commandery Princess Qingjiang and Commandery Princess Nanzhang led the guests up the mountain on their own. If Jianlian were really in a poor condition, how could she attend the feast?”

Daiguo Grand Princess snorted and felt like saying something more, but she glimpsed from the corner of her eyes the warning look of the Empress Dowager. n.o.ble Consort Cui had mentioned Jinguo Grand Princess's eldest daughter, Commandery Princess Qingjiang. If Daiguo Grand Princess kept badgering, Commandery Princess Qingjiang had to be blamed for failing to select a side concubine for the Crown Prince properly. Now that Jinguo Grand Princess had just stepped out for her daughter-in-law-to-be, how could she not defend for her eldest daughter?

The Empress Dowager didn't want her two daughters to have a row again.

“It is said that Miss Cui is fair as a flower and beautiful as the moon.” She couldn't make Jinguo Grand Princess angry but she could keep making trouble for n.o.ble Consort Cui.

Daiguo Grand Princess thought slightly and then said in a leisurely voice, “As a saying goes, the beauty is loved by all. Fine. Given that she is rather pretty, let's wait for her longer.”

She expressed her will to cease dispute while n.o.ble Consort Cui didn't feel relieved but pulled a long face!

Daiguo Grand Princess played a harsh move. Her words prominently reminded the Empress Dowager that Cui Jianlian might become Helen of Troy.

The Empress Dowager was pleased with the Crown Prince and his wife. Even if she showed respect for n.o.ble Consort Cui and allowed Cui Jianlian to be the side concubine of the Crown Prince, she wouldn't tolerate Cui Jianlian's exceeding the Crown Princess's power in light of her auntie. Moreover, the Empress Dowager and Emperor Xianjia both expected the Crown Prince to arouse his all efforts to make the country prosperous and be a wise emperor in the future. How could they allow anyone to do harm to the Eastern Palace in light of her beauty?

However, Cui Jianlian didn't arrive in time. n.o.ble Consort Cui had no idea why and couldn't defend for her niece at all!

“What is Ziyu doing?” n.o.ble Consort Cui felt angry and resentful, cursing about Daiguo Grand Princess and resenting her brother, “Jianlian is not sensible, but how can he act so improperly? No matter how he spoils her, she will become the side concubine of the Crown Prince. How can he not educate her well?”

Fortunately, while the n.o.ble Consort didn't know what to say, the imperial servant came inside and reported again, “Here comes Miss Cui, who is waiting outside the hall!”

n.o.ble Consort Cui felt relieved with a sigh and then clenched her fists, ready to speak for her niece.

After Cui Jianlian, whose face appeared slightly pale, made a curtsey and apologized before Daiguo Grand Princess criticized angrily, “On the way here, it happened that I saw that Commandery Princess Qingjiang's servant's saddle horse was hurt accidentally and learnt that Young Master Zhuo got sick. The servant was in a hurry to send for a doctor so I gave my horse to him. That's why I came late. Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please punish me!”

“Ping'an?” Jinguo Grand Princess was shocked before the Empress Dowager got to speak, “What's wrong about Ping'an?”