Chapter 64 - Getting close to the Imperial Court

Yun Fenghuang thought that in her heart as she brought Princess Minghui back to Hu Zhu Palace in the end.

She was out of choice. The princess cried all the way and didn’t allow them to either look for servants or send her back. But Yun Fenghuang couldn’t leave her alone or stand with her on the palace road all the time.

“My aunt entered the palace yesterday and discussed my marriage with my mother.” Princess Minghui said. Yun Fenghuang had not decided yet whether to intervene in this princess’s thing, so after taking the princess to Xi Xing Building and calling Xi Jing to serve tea and pastries, she didn’t intend to ask more and tried to arouse the princess’ thoughts by saying other topics.

However, after Princess Minghui drank half a cup of tea, maybe because of the bitterness taste, she voluntarily confided, “They all planned to match me with Cousin Minggan, and my mother even let me go to Tai Chu Palace frequently later on.”

Yun Fenghuang was not very clear about the people of Ji’s Family, but since Queen Mother Ji agreed this intended marriage and advised her daughter go to Tai Chu Palace frequently, Ji Minggan must be one of the Emperor’s reading companions, the youngest legitimate son of Marquess Haixi, whom Xi Le had mentioned before.

Regarding the identity of Princess Minghui, a youngest son who couldn’t succeed his father’s title really didn’t match her… However, all the Shizi of Ji’s Family were already married, and they were not suitable for the princess in age. Besides, it was not difficult for the powerful Ji’s Family to give him a title to get matched with the noble princess after their marriage.

As she thought so, Yun Fenghuang tentatively asked, “Don’t you like him?”

“… How could that be?” Princess Minghui smiled self-deprecatingly, glanced enviously at her slender waist, and sobbed, “In fact, he… dislikes me.”

Uh… It was more difficult to handle.

Judging from the appearance of Queen Mother Ji and Empress Ji, Ji Minggan must also be handsome.

Even if not, at his age, his family was already in power when he was born, so he must have seen all kinds of beautiful women. In that case, it was really not easy for him to accept Princess Minghui…

But how did Ji’s Family show their sincerity?

Since they planned to let him marry the princess, they should let him pretend to like Minghui.

After all, they were cousins, weren’t they?

As a result, the princess secretly cried alone. Yun Fenghuang didn’t know how to comfort her. After a while, she smiled embarrassedly, “Is… is there any misunderstanding? Maybe Childe Ji was joking with you? When I was young, my elder brothers often scared me like this, and even said that they would throw me away. But in fact, they would be the first to protect me if others did so.”

Princess Minghui said sadly, “You don’t need to comfort me anymore. I have looked in the mirror and know what I look like. Sometimes I even want to take a knife and give myself a few cuts.”

Yun Fenghuang thought to herself, “No, if you want to hurt yourself, do it at Mian Fu Palace at your will, but don’t do it at Hu Zhu Palace no matter what!”

Yun Fenghuang quickly said, “Why should you do that? To be honest, a good look is really important for normal girls from poor families, because they have nothing else. But you are a noble princess! You don’t need to care about that, do you?”

“But Cousin Minggan is also noble, isn’t he?” Princess Minghui smiled bitterly and said, “He doesn’t lack anything… He told me before that he must marry a beautiful woman in his life, at least the one could match him in appearance! I really don’t know what my aunt and mother thought about. They know clearly that Cousin Minggan dislikes me. When we are young, he didn’t like to play with me in the palace. Because Jinyun and Penglai said good words for me, he talked with me reluctantly… If I marry him, how much will he hate me?”

“Considering your identity, it should be said as you marry beneath yourself.” Yun Fenghuang felt that the princess was a little blunt, so she politely reminded, “When it comes to marriage, parents are the masters and Childe Ji cannot take the lead. What’s more, people are always stupid when they are young. Why do you still mind what he said in the past?”

Yun Fenghuang thought to herself, “Princess, please sober up. In the last three imperial generations, the Empress Dowager, Queen Mother Ji, the Empress and Zhao Yuan Ji are all people of Ji’s Family, and there are one duke and two marquises in the Imperial Court… How powerful and noble they are!”

Therefore, Ji Minggan, the youngest legitimate son, might be favored in the family, but it was basically impossible for Ji’s Family to get him a title.

Since the Prince Regent, General-in-chief of the Cavalry and the upright official Duke Yi were not fool, how could they allow one more person of Ji’s Family get titled?

Especially Yun Fenghuang had never heard of Ji Minggan’s achievements. It was estimated that he was certainly not a genius even if he was not a playboy. Otherwise, why did Ji’s Family not support him for merits?

He was just a lucky boy born in a wealthy family, who was not yet married at this time but used his family’s fame to show his honor. After his parents died and he started a new family, when he couldn’t either succeed the title or get the most part of the family property, what was his advantage to maintain his wealth and protect his children?

In Yun Fenghuang’s opinion, the plan of Ji’s Family was a wise decision. Princess Minghui had a special status. As the only legitimate daughter of Emperor Xiaozong, people whether at the Imperial Court or the Harem would agree that she should be treated specially.

And according to the unspoken rules, after her marriage was finalized, Emperor Chunjia must take the initiative to give her husband award, in order to show that he would not forget the late emperor’s favor and treat his daughter as a real sister.

So, did Ji Minggan have any qualifications to dislike Princess Minghui?

If another arrogant princess was in Princess Minghui’s shoes, she would be merciful not to disdain him for being a loser who could only earn his future through marriage!

But Yun Fenghuang couldn’t say these words straightforwardly. After all, Princess Minghui could despise Ji Minggan casually, but she dared not. At this time, she could only tell the princess euphemistically that given her noble identity, she could take the lead for her marriage regardless of her appearance, her temper and her characters!

After a long time, Princess Minghui calmed down a little, and hesitatingly said, “Does Cousin Minggan… really not disgust at me now?”

“…” Yun Fenghuang was speechless but politely said, “I think that Childe Ji was being frank that he didn’t know his joke would hurt you. How about reminding him next time?”

Princess Minghui was embarrassed to ask, “How… how to remind?”

How to remind?

This depended on the person who performed it. If anyone dared say that Yun Fenghuang was an ugly thing and didn’t play with her, she would curse his whole family to go to hell…

“I’m afraid that it would hurt your relationship if you say it directly.” Yun Fenghuang thought it for a while, and felt that if the princess did what she would advise, she might not be able to explain it to Queen Mother Ji. She thought the way should be polite, “How about making a joke when he laughs at you next time?”

The princess said, “But Cousin Minggan is very handsome, and I… I don’t know what I should say?”

Couldn’t she laugh at his good look?

How kind was the princess?

Yun Fenghuang thought, “Even Chao Jingyou had laughed at my beauty ans described me as a siren. Therefore, even a fool could easily find the disadvantages of Ji Minggan, a handsome coward!”

“I’ve never seen him. Would you mind asking Queen Mother of Honor in private?” Yun Fenghuang said softly, “She is still in bad health, but…”

“Ah!” Princess Minghui finally remembered her mother and instantly stood up, “My sister-in-law ordered me to remind my mother to take medicines! I forgot that!”

Yun Fenghuang was relieved secretly, “Your Highness, don’t worry. I will send you there for a while, because you may not be familiar with the way…”

After Princess Minghui finally left, people at Xi Xing Building all felt relaxed.

Xi Le was a little worried, and asked secretly, “Gui Ren, you let the princess to ask for Queen Mother of Honor’s advice. If she fails to marry him, would Ji’s Family blame it on you…?”

“If Queen Mother of Honor does not agree with this marriage, then she must find a reason that can convince Ji’s Family.” Yun Fenghuang waved her hand to calm her down, “As a small concubine, I am not qualified to be the scapegoat… If Queen Mother of Honor says that it is me who misled the princess, Ji’s Family would think it is her excuse, for she let a small concubine decide the marriage of the princess raised up by her. Am I right?”

Therefore, she advised Princess Minghui to tell this to Queen Mother Ji.

But Yun Fenghuang also felt it was a little strange, because Princess Minghui was the only daughter of Queen Mother Ji, and from the daily greetings, it was estimated that Queen Mother Ji loved Princess Minghui very much. She should not be so hasty about the princess’s lifelong event!

Since Ji Minggan was her nephew, could Queen Mother Ji not know his likes and dislikes?

Judging from the descriptions of Princess Minghui, Ji Minggan judged people by their appearance and was not friendly to the princess since childhood.

And that happened when they first entered the palace. Could Queen Mother Ji know nothing at all?

If not, why did she want to match up her daughter and Ji Minggan?

Even if she thought that her natal family would be the final winner, there were other boys in Ji’s Family… Since whoever married Minghui would be titled, the rest boys who could not succeed their father’s titles could be selected. Could they all be as impudent as Ji Minggan?

Howeven, since she didn’t know much about Queen Mother Ji and Ji’s Family, she could not figure it out at the moment. After thinking about it for a while, she gave it up and continued to discuss her moving with the maids around her.

Originally, they decided to move to Zi Quan Palace the next day. However, as soon as they returned to Hu Zhu Palace after the next morning greeting, they were told by Chen Sheng that Princess Minghui, Princess Jinyun and Princess Penglai were coming here together.

As Yun Fenghuang confusedly went out to welcome them, she saw that the maid behind Princess Minghui had a food container in her hand, and she also took some things such as ink and paper.

“I… we…” When Princess Minghui saw her come out, she opened her mouth, and two blushes immediately appeared on her fair-skinned face. She shyly lowered her head.

“Gui Ren Yun, we plan to go to His Majesty to consult the schoolwork. Would you join us?” The girl in light green palace costume behind Princess Minghui instantly continued the talk when she saw that, “His Majesty took care of our mother at Mian Fu Palace and he must be tired. Would you bring some pastries to him?”

As she said so, she pointed to the food container in the hands of the maid. It was obvious that they had thought of the reason and prepared the food. All they needed now was Yun Fenghuang’s agreement so that they could set off.

Yun Fenghuang, “…”

She pondered for a moment and asked uncertainly, “Is it possible for a concubine to go out of the Harem?”

Seeing that she did not refuse directly, the girl in palace costume said in a sigh of relief, “Does it matter? His Majesty has not taken the power, and there are no outsiders.”

Yun Fenghuang reminded her, “I heard that there are several reading companions around His Majesty, most of which are the sons of courtiers.”

“These reading companions are not always in the palace.” The girl in palace costume was obviously an impatient person, and she said instantly after hearing that, “They take turns to read together with His Majesty. Well, I remember today the turn should be Cousin Ji and General Zheng. Cousin Ji is the younger brother of Her Highness, and General Zheng is the adopted son of General-in-chief of the Cavalry. Since they both have close relationship with our imperial family, you should not mind that. We can use a bead curtain to cover you at that time… Since so many people including His Majesty would be there, who can frame you up?”

Seeing that Yun Fenghuang still be in two minds, the girl was a little impatient, “We have asked our mother before we came, and she said that we can decide such small things… Do you think that we are too boring to hurt you, a small concubine?”

Since Queen Mother Ji had acquiesced… Yun Fenghuang thought for a second and said with a smile, “Thanks for your invitation, and I will go with you then. Please wait here for a few minutes and we can go there after I get changed!”