Old Madam Qiao slapped the table angrily and said, “She’s really a good daughter of her father! How could she bully her own sister like this?!
“She is just a prince’s concubine, while Jinniang is a county mistress. They’re of the same rank. How can she issue a decree to Jinniang? What a joke! ”
Qiao Jinniang walked up to Old Madam Qiao and said, “Grandma, calm down. Don’t be angry.”
Old Madam Zheng said, “Old Madam Qiao, it’s fine that you don’t obey Consort Qiao’s decree.
“But you can’t ignore Jinniang’s future!
“After she broke off with Li Yun, did you see any other man coming to propose to her?
“Now outsiders don’t know that Jinniang had once been married and was divorced, but if this matter were to spread out…”
Before she finished, the hurried voice of a little maid came from outside. “Old Madam, Madam, the third son of the Li family, Li Yun won first place in the Imperial Examination. Mrs. Li and Old Madam Li came to tell the good news, and they also brought a matchmaker with them.”
The exam results had just been released, but there was still a palace exam.
Two days later, the final results would be decided after the palace exam, but winning the first place in this exam, Li Yun would have at least obtained the second place position in the palace exam.
The Duchess was a little surprised. “Li Yun really got first place? The Duke said that with his talent, he would pass the imperial exam but he might not rank very high.”
“Hurry up, invite Li Yun over and call Young Master over to get some luck.”
The Duchess smiled.
Old Madam Zheng said dismissively, “Hadn’t your family already been divided up? Why do you bother to entertain a poor relative of the Duke’s sister-in-law?
“Twenty years ago, a child from such a poor family would have no chance of becoming an official without a noble’s recommendation!”
Annoyed by her words, Old Madam Qiao said, “Even if our family has divided up, they are still the Duke’s brother and sister-in-law, so the Li family is still a relative of us!”
Fortunately, her daughter-in-law wasn’t like Old Madam Zheng, but Qiao Ruoshui’s bearing was very similar to her maternal grandmother’s.
Mrs. Li brought the matchmaker over and said, “Old Madam, Duchess, my son passed the imperial examination thanks to County Mistress Jia’an. She is really a lucky star.
“Old Madam, Duchess, we were wrong about Ruyu last time. I hope you can forgive us.
“I swear with my life that if the County Mistress marries into our family, we will never let her be wronged.
“I promise there will be no Ruyu or any other woman. I wonder if you would be willing to talk about their marriage again?”
Old Madam Zheng really gave the Duchess a headache. She asked Jinniang, “Jinniang, this is about your life. No more excuses. Tell me what you think.”
Qiao Jinniang glanced at Li Yun and said, “I think Cousin has known my past. I have no other requirements for my future husband, except that he can’t have any concubines.
“If we get married, I will definitely fulfill my duties as a wife…”
Mrs. Li smiled and said, “Don’t worry. Ruyu has already left.”
Old Madam Qiao didn’t have any objection either. She just said, “In this case, we can discuss their marriage again.”
Seeing that they had decided to discuss this matter again, Old Madam Zheng was anxious.
“Do you know that Qiao Jinniang has been married before? Moreover, she had even given birth to a child!”
Mrs. Li nodded and said, “Yes, it’s common for divorced women to re-marry in Chang’an. Thanks to Jinniang, my son could pass the imperial examination.”
Qiao Jinniang was confused. She didn’t seem to do anything to help Li Yun pass the Imperial Examination, right?
Old Madam Zheng had nothing to say, so she turned her eyes to Qiao Ruoyi.
It was a pity that she was born by a concubine, but she was still the Duke’s daughter, so she could relax her standard a little to let her be Zheng Bo’s concubine.
…
Lu Chen had been busy with the illicit salt case and the Imperial Examination these days.
When he finally got time to see Qiao Jinniang, he was called by the Emperor to the Hall of Diligent Governance.
“Xie Yun saved you with her life. You should take her as your crown princess.
“If you chose her as the crown princess, I’ll declare on the Mid-Autumn Festival that Tuan’er will be your heir.”
Being announced by the Emperor to be Lu Chen’s heir was of great significance.
Lu Chen said, “Father, only Jinniang can be my wife.”
“But she doesn’t want to marry you at all.” The Emperor said in a slightly annoyed tone, “You are the Crown Prince! You can have the best woman in the country. Why does it have to be her?”
Lu Chen said: “Father, you don’t know how good Jinniang is.”
“What’s so good about her? She’s only a little good at cooking, isn’t she?”
When Emperor Huilin said it, he began to miss the dishes of the Tasty Pavilion.
He decided to have Eunuch Quan go out of the imperial palace and pack some dishes back from the Tasty Pavilion later.
Lu Chen said, “Tuan’er is about to be three years old. Please give him a name, Father.”
Emperor Huilin wrote a few words on the decree. “Pick one.”
Lu Chen glanced at the words and said, “I’ll tell you my decision after I discuss it with Jinniang, Father.”
When Lu Chen went to the Duke Mansion, he saw that betrothal gifts were being sent into the Duke Mansion like flowing water. Who took advantage of his busy days to send betrothal gifts over?
The two geese in the betrothal gifts looked like such an eyesore…
Lu Chen climbed over the wall and entered the Jin Garden.
Entering Qiao Jinniang’s room, she was taking a nap. Her shirt slipped down, revealing her fair shoulders.
Lu Chen walked up to her, gazed at her face, and heard the talk of some little maids from outside.
“After so many hurdles, Miss is still engaged to Young Master Li.”
“I think Young Master Li is a good man. Although he got first place in the imperial examination, he still didn’t forget Miss. Many men would have gotten over their heads after passing the Imperial Examination.”
“Hope they can make it this time.”
“The road to happiness is strewn with setbacks..”
Lu Chen was annoyed. “Is Li Yun better than me? After that disgusting matter about Ruyu, you can still forgive him, why can’t you forgive me?”
Qiao Jinniang was taking a nap, but she suddenly opened her eyes when she heard Lu Chen’s words.
“Your Royal Highness, you’re really capable. Now you can even sneak into a girl’s room!”
Lu Chen approached Qiao Jinniang, but she dodged away in disgust. He said, “Yes, since I’ve sneaked into your room, I can’t be scolded by you for nothing.”
Qiao Jinniang pulled off a gold hairpin on her head and said to Lu Chen, “I am engaged to be married now. If you dare to touch me, I will die with you!”
Lu Chen said coldly, “Why do you insist on marrying someone else? Why don’t you give me a chance to make up for it?”
Jinniang said, “I wasn’t in a hurry, but you should have seen when you came in that someone came to propose to Ruofeng.
“As her elder sister, I should find a husband too.”
Lu Chen sat on the chair. “Jinniang, that divorce letter is fake, and the handwriting is just an imitation of mine. Since the divorce letter is not real, we’re still husband and wife.
So you can’t marry another man.”
Qiao Jinniang frowned and said, “Let me ask you, since we are still husband and wife, then your wife should be the crown princess, but am I?”
Lu Chen: “If you are willing, I will go back to the imperial palace to ask for an imperial decree right away.”
Qiao Jinniang put down the golden hairpin and stared at Lu Chen. “Look, it’s so easy for you to ask for this imperial decree.
“Then why were you only willing to make me your concubine back then?”
“I know, you must be thinking that I’m making a fuss just to become the crown princess.
“But listen up, I really disdain the position of the crown princess.
“Lu Chen, please let me go. I’ll be Li Yun’s wife and you will still be the Crown Prince. Wouldn’t it be nice if we never disturb each other again?”
Lu Chen said, “No, it’s not nice at all. You’re still my wife. I can wait for you to forgive me, but you are not allowed to marry someone else.”
Qiao Jinniang got up, walked to the dressing table, and threw a mirror on the ground. The bronze mirror fell to the ground and broke…
“Only when a broken mirror joins together will I forgive you..”
