They were all Yang family women. Why couldn’t she also achieve what her sister and aunt achieved? She got married early and missed the opportunity, but she still had a daughter. Dou Xiyin was at the right age and was also the Second Prince’s childhood sweetheart. Wasn’t she a perfect, ready-made candidate for his wife?
However, Empress Dowager Yang did not say a word.
Yang Yan knew very well. Although Yang Miao was now the Empress, it was their aunt, the Empress Dowager, who had the final say in Yang family’s affairs. If Empress Dowager disagreed, it was impossible even if Yang Yan managed to persuade her father and younger brother.
Yang Yan and Dou Xiyin could only return home with disappointment. Empress Dowager Yang always knew Yang Yan’s mind, but she just dragged the matter and refused to nod her head.
Yang Yan wanted her daughter to become Yang family’s third-generation empress, but Empress Dowager Yang felt it unnecessary. After all, Dou Xiyin’s surname was Dou, and the Second Prince was already of half Yang family blood.
When the Second Prince sat on the throne in the future, would he treat his maternal grandparents and uncle badly? So there was really no need to let Yang family occupy the position of Second Prince’s wife. It was better to vacate the position and gain the Second Prince a helpful wife.
One family was split into two thoughts, but Empress Dowager Yang didn’t take it seriously. On the one hand, she didn’t cut off Yan Yan’s ambition, but on the other hand, she was already thinking of a suitable candidate for the Second Prince’s wife.
Long after returning to Ciqing Palace, Cheng Yujin suddenly sighed. Seeing this, Lian Qiao asked in a low voice: “Crown Princess, what the matter?”
The mother-in-law’s surname was Yang, grandmother-in-law’s surname was Yang, and the Senior Grand Secretary who controlled the whole cabinet was also surnamed Yang. Only she alone surnamed Cheng. Even her real mother-in-law Zhong-shi also seemed to have some dispute with Yang family. This in-laws entanglement was simply a hell mode for any brides. In the past, Cheng Yujin wouldn’t even give a glance towards family with such complicated in-laws. Unexpectedly, she ended up picking the most complicated and the most difficult one.
But although it was difficult, there were also pros and cons. In a sense, she didn’t have to manage the relationship with the so-called mother-in-law. Because her real mother-in-law Empress Zheng had passed away and Empress Yang was merely Li Chengjing’s stepmother, Li Chengjing completely stood on her side during the conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, making it easier than a ‘filial son’ like Huo Changyuan.
Moreover, Cheng Yujin also didn’t need to make any efforts to please her sisters-in-law. Li Chengjing was Empress Zhong’s only child, with no full-blood siblings, and his relationship with other members of his family was already very peculiar from the start. To put it more carefully, Li Chengjing’s relationship with his father and siblings was probably not as secure and reliable as his relationship with Cheng Yujin.
Li Chengjing was right. At least before he took the throne, their interests were the same, and Cheng Yujin could safely entrust her back to him.
Let’s not say whether she could fully entrust her back or not. At least, Cheng Yujin didn’t have to be cautious of Li Chengjing.
Cheng Yujin sorted out the present situation. Yang family was coming in full force. Seeing Yang Yan and Dou Xiying’s posture of sitting grandiosely today, one would think that the Forbidden City was their family’s home. Cheng Yujin and Li Chengjing were two people in one body. They and Yang family were deadly enemies. She didn’t need to pretend to be foolish, let alone trying to maintain peace. The confrontation had begun, and it was real. Just look at Empress Dowager Yang today.
However, these things didn’t need to be said to the servants. Cheng Yujin shook her head, not willing to say more. She asked: “Nothing. Where is His Highness?”
“His Highness has not returned yet.”
It was normal. Li Chengjing had restored his status as Crown Prince, and he couldn’t be as leisurely as he was before. After the end of the morning court, he would go to Qianqing Palace to observe the Emperor’s work, go to Wenhua Pavilion to assist with governmental affairs, then summoned his subordinates to the Eastern Palace. He probably would be busy until late today.
No, not only today. He would be very busy every day.
Cheng Yujin sighed quietly. The handover from the old to the new was the beginning of everything. It seemed that she and Li Chengjing needed to work very hard.
Sure enough, Li Chengjing only returned after dark. As a Crown Prince, Li Chengjing couldn’t relax all day. Even on the way back to the palace, his head was full of governmental affairs. When he returned to Ciqing Palace, the palace servants knelt on both sides of the road, greeting in unison: “Long live the Crown Prince.”
Li Chengjing didn’t even give them a single glance as he kept walking forward. The lamps had been lit up at this time. Just as Li Chengjing stepped into the palace, he saw Cheng Yujin standing by the door, smiling: “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Li Chengjing was startled, only to realize that Cheng Yujin was waiting for him.
This feeling was strange and novel. He thought he was alone in this world, with no ties nor accompaniment. Unexpectedly, the world was so big, and there was actually a lamp that belonged to him.
The coldness on his body suddenly disappeared, and even the thorny issues in the court seemed to be nothing. Li Chengjing couldn’t hold back his smile and asked: “Why are you here?”
“I said I am waiting for Your Highness’ return.” Cheng Yujin gave him a glance. Under the light, this one glance looked even more seductive — extremely beautiful. “It seems that Your Highness didn’t take my words to heart. Just a few hours, and you already forgot?”
Li Chengjing chuckled and stepped forward to take Cheng Yujin’s hand into his: “Alright, it’s my wrong. Have you taken the meal?”
Cheng Yujin shook her head: “No, I’m going to take it with Your Highness after you come back.”
“If I got too busy and could not get back in time, I usually take my meal outside. Waiting too long is not good for your health. Next time, properly take your meals in time.”
“I will wait until Your Highness come back.”
Cheng Yujin was stubborn in some aspects, and this stubbornness was truly a hard one.
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