Chapter 308: Chapter 309 - Wei Yinlian’s Marriage (1)

The crown princess looked at the maids around and said after they all withdrew, “I got pregnant shortly after my mother-in-law’s death. Although it’s happy news, it was also embarrassing.”

“There was already a justifiable explanation about getting pregnant when observing mourning for parents in the Wei Dynasty.” Song Yixiao was confused, “Did some people talk nonsense and make you worry?”

Song Yixiao thought it should be impossible. The crown prince had just won in the fight for the title of heir to the throne. Even the Empress Dowager didn’t dare to upset them, let alone others.

Noble Consort Cui was just dead and the crown princess got pregnant while she and the crown prince were observing mourning for Noble Consort Cui. In those years, the time when you got pregnant didn’t matter and you would be considered as an unfilial person as long as you gave birth to the child when you were observing mourning for your parents. If this rule still existed, even Princess Consort of Liang could only have an abortion, let alone the crown princess. Even if they gave birth to the child, the child would be taken away and adopted by others.

However, in the Wei Dynasty, some emperors thought that this rule was very inhumane. It was okay if such a thing happened in families with many children, but if it happened in families that had only one son for several generations like the Song Family, it would be a disaster. How could such a family accept that the offspring they finally had was aborted or adopted by others just because of the death of their parents? The dead parents might also turn in their graves after knowing this.

So, the rule was changed. As long as you didn’t get pregnant when you observed mourning for your parents, you could keep the baby.

It had been more than a month since Noble Consort Cui died. The crown princess was just found pregnant. So, she could tell the public that she got pregnant several days before Noble Consort Cui died and she didn’t get pregnant when she observed mourning for Noble Consort Cui.

“But you also know before my mother-in-law died, she was ill for some days. At that time, Father was also ill.” The crown princess said euphemistically, “Although I estimated that I got pregnant before Father fell ill, I’m afraid someone will distort the truth in front of him…”

Hearing this, Song Yixiao smiled, “I’m afraid you think too much. His Majesty has always attached importance to you and the crown prince. Who dares to distort the truth? Does he want to get himself into trouble?”

Then she continued in a low voice, “Moreover, His Majesty doesn’t have many grandchildren. If he knows you’re pregnant, he must be very happy!”

The crown princess thought to herself: “How could you know I was afraid that Father would get rid of me for the crown prince because he favored the crown prince so much!”

However, although both Emperor Xianjia and the Empress Dowager decided not to make a move on her for the time being, they did not intend to tell her their decision, so the crown princess was frightened and helpless. Since she was found pregnant, she was naturally happy that she had another life-saving card, but she was also afraid that the emperor would tamper with her delivery and let her die a reasonable death.

Therefore, taking advantage of inviting Aunt Yun into the palace, she wanted to ask Song Yixiao to speak for her in front of Grand Princess Jinguo and ask Grand Princess Jinguo to sound out the emperor’s attitude for her.

Song Yixiao didn’t know the crown princess’s thoughts and only thought that the crown princess hadn’t been pregnant for many years since giving birth to Commandery Prince Zhongling, so she inevitably made blind and disorderly conjectures after she was found pregnant in such an eventful year.

Thinking about soothing the crown princess and quashing this matter, Song Yixiao agreed to the crown princess’s request.

After she returned home that day, she told Jian Xubai about the crown princess’s worries. Jian Xubai had some doubts after hearing her out, “The fight for the title of heir to the throne was just over. Uncle has a lot of things to deal with. How could he bother about the crown princess’s pregnancy? The crown princess should be a sensible person. Why did she have such a misgiving?”

He said thoughtfully, “Did she do something bad in private and worry about being punished by Uncle?”

Song Yixiao said, “Then what should we do?”

“Whether the crown princess did something wrong or not, it is the royal family’s affair. We’d better stay out of it.” Jian Xubai thought for a while and said, “Just pretend you know nothing and bring the crown princess’s message to Mother! Uncle is wise and he knows what to do.”

When Song Yixiao went to pay respects to her mother-in-law the next day, she relayed the worry of the crown princess to her. Grand Princess Jinguo was willing to help the crown princess for the future of her little daughter’s future husband. Hearing Song Yixiao’s words, she readily promised to enter the palace as soon as possible and sound out Emperor Xianjia’s attitude for the crown princess.

Grand Princess also had doubts, “Did the crown princess hear any rumors lately? His Majesty never took an interest in daughters-in-law’s affair.”

Song Yixiao answered obediently, “I don’t know, but the crown princess seemed very worried when I talked to her earlier.”

“Then I’ll talk to the emperor!” Grand Princess Jinguo didn’t make further inquiries, but nodded slightly, “If there is nothing important, don’t go out recently. You are in your late pregnancy. Even if you are in good health, I don’t want you to have an accident like Princess Consort of Liang.”

“Princess Consort of Liang?” Song Yixiao thought of what Aunt Yun said before and inquired, “I was shocked when I heard that Princess Consort of Liang was going to have a premature delivery because she fell! Fortunately, she was in good health and had a safe delivery.”

Grand Princess Jinguo shook her head, “You don’t know yet? Although Prince of Liang’s first legitimate son was born smoothly, he has been ill twice in just a few days. Now an imperial physician who is good at treating women and babies from the Imperial Academy of Medicine is specially taking care of the child in Prince of Liang’s mansion. I wonder if he can get better as he grows up. Alas!”

Grand Princess showed a worried look. She probably thought of her grandson Zhuo Ping’an.

Hearing that, Song Yixiao was relieved. Someone finally found out that there was something wrong with Prince of Liang’s first legitimate son!

So, the child’s chance of surviving was greatly increased.

They talked about the child with regret for a while. Seeing that there was nothing else, Song Yixiao left.

Grand Princess Jinguo entered the palace one day later and talked with Emperor Xianjia alone for a long time before leaving. After returning to her mansion, she asked Jiayue to go to the Duke of Yan’s mansion and tell Song Yixiao the news she got, “His Majesty has never heard of anyone vilifying the crown princess. Instead, he said that the crown princess has always been diligent and virtuous, taught Commandery Prince Zhongling well, and assisted the crown prince with great care. Grand Princess said that His Majesty chose a very excellent official wife for the crown prince.”

These words were relayed to the crown princess several hours later. Shiwan said with joy, “Your Highness, His Majesty and Grand Princess Jinguo said this personally!”

“Aunt Jinguo might not know the inside story. Her words were no more than a compliment.” The crown princess did not go on, but pondered, “His Majesty’s words were the most important. He seemed to be satisfied with me, but his words were also a kind of warning.”

However, if he was willing to warn her, it meant he was willing to give her a chance, wasn’t it?

The crown princess thought like this. She could finally be at ease after being worried for so many days. She decided to put up a good show and improved the emperor’s impression of her. Soon, she got the chance. On the pretext of visiting her eldest daughter, Madam Tian came to the Intermediate Palace to discuss the marriage of her youngest daughter, Wei Yinlian, with the crown princess.

In fact, talking about Wei Yinlian’s marriage was also a pretext. Madam Tian’s real purpose was to repair the relation between the Wei Family and the crown princess.

After all, when the crown prince and the crown princess were at a huge disadvantage, the Wei Family didn’t support them firmly. The crown princess was not that magnanimous and couldn’t accept whatever her family did. Since the crown prince and the crown princess had turned the tables, the Wei Family naturally wanted to correct their mistake and strive for the tolerance and understanding of the crown prince and the crown princess.

Among the siblings, the crown princess loved her younger sister Wei Yinlian most. Especially after Sikong Yiluo’s matter last year, Wei Yinlian was greatly upset and stayed at home for a long time, which worried the crown princess very much.

Madam Tian asked the crown princess’s advice on Wei Yinlian’s marriage to show her respect to the crown princess and avoided being cold-shouldered by her for what happened before.

Sure enough, when the crown princess saw her biological mother, although she greeted her very politely, there was coldness and distance in her words and actions.

Only when Madam Tian mentioned Wei Yinlian’s marriage did the crown princess put on a concerned look, “What’s Yinlian’s idea?”

“You know she had a crush on someone before.” Madam Tian said tactfully, “She was young and ignorant and didn’t even know what she was doing. Don’t bother about that! Marriage is a big event and you are her sister. She naturally needs your advice on that!”

Madam Tian was talking about Wei Yinlian’s crush on Su Shaoge.

At that time, Su Shaoge had been engaged to Prince of Yi’s youngest daughter. Even if Su Shaoge hadn’t been engaged to anyone, the Wei Family couldn’t accept Su Shaoge as their son-in-law because Prince of Zhao failed in the fight for the title of heir to the throne and was adopted and the Su Family was already in decline.

“Have you selected some young men for her?” The crown princess pondered and said.

Madam Tian said a few names and they were all handsome outstanding young men from eminent families. Wei Yinlian’s husband would be in-laws with the future emperor, so naturally, he needed to come from an eminent family even if the distinguished status of the Wei Family was not taken into consideration.

“They all seem very outstanding, but I haven’t seen them. It’s hard to give any advice.” The crown princess nodded as she listened, and then said, “Maybe I’ll give you advice after I ask His Highness if their fathers and brothers are reliable. Evil communications corrupt good manners. If their fathers and brothers are reliable, they can also be trusted. Of course, you and Dad need to make the final decision. I’m just Yinlian’s sister.”

Madam Tian was hoping that she could take more interest in Wei Yinlian’s matter so that the Wei Family could keep a closer relation with her. Hearing that, Madam Tian said happily, “Your Highness, Yinlian must be very happy if she knows you are so concerned about her marriage!”

The matter was settled like that. They talked about some family affairs, and then Madam Tian left.

After she left, the crown princess asked someone to tell the crown prince that she had something to discuss with him. They were observing mourning for their mother, and the crown princess was pregnant, so they lived separately. After receiving the news, the crown prince hurried back before sunset and asked her about her health and pregnancy with concern before saying, “The servant told me that your mother came today?”

“She came for my sister’s marriage.” The crown princess personally filled a bowl of soup for him and explained, “We should have discussed her marriage two years ago, but my mother only has two daughters, and I am several years older than her, so she wanted to keep her around for a little longer. However, if she can’t get married at this age, she would be too old for marriage, so my mother sorted out the people who wanted to propose marriage recently and came to me for consultation.”

The crown princess thought that the crown prince would certainly take the initiative to ask if she needed help for their harmonious relation between them recently.

However, after the crown prince heard her words, his expression changed slightly and he hesitated for a moment before saying, “I remember you just have one sister, right?”

The crown princess was a little stunned, “Yes.”

Her mind raced and a worry suddenly seized her. Was the crown prince interested in Wei Yinlian?

It was impossible. It wasn’t that the crown princess belittled her sister but that the crown prince was a decent person and had only met her sister a few times. Wei Yinlian was pretty, but she was not as beautiful as Beautiful Lady Nuan and even compared unfavorably with Song Yixiao in terms of appearance.

At the time, they were observing mourning for Noble Consort Cui and she was pregnant. How could the crown prince take a fancy to her sister?

After thinking for a while, the crown prince asked the servants around to withdraw, and then asked in a deliberative tone, “Does your sister like any of the young men the Wei Family chose for her?”

Was it normal for a man to ask if his wife’s sister had a crush on anyone?

The crown princess’s eyes darkened, suppressed the panic and sadness rushing up to her heart, and said with a smile, “Your Highness, your worry is unnecessary. Although our Wei Family is not as prosperous as before, we never dare to neglect the upbringing of our legitimate children. Yinlian is our parent’s youngest daughter and is spoiled by them, but she is still asked to obey those important rules. Children’s marriages are decided by parents. How can they tell her who her future husband is before they make the decision? She hasn’t even heard of those people. How can she take a fancy to one of them?”

Even though her relationship with the crown prince had improved, the crown princess still chose a safe answer to the question about her sister’s reputation though she knew that if the crown prince liked Wei Yinlian, she would be helping him by telling him that.

However, the crown prince looked relieved and said, “Then shall I recommend someone to her?”

The crown princess griped her handkerchief with a happy look, “Really? That’s great. Who do you want to recommend?”