Chapter 216: Sending A Woman Into The Eastern Palace
The next day, the Imperial Advisor divined a hexagram for Emperor Qin.
“Your Majesty is currently in the prime of life, with the national fortune thriving.” Jiang Kui paused again, “However…”
Emperor Qin felt a bit pleased upon hearing the earlier words, but upon hearing the latter, his brows furrowed tightly, “What? Is there something else?”
The Imperial Advisor said, “Your Majesty, if the thriving national fortune is only temporary, it cannot be maintained indefinitely.”
Emperor Qin’s expression tightened, “Grand Tutor, what should I do?”
“Many sons bring many blessings, many grandsons dispel disasters.”
Emperor Qin still did not understand, “Grand Tutor, please speak plainly.”
“If the princes have abundant offspring, the national fortune will surely thrive.” Jiang Kui explained, “Not only does Your Majesty need many sons, but all the princes, especially Your Highness the Crown Prince, must also have flourishing offspring.”
Emperor Qin’s expression was serious. Back then, Wei Chang had the Seven Killings Solitary Fate and would not live past twenty, so it delayed his marriage and having children.
Now that Wei Chang had overcome the calamity, the Eastern Palace had only one Crown Princess, and after being married for so long, she had not conceived any offspring.
Thus, Emperor Qin waved his hand grandly and directly rewarded several beautiful concubines to the Eastern Palace.
However, to appease his other sons, aside from the fourth prince, the other two sons also received several beautiful concubines.
Jiang Kui personally delivered the imperial edict to the Eastern Palace and presented the concubines in front of Jiang Ruanxi, “Crown Princess, these are people specially selected by the Empress. Please treat them well.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s hands under her sleeves had clenched into fists, but her face still wore a beaming smile, “Such a minor matter has troubled Grand Tutor to come personally; I am truly ashamed.”
“A thriving national fortune is not a minor matter.” Jiang Kui was not polite, “Toiling for Qin Kingdom is naturally my duty as a minister. I presume the Crown Princess thinks the same? This is the legitimate second miss from Yongning Marquis Manor, Sun Tina. His Majesty has granted her to the Crown Prince as an Imperial Concubine, hoping the Crown Princess will take good care of her.”
With that, he pointed to a woman with a seductive appearance in the distance. As for the two behind, they were the legitimate daughter of Censor Wang’s family, Wang Yue.
And the concubine’s daughter from the Minister’s family, Wan Qing.
“From now on, they will be with you, serving Your Highness the Crown Prince together. We hope Your Highness the Crown Prince can evenly distribute his favors, soon producing offspring for the royal family and continuing Qin Kingdom’s good national fortune. I presume the Crown Princess will not disappoint His Majesty?”
Rewarding three women at once: one of high status and position, the other two concubines of lower status… but they were very beautiful.
Look at that Wang Yue, with her fox-like seductive looks—even Jiang Ruanxi, as a woman, felt truly moved upon seeing her.
Such outstanding beauty was comparable to the ladies in the Imperial Palace.
Truthfully, it was a pity she wasn’t sent to be Emperor Qin’s favored consort instead of coming to serve the Crown Prince.
“How could that be? This palace will certainly follow His Majesty’s words.” Jiang Ruanxi was not angry at all; instead, she smiled gently.
“Yesterday I was still discussing this with the Crown Prince. This palace manages the Crown Prince’s inner affairs and cares for the Crown Prince’s matters, inevitably lacking enough hands. I was just about to petition Mother Empress to select a few people of good character to enter the Eastern Palace, but unexpectedly, they arrived before I could speak. Grand Tutor, rest assured: once they enter the Eastern Palace, they are people of the Eastern Palace. This palace naturally will not disappoint His Majesty.”
These words were extremely appropriate, with no flaws to pick at.
Moreover, she agreed with a smile, making it seem as if she was truly magnanimous, truly thinking of Wei Chang.
Jiang Kui slightly furrowed his brows. Was she truly accepting this calmly, or just putting on an act in front of me?
No, no woman could truly be that magnanimous.
Jiang Ruanxi was a woman, just like her.
Jiang Kui was certain she was just pretending with him.
He said with a look of regret, “I see. Before His Majesty left, he specifically instructed that sending three concubines to Your Highness the Crown Prince at once might be a bit much. If the Crown Princess was unwilling, he said to keep only the Wang family lady. Now it seems His Majesty worried too much; the Crown Princess is very magnanimous.”
Magnanimous my foot.
Jiang Ruanxi snorted coldly.
Deep down, Jiang Ruanxi knew clearly that no matter how much she made a fuss today, these three people would inevitably enter the Eastern Palace.
If she made a fuss, Jiang Kui would seize the opportunity to make an issue of it.
So, these words were just deliberately said for her to hear.
“Since the people have been delivered, does Grand Tutor have any other matters?”
From beginning to end, Jiang Ruanxi showed no dissatisfied emotions.
Seeing she had no flaws, Jiang Kui’s heart sank, “This official came only to deliver them. Since they are delivered, this official takes his leave.”
He just didn’t believe Jiang Ruanxi could truly be magnanimous.
After Jiang Kui left, Jiang Ruanxi remained composed and dismissed the three ladies.
Upon hearing of this, Wei Chang hurried back without delay.
As soon as he entered the door, he explained to Jiang Ruanxi, “Xi Xi, those concubines were not my wish. You don’t have to force yourself to accept them. If you don’t like them, I will go directly beg Father Emperor to withdraw this reward.”
“If you don’t like them, I will have them sent back right away.”
Seeing his nervous appearance, Jiang Ruanxi couldn’t help laughing, “If you send them back now, if it affects Qin Kingdom’s national fortune, His Majesty will surely be angry.”
Wei Chang’s face was serious, “If the national fortune could be obtained just by toying with women, wouldn’t Qin Kingdom’s soldiers become a joke?”
Seeing how earnestly he spoke, Jiang Ruanxi could no longer laugh, “So Your Highness the Crown Prince feels the same as me, that this is the Imperial Advisor’s scheme?”
Seeing she had not misunderstood, Wei Chang relaxed a bit. Then thinking of this absurd matter, he continued, “Fortune-telling is inherently true and false, real and illusory. Some is real, some not necessarily. If the Imperial Advisor could truly divine these things accurately, how could he be willing to serve under others?”
“You mean Grand Tutor is mixing falsehood with truth?”
Actually, Jiang Ruanxi suspected the same. After all, if the real national fortune could improve just by adding a few more people, Emperor Qin wouldn’t need to do anything—just expand the Imperial Harem and have children.
“It’s not impossible.” Wei Chang’s expression was serious, “But even so, I don’t want you to feel wronged. If you’re unwilling, I’ll have them sent away immediately.”
“But in that case, wouldn’t our plan fail to achieve anything? Perhaps the Imperial Advisor’s objective is exactly this—to make you and me angry, throw us off balance, and create discord.”
Thinking of this, Jiang Ruanxi was startled, “He might be waiting for this opportunity.”
“Even without such an opportunity, if we accept these few people, he can continue to let those three cause trouble in our Eastern Palace.” Wei Chang just thinking about it made his face show extreme anger, “Jiang Kui truly has a clever scheme. We cannot fall for it.”
