♂?，，

  Madam Zhu's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and she shook her head, saying, "Brother only said to let grandmother rest assured in the backyard, enjoying her twilight years, and not to interfere with outside matters. I think he has more confidence this time, and is more decisive in his actions, so he didn't say anything, and I didn't ask again."

  She sighed slightly, "It's actually Uncle, come in and let me persuade my brother a few times. The Purple Tassel County Master is the darling of the Lin Nan King. If the Gu family can establish a relationship with the Lin Nan King, then in the future..."

  In the end, Yongning Marquis Gu Changqi's desire to climb higher never extinguished.

  Ming Xuan thought for a moment and comforted, "Brother has always been measured in his actions. Since he let grandmother rest assured, you can put your mind at ease. Eldest uncle is a filial person. If you clear up those matters cleanly, he naturally won't rush to pressure you."

  She slightly furrowed her brow, grasping Old Lady Zhu's arm and speaking in a spoiled tone, "If only our granddaughter were not yet married, it would be nice for the two of us to shut ourselves indoors, drink tea, admire flowers, sit idly, and chat."

  Madam Zhu tapped Ming Xuan's forehead, "Oh, Grandma can't bear to part with you either."

  She sighed softly, "Under grandmother's knees, there were so many granddaughters. Eldest sister was raised by me since childhood, her body has always been poor, and after marriage, she didn't live a good life either. Although it can be said that there are also her own reasons for this, but in my heart, I still feel sorry for her. Now that she's gone, let's not mention her anymore."

  It is heartbreaking for an old person to send off a young one, no matter what.

  Madam Zhu paused for a moment, then said, "The noble consort's position is honorable. But to speak the truth, she is more miserable than anyone else in her heart. In order to stand firm in the palace, it's not easy at all. Everywhere is full of invisible blades and swords. Just now, she thought she was pregnant with a dragon son and was proud and glorious for a while. As a result, she made a big joke. I heard that the emperor is no longer as close to her as before."

  She shook her head slightly, "It's laughable that Cai sister still thinks it's a good place to go. She just got married the day before yesterday and was taken into the palace in a sedan chair yesterday. Although she was granted the title of Shu Fei of the second rank, there wasn't even a wedding ceremony."

  "Compared to those imperial consorts who have been trained since childhood, she knows nothing. That little cleverness of hers can't even compare to the tip of someone's finger. Now that the Emperor still remembers his old affection for Rong Jie, she can temporarily gain favor, but in the end, she is just a western concubine. How long this favor will last is unknown, and her future...is uncertain."

  Ming Que's calculations, thinking that she had fooled everyone in the mansion, now it seems that these little tricks are just a joke. Whether it is Old Lady Zhu or Madame Hou, they all see through her clearly. Her intentions are so obvious, can't those princesses in the palace see it clearly?

  The Empress, Yu Huifei, and even Gu Guifei's heart, are probably not feeling well. Although Yuanfei has passed away, these women have all benefited from her death. Even though four years have passed, Yuanfei remains a thorn in the hearts of several ladies-in-waiting. It cannot be pulled out, nor can it be ignored.

  Moreover, the Emperor often reminisces about the past and composes deep emotions. Now that Ming Yu is favored by imitating Consort Yuan, how can it not move the hearts of these consorts? A round of open strife and secret struggle is probably unavoidable.

  Ming Xuan's eyelashes slightly moved, and she asked in a low voice, "Did Cai Jie enter the palace yesterday?"

  Madam Zhu nodded, "This child was born to the concubine, but she was raised by her aunt since childhood and lived better than an average family's legitimate daughter. Unfortunately, Aunt treated her with kindness, but it ended up like this. I only hope that after entering the palace, she can live a peaceful life and not bring more trouble to the family."

  She let out another sigh, "Wu Jie's also someone who doesn't put people at ease..."

  Madam Zhu raised her head, and her expression suddenly turned solemn. "Xuan's sister, there are some things that I shouldn't say as a grandmother, but since your mother is no longer here, if I don't speak up now, you might suffer in the future."

  She paused slightly, "Grandfather always thought that the Pei family would inevitably decline, but Grandmother didn't think so. A centuries-old aristocratic family, a clan that followed Taizu to conquer the country, how could it be so easily overthrown?"

  The descendants of Pei Xiang hold important positions in the court, and each one is a capable talent. If Your Majesty wants to exterminate the Pei family, many people will be implicated, and the Zhou dynasty will also be shaken. Killing a thousand enemies and eight hundred descendants is not the way to prosper the country. Even an old woman like me in the inner palace can see this clearly, let alone the many advisors around Your Majesty who should have a deeper understanding than my elder brother.

  The real power in the hands of the Pei family may be gradually withdrawn, but decline and fall are two different things.

  "However, whether the Pei family falls or not, Yu Chen is unaffected. Xuan sister must have also heard that the Chu Xiang Wang Fu was not returned to the imperial treasury back then and is still being managed by a member of the clan, and the title of Chu Xiang Wang has not been abolished either."

  She paused slightly, "The old empress dowager once told me that the previous emperor had intended to let Prince Chen inherit the bloodline of Chu Xiang Wang, but for some reason it didn't happen. However, our relatives have been grateful for Chu Xiang Wang's military achievements and pitied Prince Chen's difficult circumstances since childhood, so they've always wanted to make this happen. The current emperor has his own thoughts on the matter, but is hesitant because Prince Chen bears the surname Pei."

  Ming Xuan was extremely surprised, "Grandmother, is this true?"

  If that's the case, then Yang shouldn't have repeatedly tried to kill Pei Jingchen, as there would be no conflict of interest. They could have just been polite to each other and helped each other out in the future, wouldn't that be better?

  "Old Lady Zhu said in a low voice, 'What the old imperial consort personally told me cannot be false, but this news should not be known to others. Otherwise, would Pei Xiang and Yang Youcheng have allowed Yang Shi to harm people?"

  She took a sip of tea, "Xuan sister, grandmother wants to say is this, Chen brother's future title is unavoidable, three wives and four concubines are also very common, the more women in the backyard, the more disputes naturally, but don't be jealous or envious, as the first wife, no one can surpass you."

  Madam Zhu gazed quietly at Ming Huan, "Illegitimate children in a family have low status, if they enter officialdom, it's usually hard to climb to high positions, marriage is also the same, even if they separate from the family, the property they can get is very limited, as for their mothers, they can only be called 'mother', even if they earn an imperial edict, it will still be given."

  As for those concubines, they are just playthings, things that can be sold at will. What's the point of putting them in your heart? Men are lustful and greedy, but it's only a momentary freshness, after passing that freshness, the concubine is just a decoration, not worth taking seriously.

  However, people are prone to developing feelings in their interactions, and this is something that must be strenuously avoided.

  Ming Xuan's face showed a look of surprise, "Grandma..."

  She felt a little nervous in her heart, was her grandmother going to teach her the skills of fighting in the house?

  It's not easy to survive in a wealthy family, although the grandmother is kind and benevolent to herself. Just looking at how she helped her grandfather settle down in difficult times and got the title of Yongning Hou, it can be known that the grandmother's hands are not free from bloodstains. The grandfather had many concubines, but there was only one son, Fourth Uncle, who was born out of wedlock.

  Although I had a vague feeling about these things in my heart, it's another story when they are explicitly stated in bloody language.

  She was momentarily entangled and didn't know whether she should stop her grandmother from continuing.

  Madam Zhu smiled and said, "Silly girl, it's not what you think."

  She gently stroked Ming Xuan's hair and said softly, "When Grandfather was alive, there were six or seven aunts by his side, but only the mother of Fourth Uncle could conceive. Do you know why?"

  Ming Xuan shook her head, "Granddaughter asks grandmother to show mercy."

  "Men, if they spoil their concubines to the sky, what can their wives do? If they drive out and sell those concubines, other concubines will come in. Not only is it useless, but it also hurts the dignity and feelings between husband and wife. But if they indulge and pamper them with a smiling face, which woman can achieve that?"

  She paused slightly, "So the root of the problem lies with men, and naturally, the solution must also start from them. Fighting with those concubines will not gain a man's respect, and apart from lowering one's own value, there is no benefit at all. Therefore, if Brother Chen is greedy for beauty and lusts after women, then cater to his desires, wait until he has indulged in the midst of a multitude of flowers, and naturally, he will not be attached to any single leaf; if Brother Chen values emotions, then give him emotions, with deep feelings and heavy intentions, he will also place his heart on you."

  The more children born of a legitimate wife, the less threatening is the existence of those born of concubines.

  "Grandfather was a lecher in the first half of his life and emphasized emotions in the second half. Whatever he wanted, I gave it to him. In the end, he still gave me respect and dignity. As for Fourth Uncle, he was an unexpected one, and it was also my request that Grandfather kept him."

  She sighed softly, "Look at our family, the second uncle is afraid of his wife, except for two good-looking concubines, there is not even a single concubine, the fourth uncle loves and cherishes the fourth aunt, and has never taken a concubine. The second and fourth branches only have legitimate children, the family is united, and life is naturally peaceful and harmonious. But as for the eldest uncle, it's a complete mess!"

  Marquis Yongning was indeed reckless in his dealings with women. First, he had an affair with the daughter of a government official and got her pregnant, so she had to be welcomed into the household as a noble concubine. Then, he secretly married the leader of the courtesans as a secondary wife and had children with her. There were also several childless concubines and maidservants in the house, totaling around twenty people. The number of children born out of wedlock was even more than those born to his legitimate wife.

  Madam Hou, née Luo, couldn't hold onto her husband's heart, and she also had the temperament of a thousand gold big sister, neither willing to yield nor understanding how to be flexible. As a result, after more than 20 years of marriage, they ended up as strangers. Now, she was even forced to go to the Zhuangzi, if not for the sake of Princess Gui and the children's face, it would have been even more awkward.

  Husband and wife, father and son, mother and son, brothers, sisters, openly fighting and secretly scheming without end, more thrilling than a play on stage.

  Ming Xuan opened a pair of bright eyes and asked in a low voice, "So, Grandma's meaning is that the granddaughter should use any method to grasp her husband's heart firmly. If he respects me, values me, and loves me, will he naturally give me face?"

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