Chapter 683: and translation of chapter title

Upon hearing that it was Jiu Yue attending the Empress, Consort Rou and Princess Fuqing naturally did not dare to be negligent, and ordered the nanny to invite Jiu Yue into the side hall.

Jiu Yue adjusted the carved sandalwood box and walked in.

She brought two palace maids and knelt before Consort Rou and Princess Fuqing, kowtowing in salute.

"Servant pays respects to the Empress, and to the Princess."

"Please rise quickly, Jiu Yue, no need for excessive courtesy."

Princess Fuqing hurriedly stepped forward to help her up, and ordered someone to arrange a seat.

Jiu Yue knows her station; if she were not serving beside the Empress, she would be nothing.

She knows her own worth, and dare not sit; she merely took out the sandalwood box that Gu Jiu Ling had given her, holding it with both hands before Princess Fuqing, bowed and smiled, saying: "Your Highness, these are the portraits of various noble sons obtained by the Empress's order from the Bureau of Matrimony."

"The Empress said that eventually she would have Your Highness personally review them, pick the one you like, and I will then forward it to the Empress; soon she will grant you a marriage, and at that time your prince consort will be decided."

Princess Fuqing's smile stiffened slightly, a flash of surprise crossing her brows and eyes.

She understood that choosing a prince consort was urgent, yet a lingering feeling flickered through her heart.

The reason Princess Fuqing has survived in the Southern Qi Imperial Harem alongside her mother, without falling to the hands of Imperial Concubine Cao or Noble Consort Duan, is that

A large part of the reason is that he knows how to advance and retreat, and also understands his own status and position.

He, although now also considered a princess left over from the former dynasty of Southern Qi, is without support or reliance.

Consort Rou, moreover, was born a lowly palace maid, and does not even have a reliable natal family.

Now that the Empress has permitted her to leave the palace and establish a residence, and even bring along her mother, this is already the greatest favor.

Moreover, according to Southern Qi's rules, anyone who becomes a prince consort must not overly involve themselves in court affairs.

This is undoubtedly a dead end for those talented youths, so Princess Fuqing clearly knows her own position in selecting a prince consort, and dare not press for anything.

Unexpectedly, Gu Jiu Ling is so attentive to her affairs, personally helping her select a prince consort, and she cannot help but feel a warm flicker in her heart.

In return for the Empress's kindness, Princess Fuqing must also seriously undertake the selection; if she refused, she would be an ungrateful wretch.

Princess Fuqing took the box and turned to hand it to Consort Rou.

Consort Rou opened the box and took out a stack of portraits of various noble sons.

Consort Rou's face broke into a relieved smile; her Qing'er has grown up and reached the age to welcome a fine husband.

Thinking of this, she felt immense gratitude toward Gu Jiu Ling; without Gu Jiu Ling, her daughter, while Noble Consort Duan oversaw the harem, would likely have been seized for a political marriage.

The last time they almost exposed a flaw; if it weren't for her daughter cleverly drinking a medicine that made her whole body ache and break out in red bumps, they would have narrowly escaped disaster.

Consort Rou carefully examined those portraits in the box.

They dared not trim them, for that would make the appearance too outstanding.

She and Princess Fuqing share the same thought: their status is not high, yet they have undeservedly obtained the title of princess.

If they chose a son from a powerful clan, their own daughter, even if she became a princess and took a prince consort, would not last long.

Thus they did not overly demand outstanding looks, but only selected those who appeared honest and steadfast.

"Qing'er, Mother Consort thinks the eldest son of Official Li is not bad."

In the end, her gaze settled on a young man whose appearance was somewhat ordinary.

This young man's father, although also a capital official, ultimately holds a lower status than those in the court, so his family background is not distinguished.

A son from such a family, if he became a prince consort, would not be too overbearing toward their own daughter.

Her daughter differs from other former dynasty's princesses; her father died early, and although the Qianyuan Emperor and the Empress treat them kindly, after all, people's hearts are hidden.

Xiao Yin is merely their Ninth Imperial Uncle; if their family were to really stir up trouble, he might not necessarily be able to stand up for them.

Now, in choosing a prince consort for her daughter, she still believes the simpler and more honest, the better, as it is easier to control.

"Qing'er, what do you think of this Mr. Li?"

Princess Fuqing gave it a faint glance, neither praising nor criticizing.

She secretly sighed, finally showing a slight smile as she looked at her mother and said, "Mother Consort, please help me choose."

Consort Rou started slightly, seeing her daughter's somewhat bland expression, her heart skipped a beat—could it be that her daughter has someone in mind?

She also knows that if this child truly wanted something, she would certainly strive for it.

But now the Empress, asking if she has someone she favors, would directly grant her a marriage, yet she does not speak.

Now, seeing that she seems to have something on her mind, truly a girl growing up, a mother cannot fathom what she is thinking.

Perhaps sensing Consort Rou's surprise, Princess Fuqing quickly came to her senses, lightly grasping Consort Rou's hand and smiling, "My daughter also thinks this Mr. Li is not bad; he appears quite honest and steadfast."

"Then we will plead before the Empress to let him take an idle post in the Hanlin Academy, and our good days will soon arrive."

Princess Fuqing smiled as she planned her future; Consort Rou finally relaxed, hurriedly selected that portrait and sent it to Jiu Yue's hands, and Jiu Yue bowed to receive it.

"Please trouble Jiu Yue to convey a reply; this Mr. Li here is indeed a good choice."

"The noble sons of prestigious families all seek to make a name for themselves; if they became the princess's prince consort, they would likely not be able to advance further."

"It is said that the Li family's son lacks great talent in his studies."

"He has not passed the higher examinations for several years, and afterwards had no particular ambitions; now, if he were to become a prince consort and take a nominal post in the Hanlin Academy..."

"Mother Consort!" Princess Fuqing reminded, whereupon Consort Rou finally snapped out of her incessant chatter.

These matters could be discussed later with the Empress; how is it that everything has come out all at once now?

She, too, loves her daughter dearly, but pays little attention to her words; she moved her lips, unsure what to say to make amends.

Jiu Yue smiled understandingly and said, "Consort, the Princess's judgment is indeed sound; this Mr. Li truly is an outstanding talent among men."

"I will now return to the palace to report to the Empress; if there is any news, I will certainly come back to deliver it."

Consort Rou nodded; Jiu Yue took her leave and turned to go, but Princess Fuqing stepped forward, took a money pouch from the side, slipped it into Jiu Yue's hand, and smiled, "Let Jiu Yue have some tea money for this trip."

Jiu Yue looked at Princess Fuqing's dignified, pretty, beautiful face, and recalled the Empress's words. Shuwang website.

Some silver must be accepted; refusing it would instead create distance.

"Thank you, Consort, thank you, Your Highness," Jiu Yue said, bowing in a formal salute.

"Miss Jiu Yue," Princess Fu Qing lowered her voice and said, "Please trouble Miss Jiu Yue to ask Her Majesty the Empress one more question when you see her: just ask whether Young Master Li is willing; if he is not willing, there's no need to force it."

Miss Jiu Yue was stunned for a moment; does summoning the prince consort still need to care so much about the other party's opinion?

Princess Fu Qing is indeed a gentle and courteous person.