Harem Daily Life

Chapter 1094 Friendship is not the key

After the people from the Prince Yong's residence had left, Kang Pingzhi said, "Such a large Prince Yong's residence, yet you live in such a small courtyard? And you've been living here for more than ten years?"

Seeing the displeasure on his face, He Yanran took his arm and comforted him, "What's the point of a big house if it's empty? It's better to have something small and exquisite. I'm quite comfortable living here by myself. But now that Your Highness is here, it's really unfair for Your Highness to live here alone, with you being so tall."

Kang Pingzhi smiled and said, "It's not that I'm wronged. I used to stay in the smallest houses when I accompanied my father on diplomatic missions. Don't always think of me as something precious. I'm not a hothouse flower."

He Yanran smiled and personally led him to offer three sticks of incense to his deceased mother.

"Your Highness must have heard about my birth mother. She was a princess of the Yan Kingdom who came to the Great Zhou Kingdom for a political marriage. Later, she married my father as a secondary wife. But she... well, the Yan Kingdom was destroyed, and she passed away many years ago. Let's not talk about these past events anymore."

Seeing the sorrow on her face, Kang Pingzhi comforted her, "Don't worry, I will take good care of you and love you in place of your birth mother. I will never let you suffer from wind and rain again." Kang Pingzhi actually knew from her residence that although He Yanran was a princess, she probably did not receive much attention in the Yong Prince's Mansion. Otherwise, how could she have been taken back to the palace by the Empress Dowager, and even her marriage was arranged by the Emperor and Empress herself?

The Prince Yong's mansion didn't treat her like one of their own at all.

"Actually, my father treated me well, just not as intimately as His Majesty treated my sister, Yunuo. Princess Yong is a lady from a prominent family. Although she is aloof, she would never use any underhanded tricks to torment me. Overall, I, an orphan who lost my birth mother, did not have a bad life for the first ten years or so."

Kang Pingzhi patted her head. Although that's what she said, Kang Pingzhi couldn't help but feel sorry for her. His protective instincts towards He Yanran intensified, and he silently made up his mind to make her the happiest and most carefree woman in the world.

He Xuan, He Yue, and He Min are all married. Upon learning that He Yanran has returned to the capital, they immediately sent her an invitation to visit their homes and reminisce. Today she goes to the Changyong Earl's residence, tomorrow to the Fan family, and the day after tomorrow to the Third Princess's residence. Several other uncles and aunts also vied to invite her, and her schedule was packed.

After leaving the Prince Yu's residence, Princess Yu personally escorted He Yanran to her carriage before returning home, a level of courtesy she had never received before.

On the carriage, He Yanran recalled the scene when she first stepped into the Yu Prince's mansion: "Your Highness, do you know that when I came to the Yu Prince's mansion as a guest with the Princess Consort of Yong, all of the Yu Prince's sisters had seats, but I didn't. I just stood there and listened to them talk and laugh."

Kang Pingzhi's eyes turned cold: "Then why did you come today? If you had told us these things earlier, we wouldn't have needed to come to your residence today."

He Yanran smiled and said, "Why wouldn't I come? I'm going to come in style so that they can see that the person who ignored me back then is now the one they have to fawn over."

Kang Pingzhi took her hand: "You, just how much suffering did you endure all those years?"

He Yanran didn't reply, her thoughts drifting into memories. It wasn't that bad, really; she was just a nobody nobody paid any attention to.

During the New Year's banquet, everyone dressed in their finest clothes and rode in carriages to enter the palace. The Xia Kingdom delegation also had to undergo strict checks before attending the banquet. By the time everyone had entered the main hall and taken their seats, the banquet was almost over.

This year, the number of attendees at the banquet was particularly large. Families with unmarried sons and daughters went to great lengths to ensure their children had ample opportunity to appear before the Emperor and Empress at the palace banquet. He Yinuo wanted to sit with He Yanran, but Tao Yanyan stopped her, telling her to sit obediently on the side of the imperial concubines.

He Yanran is now representing the Xia Kingdom, and proper etiquette cannot be disregarded.

Bored out of her mind, He Yinuo could only bury herself in her food with He Xiaobao and He Xiaoliu beside her.

In previous years, Consort Xian would have needed to arrange some entertainment, but this year she didn't need to arrange anything, because each family would send their talented sons and daughters to perform. These were all young people whom their families had invested heavily in training, and they were proficient in poetry, songs, playing musical instruments, singing, dancing, painting, and more.

Looking at the daughters of various families vying for attention, Consort Xu nudged Consort Shu beside her and said, "Doesn't this remind you of the days when families used every trick in the book to send their daughters to the palace?"

The niece of the Zhou family, the family of Consort Shu, was also among the performers. She said somewhat awkwardly, "It's all for the sake of the family. I just don't know if His Highness the Crown Prince and the Fifth Princess have anyone they fancy."

Consort Xu glanced at the Fifth Princess, who was only interested in food, and then at the Crown Prince, whose expression was as cold as His Majesty's. She raised an eyebrow and said, "This year, I'm afraid we'll be working for nothing. Perhaps a couple more years will be the right time." They haven't even figured it out yet, what's the rush?

Consort Shu took a sip of tea, glanced at the Duan family's seats, then at the two young ladies beside Madam Duan, and said softly, "If your Xu family wants to come out on top, don't be so laid-back. Didn't you see the Empress frequently glancing at those two young ladies from the Duan family?"

Following her words, Consort Xu looked towards the Duan family and narrowed her eyes: "You mean... the Empress is interested in the Duan family's daughter?"

Consort Shu smiled and said, "I didn't say that; it was just a guess."

Consort Xu carefully examined the two daughters of the Duan family. The older one was dignified and beautiful, while the younger one was delicate and lovely. Their ages were also quite suitable for the Crown Prince.

“But the Duan family is Princess Yu’s maternal family. I’ve never heard of the Empress and Princess Yu being on good terms.” Consort Xu asked, puzzled. “The one from the Zhao family is Princess Jing’s cousin. I’ve seen her a few times when she accompanied Princess Jing to the palace to pay her respects to the Empress. Princess Jing and the Empress have a special relationship.”

Consort Shu glanced at Princess Jing, who was not far away. At banquets of yesteryear, Princess Jing had always been the most charming and sociable, but now she was increasingly silent. It seemed the rumors were true; Princess Jing's relationship with Prince Jing had broken down, causing her to become melancholy.

Consort Shu shook her head: "Just because you have a good relationship doesn't mean you have to become in-laws. Princess Xinlan of General Gu's mansion has an even deeper relationship with Her Majesty the Empress. They are both cousins ​​and paternal relatives, but you see, her daughter has never been considered by the Empress as a candidate for Crown Princess. It can be seen that whether you have a good relationship or not is not the key."

Consort Xu nodded as if she understood, "Choosing the Duan family doesn't seem to be Her Majesty the Empress's intention at all."

Consort Shu pondered for a moment, then suddenly had a sudden thought: Could it be... that His Majesty favors the Duan family, not the Empress?

He Linzhang truly believed that the Duan family's daughter was the perfect candidate for Crown Princess.

The Duan family has a deep-rooted history, having served as high-ranking officials for three dynasties. General Duan is highly respected, and his second son enjoys great prestige in the military. Now, the second son has entered the Ministry of War as Minister, with a promising future ahead. Princess Yu is also from the Duan family; when the Crown Prince ascends the throne, the military and some of Prince Yu's factions will inevitably follow him.

Although marrying into the Gu family would be the best option, Tao Yanyan refused to let her cousins ​​marry, so as a second choice, the best option was the Duan family.