The Legend of the Concubine in the Harem

At this time in Dasheng, except for those particularly conservative and outdated families, the parents of both brides and grooms were actually very open-minded when discussing marriage.

There is no saying that a girl who actively pursues love will ruin the reputation of her sisters. The upbringing of a good family has never been solely based on whether a girl dares to face her own emotions.

The process of getting to know each other and falling in love was not completely bound by ethics and morals, and every year at lantern festivals of all sizes or outings, young boys and girls would develop feelings for each other, and then create a beautiful story - yes, a beautiful story, instead of the shameful act of some dynasties where a girl would be driven to death if she was looked at by a foreign man, and would be criticized as shameless, dissolute and restless.

The more prosperous the world is, the less likely it will actively restrict the positive joy and love born out of human nature.

Xie Yuzhen looked at the slightly out-of-control Concubine Deng and knew that she was not panicked at all. Although she seemed anxious to dismiss Cheng's inconsiderate remarks as drunken nonsense, she was actually using her sister-in-law's misbehavior to express her helplessness while once again probing Jun Yuexin and her daughter.

The Jun family looked down on the Duke's Mansion so much that they were going to refuse the marriage proposal without giving any clear reasons in front of her, the Fourth Lady?

Faced with Concubine Deng's behavior, Xie Yuzhen finally breathed a sigh of relief - although it was not obvious, it was indeed as Concubine Song Shu said, Concubine Deng was beginning to get a little impatient.

In the past, Concubine Deng had always been a good helper to the Queen, a good sister to Concubine Li, and someone who was quiet and did practical things silently in the harem. She would never do something that seemed to be forced.

Thinking of this, Xie Yuzhen couldn't help but look at the queen.

The Queen's health seemed to have improved a lot with the help of Concubine Xu's medicine. Her originally shaky life flame was rekindled. How could Concubine Deng, who had always been law-abiding and just waiting for the Queen to die so that she could take over the position of Queen smoothly with the advantage of her son being older and healthier, not be nervous?

But after all, she had endured in the harem for many years, and had always been a big black hand who killed people in secret. Even though she was nervous because the Queen's condition was beyond her expectations, she was not really that nervous. At least if Xie Yu really didn't know that Concubine Deng was the person hiding behind the scenes, and was always on guard, he would never notice that there was anything unusual in her behavior today.

Gently waving his Luo fan, Xie Yuzhen exchanged a glance with his good friend.

Jun Yuexin instantly understood the hidden discord between her and the virtuous concubine - although she didn't understand why, as she had told Xie Yuzhen before, they were willing to help her no matter what.

My family really doesn't want to marry into the Duke of England's family. It's not because of anything else, but because my whole family has so many relatives and they can't get along with the complicated and powerful families. Moreover, it's because of some of the little thoughts of my unpromising brother...

After secretly showing disdain for her brother, Jun Yuexin stood up and said, "I dare to ask your majesty and madam to forgive me, and my mother to forgive me..."

When Mrs. Ye saw her daughter suddenly stand up, her heart skipped a beat.

The pair of children he gave birth to had no tacit understanding between twins since childhood, and their personalities were completely different. The only thing they had in common was that they would never hold back when it came to tricking each other, but on major issues, they could use completely different ideas to achieve exactly the same results they wanted.

"There are some things that my mother is reluctant to say, but I have always been a shameless person. Now, the matter involves the Duke's Mansion, and I don't want my mother to be misunderstood. Although I feel a little sorry for my brother, I have to say it." Jun Yuexin said, sighing heavily.

It aroused everyone's curiosity.

The tall woman dressed in Hu clothing frowned with a pair of sword-like eyebrows, as if it was difficult to say what she was about to say: "My elder brother... has a relationship with Long Yang!"

The scene fell silent for a moment.

Then the ladies began to cough continuously.

Even Xie Yuzhen lost the ability to control his expression in an instant and looked at Jun Yuexin in surprise.

Jun Yuexin looked distressed: "I shouldn't have said this, but my brother has already made it clear to his family that he cannot accept being with a woman, and he is even more unwilling to ruin the rest of an innocent woman's life for the sake of fame, so..."

"Yes." Madam Ye, whose pupils were trembling with shock, gritted her teeth and accepted her daughter's words. However, her hands hidden in her sleeves were itching badly. She recited the Heart Sutra several times in her mind before temporarily suppressing the urge to beat the child. "The Duke of Ying's mansion is so kind, and I shouldn't have refused several times. I really don't want to harm a girl from a good family..."

"Is that really the case?" Xie Yuzhen quickly picked up the fallen paper and looked at Concubine Deng and her sister-in-law in disbelief. "Concubine Xian, Madam Crown Prince, this matter is really... Alas, please, for the sake of this concubine, please don't, don't blame me."

As she spoke, she stood up and bowed to apologize.

This made Cheng's previous questions seem even more aggressive.

How could Concubine Deng ask Xie Yuzhen to bow down?

He immediately stepped forward and held Xie Yuzhen's hands, saying earnestly, "This is the fault of the Duke of Ying. Sister, please don't be so polite."

After saying that, he turned to Jun Yuexin and her daughter and said, "Please don't blame us for being presumptuous."

She also wanted to put on a show and bow to Madam Ye, but she just couldn't do it. Concubine Deng couldn't help but look at Xie Yuzhen who was also holding her hands, and was secretly surprised at how this woman could be so strong.

"Alright, alright, now that we've talked it out, it's all good." Empress Dowager Hu watched the fun happily for a while, and finally was willing to speak up to calm things down. "Both families are good children, but it was just a mistake. Concubine Xian, when your sister reaches the age, why don't you bring her to the Cining Palace and ask me to meet her? I will personally find her a good match, what do you think?"

Concubine Deng was delighted and thanked her, saying, "Then I will thank the Empress Dowager for her grace on behalf of my sister."

This time, Xie Wei really didn't force her to stay.

After saying that, Empress Dowager Hu looked at Madam Ye again: "Although your boy has gone a little astray, it is clear that his nature is not bad. Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. Lianxin, don't worry too much."

"Yes, I understand." Madam Ye also thanked her and sat down.

The turmoil was resolved by Empress Dowager Hu with just a few words. Mrs. Cheng, the wife of the Prince of England, was naturally sent away to "sober up". The people who stayed at the banquet were still immersed in the big news about the Jun family. They had no intention of talking about other things, but it was not appropriate to gossip about others in front of them, so the scene became somewhat quiet.

However, the noble lady who could sit here was rarely not active in her thoughts. After a few breaths, she started talking enthusiastically about the latest popular topics in Kyoto again.

The emperor just sat there, feeling bored, so he got up and left, making the excuse of seeing his daughter.

Seeing this, Xie Yuzhen also found an excuse to follow.

As expected, the emperor was waiting for her behind a rockery: "Xianming, you said earlier that your elder brother is of the right age... I thought it was a joke?"

Skillful.

The elder brothers of the good neighbors, Xie Jiajun and his family, are both unmarried at an advanced age. With Xie Yuzhen's joke in front and Jun Yuexin's confession of being a homosexual, the emperor, who always prides himself on having seen a lot of ups and downs, couldn't help but become curious.

Seeing that the emperor did not think of another worse direction, Xie Yuzhen lifted her skirt and walked over briskly: "I don't know much about the general, but my elder brother just has some Buddhist and Taoist affinity. Your Majesty is also very mischievous. How can you make up my elder brother like this?"