If I were born again, I would marry a strong but short-lived husband.

Empress Qu and Imperial Concubine Yao lived in harmony, without the rivalry they had in the past. This actually reduced the fun of the female guests present to watch the show.

"I heard that it was Princess Yongning who begged the Emperor, and the Empress finally released her from house arrest."

"Princess Yongning is the emperor's eldest princess and the most favored one. Moreover, her husband died in battle. The emperor must pity her."

"Perhaps because of Princess Yongning, there will be changes in the harem."

"Whether the situation changes or not is none of our business. If you say such things in the palace, you may be overheard." Someone warned them.

The discussions finally quieted down.

Shen Suian took a sip of fruit wine. If the queen could remain calm like she is now and not force the emperor to give her things he doesn't want to give, she would still be the empress dowager in the future.

She does not have the ability to change the course of history, but being able to fight for the current result for the Qu family is already the best outcome.

If the Qu family had someone who could change their fate, they might be able to compete with an emperor's decision.

But the Qu family doesn’t have that.

At least the Qu family today cannot defeat the Yao family.

"Third Aunt, I can't hold my liquor very well. Let me go over there to get rid of the alcohol." Shen Sui'an turned his head and whispered to Ruan.

"Okay, be careful." Ruan nodded.

There are many people in the palace today, so they can only bring one maid into the palace. No matter what they do, they must be cautious.

Shen Suian came to see Yongning. The palace maid who came to pass the message to her held in her hand the jade pendant that she had given to Qu Qingli, on which there were words carved by her herself.

She didn't understand what Yongning meant.

Shufang Pavilion is some distance away from the Imperial Garden and away from the crowd, appearing elegant and quiet.

And because the terrain is high, anyone approaching can be seen clearly from the pavilion.

Princess Yongning was making tea in the pavilion.

"Please take a seat, Madam Lu." Yongning gestured with a smile.

Shen Sui'an sat down opposite her and looked at her calmly.

"Li'er said that you are her most trusted friend and you are like sisters." Princess Yongning said.

"We grew up together since childhood," said Shen Sui'an.

Princess Yongning smiled and said, "Did you suggest that the Qu family tell the emperor that they want to return to Annan and stay away from Shangjing City?"

Shen Sui'an was startled when he heard this, and chuckled, "How can I be so worthy as to decide whether a big family stays or goes."

"But you are convinced in your heart that the Qu family will be defeated in the future. What did you say to my grandmother? Do you think I don't know?" Yongning said.

If I knew, I wouldn't have tried to test her.

"Your Highness, I really don't know what you are talking about." Shen Sui'an said.

"I have checked. The Pacification Division arrested the thief in the Qu family. You happened to be there at the time. He was not just a petty thief, but a spy who collaborated with the enemy and committed treason." Yongning said softly.

She stared into Shen Sui'an's eyes, "My uncle is still ignorant of life and death. He said that person is a relative in front of so many people."

"For the Qu family, this is evidence of the extermination of the entire clan. A bystander can see things more clearly. You are using this to persuade my grandmother, right?"

"Did Concubine Yao ask you to do this?"

"I wonder if my late grandfather would regret knowing that he deliberately made several uncles useless, which made the Qu family easy to be exploited."

Old Master Qu's original intention of raising his son to be useless was actually right.

Both the Empress Dowager and the Queen are from the Qu family. If the Qu family becomes too powerful, it will be a threat to the emperor.

It would be a different story if the emperor was Qu’s nephew.

The emperor is not the empress dowager's biological son.

"Your Highness, why don't you just say what you want to say?" Shen Sui'an said calmly.

"Since you are good friends with Li'er, you should not rely on Concubine Yao anymore. Aren't you afraid that Concubine Yao will settle accounts with you in the future?" Yongning said.

Shen Sui'an: "Princess, you misunderstood. I have never relied on anyone."

Yongning: "You are a smart person, you should know what I am talking about."

"I also thought the princess was a smart person." Shen Sui'an replied.

Today, seeing the Queen and Imperial Concubine Yao coexisting peacefully, I thought that the Queen was persuaded by Princess Yongning and finally stopped competing with Imperial Concubine Yao.

Unexpectedly, it turned out that the mother and daughter were planning a bigger plan.

"Isn't it good for the Qu family to live a stable life in Annan now? If the princess insists on turning the tide on her own, she should know that it would be difficult to do so even if the Qu family tried their best." Shen Sui'an said in a low voice.

"The Qu family is indeed lacking in ability, but I have my own way," said Yongning.

As long as my grandmother is willing to come out and call for help, those noble families that once depended on the Qu family would definitely be willing to join them.

Shen Sui'an looked at Yongning with a clear gaze, "I remember the last time I saw the princess, she didn't seem to have such ambitions."

"Yes, I have no ambition anymore. I just want to spend the rest of my life with my mother in the capital. But some people still won't let me go and want to use me as a marriage partner." Yongning smiled sarcastically.

"Going to Xijiang for a marriage alliance is a place where people are eaten without leaving any bones."

"If others don't let us go, we will die anyway, so we might as well fight to the death, otherwise our death will be too pathetic."

Shen Sui'an was slightly startled, "Marriage? Princesses of our dynasty never marry..."

"Yeah, just because it happens never doesn't mean it won't happen." Yongning sneered.

"Princess, you should believe in the emperor. He will not send you to marry easily. No matter who instigates it, the final decision is made by the emperor." Shen Suian stood up.

"Ambition cannot be achieved by just working hard. At least we should face the reality clearly."

"I've been out for too long. I should go back." Shen Suian bowed.

Why should Yongning drag her down with him in his desperate attempt to fight for his future?

Making her gamble her life for other people's ambitions?

What a joke!

Shen Suian quickened his pace. Someone in the Qu family must have been bribed by Yongning, but he didn't know much, and he didn't know who stole Qu Qingli's hairpin.

I thought she could change the fate of the Qu family, but I didn't expect Yongning to suddenly do this.

When I returned to the banquet, I suddenly found that the atmosphere was a little strange.

Queen Qu's face was livid, she pursed her lips and said nothing. Imperial Concubine Yao also had a sullen expression, and there seemed to be anger in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Shen Sui'an asked Ruan beside him in a low voice.

"The news from the front hall is that that little bastard He Jingyao proposed a marriage alliance between the two countries." Ruan said coldly.

Shen Sui'an was stunned, "What?"

There are still two princesses who are not married yet, but the oldest is only twelve years old, and the youngest is only nine years old.

The Emperor of the Southern Dynasty...Isn’t that Lu Yuan’s father?

Imperial Concubine Yao put down her chopsticks and said, "Why are you crying, Queen? Princesses of our dynasty are never allowed to be approached. It's not that the envoys from the Southern Dynasty have to follow whatever they say."

Queen Qu wiped away the tears on her face and said, "I didn't cry."

"Today is the Emperor's birthday, so just be happy and celebrate the Emperor's birthday." said Concubine Yao.

The envoys from the Southern Dynasty deliberately caused trouble on this day because of the incident in Tianhe City.

Shen Sui'an and Ruan looked at each other.

They had not heard about the marriage between the two countries.

Ruan lowered her voice and said, "It's probably He Jingyao who brought it up on purpose."