"Grandmother, could we...could we perhaps postpone the wedding?"

The Empress knew this was a difficult situation for him, but there was no other way. Life has its ups and downs.

"I can promise you that. Saiqi is not very old yet. Let her stay in the palace for two years and let the grandmothers teach her proper etiquette. What do you think?"

Tang Yan nodded, there were still two years of time, which also meant two years of opportunity. "Good."

Shortly after Tang Yan left, Emperor Chengde arrived.

The Chengde Emperor looked at his mother. She was truly old. No matter how much he used tonics and ginseng, or how skilled the imperial physician Fu Jiujing was, aging and death were things no one could escape.

"Mother, your son is all grown up now. You don't have to worry about him anymore."

The Empress Dowager smiled, "As an old woman, I can live for a few more years. I'll take care of this matter for you, and you can rest assured. I will do it better than you. If they blame anyone, blame me, the foolish old woman, it won't affect your reputation as a wise ruler."

A glimmer of his enthronement flashed before Emperor Chengde's eyes, when he had to ask his mother for advice on everything. She assisted him little by little, and he gained the courage he has today.

"The Deng family won't be quiet, they're bound to go stir up trouble at Yan'er's place today."

"There's no helping it. If not for Li Chao's face, I would have brought down the Deng family for that girl's actions! " The Chengde Emperor was also furious.

But what could be said, it was blown out of proportion. They lost face so badly that Li Chao ended up going to Xilin.

The Deng family has always been muddle-headed, and Yan'er's mother is just like that. With a few instigations, she starts thinking about vying for the position of empress dowager. She doesn't even consider if she's qualified for it.

"Mother, my son plans to support Saiqiya's half-brother as the new king of Xilin. This An Du will inevitably have to die."

"I guessed it, Xilin having a young king would be easier to handle. He wouldn't pose a threat in the short term. If he governs well, he might even become a smooth-running vassal state for our Li Dynasty in the future. The Eighth Prince sacrificed a lot; you should compensate him properly."

"Yes, my son has already thought about it. Peace... I'm not going to marry outside the family."

"Well, Empress Shu and her son have done a lot for you and the Liang Dynasty. Treat people well. The departed are gone."

"Got it."

……

The Deng family had the most hope in Tang Yan, but this time, Tang Yan chose not to help them.

The next day, when Old Madam Deng was still trying to persuade the Jin Wangfu with reason and emotion, the Jin Wangfu directly closed its doors to guests.

Old Madam Deng knew that Tang Yan didn't want to help her and it must have been Bai Ruozhang's idea. She was furious and scolded him loudly at the door.

Even if you scold it, that vermilion door still refuses to open.

For three consecutive days, Tang Yan had been quiet. The Deng family was still running around, trying to find someone to plead for them.

But to say whether Deng Wan'ying was innocent or not is difficult to determine. Even if she were truly pure and spotless, who would dare defy the Empress Dowager's decree and marry into the Deng family at this time?

The Deng family was rejected many times in a row.

Finally, Deng Wanying made up her mind.

At the entrance of the county princess's mansion, Deng Wan'er kept kowtowing. Passersby who saw this commotion stopped to watch, and soon a large crowd gathered.

"Miss Deng, what do you mean by this?" Lin Wei said with a stern face.

"Please, County Princess, spare me. I was wrong. I will never again like the Crown Prince of Jincheng. I beg you to show mercy and not force me to marry into Xilin."

Lin Wei frowned, "You marrying into Xilin was the Empress Dowager's decree. What does it have to do with my county princess?"

"Please, forgive me, County Lord," Deng Wan'ying said, her head bowing heavily against the stone slab. Blood soon welled up on her forehead.

What happens inside the palace, ordinary people wouldn't know. Even among officials, those who aren't high-ranking enough wouldn't be aware.

"Oh, how pitiful! How could you drive someone to this?"

"Yes, looking at her, she seems like such a fragile girl, just because she likes King Jin, she was made difficult by the King's wife?"

"Goodness me, she's not even married yet! If she were, there wouldn't be room for any other women!"

.

Lin Weiyue became increasingly angry and turned to enter the yard.

When Fu Baiwan heard Lin Wei and Fu Jiujiao report the matter, upon hearing that someone had slandered his little daughter, he picked up a broom and went to beat them up.

Tian Guihua was also unhappy, but she knew that hitting someone was definitely not okay. It wouldn't be right to give people a handle on her, would it?

"Bah, how can she be so shameless? Deng Wan'er is truly the most shameless woman I've ever met? She herself is messing around with others, and now she's blaming Jioujiou. I'm going to deal with her."

Fuju knew that Athos wasn't her opponent, "Well, I'll go then."

Fu Jiujiu stretched and yawned, "Niàn Xià, please keep an eye on the sweet potatoes in the oven. Don't burn them."

"Understood, Lady!"

Fu Jiujiu wanted to go out, Fu Baiman and Tian Guihua naturally followed. At a critical moment, they could also support the little girl.

The moment the wooden door opened, Deng Wanying's head hit harder.

Fu Jiujiu saw this scene, impatiently frowned, "Miss Deng, are you going to break your neck at the gate of my county princess's mansion?"

Deng Wanying raised her head, looking frail and helpless. "Princess, I was wrong. I shouldn't have liked King Jin since I was young, and I shouldn't have thought about becoming his woman. I won't dare again, please forgive me, don't let me marry to Xilin, away from my family."

"You little rascal, to say such things in broad daylight! Shame on you!" Fu Baiwan glared at the crowd of people who were buzzing with speculation and gossip, his anger reaching its peak.

"When did my little Chirp ever force you to do anything? It was the Empress Dowager who arranged for you to marry into Xilin, what does my little Chirp have to do with it?"

"Just, how can you, a child, speak such blatant lies with your eyes open?" Tian Guihua said.

"You don't understand, Miss Jun knows. Miss Jun, I won't fight with you for the King of Jincheng anymore. Please let me stay by my parents' side and serve them." Deng Wan'er wept bitterly, her words filled with anguish.

"Fu Jiujiu actually laughed. "You want to compete with me for the title of King Jin? Hehehe... You're mistaken, aren't you?"

First, a contest is only genuine if we're both on equal footing, with roughly the same chance of winning. Has the King you favored since childhood ever shown you even a sliver of affection?

To my knowledge, this County Lord set her sights on me when she was just three years old. Do you think you can compete with me?

Fujujijiu's words undoubtedly provoked anger once again, as people felt she was too arrogant.

Fu Jiujiu sneered, "As for marrying into Xilin, this is the grace of Empress Dowager. If your Deng family doesn't appreciate it, that's fine, but why are you acting like this? Don't you think the Empress Dowager made a mistake in choosing a match?"

"I... I haven't. I know, Your Highness is always in the favor of Her Majesty the Empress. She listens to everything you say."

That is to say, the marriage was also blown by Fu Jiujiu.

Fu Jiaojiao shook her head, Deng Wan'er, this is what you forced me to do.

Then, she showed no mercy and went all out.

I've been working hard these past few days, writing and getting ahead on my backlog.

This novel is first published at www.ftxs.net