Zheng Xiao frowned and said, “But I have already made a marriage contract with Princess Shou’an. How can I break my word? Besides, Lu’er wants to marry Fulu.”

Duke Qiao said, “Why can’t you figure this out? You and Princess Shou’an only made a verbal engagement. Besides, Princess Shou’an doesn’t have the final say on whom Princess Fulu will marry because the Empress Dowager will definitely interfere.”

…

In the East Palace.

Qiao Jinniang tossed and turned at night and couldn’t sleep, feeling that something was going to happen.

The last time she had this feeling, she received a letter of divorce from “Lu Chen” the next day.

In the imperial palace, women were forbidden to sleep with their husbands when they were on their period.

Qiao Jinniang slept restlessly all night in this strange palace, had some bizarre dreams, and after waking up, she forgot them all.

Early the next morning, Yuyan hurried in and reported, “Your Highness, not good, the Empress Dowager issued a decree early this morning, ordering Princess Fulu to marry the second young master of the Xie family!”

Qiao Jinniang’s drowsiness was instantly gone. “How can this be? Isn’t Fulu the Empress Dowager’s favorite granddaughter? How could she be willing to use Fulu to win over the Xie family?”

“Come, help me wash up and dress up.”

Now that the decree had been issued, Fulu would soon enter the imperial palace to thank the Empress Dowager.

After being dressed up, Qiao Jinniang went to the Empress Dowager’s palace.

Halfway through the way, Yuyan hurried over again and handed a letter to Qiao Jinniang. “Your Highness, this is a letter from Madam. She asked you to read it as quickly as possible.”

Qiao Jinniang opened the envelope and quickly read the letter. She really underestimated Zhou Shihui. She could even persuade Duke Anyuan into agreeing to her marrying Qiao Lu!

…

In the Empress Dowager’s palace.

A mammy massaged the Empress Dowager on her temples and said gently, “Your Grace, why do you have to do this? Princess Fulu has always been filial to you. She is your only granddaughter, and you have always doted on her the most!”

Li Lingling glared at the mammy and said, “If Fulu is truly filial, she should try her best to relieve her grandmother’s worries, instead of going against her grandmother and insisting on marrying Qiao Lu.

“Fortunately, I learned the news quickly, so I came early in the morning. Otherwise, Qiao Lu and Fulu might have been engaged!”

The Empress Dowager said, “Alas… I will compensate Fulu greatly for this, but if she doesn’t marry the second young master of the Xie family, how can the Xie family be used by me? Besides, the Qiao family is on the Crown Prince’s side, how can I allow Fulu to marry the Qiao family’s son!”

A eunuch recited loudly outside. “Princess Shou’an and Princess Fulu County arrived.”

When Fulu and her mother entered, Qiao Jinniang came too.

After Fulu saluted, she walked up to the Empress Dowager, held the Empress Dowager’s arm and said, “Grandma, please recall your order! You always treat me the best, don’t you?”

The Empress Dowager said, “Yes, so I have chosen a good husband for you. The Xie family is the head of the old distinguished families in our country and is extremely powerful in the South. If you marry into the Xie family, it’s the best choice for you!”

“Grandma, I’m already engaged!” Fulu said imploringly, “I will only marry the man I love.”

The Empress Dowager glanced at Qiao Jinniang and said, “Young Master Qiao is the younger brother of the Crown Princess, and I know he is a very excellent young man, but he is younger than you. Besides, please don’t mind it, Crown Princess, Qiao Lu’s parents are laughed at by everyone in Chang’an. It will be a better choice for you to marry into the Xie family.”

Qiao Jinniang smiled and said, “How dare I mind it? It’s true that my parents are laughed at by the people in Chang’an and my brother is indeed not worthy of Princess Fulu!”

Fulu glared at Qiao Jinniang. What do you mean? Do you still take me as your friend?!

Qiao Jinniang said, “Consort Huai, you entered the imperial palace so early today? I’m afraid you were waiting outside the imperial palace before dawn, right?”

Li Lingling frowned and said, “What do you mean, Crown Princess? Can’t I enter the imperial palace to visit my grandmother?”

Qiao Jinniang said, “Of course you can, but my mother and Princess Shou’an have just agreed to the engagement yesterday, and Her Grace has learned about it today. I’m afraid you told her this news, right?”

Li Lingling frowned again, “Yes, but so what?”

Fulu always went against her, so why not give Fulu a hard time?

Fulu glared at Li Lingling fiercely. It’s all her fault!

Qiao Jinniang smiled and said, “Actually, if Consort Huai hadn’t come to tell Her Grace about this news and asked Her Grace to marry Princess Fulu into the Xie family, I would still be troubled.

“Do you know that after my mother and Princess Shou’an agreed to the engagement yesterday, Miss Zhou Shihui of the Duke Wu Mansion, the daughter of Her Majesty’s elder sister, came to me, saying that she wanted to marry my younger brother and would never marry any man else except for my brother. I had been worried that I might offend the Duke Wu Mansion. Now the problem is solved, and Zhou Shihui can marry my brother.”

Fulu was originally angry at Qiao Jinniang, but then she realized that Qiao Jinniang was not such a person. Besides, she saw how rude Zhou Shihui was to Qiao Jinniang when she was trying to defend Tong Yingying that day.

How was it possible for Qiao Jinniang to speak for her?

Princess Shou’an immediately figured it out. Yesterday, it was obvious that the Duke Wu Mansion proposed marriage first, and Qiao Jinniang must have a purpose in reversing the order.

Qiao Jinniang smiled. “I told Zhou Shihui yesterday that my brother and Princess Fulu were in love with each other.

“But she confidently said that she had a way to get Princess Shou’an to break off the engagement. It turned out that she did this through Consort Huai.

“Otherwise, with the Qiao family having not even started the engagement procedures yet, how could Consort Huai know about this news?”

The Empress Dowager looked at Li Lingling angrily. “Who passed this news to you?”

Li Lingling said nervously, “I, I’m going to check it out!”

After about a quarter of an hour, Li Lingling came back, and said that the one who spread the news was indeed a maid of the Duke Wu Mansion.

After Qiao Jinniang heard the answer, she sighed and said, “Although I won’t offend Her Majesty and the Duke Wu Mansion now, it’s a pity that a couple of lovers will be separated. Zhou Shihui used such a dirty means to steal my brother from Princess Fulu. My brother is going to marry such a scheming woman, alas!

“Fortunately, I heard that Zhou Shihui looks very similar to the deceased Imperial Concubine Zhou of the late emperor, the most beautiful woman in the world!”

The Empress Dowager angrily smashed her teacup to the ground. “The most beautiful woman in the world?! How can that b*tch be worthy of this title?!”

Everyone knelt down in fright.

Qiao Jinniang also knelt down and said, “In my eyes, Your Grace is the most beautiful woman in the world, but the commoners all call her that. Please don’t be angry, Your Grace!”

The Empress Dowager was furious. “How can I let Zhou Shihui snatch the man my granddaughter loves from her? Bring my decree over! The little b*tch of the Zhou family wants to steal Fulu’s fiance? In her dreams!”

Fulu quickly presented the decree.

The Empress Dowager’s decree was issued too hurriedly and even the Ministry of Rites didn’t know about it, so it could be recalled easily.

The Empress Dowager changed the “second young master of the Xie family” on the decree to the “heir to Duke Anyuan”.

Imperial Concubine Zhou of the late emperor stole the favor of the late emperor from her, and Queen Zhou stole the favor of the present emperor from her niece.

And now, Zhou Shihui, this little slut, dared to make use of Li Lingling, intending to steal her granddaughter’s fiance! How could she let her?!

…

In the Duke Wu Mansion.

Zhou Shihui was relieved to hear the news that her maid had inquired. Auntie was right. The Empress Dowager would not let Princess Fulu marry her senior brother!