GBP Chapter 215 Congratulations
Chapter 215 Congratulations
It's understandable to exchange a princess for a concubine's daughter, but how can you exchange a concubine's daughter for a prince!
Xiao Chengyan narrowed his eyes meaningfully and said,
"Mother, don't forget, with the Empress's methods, every prince she gave birth to has died young, not to mention the unborn male fetuses..."
These words reminded Lady Xing that the current Empress was jealous. In all these years, no princes had been born in the vast harem except for the Crown Prince, who was born to the Empress. This was also the reason why the Crown Prince, despite his violent temper, was still able to remain in his position.
When Xiao Caiwei entered the palace, she was made a concubine and became pregnant. The Xiao family was overjoyed for her, but they were also worried about whether the child would be born safely.
She vividly remembers the casual conversations she had with the third and fourth wives, where they said that if she was carrying a boy, she might not be able to save the baby, but if it was a girl, she might be able to survive.
She remembered clearly that while they were chatting idly in the inner courtyard, the eldest son of the Xiao family had just returned from visiting his sister in the palace, and she had even asked him about the situation out of curiosity.
The eldest son of the Xiao family let out a sigh of relief.
"His Majesty specially invited the imperial physician to take the baby's pulse and said it was a girl. That's not bad, at least the baby can be born safely."
Xiao Zhiheng knew that the current empress was jealous. If his sister gave birth to a prince, the wealth and honor would be short-lived and might even lead to death. It would be better to have a girl, which would be safer.
In a short time, the news spread throughout the palace, and the Empress, upon learning of it, abandoned her plan to punish Consort Xiande.
After ten months of pregnancy, Consort Xiande gave birth to a baby girl, who is now Princess Yonglin.
If it were truly to save the prince's life, replacing a boy with a girl would be possible.
Madam Xing frowned deeply, comparing Xiao Zhijie's and Xiao Caiwei's faces together.
They do actually look somewhat alike!
The Xiao family used to often mention that Xiao Zhijie looked like his aunt, but now that they see him, they're clearly mother and son, not aunt and niece!
Madam Xing clenched her fists, her face contorted in pain.
"If Xiao Zhijie is really a prince, wouldn't that old woman dote on him? If that's the case, wouldn't the entire Xiao family be left to the second branch in the future? Wouldn't our eldest branch have worked for nothing?"
Xiao Chengyan also sat at the table, sighing deeply, feeling very anxious.
Madam Xing screamed, her visionary eyes wide open.
"Expose him! Expose him! I don't believe the Empress will let him off! That bitch Xiao Caiwei is too audacious to pull this trick of switching the prince with a cat. If this gets out, they will surely die without a burial place."
Xiao Zhijie quickly stepped forward and covered his mother's mouth, lowering his voice to say,
"Mother, don't talk nonsense! If this matter really gets out, it's a crime of deceiving the emperor, and our Xiao family will probably be executed! You and I won't be able to escape responsibility either!"
If Xiao Zhijie continues to live in the Xiao family like this, then Old Madam Xiao will naturally support him. If Xiao Zhijie's identity is revealed in the future, and if things go well and the past is not investigated, then Xiao Zhijie can smoothly become a prince. If things go badly, then it will be a crime of deceiving the emperor, and the entire Xiao family will be buried with him.
Xiao Chengyan suddenly felt that Xiao Zhijie was like a time bomb in the Xiao family. They, the eldest branch of the family, would not get any benefits, but the Xiao family would have to share the burden of the harm.
But he also knew very well that he must not reveal his true identity, as it concerned the survival of the Xiao family.
Madam Xing was so angry that she gritted her teeth and stomped her feet, and began to resent Old Madam Xiao again.
"That old hag secretly helped her youngest daughter without telling so many people in the Xiao family. She didn't even know she had committed the crime of deceiving the emperor. She's really getting herself killed!"
"No, we have to tell the master. This is a big deal. Telling the master might give us a strategy to deal with it."
Xiao Chengyan couldn't think of any good ideas at the moment, so he had no choice but to agree and tell his father.
When Xiao Zhiheng returned home that evening, he was bombarded with criticism by his son and wife, leaving him speechless for a long time.
He remained silent, so Madam Xing had to call out to him.
"Master, did you hear that? Quickly think of what to do now!"
After a long while, Xiao Zhiheng raised his eyes and slowly said,
"Pretend this never happened and continue living your lives. If you dare to say a word about it, don't blame me for being impolite."
Madam Xing was naturally unhappy, as she hadn't expected to end up swallowing her anger.
"Master, are we, the eldest son's family, really going to just put up with this? What if the second son's family tries to take advantage of us in the future..."
Xiao Zhiheng coldly rebuked,
"Shut up. This matter involves many people and is not just a matter for our main branch. Let's hold back and see what happens."
Xiao Chengyan, standing to the side, agreed with his father's statement. The situation was too complicated, and a careless mistake could make all the difference. They should not act rashly.
Therefore, Xiao Chengyan also advised his mother to hold back her anger for now and observe the situation before saying anything further.
Although Madam Xing was unwilling, she still nodded in the end.
Royal Palace
The Empress was helping Princess Yongxian comb her hair. Yongxian's wedding was approaching, and as her mother, the Empress naturally couldn't bear to part with her youngest daughter. These past few days, she had been staying with Yongxian until she fell asleep.
Yongxian took the Empress's hand, her eyes filled with hope, and said...
"Mother, I am so happy. I am getting married. I will marry the person I love. I think I will be the happiest person in the world."
Empress Insuk's lips curved into a slight smile, a faint smile appearing on her fair and jade-like face.
"That's definitely true. Yongxian will definitely live a happy and fulfilling life."
Yongxian, however, innocently pondered for a while outside.
"Mother, what if I am unhappy? They say that women become repulsive after marriage."
Empress Insuk gently stroked her youngest daughter's face, her eyes filled with an unwavering certainty.
"You are my child, no one will dare to bully you. If your husband treats you badly in the future, you only need to come back and tell me, and your mother will kill those who bully you one by one."
Yongxian rushed into Empress Renshu's arms. She did not want her husband to die, nor did she want anyone in the Xiao family she was to marry into to die because of her. She wanted to pursue happiness, not tragedy.
"Mother, I believe I will be happy."
Standing by the window, the sound of firecrackers echoed through the sky outside.
Xiao Zhijie slowly got up and put on a coat, then draped another coat over Qiao Qingshu, who was standing by the window speaking.
"Today is Xiao Chengyan's wedding day, so we should greet him in the front hall as soon as possible."
Today is the wedding day of Xiao Chengyan and Princess Yongxian. Because it involves the royal family, the entire Xiao family attaches great importance to it.
Everyone, young and old, naturally has to be present.
Qiao Qingshu was walking with Xiao Zhijie to the front hall when they happened to run into Madam Xing, who was beaming with joy, instructing the maids on how to decorate the front hall.
Xiao Zhijie stepped forward and greeted him with a smile.
"Madam, congratulations."