Real Empress from a noble family

Getting out of the study, Xue Nongying did not go back to his room. He went to his mother's room instead.

"What are you doing here?" asked Xuesun. She was talking with her maids and servants. Reported that her son was coming, she immediately asked him in.

"I have something to talk with you. Mother." nodded Xue Nongying.

Xuesun commanded her maids and servants to get out of the room.

Seeing it was her confidants watching at the door, she turned to her son and asked, "What's it? Dear."

"I just gave a word of advice to grandpa. I suggested our family have a connection with the Jiang Family through marriage." said Xue Nongying lightly. "What we need to do is to prevail Nan and her daughter to accept the marriage. And then, they certainly will give up Ruan Qingyan. We know my sister has a crush on him!"

Nan was Xue Chang's favored concubine. She had one son and one daughter but she was even one year younger than Xue Nongying. Usually, in the first place, the newest Gongshi would visit his teacher to express his thanks after the emperor declared the examination results. It was there where Xue Chang met Ruan Qingyan. He had a good impression on Ruan Qingyan at first glance but no more. But Xue Nongying's father, Xue Fangchao, liked him very much when he was helping entertain the guests.

Xue Nongqing, Xue Fangchao's daughter, was fourteen years old. She was pretty and outgoing. Her parents, including her brothers, loved her very much. She was raised in a relaxed environment, worrying about nothing. As a result, she was a naive girl. After investigating Ruan Qingyan's background, Xue Fangchao and his wife both thought that Ruan Qingyan was a capable boy without many family members. They thought he was the perfect Mr. Right for their daughter. To be sure, they asked for Xue Chang's advice.

In the first place, Xue Chang had agreed to the marriage. He was even close to inform Ruan Qingyan about this. Unfortunately, Nan knew this from somewhere. She also took a chance and met Ruan Qingyan. The result was that she also thought Ruan Qingyan was also her perfect son-in-law.

Xue Fangmi was Xue Chang youngest daughter who was one year older than his niece Xue Nongqing. She looked just like her mother Nan. She was pretty and slender. The most important part was that she was good at poems and drawing, which made her a well-known talented girl in the girls' circle in the capital. Many people had come to propose marriage to this girl since she was eleven years old. But Xue Chang couldn't bear to see this girl get married at an early age because she was a daughter Xue Chang had in his old age. As a result, her marriage had been up in the air since then.

The battle for a man between an aunt and a niece was unavoidable, and the most terrible part was that no one planned to stay back.

Xue Chang certainly would not sit by and watch. Given his position, he surely was not a fool. As Xue Fangchao met Ruan Qingyan first, Xue Chang certainly would not grab others' favorite for satisfying his own daughter. It was unethical.

But Xue Nongqing did not want to give up so easily. After Nan noticed Xue Chang's preference, Xue Fangmi hurried to talk to Xue Nongqing at that night. She cried and said she did not intend to compete with Xue Nongqing for a man. The reason she did so was that Nan was a concubine. If she married another man with plenty of family members other than Ruan Qingyan who was the only son of the family, she might struggle to survive among the family conflicts… But on the other hand, Xue Nongqing was a girl given birth by a wife. She needn't worry about being looked down in her future husband's family….

That's not the end of her lie. She continued to lie to Xue Nongqing that she actually did not know Ruan Qingyan was the man Xue Fangchao wanted to marry his daughter. Hence, she had told her girlfriends that Ruan Qingyan was her fiance. So, if it ended up Ruan Qingyan marrying others, she might have to die.

Hearing her explanation with tears flying, Xue Nongqing, as a soft heart and naive girl, immediately promised her that she wouldn't marry Ruan Qingyan. She even promised that she wouldn't tell anybody the whole thing.

And then, Xue Nongqing talked to her grandpa about her marriage with Ruan Qingyan. She told him that she did not like the man. Hearing the message, Xue Fangchao and his wife rushed to stop her. But it ended up useless. Xue Chang certainly wouldn't force her to marry a man she did not like. Xue Nongying and her parents wouldn't know the truth if Nan did not get carried away and let slip.

Although Xue Nongqing was a little girl, she kept her promise from the start. After she got known the truth, she did not plan to break her promise to tell Xue Chang the truth!

Xue Nongqing was reluctant to speak for herself. Xue Nongying had no evidence. If he told Xue Chang rashly, it might be counterproductive. Nan might falsely accuse them — As a result, Xue Nongying and his family had to live with it!

When Xue Chang asked Xue Nongying to go and live with his aunt, Xue Nongying immediately suggested to him to establish connections through marriage with the Jiang Family. His real aim was to get rid of Xue Fangmi and get Ruan Qingyan for his sister.

After hearing her son's account, Xuesun turned to be happy, "Is it possible? There are many people in the Jiang Family. Do you think Nan will agree to the marriage?"

"Jiang Yashuang is different from others in the Jiang Family." explained Xue Nongying, adding, "He was raised and educated by Marquess Qin. He is very hard on himself. There are even maids and servants serving me, but he doesn't have a maid around. Plus, he is close to Madame Tao. And he is also the most favorite nephew of Empress Jiang. For this reason, Nan must agree with the marriage! After all, she had been longing to be a wife for many years, which was a dream Ruan Qingyan could not help her come true!"

Xuesun was glad about the message. She said, "If General Jiang were as good as you said, how about…"

"Mother, don't forget that I just heard that Jiang Yashuang is a good guy. We don't know him at all." said Xue Nongying, adding, "Even if he were a good man, we should remember that there are many people in his family and none of them is a simple one? But my sister, she was simple, kind and naive. If she became a member of the Jiang Family, she would be bullied every day!"

"Err! It is we who spoiled her too much. She is a big girl now but she is simple!" said Xuesun. Her son discouraged her from her plan. "True to Nongqing's nature, Ruan Qingyan is the best one."

But in a second, she said, "But, if Xue Fangmi married Jiang Yashuang, Nan would be more ruthless. We would be bullied by her more in the future."

"No need to worry, mother. Since Jiang Tianao covets my grandpa's position, he will not let my little aunt Xue Fangmi marry Jiang Yashuang." said Xue Nongying with a cold smile.

"So…" said Xuesun with a shock.

"I think my grandpa also realizes it. He certainly will do the thing without Jiang Tianao's knowledge — but our immediate concern is Ruan Qingyan. We all noticed that grandpa has been fond of Ruan Qingyan recently. If grandpa suddenly turned to be cold to him and promises Xue Fangmi to marry Jiang Yashuang, I don't think we can have a good reason to explain it." said Xue Nongying firmly. "So, I am sure that grandpa will find another girl in our family to marry Ruan Qingyan, and then talk with Marquess Qin about it in private!"

Seeing Xuesun being in a puzzle, Xue Nongying proceeded, "So, our immediate concern is to persuade Nongying agreeing to marry Ruan Qingyan. Or grandpa will get another girl to marry him!"

"But what about your grandpa's position…" said Xuesun urgently. "This is our immediate concern too."

Xue Nongying pursed and said, "Mother, do you really think my grandpa enters a dead road?"

"What do you mean?" asked Xuesun. She knew that his son was clever and canny. His father, Xue Fangchao always said that he found himself humble before his son, let alone his mother. After hearing his son's words, Xuesun felt proud.

"My grandpa has served two emperors. He had been through many tough things. I am sure he won't be screwed up by this little thing." said Xue Nongying dismissively. "The reason he wanted to send me to live with my aunt is that he was testing me!"

Before Xuesun asked more questions, Xue Nongying proceeded, "Xue Fangmi's tricks would not escape my grandpa. He did not expose it because he thought that he is old and Nan serves him very well. He wants to save her face. The second reason is that Nongying failed herself and tried to protect Fangmi. But, at the bottom of my grandpa's heart, he prefers us to others. For example, this morning, I realized that my grandpa concerned the marriage thing greatly, I used the opportunity, getting Ruan Qingyan back for Nongqing! If I hadn't realized what's going on and went to live with my aunt, I would have ruined his plan. He wanted to give my aunt a lesson, telling her not to spoil her grandson, Ding Qingyan. If his plan worked out, he would try to persuade Fangmi giving up Ruan Qingyan and marrying anyone in Jiang Family."

"Simply put, no matter what I say and do before my grandpa, he has a way out of the trouble without hurting anybody. Meanwhile, he will give my aunt a lesson she will not forget. Or, you think about it, why my grandpa did not mention the marriage with others and at the same time, we are not allowed to talk about it either although Nongqing had said she did not like Ruan Qingyan and Fangmi also old enough to get married."

Xuesun said with a sigh, "I certainly know that your grandpa is an awesome man! But I am confused about your information. You told me to establish a connection with the Jiang Family, but it may not work out. And then you told me your grandpa would consider everything… What's your point?"

"I didn't see how my grandpa dealt with this similar situation before, so I can't give a conclusion. But about the marriage thing with the Jiang Family, I think it's an excuse." said Xue Nongying in confidence. "Based on my speculation, my grandpa will leak the information beforehand. He may tell others that he will let Fangmi marry Jiang Yashuang in order to command support from Empress, which will deter Empress Dowager… And then, his problem is solved smoothly. He will use Jiang Tianao and force him to announce the marriage thing is not a real thing! And then he will alienate the Jiang Family to a place where it is today. So, people will think that the whole marriage thing is ruined by Jiang Tianao. On the other hand, the Jiang Family has to bear the consequences without a claim!"

"Based on what you said, Nan and her daughter become our tools?" said Xuesun, feeling happy.

"Yes, you're right. My grandpa has been neutral for so many years. He certainly will not change his attitude because of the battle between the Ding and Yang Families. In honest, the reason why Empress Dowager Gu and Empress Jiang dare not look down my grandpa? His position is not a critical factor. The real reason is that they both want to get the centrists' support. That is the most important part."

Based on the above reasoning, Xue Chang certainly wouldn't give up his base, the neutral position, because of this crisis.

"Huh, usually, your grandpa spoils Nan and her daughter so much, I think he is…" Xuesun's talk was interrupted by Xue Nongying. He continued, "Mother, there's something you don't know. Who told you that my grandpa who took Fangmi as an excuse is not because he spoils her?"

"Err?!" grunted Xuesun with a shock.

"We, in fact, don't have a good relationship with Nan and Fangmi. The relationship becomes worse because of marriage thing and Ruan Qingyan." said Xue Nongying. "Because my grandpa is still alive, we still can get along with each other on the surface. My grandpa is getting older. He certainly wants all his family members to get along with each other."

"So, my grandpa took this chance to test me. As a result, Nan certainly will give up Ruan Qingyan. And then, grandpa solves our problem by taking the excuse of the marriage of Fangmi." said Xue Nongying, adding, "Mother, the whole thing was planned by my grandpa, but Fangmi, in the end, is at a weaker position than us. So, through this marriage thing, we, on one side, will accept the more favorite end. Meanwhile, we will pay back to Nan and Fangmi."

"I got it," said Xuesun with a nod. "Your grandpa wishes that all family members can get along and live without fighting with each other. I already understood your points. From now on, if Nan doesn't make trouble for us, we won't make any trouble for her. I hope your grandpa will see our true heart and have happy days!"

Feeling relieved, Xue Nongying said with a smile, "In fact, there is nothing important for us to fight. Fangmi is a girl. At the bottom, it's about the extent of her dowry. And Nan's son, he is spoiled. My grandpa has given up on him. We are the only ones who can support our family in the future. My grandpa could only be reassured if we acted generously."

Only seniors who felt reassured would devolve powers!

Because Xuesun and Xue Nongying thought that the confidant was standing at the gate as the gatekeeper, they both did not realize that there was still one maid responsible for sweeping the floor standing behind a rear window. She heard their dialogue with every word.

After several hours, in the Nan's yard. Nan, although over 30, she was still pretty and looked like a beautiful girl. The words reported by the maid angered her so much that she slammed the silver comb on the table and said furiously, "Damn them, the first branch! If I hadn't bribed the maid, I would not have known that you did such an evil thing!"

Xue Fangmi, looking just like her mother was more beautiful because of her younger age. She advised her mother not to be angry, "Mother, don't be angry. This is not my father's idea. The first branch can't set us up. Impossible!"

"Not like that! I'll go and ask your father. We have agreed to let you marry Ruan Qingyan. Why did he break his promise and agree to let Xue Nongqing marry him?"

"It's useless! When did he change his mind after he decided? I don't think I can marry Ruan Qingyan anymore!" said Xue Fangmi, holding her mother. Her fresh eyes flashed pride. "But, If I can't marry him, nor do they!"

Now it turned out Nan began to worry about her daughter, "Don't be ridiculous! Although your father loves and spoils you and your brother, he would certainly be mad at you guys if you didn't follow his words!"

"Don't worry, mother. I know what to do." said Xue Fangmi with a cold smile. "As my father doesn't want me to marry Ruan Qingyan, I will do exactly he wishes. I won't marry him — but I am not sure if Ruan Qingyan would be willing to marry Xue Nongqing after I have decided not to marry Ruan Qingyan. Huh?"