Real Empress from a noble family

"What is all this about?" Qiu Yelan asked confusedly, "I don't know whether she's angry with you or not. But it's true that she doesn't want to see you now."

"I've guessed so!" He Shuijin had a bitter smile on her face, "But what can I do? My grandmother and mother all asked me and the sixth aunt to persuade her to marry the Seventh Prince. The elders have asked, how can I refuse? Even her own grandmother agreed. After all, the Xin Family has never even had a concubine. Let alone the honor of becoming the one in charge of the imperial harem. So, I persuaded her with the sixth aunt and she hates me right now!"

Qiu Yelan couldn't help but ask, "There's no other good choice besides her?"

"There are two daughters of our second aunt. The tenth lady and the eleventh lady of the Dou Family." He Shuijin puckered, "They're ok. But the problem is, my grandmother and the Empress don't like people from the Dou Family!"

The wife of the Seventh Prince was unlike the wife of Prince Qi.

Because when the Empress was supporting the latter, her chance of winning Empress Dowager Gu was only fifty percent. Even the Empress herself thought the situation might change. So, she picked the niece she liked the least, Jiang Qiyun. In this way, she answered to her maiden family and if the situation had had went wrong, she wouldn't have felt sorry.

Later, Prince of Qi indeed lost the chance of fighting for the Crown Prince. Jiang Qiyun's dream of becoming the Empress was broken. She would be a Princess for her life. And a Princess whose husband couldn't do anything.

But the Seventh Prince had the promise of Xue Chang. Therefore, his chance of winning was really high. His wife would first be the Crown Princess and then the Empress.

Empress Jiang had long hated Madame Dou. How would she give any glory to Madame Dou's family?

Even though this Crown Princess or the Empress would be under Empress Jiang, but thinking about how she would sit on the throne that Empress Jiang once seated and get respect from everyone, Empress Jiang felt it was intolerable!

"…" Qiu Yelan fell silent. Not because she didn't want to help Xin Fubing, but Empress Jiang had set her mind. Even Jiang Yashuang couldn't change it. How could she?

"Besides, Ou Bicheng came to your place yesterday. You should know that he really doesn't have a feeling for Fubing!" He Shuijin rubbed her forehead. She had always been decisive and capable of dealing with everything, but she couldn't be decisive right now. She felt like she had a headache, "Even if she doesn't marry the Seventh Prince, she will marry someone else in the future. If she just can't forget Ou Bicheng, if I may say this, what difference will it make if she marries another? The Seventh Prince is good-looking and smart. And the Empress is Fubing's aunt. She won't treat her badly…"

Qiu Yelan suddenly interrupted her, "Do the elders know about Ou Bicheng?"

"They didn't before. But yesterday she ran to the Ou Family. It would be hard for them to not know now." He Shuijin said with a disturbed look, "The reason why I come now is that my mother just called me over and scolded me. She said if I knew this, why didn't I say it before. If the feeling is mutual, I would say it earlier and ask the elders to marry them. But… I didn't expect Fubing to have such a temper! Now, after this mess, I don't even know what the elders would do to her!"

Even though she said she didn't know what the elders would do to Xin Fubing, but Qiu Yelan did. Either she married the Seventh Prince willingly, or she would be married far away quickly. After all, what she did was too embarrassing in this era.

If Ou Bicheng had said yes, it would have been a nice story.

Yet he didn't.

"I just heard Ou Qinglan said that Ou Bicheng has a crush. Do you know who is it?" Qiu Yelan dazed off for a while and asked.

"Ah?" He Shuijin was dazed too. She then shook her head, "You'd better ask Jiang Yashuang. We didn't see each other much since we grew up. After all, we're of a different gender. How would I know?"

They fell silent for some time. Qiu Yelan asked, "So, Fubing definitely can't marry Ou Bicheng?"

"Yes." He Shuijin exhaled and smiled bitterly, "We all grow up together. If I can help, I would."

She looked at Qiu Yelan, "I know she doesn't want to see me now. But this is really not the time for getting in a rage. She went to the Ou Family yesterday. After a night, they all should know. After all, the Ou Family knows that she was chosen by the Empress and grandfather. They would try to separate them from this incident. Otherwise, Ou Bicheng could just refuse, why would he climb over a wall, acting so dramatically?"

"I'll go to talk to her." Qiu Yelan bit her lips for a while and said quietly.

She liked Xin Fubing. If she could, she really wanted to help her.

But for now, no matter the entanglement of the relationship or the complication of the situation, she couldn't solve any.

"I'm not the one in charge. I don't have much to do, but I also can't help much!" She mocked herself in her heart. She asked, "The third aunt scolded you for Ou Bicheng's matter. But what are the elders' attitudes towards Fubing?"

He Shuijin smiled bitterly, "I don't know. But Fubing is fifth aunt's daughter. We're not her direct family after all. I don't think the elders in our family would say anything. I just don't know what would the Madame in the Xin Family do when she knew. That Madame… What can I say? She usually adores Fubing. But this time she is not happy with Fubing after she refused the marriage."

She paused and said in a lower voice, "After all, seeing how prestigious the Empress is now, how can the Madame of the Xin Family not want it?"

Empress Jiang's domineering was not just dependent on the position of the Empress, but her maiden family.

Qiu Yelan humphed in her heart and said, "Then I'll go. Please, make yourself at home!"

"I'll just wait here for your news." He Shuijin sighed and discussed with her, "My mother sent me to continue persuading her. But she doesn't want to see me now…"

"I don't know how long it will take. And I don't know how it will end up. Besides, I just persuaded her to rest with Ou Qinglan."

Seeing He Shuijin's hesitance, Qiu Yelan said again, "Or maybe I can send you a message afterward?"

"That would be great." He Shuijin said hurriedly.

Her bitter look made Qiu Yelan woeful as well. He Shuijin usually played nicely, especially among her peers. Now she suddenly became a bad person. No wonder she was so uncomfortable. This was the tragedy of being a daughter-in-law. When your mother-in-law asked, you had to do it even if you didn't want to. Otherwise, you would be hated and targeted by your mother-in-law till death or you'd better end your life soon!

After sending off He Shuijin, Qiu Yelan went back to the residence. The door of the study was closed and not a single sound came out of it. Seeing this, Qiu Yelan asked the maid in the hallway quietly, "How about Ou Qinglan and Xin Fubing?"

"They all fell asleep." The maid answered quickly.

"Don't disturb them. Let them sleep!" Qiu Yelan nodded.

They probably didn't sleep well last night. They got up in the afternoon. When they finished tidying up and came to see Qiu Yelan in the main room, seeing their faces back to be rubicund, Qiu Yelan was relived. She ordered the servants to bring on the food, "Are you hungry? The kitchen has been warming the food for you."

"I really troubled you today." Xin Fubing was about to salute. Qiu Yelan came over hurriedly and pulled her up, "You're not treating me as a family if you're this polite."

Ou Qinglan was not this polite. After seeing Qiu Yelan, she immediately sat down. But she kept a serious face. It looked like she was not in a good mood. Qiu Yelan knew it was probably because her rejection gave Ou Qinglan pressure. But she couldn't just promise this kind of thing easily. Xin Fubing who was in this awkward situation now was a good example.

"Did He Shuijin come over to ask you to persuade me?" Xin Fubing smiled faintly and asked after Qiu Yelan supported her to sit down.

Qiu Yelan didn't think she would mention He Shuijin herself as she was so reluctant to see He Shuijin before. Qiu Yelan dazed for a second and said, "No. She just wanted to explain it to you. The reason why she came to persuade you was that she couldn't disobey the elders' order."

Xin Fubing laughed self-mockingly, "Then forget about her. I want to ask you for a favor!'

Qiu Yelan felt like she was a different person since she woke up. Qiu Yelan said hurriedly, "Just tell me!"

"Can you tell Madame Tao that I agree to the marriage with the Seventh Prince." Xin Fubing looked indifferent, "But I made a mistake and went to the Ou Family yesterday. Please ask Madame Tao to cover up for me. Otherwise, I can't live with it!"

Qiu Yelan was dazed after hearing this. She subconsciously looked at Ou Qinglan, only to see Ou Qinglan sitting there and looking at the vase in near distance without any expression. She looked like she didn't hear anything.

"Why…?" After thinking for a second, Qiu Yelan felt like she should ask why Xin Fubing changed her mind.

"He doesn't want me. You think I can badger him forever?" Xin Fubing said calmly, "The Seventh Prince is prestigious, good-looking, and talented. He Shuijin was right. If forth aunt doesn't adore me, this marriage won't even be mine. I've disappointed many elders yesterday. But I hope I have the chance to remedy it."

She suddenly became reasonable, saying all the things that others had said to persuade her. Qiu Yelan fell silent for a while and said, "You really made up your mind?"

"Of course." Xin Fubing smiled bitterly, "I should go to see Madame Tao myself and ask for her forgiveness. But I feel ill at ease now. I'm afraid I may make some mistakes in front of Madame Tao. So, that's why I want to ask you to go for me."

"I'll go now." Qiu Yelan stood up and said. Xin Fubing looked apathetic as if her heart had died. Seeing her, Qiu Yelan sighed in secret.

After a while, Madame Tao heard what Qiu Yelan said. She nodded, "It's the best that she comes to senses. As for the matter with the Ou Family, tell her not to worry. The Ou Family knows what they should do. They didn't let the word out. Even in our family, not many people know. When she is married to the Seventh Prince, no one will mention this."

Qiu Yelan felt like she didn't have anything else to say. When she was about to leave, Madame Tao said, "Right, Jiang Yazhu's wife sent a servant to announce good news just now. She's pregnant. I just packed up some things. Why don't you bring it to her for me?"

"Sure!" Qiu Yelan dazed. She covered up her surprise and said.

She was not jealous of Sheng Shishui. After all, she was only married for a month. But she was also impressed by Sheng Shishui's luck. Sheng Shishui had been married only for a year and she was pregnant. No matter it was a boy or a girl, for her and Jiang Yazhu, it would be a good thing.

"You're just married. No rush." Madame Tao still noticed her surprise. She consoled Qiu Yelan, "It's lucky to have children. They'll come eventually."

Qiu Yelan didn't know what to think. She said a few words perfunctorily and then left.