Conference

  He smiled knowingly, although she hadn't been in the capital for many years, but palace affairs were always at her fingertips. She dared to let her own daughter come into contact with these noble ladies, and she had the ability to protect her children.

  "Le An is not worth worrying about, her mother is still quite clever and knows how to keep a low profile by getting close to the empress to ensure peace. Le An is young but has high aspirations, yet she lacks cunning and means, and can't let go of wealth and glory, so there's some conflict in her heart. You don't need to be too careful either, it's not necessary to fawn over them, they should be the ones trying to win you over. As long as we maintain proper etiquette, that's enough. If worst comes to worst, I'll take care of things for you!"

  Yang Lan nodded and told her mother about what happened when she went to the palace that day, including what she said to the empress dowager. She reported everything truthfully, not because she was afraid of anything, but because she was worried that she might miss some important information, which would affect her parents' judgment on the previous dynasty.

  After all, the empress dowager is the emperor's biological mother and will definitely be the first to know about any matters. This can also be considered as firsthand information. Therefore, every time she comes back, she will talk about major and minor events, chatting with her daughter, and this kind of verbal teaching is slowly instilled into her.

  He Hui Chang Gongzhu nodded as she listened, "You said that Nianqiu complained to you that recently, the Consort of Beneficence always goes to pay her respects and stays for more than half a day?"

  Yang Lan was taken aback and nodded: "Yes, I didn't pay attention at the time and didn't respond. What's wrong with that?"

  He Hui Chang Gongzhu thought for a moment and then smiled: "Why is the Empress Dowager suddenly so diligent towards the Queen Mother?" She turned her face with a smile, looking at her daughter, wanting to test her daughter's political sensitivity.

  Yang Lan thought carefully with her head down, muttering to herself: "Consort Hui gave birth to the Seventh Imperial Son, and this year he is thirteen years old. Right, in two or three years when the Seventh Imperial Son gets married, he can enter the imperial court to handle affairs. Is that what Consort Hui wants?"

  He Hui nodded, although not very comprehensive, but cut into the key point, "That's right, the seventh prince can enter the court in a few years. Queen Hui wants to ask Empress Dowager to find a noble girl from a prestigious family! I think she might have taken a liking to you." She raised her eyes and smiled.

  Yang Lan was shocked and almost fell off her chair. "You're looking at me? I'm only 10 years old! What a joke!"

  He Hui Chang Gong Zhu was not surprised at all, and carefully explained the reason to her daughter, "I guess that Queen Hui has made several plans. First of all, she took a fancy to our Yang family because no matter who becomes the emperor in the future, we will be wealthy and secure. If she can get you, it would be the best, if not, then your second or third sister, who are also legitimate daughters, would also be acceptable. If not, she could choose another girl from a different family. The selection of the crown prince's wife represents the position that her son will stand in the court in the future and whether he can get that position. There is also a secret test, guess what it is?"

  Yang Lan listened carefully, remembered it in her heart, and quickly turned it over in her mind. She tentatively said: "Let's probe the emperor's uncle's meaning, is there such a possibility? If not, with Empress Hui's years of caution, she wouldn't have chosen a girl from too noble a family. We need to think of ways to protect our son from being suspected by the future ruler, am I right?"

  He Hui smiled in satisfaction, "My son is indeed clever. This Consort Hui, although not the most favored, is the most clear-headed and intelligent. Her intelligence lies in being cautious and never overstepping boundaries, she would never do anything that would displease her imperial brother. This is also an important reason why a fifth-rank official's daughter like her could climb to the position of consort, knowing how to curry favor with her imperial brother."

  Yang Lan nodded thoughtfully, "So, is Consort Hui failing?"

  He Hui raised an eyebrow and asked: "How did you make this judgment?"

  Yang Lan revealed a hint of cunning, squeezed her eyes and smiled: "Rong Yu's mouth is the strictest, she won't say more than half a sentence to anyone easily. If not, she wouldn't be serving the empress so closely. What she said might actually be the empress's intention, or maybe even the emperor's intention? If Emperor Shu had this intention, Rong Yu wouldn't have said it like that, perhaps she would have used another tone."

  He Hui smiled satisfactorily this time, patted her head, "You're quite clever, no mistake, your guess is correct. The Emperor won't easily give the Yang family to others, including his own son. Your mother will help you plan for the future and will definitely find the most suitable one for you, won't let you go to the palace to suffer that kind of torment."

  Yang Lan let out a sigh of relief, she was afraid that if she married into the palace, her status as a princess would be useless. Could a princess be more noble than an imperial prince? Later on, she would have to lower her head and serve carefully, she didn't want to enter the palace as a servant and wait on the empress and concubines. With her identity and her parents' abilities, as long as it wasn't the royal family, whoever's house she went to would have to treat her like a lady, her days wouldn't be too comfortable. She must be stupid to think of marrying an imperial prince!

  "Who do you think has the best chance? The eldest son of the empress, Prince Liuxiao? You know the empress has two sons and one daughter!" Yang Lan's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

  He Hui shook his head, with a serious expression, "I really don't know about this, the Emperor's power grows by the day, and his thoughts are increasingly unpredictable. Even if I knew, I would have to pretend not to know. Our family must be loyal subjects, we can't waver easily, we can have some leanings, but we can't take sides, it's a matter of principle."

  Yang Lan nodded, not quite understanding but not hindering her from listening to advice, "In the future, Father and the others will probably have a harder time, won't they?"

  I recall when I studied history, the infamous Nine Dragons' struggle for the throne was so brutal. The emperor's sons were not guaranteed to have the last laugh either - once they fell out of favor with the emperor, they would be beaten until they couldn't lift their heads, let alone the fallen officials who were worth nothing.

  He Hui stroked her little face, "Don't worry about these things, I'm here! The bond between siblings is still there, and I haven't done anything that would anger the heavens or men. It's not like our family home can't be protected, at most, the imperial favor will just weaken a bit. This isn't necessarily a bad thing either. A son must rely on his own abilities to rise through the ranks. Even if he becomes an emperor, he wouldn't dare easily kill someone who is as valuable as a rib. The court needs people like that! Do you really think the emperor can kill whoever he wants? That's just ridiculous. Sometimes even the emperor can't act according to his own whims and fancies. Things are complicated, it's understandable if you don't understand for now."

  Yang Lan nodded in understanding, isn't there a puppet emperor in history? Probably that's what she means, saying that her son should take the lead and have real skills, that's the way to establish oneself. She also agrees with this point, relying solely on flattering those in power will not last long.

  "What kind of sister-in-law is she going to find for me? Isn't my brother almost there too?" Yang Lan thought with a smile, remembering that her older brother was even older than the Sixth Prince.

  "This needs to be asked of the Emperor's uncle, I plan to ask the Empress Dowager's opinion, whether there is a suitable candidate for us to consider, and at that time you can also take a look and see if you like it?" He Hui said with a smile.