Qin Emperors Palace, inside Cixiang Palace.

  This is the palace where the Empress Dowager resides, far from the imperial court and also far from the three palaces and six courtyards of the Emperor.

  The Empress Dowager of today, the birth mother of His Majesty the Emperor.

  After the emperors accession, she lived a secluded life in Cixiang Palace.

  On ordinary days, without the Empress Dowagers summons, it was difficult for anyone to enter Cixiang Palace. Today, however, the gates of Cixiang Palace were wide open, apparently someone had arrived.

  A burst of laughter came from deep within the Cixiang Palace.

  The smile was benevolent and majestic with a sense of years of precipitation, but it was much more low-key.

  However, even so, among the few people who came to pay their respects in Cixiang Palace, no one dared to provoke the owner of this voice easily. Even Jiang Guifei, who was favored by the emperor, could only cover her mouth and smile apologetically at this time, carefully paying attention to the changes in the expression of the person on the main seat.

  In the main hall, apart from Gong Nian, there were no more than four people.

  An elderly woman sat in the main seat, although her five senses had already shown old age, she could not hide her former splendor. She wore a magnificent dress with golden threads embroidered with the phoenix totem symbolizing the imperial harem, and her hair bun was not heavily decorated, but only adorned with some simple yet precious jade hairpins. On the tigers mouth of her left hand, there was also a string of Buddhist beads carefully carved from Bodhi seeds.

  Behind her stood an old nanny, with a faint smile on her face, quietly accompanying her.

  At this point, it can be seen what status this old woman has in front of the most noble women in Qin State.

  To the left of the empress dowager sat two women, straight and upright. Judging from their similar appearance and age, they were mother and daughter.

  Compared with the natural charm between her mothers eyebrows, there was more of a reserved nobility and loneliness on that noble girls body.

  "Empress Dowager, please dont tease Yaoer anymore. Shes still young and I want to keep her by my side for a few more years." Princess Jing held a silk handkerchief, covering her mouth as she smiled lightly, her expression full of playful coquetry.

  Its likely that in front of the child, pretending to be spoiled with Empress Dowager, this Jianguifei who is known for her coquetry can also do it.

  As for the expression of her mother, Chang Le Gongzhu, who was sitting next to her, Qin Yiyao did not reveal too much emotion, and the calmness between her eyebrows seemed as if the person mentioned by the empress dowager earlier was not her at all.

  The Empress Dowagers fingers, which were twirling a Buddhist rosary, moved slowly as she smiled and scolded Concubine Jiang: "What do you mean still young? In the state of Qin, girls are considered adults at thirteen, and Yaoer is already fifteen this year. If it werent for waiting for that young Master Murong to come of age, Im afraid you would have had a grandson in your arms by now."

  Jiang Guifeis mouth stiffened, and she secretly glanced at her daughter, but saw that she was calm as a beautiful statue, without the slightest hint of shyness or embarrassment that one would expect from a young woman who had just heard about her own engagement, and Jiang Guifeis eyes darkened slightly.

  Fortunately, the empress dowager seemed to have not noticed these and said to herself: "Calculating the time, that young master of the Mu family will probably be getting ready for his coming-of-age ceremony soon."

  She spoke as if she were talking to herself, yet also seemed to be asking someone else.

  The wet nurse, who was accustomed to the empress dowagers ways, hurriedly bowed her head and said in a low voice: "Yes, Young Master Mu will be weak-guān (coming of age) in another year." Weak-guān meant coming of age, so the engagement between the Mu family and the imperial family would also be put on the agenda that year.

  The empress nodded slightly, already having a plan in mind.

  In her view, the Mu familys bloodline only has Mu Qingge left, and Mu Qingge is a spoiled young master. He inherited the Mu family, and its destined to decline. Now that the royal family has married their noble princess into the Mu family, let alone the fact that the Mu familys bloodline will be overwhelmed by the imperial bloodline in the future, just the reputation itself is good enough. Why bother using schemes and calculations to bring trouble upon herself?

  In her heart, the Empress Dowager looked at Qin Yiyao, who was not speaking. That small face like a plate had picked up all the advantages of her parents, delicate as a flower, absolutely beautiful as a rainbow, and could be called a rare beauty in the world. Whats even more rare is that she has an innate noble and proud air, which makes her more eye-catching than ordinary women.

  Its not a bad deal for the Mu family to marry such a person.

  The empress sighed inwardly and smiled warmly at Qin Yiyao, saying: "Our Yiyao is indeed becoming more and more lovely with age. That young master of the Mu family is truly blessed."

  "The Empress Dowager is overpraising." Named by the Empress Dowager, Qin Yiyao still had a calm expression, only following the palace etiquette to respond.

  The tone of indifference and perfunctoriness made Consort Jiang feel somewhat anxious. She was afraid that her daughters attitude would displease the Empress Dowager, causing the Empress Dowager to make things difficult for her in the palace.

  She scolded: "Jade, how dare you speak back to the Empress Dowager? Have you forgotten all the etiquette I taught you?"

  "Yaoer will never forget." Qin Yiyao lowered her eyes and replied in a tone that was neither arrogant nor humble.

  "All right, all right, its not a big deal. Yaoers indifferent nature, Im not just now aware of it. You were called here because the Emperor announced today that Mu familys young master will enter the palace." The Empress Dowager waved her hand and said.

  Jiang Guifei was taken aback and thought to herself: The emperor has announced that Mu Qingge is entering the palace, why didnt I receive any news about it?

  Qin Yiyao, who had been indifferent and seemed like an outsider all along, finally showed a subtle reaction at this moment. Her long and curved eyelashes, like butterfly wings, trembled slightly.

  Before Concubine Jiang could even open her mouth, the Empress Dowager spoke again: "I have already sent someone to summon the young master of the Mu family. I heard that he has been through some hardships recently. You two, one as his future mother-in-law and the other as his future wife, should take good care of him today. Especially you, Yaoer, you and Qingge grew up together, only gradually drifting apart after becoming aware of the differences between men and women. You will eventually marry into the Mu family, so the deeper your feelings for each other, the happier you will be in the future. Today, accompany Qingge as he strolls around the palace, and when he leaves the palace, accompany him out together. Afterwards, you can return to the Longle Princesss residence."

  There was no room for resistance; the Empress Dowager had already made up her mind.

  According to the laws of Qin State, after the princes and princesses come of age, they all have to move out of the palace and build their own residences. Now, its likely that only the 9-year-old Seventh Prince can still live in the palace.

  "The Empress Dowager, this... Yaoer has not yet entered the door..." Jiang Guifei was never pleased with her daughters marriage. In her view, she could use Mu Qingge through this marriage, but she couldnt sacrifice her own daughter. Her daughter should have a better place to go.

  For example, she marries into another country to gain the support of neighboring countries. Or, by using her own beauty and talent, she helps attract scholars from all over the world.

  In short, how could her daughter let a good-for-nothing dandy take advantage of her?

  However, the empress dowager ignored her and swept her sleeve away, saying: "Alright, who doesnt know that Yeos future husband is who? Many people envy their innocent love, what nonsense are they still spouting?"

  She said, her wise eyes staring straight at Qin Yiyao, "Yaoer, do you understand Grandmas words?"

  Qin Yiyao pursed her lips and her eyelashes trembled a few times before she nodded and said, "Yaoer understands."

  "This is well-behaved, this is a good granddaughter of her grandmother, the princess of Qin State." The empress nodded in satisfaction.