The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 671 - 633: An Unprecedented Selection Process (Part 2)

Chapter 671: Chapter 633: An Unprecedented Selection Process (Part 2)

When Ah Nuan returned, Lin Xiaoyue asked her, "What did you say to Jinbao?"

The little girl beamed, "I said we would play pitch-pot together when spring comes."

Wen Wan was puzzled, "You don’t need to wait for spring to play pitch-pot, why wait?"

Ah Nuan replied, "Brother Jinbao said he has to study and has no time, but come spring he will have time."

Wen Wan: "..."

That little rascal Jinbao, telling stories to the young girl again.

It seems Ah Nuan has been fooled by him more than once or twice!

This girl is quite strange, never holds a grudge. The moment she experiences defeat from Jinbao, the next moment she can still go to him with a smile.

Thinking about her own troublesome son, Wen Wan suddenly felt a bit sorry for the little girl before her, her gaze softened, and she reached out to rub the little tuft on her head, "Come spring, you can come to our house, and Aunt Wan will have a little brother play with you, okay?"

Ah Nuan’s bright eyes blinked, "Does Aunt Wan have a little brother too?"

"He’s Jinbao’s cousin." Wen Wan said with a smile, "Their family is moving over after the New Year. He’s younger than you, a very cute little fellow."

Lin Xiaoyue was stunned to hear that, "Are you merging your house with the second branch?"

Wen Wan replied, "The in-laws are getting old, it’s to fulfill their wishes."

"That’s quite good." Lin Xiaoyue agreed, "If relations are good, living together as a family, there will always be support for each other."

Wen Wan nodded.

At this moment, a commotion arose at the entrance of the noblewoman’s seating area, followed by the eunuch announcing names; it was the concubines of Emperor Guangxi coming in one after the other.

Wen Wan’s gaze fell on Princess Consort Duan, she wore a large-sleeved robe with gold-cloud-pattern embroidery, adorned with a green feather phoenix hairpin, holding the hand of the Second Prince Zhao Nuo, who could already walk.

From afar, Zhao Nuo saw a few companions of similar age, his eyes frequently glancing over.

Perhaps noticing Wen Wan’s gaze, Princess Consort Duan turned her head briefly meeting Wen Wan’s eyes before withdrawing, her expression very calm.

Wen Wan watched the concubines take their seats, feeling complex emotions.

Thinking of how Emperor Guangxi orchestrated everything for the smooth birth of the Second Prince, arranging Princess Consort Duan to stay at the Song family to nurture her pregnancy.

During that half year, the Song family took significant risks for Princess Consort Duan and her unborn child, even afraid that speaking too loudly would attract outside attention and expose her.

But then, the Liang Family flipped, disavowing everyone, and upon failing an assassination on the Crown Prince faced consequences, they dared not retaliate against the Crown Prince or Emperor but took it out on Song Wei.

Thinking of these things, Wen Wan’s slight fondness accumulated for Princess Consort Duan over the years disappeared completely.

Seeing Wen Wan lost in thought, Lin Xiaoyue tugged at her sleeve to ask what was wrong.

Wen Wan shook her head and forced a smile.

Nothing, just felt a bit disheartened.

Before she could think more, the eunuch’s voice called out once more at the entrance, "The Crown Prince has arrived—"

Everyone promptly knelt to pay respects.

Zhao Xi entered from the entrance of the officials’ seating area, the winding corridors wide and elegant, stepping in his Sunrise Boots, hands clasped behind his back.

At sixteen, his figure was tall and straight like green bamboo, beneath the dark eyebrows, his eyes deep and dark, naturally commanding respect, the full aura of the Crown Prince was on display.

Due to his arrival, the female members of the noblewoman’s seating area experienced a subtle change, especially among the unmarried noble young women, each blushing, even their breathing deliberately lightened.

Some daring ones directly raised their eyes to look toward the pavilion.

Unfortunately, the pavilion was surrounded by light veils, drifting and fluttering with the wind, making it impossible to fully glimpse the Crown Prince’s handsome visage.

Wen Wan secretly lamented, the Crown Prince truly possessed heavenly looks, lucky that she didn’t bring Song Jiao today, otherwise seeing the Crown Prince, who knows what thoughts she’d have.

Before everyone could rise, Mr. Cui’s voice echoed from the entrance, "The Emperor has arrived, the Empress has arrived—"

The officials and noblewomen kneeling on the ground all hailed in unison, long live the Emperor, long live the Empress.

Emperor Guangxi watched the splendid scene of officials and subjects dining together with satisfaction, stroked his beard, and allowed everyone to stand.

Empress Qi followed him, her gaze directed towards her son in the pavilion, eyes reflecting a hint of pride.

The noblewomen saw the Empress, and each one of them was full of envy.

Yes, envy.

They envied her for having an all-capable son, and for her ability to nurture, having raised the Crown Prince to be unparalleled in the world.

Ever since Zhao Xi was made the Crown Prince, many aristocratic families in the Capital have been raising their sons by his example, creating a trend.

One must admit, Wen Wan also admired Empress Qi; such a person as the Crown Prince cannot simply be nurtured by anyone.

After all, even Song Wei had said that throughout the ages, there have been very few princes who could match Zhao Xi, and among them, Zhao Xi stands out; many of his qualities are worthy of being passed down and celebrated by future generations.

Nevertheless, Wen Wan did not deny that her own two sons were also excellent, they just learned differently from the Crown Prince.

After the Emperor told everyone to get up, some of the noblewomen began to whisper.

"I heard that today the selections for the Crown Princess Consort and concubines will be announced."

"I am really curious about what kind of girl could match the Crown Prince?"

"That’s easy to say. The higher the status of the main wife, the more likely she is to be chosen. As for the concubine, I heard the Empress personally screened them, probably based on the Crown Prince’s preferences."

"I’ve never heard of the Crown Prince liking any particular kind of girl. Rumor has it that even the palace maids who serve by his side can’t keep watch at night, none can get close to him, such a person must have high expectations for a primary spouse, right?"

"How could that be? The Crown Prince is so approachable. He’s just young and doesn’t yet understand romantic feelings, so he seems a bit aloof. But once he matures and awakens to such matters, he will undoubtedly be surrounded by beauty. Anyone in that position eventually is."

Wen Wan listened, turned her head and exchanged a glance with Lin Xiaoyue, both seeing speechlessness on each other’s faces. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Is it really okay to gossip about the Crown Prince like this behind his back?

However, listening to their discussion, Wen Wan was also very curious as to who the Crown Princess Consort would be.

Back then, Xue Yinhuan’s biological father saved the Crown Prince’s life, yet she could only enter the palace as a concubine, so the primary wife must be from a family of higher status than the Minister of Rites Mansion.

Looking across the entire Capital, apart from families with hundred-year-old heritage, there are not many with a status higher than the Minister of Rites Mansion and who also have girls of suitable age.

After the Emperor and Empress took their seats, Emperor Guangxi said a few opening remarks, and everyone began to take their seats.

After a while, the enchanting sound of zithers and pipes could be faintly heard from a distance.

Everyone looked up and saw a few painted boats slowly approaching on the lake. On each boat stood more than a dozen Dancing Girls. Though the weather was cold and they were not dressed revealingly, their graceful dance and alluring figures captured the attention of many.

Wen Wan watched while serving food to Jinbao.

Ah Nuan, standing beside them, observed Wen Wan. Seeing what dishes Wen Wan was serving to Jinbao, she also picked the same for her small bowl.

Seeing this, Jinbao paused from eating.

Ah Nuan asked him, "Brother Jinbao, why aren’t you eating?"

Jinbao asked her, "Why are you copying me?"

Ah Nuan gave him a sweet smile, showing two faint dimples, "I’m not copying you. I’m just eating what Brother Jinbao likes. When you come over to our house in the future, I’ll ask my mother to tell the kitchen to make what you like, then I can enjoy it too."

Jinbao stirred the spoon in his soup bowl, "I never said I would go to your house to eat."

"We agreed to play the hoop-tossing game together." Ah Nuan’s voice was weak and somewhat cautious.

Jinbao pouted, "Don’t you have a blue-eyed brother? Let him accompany you. Why insist on dragging me along? I’m very busy and don’t have time for such childish games."

Ah Nuan said, "My brother’s eyes aren’t blue anymore."

Upon hearing this, Wen Wan looked up at Lin Xiaoyue.

Lin Xiaoyue explained, "Mr. Qi said that those eyes were inconvenient for going out. Since the Yun Family is in the Capital, he personally went to the Minister’s Mansion to invite Yun Shiliu. As expected of the Divine Doctor, he concocted a solution after just one visit. I don’t know how he did it, but as long as the medicine is used, Amuer’s eyes will be just like ours."

Wen Wan nodded, "That child is somewhat isolated. Take him out more often when you have time, or he will find it difficult to integrate with others in the future."

Lin Xiaoyue smiled and said she understood.

The two chatted for a while, and the singing and dancing on the lake slowly ended as well. Emperor Guangxi cleared his throat and began speaking, saying that at sixteen, it was time to decide on the Crown Princess Consort.

When the officials and noblewomen heard this, they all looked up towards the pavilion at the center of the lake, where the young Crown Prince sat poised, his slender, jade-like fingers holding a wine cup, seemingly listening intently to the Emperor, or perhaps lost in thought.

Emperor Guangxi said a flurry of praises about the Crown Prince’s accomplishments since his investiture, eventually focusing on the selection of the Crown Princess Consort.

Never before had there been such a method of selection; before its revelation, there had been no prior whispers, nor did those involved have any knowledge of the results. It seemed akin to scholars awaiting an unknown examination result, with the noble ladies’ hearts pounding like drums, each feeling nervous and anxious.