Chapter 253: Chapter 253

Aside from the system that was secretly peeking, no one knew exactly what had happened in the Imperial Study that day.

In any case, over the next several months, no matter how many times the court ministers submitted memorials, the Eastern Palace remained as quiet as ever. The crown prince showed not the slightest intention of selecting consorts or taking concubines. In fact, several officials who had been particularly vocal were severely reprimanded by the reigning emperor, who accused them of having sinister minds, neglecting their proper duties, and instead attempting to interfere with imperial family affairs.

Truly harboring ulterior motives!

The emperor's sharp words directly scolded several ministers into questioning their very existence. Wasn't it normal for the imperial family to widely accept consorts and concubines to expand their lineage?

Just then, news spread from the palace that fearing the crown princess might feel unaccustomed, the entire Eastern Palace's furnishings were arranged to be almost identical to the previous Wang mansion.

Flower rooms, opera stages, training grounds... all sorts of things. In short, the vast Eastern Palace surprisingly didn't leave any empty space for so-called future concubines.

This really opened their eyes.

Hey, speaking of which, certain things in the imperial family really do persist stubbornly generation after generation?

Though glory and wealth were desirable, it would be greatly unfortunate if they not only ruined their daughters but also implicated their families.

Thinking this way, the ministers ultimately suppressed their discontent, though they couldn't help feeling somewhat ambivalent about the Minister of Revenue who had inexplicably won without effort in the court.

At the same time, at the Yang residence...

The inexplicable promotion of their daughter (granddaughter) from princess consort to crown princess left everyone, including the Yang family themselves, in a daze amidst the tremendous surprise.

Of course, except for Father Yang who had already suspected something.

What, crown princess?

The... the legendary pie falling from the sky?

Once again receiving continuous congratulations from her handkerchief friends, Old Lady Yang maintained a smiling face in the main hall. But the moment everyone left, her smiling expression immediately fell, replaced by a dazed look.

One could say every wrinkle on her face, from inside out, radiated bewilderment:

"Guizhi, do you think a person's luck can really be this good?"

Knowing nothing, relying solely on her looks, she somehow obtained everything. Now she's crown princess—doesn't this mean that in some time she'll become...!

If it were before, the old lady would have considered even thinking this as offending nobility.

"That's exactly right! Third Young Lady... no, we should call her crown princess now. Didn't Master Wuxiang from Guardian Temple say earlier that she has extremely excellent fortune, the pinnacle of wealthy destiny!"

Thinking this way, the ministers ultimately suppressed their discontent, though they couldn't help feeling somewhat subtle about the Minister of Revenue who had inexplicably won without effort in the court.

No wonder even evil creatures particularly covet her!

Nearby, Zhang Ma wore an expression of sharing the honor.

"Truly worthy of being a master!"

Yes, following An Ning's entire family directly entering the Eastern Palace, the already famous Master Wuxiang became even more popular.

Now not just in the capital, but even scholars and merchants coming from other regions made visiting the master's temple to pay respects their first order of business upon entering the capital. Although getting an appointment was exceptionally difficult.

Master Wuxiang: "..."

Well... couldn't it be that the cause and effect relationship is reversed!

In any case, no matter how much the old lady couldn't understand, what mattered now was ensuring her granddaughter wouldn't encounter problems and maintaining her current status.

In terms of danger, the Eastern Palace wasn't something an ordinary prince's mansion could compare to.

Sigh, if she had known this earlier, the foundation sent when she married out was still too incomplete!

Just as Old Lady Yang pondered left and right how to remedy this deficiency, or discreetly send in various techniques for harem and household struggles or experts proficient in such matters to provide support, news spread from the palace...

His Highness the crown prince consistently refused to take concubines, and the Eastern Palace still only had the crown princess alone.

After pondering intensely for over half a month, almost exhausting her mental resources, Old Lady Yang: "......"

Having pondered all night without rest, the next morning the old lady's spirits were inevitably somewhat poor. Her already listless eyes unconsciously bore large dark circles, especially when contrasted with her son and daughter-in-law who had obviously eaten well, slept well, and appeared completely unaffected.

After a long silence, the old lady finally couldn't resist heavily setting down her teacup, her gaze firmly fixed on the two people below.

"Tomorrow we must enter the palace to pay respects to Her Highness the Crown Princess. Has Sister Ze prepared?"

Yu, who was still spacing out when unexpectedly addressed: "..."

Only after Father Yang lightly coughed nearby did Yu suddenly return to awareness, instinctively speaking:

"Since it's our own family, what preparations need to be made?"

Their daughter had specifically written recently saying her current days weren't different from before.

Knowing her daughter wasn't the type to report only good news but not troubles, coupled with news from the Eastern Palace, Yu was actually the first in the Yang family to relax.

She had already started considering what rare, beautiful jewelry to bring, preferably the kind popular recently.

Sigh, the Eastern Palace after all wasn't comparable to a prince's mansion—travel was inconvenient. Without these fun things, A-Ning's personality would probably feel stifled and bored.

Old Lady Yang: "......"

How could a person be this carefree!

That's the Eastern Palace! Where everyone crowds and struggles to enter, just one step away from the empress's position!

Looking at her son who remained completely calm, and her daughter-in-law and grandson who were excited and enthusiastic, after a long while the old lady finally couldn't help but sigh heavily!

Actually, the old lady was really wronging people this time.

When the news first came, was she worried? Naturally she definitely was—who didn't know the palace's dangers? But it hadn't reached that point yet, had it?

In Yu's view, His Highness the Crown Prince still seemed considerate for now, their daughter's daily life was comfortable, and Rui'er was clever and adorable. Many things were beyond their own power to influence, so why trouble themselves with unnecessary worries?

Since they couldn't change it, wouldn't enjoying each day happily be better?

Old Lady Yang: "......"

After eagerly anticipating and finally waiting until the day of palace entry. Early in the morning, the entire Yang family rose early to dress and prepare. Following the palace attendants' guidance, they reached the Eastern Palace by noon.

Cloud-like hair, flower-like beauty with golden hairpins, snow-white skin and jade-like features truly worthy of a national beauty. Even though she had made many preparations beforehand, the moment she truly saw the person, even someone as rigid as the old lady had to admit.

Some people seemed naturally crafted from gold and jade, born to enjoy all worldly glory, wealth, and dignity in this world.

The priceless phoenix-tail gauze worth a thousand gold per bolt, the jade-luo brocade difficult to obtain even for ten thousand gold, the body full of priceless gold, stones, pearls, and jade—none of these could detract even slightly from the person's elegance before them. Instead, they made her appear even more peerlessly beautiful, like a world-famous flower blooming to its ultimate perfection.

Not to mention Sister-in-law Lin, even the old lady needed a moment to collect herself, finding it difficult to connect the person before them with the previously naive and happily simple granddaughter.

Could people really become increasingly beautiful, or could wealth, power, fine clothes, and luxurious ornaments truly nurture someone this way?

However, the next second.

As the pearl curtains swayed, a fragrant breeze surged, and in the blink of an eye the newcomer had already reached before them:

"Mother, you've finally come! Why so late? Your daughter has been waiting for so long!"

The Yang family: "......"

Having seen her in person, and with His Highness the Crown Prince personally visiting at noon, under the Yang family's various restraints, the young couple appeared no different from during their prince's mansion days, visibly very much in love.

However, aside from Yu and the relatively calm Yang Yuanze nearby, everyone else felt even more panicked.

Just as Old Lady Yang pondered left and right how to remedy this deficiency, or discreetly send in various harem and household conflict techniques or experts proficient in such matters to provide support, news spread from the palace...

After several years of marriage, the things in this girl's eyes could still be seen through at a glance.

Fortunately, fortunately, her grandson's intelligence visibly didn't follow his mother's...

Yang Yuanze instinctively felt relieved.

Indeed, upon returning home, Eldest Brother Yang, Yang Jin'an, was taken by his biological father to the study.

"An'er, after this year's examinations, your father plans to transfer you to the Hanlin Academy."

As these words fell, Yang Jin'an's face instinctively paled.