For a fleeting mont, Shangguan Hong even felt a twinge of regret, wondering if he had been too hasty earlier. If Minister Zhou was like that, who knew how much of his grace and charm his daughter might possess?
However, this thought was but a flash, and monts later, political considerations ultimately took the high ground.
He was the ruler of a nation, possessing all under heaven. What kind of beauty could he not have? Why should he trouble himself to allow soone connected to his elder sister into the rear palace?
If one day she were to give birth to a prince...
Thinking of the Grand Princess's various thods before his ascension, and her still undiminished influence within the military, after a brief mont of regret, the emperor quickly made up his mind.
But with such beauty, it's no wonder Imperial Elder Sister...
His gaze, tinged with what seed like regret, lingered on the man below for a mont before Shangguan Hong withdrew his eyes. He only thought of the other party's "pitiful state" that day, and added a few more strokes to the "compensation" he had earlier intended to give.
After all, she was the descendant of a ritorious official, a Second Rank Countess. Suffering such humiliation was truly unbecoming.
Anyway, it was just an empty position with little real power. He wasn't a stingy person.
During the morning court session, after the customary round of verbal battles, Shangguan Hong soon leisurely issued the command to dismiss the court. Following that ca the promotion edict for the Changping Earl.
Who knows what thoughts Earl Zhou, dragging his still weak and shaky legs, harbored as he received this "compensation" under the thoughtful gazes of his colleagues in the court. In any case, after the imperial decree was issued, everyone in the entire Count's residence was overjoyed!
What, did the Earl suffer any grievance?
"Afraid of what? Your father is a man of eight feet. How much of a loss could he possibly eat?"
Facing her daughter's anxious and uneasy gaze, Lady Jiang waved her hand, her face showing complete indifference. Even the recent arrival of soone from the Grand Princess's residence, saying they wished to invite the Changping Earl for a discussion, hadn't dampened the First Madam's good mood in the slightest.
She had even secretly instructed the servants earlier to pick out the most suitable clothes for the Earl, ensuring they fully showcased the Master's advantages, taking care not to be a single bit inferior to his appearance at the palace banquet that day.
Ah, looking at her eldest daughter who had grown so thin in such a short ti, the First Madam felt heartache mixed with regret. If she had known earlier that the Master rely needed to slim down a little to possess such grace and exert such a significant effect, she wouldn't have made her daughter endure so much fear and suffering before.
Her heart aching, she gently stroked her daughter's thin face. Lady Jiang then softly comforted her again:
"Yun'er, rest assured. I've already ordered soone to properly prepare travel expenses for that matron. She will soon leave the residence to seek a better position elsewhere.
Once the new year passes, Yun'er will be seventeen, a grown young lady. While your father still has so face before the noble ladies, your mother will definitely find you a perfectly well-rounded, excellent marriage match."
Having said that, Lady Jiang had already begun to enthusiastically dig out the earlier dowry list, starting to ponder what more she could add for her own daughter.
"Yun'er, what do you think of this Guanyin statue? Ah? Mother thinks this jade vase is also nice. It just so happens your second aunt's maternal family sent over so fine rosewood recently. After a while, we'll add a writing desk for our Yun'er..."
The originally still sowhat worried Eldest Young Lady: "..."
In short, the mont she stepped out of the main house, Eldest Young Lady Zhou still wore a sowhat dazed expression on her face.
In the afternoon, the three sisters once again gathered at the pavilion. However, compared to the earlier leisurely atmosphere and the worries of the past month or so, now each one was more ntally adrift than the last.
They hadn't even noticed their teacups had gone cold for a long ti.
Even the usually diligent Third Young Lady hadn't touched brush or ink for a good half day. Right now, the only calm one was probably the instigator herself, An Ning.
After who knows how long, Third Miss Zhou was heard first fiercely gulping down a mouthful of clear tea. Then, like a thief, she glanced around before lowering her voice to speak to her sisters:
"Eldest Sister, Fifth Sister, do you think Father... he really..." sacrificed his charms, attached himself to power and influence.
Although the last few words weren't spoken aloud, everyone present more or less understood their aning.
Instantly, the few unmarried young ladies all blushed.
Even though they knew early on that their father wasn't reliable, to go this far... Third Young Lady still felt sowhat disillusioned, her eyes now considerably wider.
After all, what kind of person was Earl Zhou? No matter how much he sched and yearned for wealth and status in his heart, on the surface he always maintained a certain air of aloofness. He really didn't seem like soone who would sacrifice his own charms.
Eldest Young Lady Zhou, however, thought a bit more deeply and couldn't help but ponder for a mont:
"Could it be that after learning of my failed selection, Father decided to take this desperate risk..."
Unlike her two elder sisters' heavy-heartedness, inside the pavilion, An Ning, who was beautifully admiring the pond full of lotus flowers, first leisurely sipped so clear tea before saying in a light, cheerful tone:
"Eldest Sister, you're overthinking it. Father is, after all, a proper Earl, a grown man. If he truly wasn't willing, who could force him?
Besides, the palace is ultimately extrely dangerous. Compared to Eldest Sister entering the palace, with an uncertain future ahead and the risk of losing more than you gain at every turn, isn't the current situation with Father much more stable?
It can bring the Earl's household back into the view of the upper circles without taking too great a risk."
As she spoke, An Ning didn't forget to nod her little head with an air of seriousness, her originally spirit-filled little face appearing utterly innocent and charming:
"Father probably considered all this before making up his mind to sacrifice himself."
Finally, she let out a leisurely sigh and said:
"Ah, all these years as the successor, enjoying the greatest wealth and power in the family for nothing, yet not adding much glory to the household. Father must have felt quite ashad and uneasy in his heart!
Now, being able to save the Changping Earl's Manor with his own body, it probably fulfills his wish!"
Hmm... how could it not count? An Ning couldn't help but think.
Eldest Zhou, Third Zhou: "..."
Is... is that so? Third Young Lady, feeling sothing wasn't quite right, instinctively wanted to refute sothing. However, her peripheral vision inadvertently caught sight of her eldest sister's expression, which clearly held a trace of unease. She imdiately coughed heavily and changed her tune:
"Ahem... isn't that right? Otherwise, why would Father have worked so hard earlier, slimming down and taking such care of his appearance?"
If it wasn't to seduce... no, to sacrifice himself for the future of the Earl's household, then what was it?
Speaking like this, as if confirming sothing, even Third Young Lady herself stopped doubting and began to contentedly savor the clear tea in her hand.
Hmm, I heard this tea was specially commissioned by the Madam at great expense from a physician. They say it's best for reducing swelling, cutting greasiness, and is very beneficial for maintaining beauty.
Although most of it was sent to Father's study, we daughters also received our share.
Lifting her head to glance at her two younger sisters, Eldest Young Lady Zhou soon also picked up her teacup.
Hmm... since it's what Father sought, she, as a daughter, shouldn't really comnt much.
Thinking that she wouldn't need to follow those trivial, annoying rules, wouldn't need to enter that man-eating deep palace, and could still happily play and have fun with her sisters in the future, Eldest Young Lady Zhou deeply exhaled a breath of turbid air. Her slightly furrowed brows unconsciously relaxed.
How wonderful!
In the pavilion, the three sisters exchanged glances, their eyes simultaneously brimming with smiles.
This day, the sunlight was bright and beautiful. Everything was so wonderful.
At the sa ti, Grand Princess's Residence
Seeing the familiar bed before his eyes and... ahem... Father Zhou's legs subconsciously trembled slightly for a mont.
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