Noble Son-in-Law - Chapter 57.2

Chapter 57.2

For the next week, Shen Qingqing only stayed at the Central Palace and the Imperial Garden.

When Old Lady Zhu invited her to Xi’an Palace, Shen Qingqing simply claimed she was unwell to send the palace maids away.

Old Lady Zhu assumed that Shen Qingqing was too embarrassed to face her after Li Zhi’s rejection. She was very proud that she didn’t mind Shen Qingqing’s absence. After all, she had already secured her victory in the silent competition for the eldest grandson. Shen Qingqing’s fall from grace was enough for her, and Old Lady Zhu wasn’t petty enough to keep rubbing salt in the wound. 

Before anyone knew it, the end of the month arrived, and the old lady’s birthday came.

At the banquet, Shen Qingqing looked stunning in the empress’s phoenix robe. She brought her daughter along with her.

Old Lady Zhu had expected to see the empress, who was downcast and weary, but instead, she was taken aback by Shen Qingqing’s radiant complexion and the graceful charm in her eyes. It was difficult to believe that her eldest grandson was about to choose another woman, yet Shen Qingqing seemed completely unaffected by it. 

A thought crossed Old Lady Zhu’s mind, prompting her to glance at her grandson sitting beside her.

Li Zhi was playfully waving at his daughter, looking handsome with a warm smile.

If she hadn’t looked closely, she might have missed it, but upon closer inspection, Old Lady Zhu noticed that her grandson appeared to have lost a bit of weight. ‘What is happening?’

As the banquet continued, Old Lady Zhu couldn’t help but keep an eye on both Li Zhi and Shen Qingqing. By the end, she was stunned to realise that Shen Qingqing hadn’t looked at her grandson even once, while Li Zhi had made several attempts to sneak glances at her. 

A sinking feeling hit Old Lady Zhu. Having experienced her own share of spats with her husband in her youth, she recognised the dynamic at play: Shen Qingqing was clearly upset and ignoring her grandson, while he was trying to act nonchalant despite clearly caring for her. From her own experiences, she knew that if this continued, it wouldn’t be long before her grandson would be the one to back down.

****

Two days later, Li Zhi visited his grandmother.

Seizing the moment, Old Lady Zhu smiled and asked, “You mentioned before that you would choose a concubine. When will you issue the decree?” 

After taking a sip of his tea, Li Zhi smiled and said, “I came to let you know, Grandma, that I’ve decided not to go through with the selection anymore.”

Old Lady Zhu was taken aback and asked, puzzled, “What made you change your mind? Is it the empress…”? 

Suddenly, the man, who had been looking down while drinking, shot her a piercing glance.

Old Lady Zhu felt a chill run down her spine.

Li Zhi set his tea bowl down, met her gaze directly, and stated, “This emperor is not selecting concubines because I simply don’t want to. Is that reason satisfactory for you, Grandma?” 

Old Lady Zhu felt a wave of disappointment. It was the first time her grandson referred to himself as “emperor” in her presence since taking the throne.

Even though she had raised him, their bond had weakened over the years he spent abroad. Their previous disagreements had also strained their relationship; when he first became an official, she had tried to use her influence to make him comply, but he had stood his ground.

An awkward silence filled the inner hall as the two stared at each other for what felt like an eternity until Old Lady Zhu finally relented.

“If you’re not interested in other women, then it’s okay. Your grandma is eager to hold her great-grandson too.” Old Lady Zhu chuckled, lightening the mood. Noticing her grandson’s expression had softened, she felt relieved and said warmly, “Since there’s no selection, you should spend some time with Qingqing. I heard you haven’t visited the Central Palace lately. Is it because the selection has been bothering you?”

Li Zhi didn’t confirm or deny it.

Old Lady Zhu continued, “Qingqing has many good qualities, but she can be immature and narrow-minded. You treat her well, yet she still seems distant. If it were Yiyue, she would have…”

Li Zhi was only half-listening, but when Jiang Yiyue was brought up, he turned to Old Lady Zhu with a grin and said, “Grandma, Yiyue shows you so much respect, but she’s at an age where she should find a caring husband. With someone to look after her, she could spend more time with you, don’t you think?”

‘There is something off about that.’ Old Madam Zhu looked at her grandson, puzzled, and asked, “What do you mean by that?”

“She wants to be with you forever, and there’s no chance she’s interested in marrying anyone else. After some thought, I’ve decided to pair her up with your Eunuch Ma. This way, she can stay close to you even after tying the knot,” Li Zhi casually remarked.

Li Zhi had been aware of Jiang Yiyue’s feelings for a while. When he married Shen Qingqing, Jiang Yiyue was still quite young, and he didn’t take her feelings seriously. After his marriage, Jiang Yiyue showed no desire to settle down. Since she was so dedicated to looking after the old lady, Li Zhi thought it would be best to find her a suitable partner. However, Jiang Yiyue was quite ambitious and consistently rejected his suggestions.

The old lady would definitely be upset at the idea of Jiang Yiyue leaving the palace, and as long as Jiang Yiyue stayed there, the old lady wouldn’t let go of the matter, nor would Jiang Yiyue likely give in. To keep things simple, Li Zhi figured that letting Jiang Yiyue be with a eunuch was the best option. He planned to send her away from the palace once the old lady was no longer around.

As for how Jiang Yiyue would react… Li Zhi chuckled to himself. The old lady loved her so much that she always found ways to comfort the young girl.

End of chapter 57

Have a nice day!