CHAPTER 683: CHAPTER 683: THE JI FAMILY SENDS OFF THEIR DAUGHTER

In the silent passage of the end of the twenty-first year of Shengping amidst various disturbances, the excitement in the capital surged right after the new year, with noble families bustling to the various clothing and gift shops in the city to prepare their outfits or gifts.

And why is this? Because Prince Min is having a grand wedding in February. Those attending the banquet must prepare their attire, and the noble families must send gifts. After all, this is the Prince, the youngest brother of the Emperor. Can the congratulatory gifts be handled carelessly?

So let’s not even mention the bustling clothing and gift shops; even shops related to red and white events were very lively, making the shopkeepers beam with joy.

Some opportunists had already sent congratulatory gifts to Prince Min Mansion in advance. Looking at the half-person tall red coral bonsai, Princess Consort Ji was all smiles. This is the honor and dignity brought by status.

But the next moment, her smile faded at the corners of her mouth, a displeasure arising in her heart as she glanced at her maternal family seated below.

Her elder sister-in-law had lived comfortably for over twenty years, mastered the arts of envy and avarice thoroughly, but had not learned even a bit of reading people’s expressions and speaking appropriately, mentioning the least opportune things.

Madam Ji noticed the displeasure on Princess Consort Ji’s face, feeling somewhat awkward but still had to speak, thinking of her own family’s future.

"Lady, whether you like to hear it or not, no matter how much you blame me, I must speak. I heard from your eldest brother, if the Prince were to marry that Commandery Princess, it is almost impossible for her to bear a legitimate son. That’s why the Emperor granted another concubine."

Madam Ji said, "Lady, back when you were in Xuzhou, perhaps you could find a satisfactory daughter-in-law; I did not dare to mention it. But now? Lady, I have inquired and found that girl from the Grandmaster’s family to be extremely proud, even disdainfully speaking of us newly flourishing rural folk as vulgar and unbearable. If she were to enter the household, would she truly align with your heart?"

Princess Consort Ji half-squinted her eyes, glancing over at the charming girl seated nearby, Ji Suhua.

Ji Suhua seemed to sense Princess Consort Ji’s gaze, shyly meeting her eyes for a moment before lowering her face full of bashfulness, yet not forgetting to push out her chest.

Princess Consort Ji’s gaze swept over her chest, letting out a soft snort.

"Take Fourth Miss out to admire the snow."

Ji Suhua: "..."

Although the words were harsh, admiring the snow? Spring hasn’t even started, and it’s still cold.

But she dared not disobey.

After Ji Suhua left, Princess Consort Ji spoke, "You are truly considerate of this consort, specially choosing Suhua to keep me company for the sake of a supposed unity?"

"Lady, since the Prince is a noble, he can marry one wife and two concubines. Now that the Fang family occupies one position, if Suhua were to serve you and the Prince, the children she bears would surpass those of the Fang family, wouldn’t they be your closer bloodline?" Madam Ji slowly said, "I have already consulted a master about Suhua’s birthdate, and it indicates a life that prospers husband and children, with many offspring and much fortune. Lady, if she were to bear a capable son, and you personally raised him, how would he be different from a legitimate grandson?"

"Exactly, Aunt, Suhua is one of our own. She could betray anyone but certainly not you!" Doctor Ji chimed in.

Indeed, seeing that Prince Min was about to have a grand wedding, with a legitimate and a concubine already in place, if they continued to hesitate, they feared not even a concubine would be theirs, let alone a wife.

Hence, they kept hinting at it every three days, and Princess Consort Ji pretended not to understand before. Now that it was stated explicitly, framed in terms of interest, she could hardly feign ignorance anymore.

This generation of the Ji family women must secure at least a concubine position to ensure the Ji family’s wealth and prosperity continues. If not for the Emperor’s disinterest, they might consider sending them to the Imperial Palace.