C8

The current empress dowager was the emperor's biological mother, and he was the only son of the emperor, so they were still very close.

The emperor's concubines all came from shrewd people deep within the compound. Seeing how the emperor treated the empress dowager with such respect naturally made them show even greater respect. Thus, the empress dowager usually didn't have any worries during her stay in the imperial harem.

The only thing that gave the empress dowager a headache was her eldest nephew, Jiang Liancheng. She was already 22 years old, and she was in no hurry to start a family. He had hinted at him many times, both openly and covertly. Even though the city wasn't small, he still pretended that he didn't understand.

The palace had held several fairs, and the housekeeper ladies who came to admire the flowers all understood that the meaning behind being drunk was not wine. Each and every one of them was better dressed than the other.

However, his concubine's intentions were merciless. Jiang Liancheng had at first come up with some excuses, but it was either because his concubine despised his young lady's lack of talent or because her body was too full of makeup.

After the survival of the fittest, Jiang Liancheng got annoyed. Since he couldn't find any problems, he decided to just avoid it.

In the end, even Jiang Lian Cheng didn't get touched by any of the flowers, and the imperial harem of Ling Mo City had a lot of concubines.

Every time, the empress dowager would get angry at Jiang Liancheng, but every time, Jiang Liancheng would be forced to roll around and mess things up. Then, the empress dowager lost her cool once and asked Jiang Liancheng straightforwardly, "Liancheng, tell aunt the truth. Is there anything you find difficult to talk about?" Her Majesty thought that there was some unspeakable disease in Jiang Liancheng.

At that time, Jiang Liancheng held back his laughter for a long time: "Aunt, Lian Cheng is very healthy. It's just that I didn't meet the one I love."

From then on, the empress dowager stopped thinking and never gave Jiang Lian a party to admire the flowers.

This time, Jiang Liancheng took the initiative to look for him. When the young eunuch at the door saw that it was Jiang Liancheng, he hurriedly sent a message into the house. When the empress dowager, who was resting on the imperial concubine's chair, heard that Lian Cheng had come, she was slowly helped up by the maid. The first thought that came to her mind was' Lian Cheng has awakened and wants me to propose marriage. '…

Sure enough, after Jiang Liancheng entered the room and paid his respects to the empress dowager, he moved a small chair over to the empress dowager's side and shyly beat her thighs, telling her that he had something to request of her.

When the Empress Dowager saw that the boy was embarrassed for once, she dismissed the question and asked him what was the matter.

"The weather has been very hot recently. I can see that after noon, you won't be in much spirits. My mother is one as well. Recently, it has been a bitter summer. In previous summers, imperial brother would bring you and mother to stay at the mountain resort for a period of time. This year, imperial brother would be busy with government affairs.

"That's all?" "Yeah."

"Is there nothing else?" Auntie, if you want to take anyone else with you, we can go together. "

The empress dowager raised a hand to support her forehead as she frowned. This child really gave her a headache. The empress dowager sighed when she saw Jiang Liancheng staring at her with sparkling eyes.

"I thought you had figured it out and wanted your aunt to propose to you!"

"Auntie, which family do you think is the best for me to bring along? Lian Cheng will talk to her on the way there."

"Really?"

"How could Lian City dare to lie to Aunt?"

"Alright, This Dowager will go and tell the Emperor right now. Go home and pack up with your mother, we'll set off tomorrow."

After Jiang Liancheng's goal was achieved, he grinded for a long time at the empress dowager's place until the empress dowager gave him another pot of Qi Shan Mist Tea that he had just sent to the palace.

After returning to the manor, the young prince told his mother about his departure for the next day. He then went back to his own pavilion, which was filled with things to use during the winter and summer.

The reason why he wanted to follow the empress dowager to the mountain resort was because he wanted to travel to Fuan City halfway. The mountain resort was located between the capital and Fuan City.

This time, he did not plan to make a big fuss on his trip to Liangzhou City. He planned to follow the conscription team all the way north from Fuan City. He had already informed Fuan City's recruitment team in advance.

The young prince, who had only prepared a few belongings, was lying on his bed, thinking about his route tomorrow.

After the Empress Dowager waited for Jiang Liancheng to leave, she thought for a long time in her own Tzu Ning palace. Finally, with the excuse of "missing", she recruited Lin Yu, the Minister of Revenue and Minister Lin's eldest daughter into the palace.

After a secret conversation, Lin Yu sat on the palanquin with a face full of joy as he returned to his residence, continuously urging the man to hurry up and leave. After another round of secret talks, Lin Yu stepped onto the capital's most famous pavilion, Rainbow Skirt Pavilion, and before Jade Pavilion closed the door, he bought a lot of clothes and accessories.

That night, both Lian Cheng and Madame Jiang slept soundly in the general's manor. The empress dowager in the palace even had a smile on her face when she slept, while Miss Lin in the Lin estate tossed and turned in her excitement until almost the entire night without sleep.

On the morning of the second day, a guard formed of one hundred imperial guards led two carriages under the command of Gao Mang, the imperial guard. He first welcomed the empress dowager into a carriage at the palace, then went straight to the prince's mansion to greet the mother and son. Finally, he passed by the Lin Estate to pick up Lin Yu.

When they arrived at the gates of the prince's estate, the empress dowager immediately waved towards Madame Jiang. The young prince knew his place and took another carriage himself. When he arrived at the entrance of the Lin Clan estate, he immediately got off his palanquin and welcomed Lin Yu into his carriage. He even helped Lin Yu carry the carriage's curtain.

The empress dowager heard the maid say how the young prince was so considerate that he directly covered his mouth with a handkerchief. Only Madame Jiang smiled and shook her head when she heard her words.

The pitiful Lin Yu had only heard of the young prince's moody mood. Today, when he saw Jiang Liancheng with his own eyes, he felt that he looked so beautiful and so graceful. He felt extremely lucky.

Once the guards had gathered their men, they set off for the mountain resort. The imperial guards were well-trained and orderly, and the only sounds that could be heard were the sound of footsteps, the sound of horses hooves, and the sound of wheels rolling on the ground.

However, the atmosphere inside the carriage was completely different from outside. In the first carriage, Madame Jiang and the empress dowager were having a pleasant conversation. In the last carriage, Lin Yu did not dare to take the initiative to speak to Jiang Liancheng as he was in a noble house. He could only steal glances at the young prince's face from time to time.

"Young prince is really good-looking. I've always heard stories about how unruly he is, but he's really different when I see him in person. Handsome and gentle, if only I could marry him like the empress dowager said." As he thought of this, Lin Yu's face couldn't help but redden as he continuously twisted the handkerchief in his hand.

Lin Yu was thinking about her and the young prince's future, while Jiang Liancheng was thinking about his current situation. He was getting closer and closer to the entrance of Fuan City and the villa. It was about time for him to bid farewell to his aunt and mother.

"Stop the car!" Gao Mang, upon hearing the young prince's order, waved his hand, and the group instantly stopped. The young prince lifted the curtain of the carriage and took his bundle down from the carriage to the empress dowager's side.

"Aunt, Lian City will be heading straight to Fu An City on the road ahead. Please rest well with mother at the Manor." With that, Jiang Liancheng pulled Ma Yang, who was being led by a guard, and left.

Leaving his mother to explain the situation to his aunt and Lin Yu who didn't know what had happened, Madam Jiang looked at her son's leaving figure and thought about Lin Yu who was still in the carriage without knowing about it.