Chapter 471: Chapter 259: Liang Zhaoyi Promoted to Lady Liang_3
"Your Highness is too kind, and this servant will take his leave."
"Mr. Sun, take care on your way."
Sun Kui carried the imperial decree to Kunde Hall.
Liang Zhaoyi was not at all surprised by her promotion to consort. After the Fourth Prince was granted a marriage by the Emperor, she had already guessed that Consort Li would be promoted to Princess Consort Li, and then, having given birth to a prince, she too would be elevated.
Sun Kui also informed Lady Liang of Princess Consort Ying’s promotion to Noble Princess Consort Ying, as well as the promotion of Consort Li to Princess Consort Li.
Lady Liang thought to herself: as expected!
Sun Kui drank tea at Kunde Hall before leaving. As he left, he did not hesitate to take the rewards given by Lady Liang.
After Sun Kui left, Yu Meiren and Pan Cairen came one after another to congratulate Lady Liang. Liang Zhaoyi’s promotion to Lady Liang made them happier than Lady Liang herself.
"I thought we would never be promoted in this lifetime, but now, Elder Sister has been promoted to a consort."
"That’s wonderful. Now that you’re a consort, Your Ladyship can summon your family to the palace."
Lady Liang hadn’t considered this point, and upon hearing Pan Cairen’s words, she finally felt the joy of being promoted to a consort.
"I didn’t expect the promotion either."
Zhao Yao, however, was not surprised at all: "Father gave General Lu’s daughter in marriage to Fourth Brother, so it was bound that Lady Li’s rank would be elevated. However, promoting only Fourth Brother’s mother would not look good, so Father elevated Princess Consort Ying and Mother as well."
Yu Meiren listened to Zhao Yao and said with a surprised face: "Is that what happened?"
Pan Cairen looked shocked and said: "Yao Yao, do you mean that Elder Sister’s promotion was incidental?"
Zhao Yao lightly nodded and said, "That’s right; Mother’s promotion was incidental." He said this with his mouth, but he did not believe it in his heart. He knew inside that the promotion of Liang Zhaoyi to consort was the main event, and the elevation of Consort Li was the incidental part.
The Fifth Princess tapped Zhao Yao on the head with her hand and said: "Tenth Brother, do you speak of your mother like that?"
Zhao Yao held his head and glared at the Fifth Princess, saying: "I didn’t say anything wrong."
"Your Ladyship, look at Tenth Brother..."
Lady Liang smiled slightly: "Yao Yao is right, I was merely promoted incidentally."
Yu Meiren laughed and said, "Being incidentally promoted is not a bad thing. Now that Elder Sister is a consort, she can see her family whenever she wishes." Yu Meiren and Pan Cairen were filled with envy.
Lady Liang said, "In the future, I will have your families summoned to the palace so you can meet them."
Hearing Lady Liang say this, Yu Meiren and Pan Cairen immediately teared up.
Both were deeply moved, and with choked voices, said: "Elder Sister... thank you..."
"We are sisters, no need for such courtesy," Lady Liang sighed lightly in her heart, thinking she could finally see her second brother openly.
The other concubines in the harem were not surprised by Consort Li’s promotion to Princess Consort Li or Liang Zhaoyi’s promotion to consort. Of course, some were still taken aback. However, more shocking than their promotions was Princess Consort Ying’s elevation to Noble Princess Consort Ying.
Princess Consort Ying had only been in the palace a few years before being promoted to Noble Princess Consort Ying, which was stunning.
Why was Princess Consort Ying promoted to Noble Princess Consort Ying?
She had been in the palace for two or three years without bearing an imperial heir. What qualifications did she have to become a noble princess?
However, when they thought about how Noble Princess Consort Rong had not been elevated to Imperial Concubine and now had to stand on equal footing with Noble Princess Consort Ying, they instantly felt balanced. Of course, there was more schadenfreude.
Noble Princess Consort Rong had been a noble princess for over ten years and had not been elevated to Imperial Concubine. Yet, Princess Consort Ying had been in the palace only two or three years and was promoted to Noble Princess Consort Ying. If she bore an imperial heir, she might ascend to Imperial Concubine, surpassing Noble Princess Consort Rong in rank.
Of all the concubines, Noble Princess Consort Rong was the most displeased by Princess Consort Ying’s promotion.
She couldn’t accept standing on equal footing with Noble Princess Consort Ying, whom she considered a substitute. Upon hearing the news, she smashed many cups and vases in anger.
In Zhao Yang Palace, upon hearing the news, Empress Xie was delighted. She graciously and kindly rewarded Noble Princess Consort Ying, Princess Consort Li, and Lady Liang with gifts.
Before long, the ministers heard of the matter.
Could this be the second good news the Emperor mentioned?
In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince’s face was somewhat unpleasant.
"Father, first, he grants General Lu’s daughter to Fourth Brother, and then he elevates Fourth Brother’s mother’s rank." The Crown Prince frowned, showing displeasure, and said, "Is Father trying to build momentum for Fourth Brother?"
The Eighth Prince nodded, saying, "I’m afraid so." It seemed that Father wanted to draw Fourth Brother into the rivalry between the Crown Prince and Prince Dai.
"Could Fourth Brother be Father’s most beloved son?" The Crown Prince and Prince Dai had never received such treatment, which made the Crown Prince uncomfortable.
"Brother, I don’t think so," the Eighth Prince stated his guess, "Father may be trying to balance the court."
"Balance the court? What do you mean?" the Crown Prince asked, puzzled.
"Father wants to use Fourth Brother to balance you and Prince Dai." Of course, this wasn’t the main purpose.
Upon hearing the Eighth Prince’s words, the Crown Prince understood immediately.
"So that’s it."
"Brother, Fourth Brother is not a concern; our biggest enemy is still Prince Dai."
"You’re right." Compared to the Fourth Prince, the Crown Prince detested Prince Dai the most.
"Once we get rid of Prince Dai, it won’t be too late to deal with Fourth Brother." The Eighth Prince said, "Brother, Fourth Brother is not your match."
"Indeed, Fourth Brother is not our match."
Marquis Xuanping also conveyed similar words to Prince Dai. He advised Prince Dai not to target the Fourth Prince, as their greatest enemy remained the Crown Prince. Furthermore, the Fourth Prince posed no threat to them. Once they removed the Crown Prince, everything would be theirs.
"That’s easy to say, but I’m still upset," Prince Dai responded with discontent, "Uncle, don’t you think Father prefers Fourth Brother over me?"
"Your Highness, you’re overthinking. No prince compares to you," Marquis Xuanping reassured Prince Dai, "The Fourth Prince is just a pawn of the Emperor, meant to hone you."
"To hone me?" Prince Dai looked puzzled, "What does Father want to hone me for?"
"Your Highness, it’s not easy to sit in that seat; you must undergo various trials by the Emperor, and the Fourth Prince is the Emperor’s way of honing you," Marquis Xuanping was not merely trying to comfort Prince Dai with idle words, but actually believed this, "We cannot act against the Fourth Prince just yet."
Though somewhat clumsy in court matters, Prince Dai was not hopelessly incompetent.
"I understand; I won’t act against Fourth Brother." If he were to act, it would be after he eliminated the Crown Prince.