The Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir

Chapter 153: Buying insurance

"I've already written a letter to Yuzhen to ask my imperial father to demand a titled prince position for Ah Li."

(T/N: Even though Zhao Li is a prince, he won't have any title and associated land until the emperor bestows it.)

Slowing her steps, Ji Man turned her head to the side to look at Pengyue. She felt a bit stunned. Everyone knew that the emperor didn't favor the second prince. The second prince's mother had died young, so it was inevitable that people would secretly bully him. But, she was surprised that Pengyue wouldn't feel disdain towards that type of person and wanted to help him fight to significantly improve his situation.

Wait, why did she feel that this tale was somewhat familiar? After a cripple prince, who hadn't been able to fight for power for himself, marries a woman that's as beautiful as a flower, he starts competing to gain the country for his beautiful wife. In the end, he arrogantly laughs at the world that he's conquered. Wasn't this the most frequently seen plot in light novels?!

She didn't even know which prince had ended up successfully seized the throne in the original novel. She had originally thought the third prince already had victory within his grasp. But then, someone had suddenly framed him, and Nie Xiangyuan had been sacked for corruption. After these two events, the third prince's side had become much meeker. Although the first prince had the empress and the prime minister's supporting him, he hadn't attempted or accomplished anything recently that would allow him to re-seize the position of the crown prince.

(T/N: Just in case it was too long ago, the current prime minister is the first prince's maternal cousin.)

Then, what about the second prince that had previously been obscure and silent? Ji Man furrowed her brow.

"I came over here and told you about all this because I wanted you to help me with something." Pengyue finally got to the important point. "Even if my imperial father says something, it won't be guaranteed that Ah Li will be given a good fiefdom. If Marquis Moyu can say a few words on his behalf, the likelihood of a good outcome would be assured."

Oh my god, even if Pengyu was a princess, she was still only a teenager. Was it really good that she was this wise in the ways of the world? Ji Man glanced at her and asked with a smile, "Why does everyone think that Marquis Moyu omnipotent?"

Pengyu had come here to ask for Marquis Moyu's assistance regarding the matter of the emperor bestowing a title on the second prince. Someone had also wanted his help in getting Ning Mingjie the position of Zhenyuan General. He was only a leisurely marquis that managed the Six Ministries, so why did everyone think that a few words from him were enough to guarantee a certain outcome?

"No one is saying that the marquis is omnipotent. It's just that it would be good to get the marquis's assistance." Smilingly, Pengyu tugged on her hand and said, "Older sister Sangyu, I naturally won't forget this kindness either."

Ji Man was silent for a long time as she led her into Feiwan Courtyard.

Ji Man said, "Dengxin, bring tea for the princess consort." Then, she gestured towards a shelf and signaled with her eyes which of the tea set that she wanted Dengxin to use.

Dengxin understood her meaning and took the tea set down from the shelf and placed it on the table. She poured the tea into a teacup and presented it Princess Pengyu. "Your Highness, please."

Pengyue took the cup and was slightly stunned.

The cup was made with first-class white jade and decorated with a dancing red-crowned crane design. What made this a rare design was that the red-crowned crane's head was underneath its wings, and the crane was carved into the cup without breaking. The crane's habitat of water and grass also had textured gradation. It was a very fine teacup that would be difficult to purchase.