"Tian Yue has grown up and knows gratitude," Xue Xing Yue said.
Xue Tian Yue heard this and said with a smile, "Aunt, you are only six years older than Tian Yue, but what you say sounds like you are much older."
Xue Xing Yue couldn't help but laugh at this, "Being a year older is still older, and you're being disrespectful."
Seeing this, Xue Tian Yue took Xue Xing Yue's hand and said, "Tian Yue is indeed disrespectful. Who asked you to be Tian Yue's aunt? You just have to put up with it."
"Look at this child," Xue Xing Yue said with a helpless smile.
Feng Wu smiled and said, "The First Prince is still so close to Your Highness."
Xue Tian Yue said proudly, "Naturally, Aunt held me the most when I was little."
"Indeed, I was holding you once, and I didn't expect you to pee on my hand," Xue Xing Yue laughed happily.
Xue Tian Yue's face flushed slightly upon hearing this, "Aunt, please don't talk about these embarrassing things."
"Feng Wu, look, he's shy!" Xue Xing Yue reached out and patted Xue Tian Yue on the shoulder, continuing, "Aunt won't say more, or my Tian Yue will leave in shame."
"Tian Yue and Xing Yue are still so close," Xue Xing Chen said, looking at Xue Tian Yue and Xue Xing Yue with relief.
However, a shadow crossed Consort An's eyes. Her son, whom she had raised with such effort, was not close to her but was close to Xue Xing Yue. How could she not be jealous and resentful?
That was her child, hers.
"Tian Yue, you are an adult now. You cannot be so disrespectful to Princess Xing Yue. Remember your identity," Consort An said, pinching the handkerchief in her hand, trying her best to appear dignified and composed.
Xue Tian Yue was stunned. He rose and bowed, saying, "Your unworthy son remembers it in his heart!"
Consort An nodded.
Xue Tian Yue sat down. He looked at Xue Xing Yue with some apology. He was not foolish and knew that his mother had some hostility towards his aunt.
He had also overheard that his aunt commanded a hundred thousand troops.
But that was because his aunt was capable. Who in the world could achieve what his aunt, a woman, had as a general?
However, his mother disliked his aunt, and he did not want to anger his mother or hurt his aunt.
"Tian Yue, Consort is right. In such an occasion, Aunt forgot her status," Xue Xing Yue said.
"Aunt, it is Tian Yue's fault," Xue Tian Yue said guiltily, lowering his head.
"You are not at fault, none of us are. It's just that being born into royalty makes one a bit helpless."
Xue Tian Yue was stunned. He subconsciously looked up and saw Xue Xing Yue's profile. Her beauty was peerless, with a hint of melancholy.
Like starlight and moonlight fallen into the mortal world, covered in dust.
Xue Xing Yue turned her head and looked at him, her eyes clear and bright, as dazzling as the morning sun, entering his heart bit by bit.
Xue Tian Yue stared blankly.
It wasn't until Feng Wu coughed lightly beside him that Xue Tian Yue snapped back to reality. He smiled with unusual candor, "Aunt is truly beautiful."
"Aunt is old, where could she be beautiful?"
Xue Tian Yue said nothing more. Only he knew how fast his heart had been beating just now.
"This consort also has something to announce today," Consort An said.
Consort An said to the person beside her, "Let her come in!"
Soon, led by a palace maid, a woman slowly walked towards them. She wore palace attire and had a beautiful face. Although she appeared somewhat timid and demure, she was also a rare beauty. Everyone was surprised. Could this be someone for the Emperor?
Only Madam Jiang gritted her teeth, her nails digging into her flesh. This Jiang Xiu Yi, her good niece, had actually hooked up with Consort An.
Meng Jiang Ming was also taken aback. He had clearly sent his cousin back, so why was his cousin here?
"This commoner, Jiang Xiu Yi, pays respects to His Majesty and Consort," Jiang Xiu Yi said cautiously.
Some discerning court officials' families had already guessed that this person was the niece of Madam Jiang of Ning Guo Gong's mansion.
"This consort and Miss Jiang hit it off immediately. This consort finds Miss Jiang very approachable. From now on, Miss Jiang will enter the palace to accompany this consort. What do you think, Miss Jiang?"
Not only Madam Jiang was stunned, but Jiang Xiu Yi was also stunned. No, it wasn't like this, it wasn't.
"Miss Jiang, the Consort is asking you a question?" a eunuch beside them reminded her in a high-pitched voice.
"I..."
"Why, Miss Jiang, do you disagree?" Consort An looked at Jiang Xiu Yi with slightly cold eyes.
Jiang Xiu Yi suddenly knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "This commoner obeys the decree."
"Your Majesty, this consort likes Miss Jiang very much. See..."
"I permit it," Xue Xing Chen said.
He knew who Jiang Xiu Yi was. When he chose Meng Jiang Ming as Xing Yue's consort, he had investigated Meng Jiang Ming thoroughly and also knew that Meng Jiang Ming had a childhood sweetheart cousin.
As for why he had insisted on bestowing the marriage even though he knew Meng Jiang Ming had a childhood sweetheart cousin, it was because he knew that Meng Jiang Ming and Jiang Xiu Yi had not truly been together, and Meng Jiang Ming had not truly taken Jiang Xiu Yi.
In this regard, Xue Xing Chen admired him somewhat. With a beauty in his arms, even he could not have remained as virtuous as Liu Xiahui.
Moreover, Meng Jiang Ming and his cousin were in love, yet he could achieve this. He felt that Meng Jiang Ming would achieve great things in the future.
Now, someone had helped Jiang Xiu Yi resolve this, which he found very much to his liking.
"As long as my beloved consort likes her,朕 has no objections," Xue Xing Chen said.
Jiang Xiu Yi trembled all over, knowing that she had no right to refuse.
"Miss Jiang, why don't you thank His Majesty for his grace?" the eunuch beside them said.
"This commoner thanks His Majesty for his great favor!" Jiang Xiu Yi said.
"Your Majesty, this consort is a bit tired."
Xue Xing Chen looked at Consort An and asked with concern, "My beloved consort must be tired from the journey.朕 will have someone escort you back to rest."
"Your Majesty, there is no need. Let Miss Jiang accompany this consort back!"
"Alright," Xue Xing Chen nodded.
"Miss Jiang, why don't you come and support the Consort?"
Jiang Xiu Yi tremblingly stepped forward and supported Consort An, leaving the place.
Madam Jiang also suddenly stood up and turned to leave.
Meng Lian quickly reprimanded, "What are you doing?"
"I want to go ask her why she did this?" With that, Madam Jiang left without looking back.
"Absurd," Meng Lian said angrily.
"Father, don't worry, I'll go take a look," Meng Jiang Ming said.
Meng Lian nodded, "Don't let your mother do anything out of line."
"Father, don't worry, I know," Meng Jiang Ming said and then left.
Seeing this, Xue Xing Yue said to Feng Wu beside her, "Go and take a look."
Feng Wu nodded and quietly withdrew.
Consort An sat on the soft couch, looking at Jiang Xiu Yi, who was kneeling on the ground, and said while drinking tea, "Jiang Xiu Yi, are you very unhappy serving this consort?"
Jiang Xiu Yi trembled all over and quickly said, "Consort, your lowly servant dares not!"
Consort An heard this and lightly exclaimed, "So you only dare not. If you dared, you would have refused long ago, wouldn't you?"
Jiang Xiu Yi raised her head and looked at Consort An, asking boldly, "Since Consort knows, why do you insist on doing this?"