They are all concubines, so of course they choose the future emperor.

Chapter 220 Take the initiative

Originally, Li Chengye and Li Chengyu only needed to observe mourning for three years, but because of the death of the retired emperor, the mourning period was extended by one year.

Li Chengyu was spoiled and picky by nature. She was never satisfied with the husbands she had chosen for more than two years.

She thought those from wealthy families were too slick; she thought those from poor families held low official positions; after finally finding a suitable one, she thought he was too old; and when she chose a few young ones, she thought they looked too frivolous.

Anyway, she was never satisfied.

Jiang Wanyue actually knew that she was a little afraid of getting married. After all, she would not be as free and smooth as she is now after getting married. Even though she was a princess, she still had to take on certain responsibilities after getting married.

Therefore, Jiang Wanyue has always indulged her.

But that's no longer possible.

After leaving Liangyi Palace, Jiang Wanyue immediately instructed Qiongzhi beside her.

"Go tell the eldest princess that she can't choose now, so she needs to decide immediately."

Qiongzhi nodded, but was still a little confused.

"But, Madam, didn't the Emperor say that he would not allow the princess to marry?"

Jiang Wanyue frowned.

"If the emperor was really so determined, he wouldn't be so conflicted."

She only saw the letter and nothing else.

Logically speaking, when a defeated country comes to ask for peace, it is impossible for it to only send a letter of peace. This is just a face-saving measure. What is really important is the peace treaty.

Thinking of this, her heart moved.

After returning to Fenglai Palace, Jiang Wanyue called Mi'er and asked her to pass a message to the Jiang family and find a way to test the Tujie envoys.

The delegation stayed at the Honglu Guesthouse and was received by the Honglu Temple. The Jiang family did not have direct connections in the Honglu Temple, but the Honglu Temple had close contacts with the Ministry of Rites, so it was not difficult for them to get close to the delegation.

There was no need for the Jiang family to reply, she knew that their family would take care of it.

It was the next day in a blink of an eye.

There was no grand court meeting that day, but Li Ce still summoned many officials to the palace to discuss the matter mainly about the Tujie envoys.

A whole morning passed, and the ministers of the previous dynasty had not yet discussed a definite solution, but Li Chengyu came in a hurry.

"My lady, I heard that you want to marry?"

Li Chengyu held up her skirt, jumped over the threshold, ran quickly to Jiang Wanyue, bowed hastily, and asked impatiently.

Jiang Wanyue looked at her.

"Got it? Ye Er said that?"

Li Chengyu nodded, then bit his lip, with obvious confusion in his eyes.

But soon, she took a deep breath and clenched her fists.

"I am my father's eldest daughter. If he wants to marry me, he has to come up with a decent betrothal gift! I heard from my brother that Fu Nian has already gathered all the Tujie tribes. If he is willing to bring the Tujie to submit to our Great Zhou and become our vassal, I will marry him!"

She said this with gritted teeth, as if she had made a great decision.

Jiang Wanyue was amused by her appearance.

While laughing, I also felt a little relieved.

Li Chengyu stamped her feet and said, "Madam, why are you still laughing? I am telling the truth!"

"Okay, okay, I know you are filial, but your father and I will never let you marry a Tu Jie. Didn't we agree on this before? I will find you a husband, and you will live in the capital from now on. The princess's mansion will be completed soon."

She patted Li Chengyu's hand, asked her to sit down, and then changed the subject.

"Who taught you to say that? Don't tell me you just thought of that!"

Jiang Wanyue knew Li Chengyu too well, and she couldn't think of these things.

Li Chengyu pursed his nose, a little unhappy, feeling that he was being looked down upon, but he still answered truthfully.

"That's what Qixia said, but I think what she said makes sense, so I came here to tell Her Majesty."

Jiang Wanyue's eyebrows did not move, and she was not too surprised.

"It's not impossible to propose this. But even if I want to marry, I won't marry you. At most, I will choose a princess from the royal family. Don't worry!"

Jiang Wanyue is not partial to Li Chengyu, but Li Chengyu's brain... she will never move it if she can avoid it.

Moreover, she had a bad temper and would never humble herself. Of course, as a princess, she did not need to humble herself.

Jiang Wanyue and Li Ce both felt that it would be safest to choose a husband with a mild temper for her and keep her under their supervision.

As for whether the royal family will agree, that is another matter.

"What do you think of the three men I showed you last time? Are there any you like?" Jiang Wanyue changed the subject and began to urge you to get married. "I'm not asking you to get married right away. You should settle down first so that you can have an excuse to Capricorn."

She had only urged him casually, but she did not expect that Li Chengyu would suddenly become shy.

This is, there is hope!

Jiang Wanyue's eyes lit up.

"Why aren't you talking? Who do you like? Why are you too embarrassed to talk to me? Do you think I'm an outsider?"

"I'm not, I'm just, I'm just..." Li Chengyu twisted his fingers and mumbled for a long time before saying the second half of the sentence, "It's not the ones you mentioned, Madam."

"That's fine, as long as he's not engaged. Whose son is he?"

Jiang Wanyue said with a smile.

Li Chengyu blushed and whispered a name.

"It's Chen Yong."

Jiang Wanyue frowned slightly: "This name sounds familiar."

But she had recently looked at many lists of young people of marriageable age and did not remember this name.

Li Chengyu pursed his lips, tugged at his sleeves, and added another sentence.

"It's from the Gu'an Marquis Mansion."

Jiang Wanyue opened her eyes slightly.

Gu'an Marquis Mansion is the home of her cousin Su Xin.

But Su Xin’s eldest child is only ten years old!

Her forehead twitched.

"Are you sure it's from the Marquis of Gu'an Mansion?"

Li Chengyu nodded slightly. "Yes, he said he was the younger brother of Marquis Gu'an. I asked someone to find out. He is studying at Nanfang Academy and preparing for the exam next year! He is an ambitious person, but his mother's status is not good."

After she said that, Jiang Wanyue finally remembered.

Chen Jun has a younger brother.

The old Marquis of Gu'an had few descendants and died early, so Chen Jun inherited the title very early, so in Jiang Wanyue's subconscious, the Marquis of Gu'an was Chen Jun.

Speaking of the concubine of the old Marquis Gu'an, she was still the talk of the town in Beijing more than ten years ago.

This concubine was not from a good family, but was the most popular girl in a brothel. However, she was quite talented. She could play the piano, compose poetry, sing and dance, and play the pipa. She could be said to be the best in the capital.

Due to her background, it would be impossible for a girl like this to be accepted by a noble family.

More than ten years ago, the old lady of Gu'an Marquis was still alive. She was a serious and old-fashioned person, so naturally she would not agree to let this courtesan enter the house.

The old Marquis Gu'an made a big fuss in order to welcome her in.

Later, the old lady was forced to agree, but she set three rules: the woman was not allowed to live in the marquis's mansion, but could only live in a separate courtyard. If she gave birth to a child, the child could be included in the family tree, but it had to be recorded under someone else's name. Also, she had to immediately write a letter to confirm Chen Jun's position as the crown prince.

So, this courtesan was said to be the concubine of the old Marquis Gu'an, but in fact, she was just a mistress.

Two years after she moved into the villa of the old Marquis of Gu'an, she gave birth to a son, Chen Yong.

However, Chen Yong's mother was unlucky, or perhaps she was injured in the brothel, and died not long after giving birth to him. The old Marquis of Gu'an was so grief-stricken that he also died of illness a few months later.

After that, Chen Yong lived alone in the villa.

Gu'an Marquis's Mansion didn't ignore him and would send gifts to him on weekdays. Su Xin's mother-in-law, Chen Yong's stepmother, was good at superficial work and always sent gifts with great fanfare, but in fact, she only sent some ordinary food and cloth, and no silver.

The child lost his parents and grew up relying on the support of the eldest wife.

As far as Jiang Wanyue could remember, she had only seen him once, when she was living in Gu'an Hou.

I remember that it was a very beautiful child whose gender was hard to tell.

In the blink of an eye, we can even get married.

Jiang Wanyue was not without emotion.

But, if I remember correctly, the child is only fourteen or thirteen this year!

She turned and looked at Li Chengyu, speechless.

"Is it because he's good-looking that you rejected him? You rejected so many people before. Are you deliberately trying to delay until he comes of age?"

Li Chengyu's face turned even redder, but he still nodded.

Jiang Wanyue raised her hand to support her forehead.

"You are simply... I don't know what to say to you! You look down on so many people, but you choose a child?"

"He's not young! He's only two years younger than me. In two years, he'll be sixteen and I'll be eighteen. Isn't that just right?"

Li Chengyu was not convinced.

"Besides, you are nine years younger than father! I just saw someone who is two years younger. He is much more restrained than father."

Jiang Wanyue's mouth twitched.

"If you have the guts, say this again in front of your father."

Damn kid!