The Emperor observed the couple's lack of objections and felt a pang of guilt. To express his gratitude, he issued an even more generous reward for Gu Shengyin the following day.
The couple returned to the Jiang residence in high spirits.
Upon arriving home, Princess Wencheng relayed the Emperor's words to her daughter. She then carefully observed her daughter's reaction, relieved to see that Gu Shengyin seemed genuinely happy, with no trace of disappointment. Princess Wencheng had been worried that her daughter might resent losing the prestigious status of becoming the Crown Prince's consort. As someone who grew up in the palace, she was acutely aware of the harsh realities of harem life.
Gu Shengyin, however, was delighted. She had been seeking a way to dissolve the engagement with Ji Ye and had not expected such a favorable turn of events.
This development was not part of the original story. Curious, Gu Shengyin contacted the system.
The system flickered briefly before responding:
"Analyzing… Unable to detect abnormalities. The world's natural laws may have corrected themselves. Please proceed with the mission as usual."
Accepting the system's explanation, Gu Shengyin decided not to dwell on it further.
Princess Wencheng, however, was seething. "This is too lenient for Jiang Yunshan!" she exclaimed angrily.
To her, allowing an illegitimate daughter like Jiang Yunshan to marry into the royal family—even as a secondary consort—was already too much of a reward. Princess Wencheng firmly believed in the omen from the Sun and Moon dream and knew that Jiang Yunshan's low status could not be publicly revealed without risking backlash from court officials. If not for this, the Imperial family might have even considered elevating her status further.
Gu Shengyin, on the other hand, thought differently. Too lenient? Not necessarily. After all, in the original timeline, Ji Ye and Jiang Yunshan were the ones responsible for the Jiang family's downfall. Since she now occupied Jiang Lingzhen's body, it was only fitting to make them pay for their actions.
Meanwhile, Ji Yu held a report in his hands, his lips curling into a faint smile.
"I've been at Qianlong Temple for far too long. I wonder if my old acquaintances still remember me," he mused softly.
The next day, two imperial decrees shocked the entire capital.
Both were directly related to the Jiang family.
The first decree, written personally by the Emperor, elevated Jiang Lingzhen, formerly the Lord of Langhua County, to the title of Qingyang County Lord. Along with this new title, she was granted the land of Qingyang County. This marked the first time in the dynasty's history that a County Lord was bestowed such a significant honor.
The second decree baffled the entire court. It announced that Jiang Yunshan, the illegitimate daughter of General Jiang, was to be taken as a secondary consort by the Crown Prince.
The news left many confused. The Crown Prince, as the heir to the throne, was expected to take secondary consorts from noble, well-established families. How had Jiang Yunshan, an illegitimate daughter with no notable background, managed to secure such a position?
Within the Jiang residence, Jiang Yunshan basked in her newfound status. Dressed in a luxurious dark red satin skirt embroidered with butterflies—a gift from the Imperial Palace—she listened smugly to the endless stream of compliments from her maids and sycophants.
She cast a glance toward Youhuang Courtyard, where Jiang Lingzhen resided, and smirked. So what if you're the legitimate daughter? So what if you're a County Lord? In the end, your fiancé is now mine.
Fingering the fine fabric of her skirt, Jiang Yunshan reveled in her triumph. The thought of her new position filled her with pride and anticipation.
No rush. I'll take everything from you, bit by bit. Jiang Lingzhen, I'll make sure you know what it feels like to have nothing.
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