Jiang Fenghua said slowly, "Since I was young, I have heard my father praise the prince for his talent in both civil and military affairs. He was smart and capable since he was young. He once entered the Imperial College to fight against many students and became famous in one battle. Later, the Hu tribe gathered an army of 300,000 to attack the Great Zhou. The enemy was unstoppable and the cities of the Great Zhou were captured one after another. His Royal Highness the Duke of Heng, who was only 15 years old, led a dozen people to infiltrate the enemy camp and capture the enemy leader alive. The Hu tribe retreated, and the prince won a beautiful battle for the Great Zhou Dynasty. The prince is so brave and extraordinary, and it is also the credit of the imperial mother's careful teaching."
When mentioning Xie Shang's previous great achievements, Empress Cheng's eyes flashed with pride, but when she thought of her son's outstanding talents but he was not valued by the emperor, her brows couldn't help but twist together. Shang'er was not loved by the emperor because of her own fault.
A trace of doubt flashed across Jiang Fenghua's tender face, "What's wrong with imperial mother?"
"Shang'er is now obsessed with that woman, and I'm also having a headache." She glanced at Jiang Fenghua and directly took her hand, "So you have to pay more attention to Shang'er."
"I think the prince will understand the imperial mother's painstaking efforts. There is a saying among the people that one should get married first and then start a career. Before, the prince hadn't married yet, so his mind was naturally scattered, and it was understandable that father was not at ease to entrust him with important tasks. Now it's different. Just wait for Concubine Su to enter the mansion, and the prince will eventually be diligent and motivated."
After hearing this, the empress's mind suddenly became clear, and her eyes brightened, "This is a good idea. Let Shang'er go to the emperor to ask for a job. The emperor was unwilling to entrust him with important tasks before, but now it's different. Shang'er is married, and he is an adult. It is impossible for him to be idle all day. The emperor has no reason to refuse."
"In fact, there is no need for any important tasks at the moment." Jiang Fenghua said.
The empress frowned, "What do you mean?" Now that the crown prince has not been appointed, all the Dukes are vying for merit and recognition. Naturally, Shang'er has to make great achievements.
"Now that the world is at peace, Your Highness only needs to stay by His Majesty's side and share His Majesty's worries. There are innumerable affairs in Shengjing, big and small. With his Highness's intelligence and talent, I believe he will be able to handle them easily. If his Highness can handle his official duties properly, the emperor will naturally be happy."
The Empress's pupils dilated. She was indeed the daughter of the Imperial Academy tutor. She had a clear insight. It was better to keep him under the emperor's nose than to let him go far away. She said in a gentle voice, "Ruan Ruan, which position do you think Shang'er is suitable for?"
"I heard that Shengjing has a vacancy right now, the position of the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture. I think Your Highness can be qualified for it. He can go there to hone his skills and wait for his Majesty to entrust him with more important tasks." Jiang Fenghua's eyes lit up slightly. She found him something to do so that he wouldn't be stuck with Su Tingwan all day.
After hearing this, the empress suddenly stood up from her seat and said, "When his majesty was still the crown prince, he also served as the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture. This position is good. I will go to the imperial study to ask for permission immediately. Ruan Ruan, you can play in the palace first."
Empress Cheng was afraid that this lucrative job would fall into the hands of other princes and lose the opportunity, so she asked Nanny Xi to help her dress up again, and ordered Nanny Xi to take a bowl of soup from the small kitchen and put it in the food box before going to find the emperor.
Jiang Fenghua hurriedly stood up to see her off, and she stood up straight and walked out of the main hall until the empress walked away. She remembered that Xie Shang was made the crown prince because he would put on armor again in a year to repel the attack of the Hu barbarians. Xie Shang fought beautifully in that battle, and later he made contributions to flood control, showing extraordinary ability. The emperor was very pleased, so he was made the crown prince. But this year, after he and Su Tingwan got married, they fell in love and their relationship warmed up.
—
At the same time, Xie Shang went straight to the horse farm after leaving Kunning Palace. At this time, he didn't know that his wife had found him a job that was bothersome and entangled. Even if he didn't have official duties in the future, Jiang Fenghua would create official duties for him and make him perform well in front of the emperor.
A maroon horse was galloping on the horse farm, and a heroic woman in red was skillfully controlling the reins. Xie Shang looked over and wanted to stop her, but she couldn't hear him because he was too far away, so he rode a horse to catch up.
Xie Shang was very good at horse riding. When he caught up to Su Tingwan, he tightened the reins and explained, "Wan'er, don't be angry, Jiang Fenghua and I are innocent..."
Su Tingwan's eyes were slightly red, and she stubbornly refused to let her tears fall, "I'm not angry. The prince has married the princess, so he should live a good life with the princess. I'm going home, back to the general's mansion on the border."
Xie Shang was anxious, and abandoned his horse and galloped to Su Tingwan's horse: "You said you are not angry, but what should I do if you go back. I can't disobey the imperial decree of marriage issued by my father. Marrying her is just a stopgap measure. The only person I like is Wanwan." Su Tingwan didn't pretend, her brows were full of joy, and she got into Xie Shang's arms, "A Shang, is there really nothing between you and her?"
"I swear…" Su Tingwan quickly covered his mouth, "I don't want you to swear, I just want you to love me wholeheartedly, and only me in your heart."
"Okay, I promise that you are the only one in my heart." He agreed with tenderness in his eyes.
"It's a pity that your mother doesn't like me, otherwise she wouldn't be so eager to marry you a princess." Su Tingwan's eyes were full of disappointment, "A Shang, I really gave up a lot for you. I could have not married you as a concubine. There are many men in our place who proposed to me, and I could be their legal wife, but you are the only one in my heart, and I can't bear to be separated from you."
Xie Shang felt more and more satisfied. The Su family would never marry their daughter to someone else as a concubine. He promised that if he could reach the top in the future, he would give her the best.
The Su family also knew that among the many princes, the Duke of Heng had the greatest chance. If it weren't for the bad relationship between the Empress and the Emperor, with the Duke of Heng's talent, for sure the Emperor would have made the Duke of Heng the Crown Prince long ago. In addition, since Concubine Su had no prince, she had no chance to be with the Queen Mother. If the Su family wanted to survive, they had to find another way. Unexpectedly, the Queen intervened and forced another woman to sit in the position of Heng Wangfei.
Su Tingwan deliberately got angry, "But why are you still hugging her!"
"How could this prince hug her?"
"I saw it all, you just hugged her." Su Tingwan said coquettishly, "Is she beautiful?"
Xie Shang's mind flashed through Jiang Fenghua's stunning appearance, his body stiffened, and he was stunned for a moment, "Not bad!"
"Is she prettier than me?"
Xie Shang couldn't answer. In his heart, Su Tingwan was the best, not just because she was beautiful. He didn't care whether she was beautiful or not when he liked someone, he just wanted to simply like her.
Su Tingwan saw that he didn't answer, and she seemed to be blocked in her heart. She raised her face and said confidently, "I am the most beautiful girl on our grassland. You must remember that you married the most beautiful girl on the grassland. It is your blessing to marry me." She said this with shamelessness. No wonder the empress didn't like her. No matter how arrogant the people in the world are, who can be more arrogant than the prince.
Xie Shang didn't care. He just thought that she was cheerful and had no scheming plans. He liked such a confident girl. He said, "Yes, so I look forward to the day when Wanwan marries this prince."
She took the initiative to kiss his lips, "Ah Shang, you have to promise me that no matter how beautiful she is, you are not allowed to like her."
"I don't like her." He answered affirmatively.
"She is not allowed to like you either." Su Tingwan was proud, "But my Ah Shang is so handsome, she can't dislike you."
Xie Shang had a different feeling in his heart. Jiang Fenghua really didn't like him. She even took the initiative to arrange their marriage.
He thought to himself: Jiang Fenghua was right. He and Su Tingwan were having an affair without a matchmaker. I'm afraid my father will be even more disappointed in him.
After riding for a while, he suddenly said, "Let's go back!"
Su Tingwan paused, "You're going back so soon?" Ah Shang was not like this before. Is it because of Jiang Fenghua, he cares about her?
"I still have to pay my respects to my imperial father." His voice became cold and heavy, giving people an unquestionable sense of oppression.