Chapter 927: Chapter 927: The Princess’s Companion Reader

Yun Jiao’s head was about to explode; it was just after New Year, and they wanted to arrange some absurd marriage before Ruru even turned eight in September!

She knew very well that the Empress called her ’sister’ so warmly because she brought benefits to the Empress.

This feigned warmth was intended to draw Duke and Jiang Youzhi closer through her.

Yun Jiao was always clear-headed and never got dizzy from the Empress’s frequent calls of ’sister.’

To the Empress, she always showed appropriate enthusiasm but never let her guard down.

The Empress wanted to expedite this marriage simply to bind Duke and Jiang Youzhi to the Eldest Prince through an alliance.

Currently, the Emperor had not appointed a Crown Prince.

The Empress’s Second Prince and the Imperial Concubine’s Eldest Prince were both eleven, Consort Liang’s Third Prince was nine, and the Imperial Concubine’s Fourth Prince was eight.

Now that the Imperial Concubine was favored, the Empress was a bit anxious.

Yun Jiao slowly smiled, "Ruru?"

"Your Majesty, you don’t know my family Ruru. She is even more mischievous than a boy."

"She was taken to the military camp by the Duke and is always hanging out with the soldiers. Who knows how she’ll turn out in the future?"

The Empress was unaware of this and said in surprise, "She’s in the military camp? Ruru is a girl after all, and the camp is full of men, which isn’t appropriate."

Yun Jiao shrugged, "That’s what I said, but I’m just Ruru’s sister-in-law; I don’t have the authority."

"As for Ruru’s marriage, I wouldn’t dare bring it up to the Duke. Ruru is only over six years old, and if I dared to mention marriage, the Duke wouldn’t spare me."

The Empress thought for a moment and felt that Yun Jiao’s words made sense. After all, Duke had such a temper; when agitated, he even dared to scold the Emperor.

The Empress smiled, "I am indeed somewhat impatient. The children are still young; it’s truly inappropriate to settle things so early. We can wait a few more years."

Yun Jiao took the opportunity to rise and excuse herself.

The Empress didn’t keep her and instructed the palace maid to see Yun Jiao out of the palace.

Yun Jiao returned home, first taking off the heavy phoenix crown and removing her ceremonial dress, complaining, "These things are indeed beautiful, but wearing them is exhausting."

Jiang Youzhi laughed beside her, "You’re complaining, yet there are countless women out there who long for a phoenix crown and red robes but cannot have them!"

Yun Jiao waved the maids out and then worriedly recounted what the Empress had brought up today.

Jiang Youzhi frowned, "This is too hasty."

"Even if the Empress does nothing, the Second Prince, being the legitimate son, will inevitably be named Crown Prince as long as he isn’t too lacking."

"Acting so urgently now might instead displease the Emperor."

Yun Jiao sighed, "If I had known today, I wouldn’t have agreed to be ’sisters’ with her."

Jiang Youzhi patted her, "It’s not your decision. If she wants to acknowledge you as a sister, how can you refuse?"

"Don’t worry, the Empress cannot decide the Eldest Prince’s marriage alone; the Emperor’s opinion is still crucial."

He pondered for a moment, "The Emperor might not be willing to see the Eldest Prince and Ruru betrothed."

Only then did Yun Jiao relax.

Not long after, she realized she had relaxed too soon.

This time, a decree came from the Heavenly Palace, summoning Ruru to the palace to accompany the Third Princess.

The Third Princess, born to the Empress herself, was the same age as Ruru.

Presumably, the Empress, thinking it too early for an alliance, intended to let Ruru and the Third Princess build a close friendship first.

Hmm, studying together would certainly allow her to see the Second Prince as well.