Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress
Chapter 977 - 979 Marriage Proposal (7)

Not long after all the concubines were seated, Concubine Yao was the first to bring up the matter of King Qin’s marriage proposal today. She first spoke of how seriously King Qin took this marriage proposal, and then about how Empress Mo would be able to hold her grandchild after King Qin’s wedding—all auspicious and joyful talk.

Empress Mo, upon hearing this, was not very pleased. Honestly, she was dissatisfied with Mu Caiwei as a daughter-in-law. Mu Caiwei was not only of low birth and with an untamed wildness, but she also lacked the gentle and obedient demeanor expected of a woman. However, Yi’er was hopelessly in love with her, showing a determination to marry none but her. Besides, regardless of everything, she had once saved her son’s life. Hence, in order not to damage the mother-son bond between them, she had no choice but to turn a blind eye.

After Concubine Yao finished discussing King Qin’s betrothal, she looked at Consort Huo with a smile and said, "I heard that Virtuous Consort’s younger brother is of the same age as King Qin. I wonder if he has someone betrothed?"

Consort Huo’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately anticipated what would be said next.

The matter of her younger brother, Huo Yuan, fancying Mu Caiwei had long been an open secret in the palace. On the day of the Shangsi Festival, when Mu Caiwei had a conflict with Princess Zhao Yang and Huo Yuan had recklessly stood in front of her, risking his own life—it had been a hot topic among the concubines of the palace. At that time, they discussed the matter with envy and bitterness, but now, it could very well serve as a weapon to topple Consort Huo and the Huo Family!

Consort Huo laughed and said, "Concubine De Fei must also know of my sister’s punishment for offending Empress Guifei, resulting in her house arrest. Thanks to the Empress Dowager’s grace, I was released today, so how could I know of home affairs?"

With this statement from Consort Huo, she informed everyone that she had fallen out with Jin Guifei and had been put under house arrest. She was no longer aligned with Jin Guifei!

However, this group of concubines, long oppressed by Jin Guifei, was not so easily dealt with. Consort Huo had followed Jin Guifei for a long time. It wasn’t going to be simple to disassociate herself from that affiliation. Of course, some envy was involved for her lowly merchant background, yet holding the position of a consort and bearing favored children.

Consort Li Shu then laughed and said, "I heard that Virtuous Consort’s younger brother is enamored with our future Wife of King Qin. It is said that during the Shangsi Festival Feast hosted by Empress Dowager, our Wife of King Qin had a misunderstanding with Princess Zhao Yang. At that time, the Imperial Guard were about to shoot arrows at Wife of King Qin, and Young Master Huo risked his life to protect her. Such affection and sacrifice truly move people’s hearts!"

Consort Li Shu, sister to General Li Kaifeng, felt indignant that her niece, Li Rui Zhu, hadn’t managed to become King Qin’s wife as she had hoped. Thus, she spoke without restraint, aiming to defame Mu Caiwei for not maintaining proper conduct and to avenge her niece, while also taking a jab at Consort Huo, to remind her that even though Consort Huo was a mere merchant girl, she dared to hold the same consort title and bear favored children. Did she even deserve it?

No sooner had Consort Li Shu’s voice fallen than Ji Zhaoyi laughed and said, "However, when I went back home to visit my relatives the other day, my cousin mentioned that the head jewelry, clothes, and shoes worn by our Wife of King Qin to the Si Festival were all provided by Young Master Huo. Even the restaurant run by Wife of King Qin’s family was a gift from Young Master Huo! Such displays of affection are really touching!"

Ji Zhaoyi was a granddaughter of Empress Dowager Ji from a concubine and had entered the palace the same year as Consort Huo. Initially, because of her lowly birth, Consort Huo had only received a humble rank, while Ji Zhaoyi, thanks to Empress Dowager Ji’s care, had immediately become an honored Zhaoyi. Years had passed, and Huo Meiren had become Virtuous Consort, favored and with a child, while she remained merely Ji Zhaoyi, without a single promotion. She used to be the one receiving Consort Huo’s greetings, but now the roles had reversed, and it was she who had to greet Consort Huo. This downturn gnawed at her like a poison. Therefore, she harbored a deep hatred for Consort Huo and, out of fear of Jin Guifei, hadn’t dared to act before. But with Jin Guifei’s death, she could finally unleash the resentment that had been festering in her heart for years!