The cousin is beautiful but ruthless.

Chapter 100 Asking for Marriage

Having received Li Jun's promise, Liang Ruoxue happily returned to wait for the palace banquet to begin.

Shen Hanyu and the other two were still waiting outside. There were many spies in the palace, so she couldn't inquire about things. Therefore, she could only wait.

The scent of mugwort wafted over; it was the Dragon Boat Festival, no wonder so many palace maids were burning mugwort.

"Girls, let's go wait in the main hall first."

The palace maids from Fenghua Palace came and led them to the main hall. Once they arrived at the main hall, the palace banquet was about to begin.

As soon as they entered, Shen Hanyu and Li Jing's eyes met. Li Jing smiled gently, but Shen Hanyu felt a chill run down her spine and calmly looked away.

The Imperial Concubine wants to win over the Yu family through her marriage to Pei Du, while Li Jing wants to kill her; things are truly in complete chaos.

Ji Yuxiu and Wei Ming were unaware of this matter, and Shen Hanyu had no evidence, so she never mentioned it.

Miao Cui mingled with the crowd and approached Shen Hanyu, telling her what she had seen.

Shen Hanyu nodded and found her place.

"Good. Keep an eye on them. If Liang Ruoyan goes crazy, don't let her drag us into it."

Miao Cui noted it down and stood behind Shen Hanyu.

The people in the main hall were almost all there. Shen Hanyu saw Zhou Yurong and Xiao Ran opposite her.

Xiao Ran stood next to Zhou Yurong with a look of disgust. The two had probably had a fight because of Lu Lingyue.

Now that Lu Lingyue has entered the Guangning Marquis's residence, Zhou Yurong will definitely use many means to protect her. It's just a matter of how Xiao Ran will find a loophole this time.

Zhou Yurong couldn't be by Lu Lingyue's side all the time, and Lu Lingyue's move was tantamount to walking into a fire pit.

A commotion erupted outside, and Li Jiangui appeared at the door. Everyone quickly and respectfully took their places and bowed in greeting.

Lee Jiangui smiled and told them to get up, then patted Pei Du on the shoulder.

This action caught the attention of many people, who all looked at Pei Du.

Pei Du felt somewhat helpless.

Li Jiangui sat down, with Empress Wang and Consort Gui beside him. Consort Xian was ill and rarely attended these palace banquets; she hadn't even gone on the last spring hunt.

"The Queen Mother has arrived——"

At a loud shout from the eunuch outside the door, Li Jiangui took the lead in getting up and going to fetch the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager, her hair gray, was supported by palace maids. She glanced at the people in the main hall and said kindly, "Please sit down."

Li Jiangui smiled and asked, "Why has Mother come?"

Shen Hanyu didn't dare to look up. The Empress Dowager was not Li Jiangui's biological mother, and she didn't know whether the relationship between the two was good or bad.

"The Dragon Boat Festival banquet was lively, so I thought I'd come and take a look. I'm getting bored staying in Cining Palace all the time."

Li Jiangui nodded slightly: "What the Empress Dowager says is true. I will have Yongning and Huaijiang keep you company more often."

Princess Yongning and Li Huaijiang, who were mentioned, both expressed that they would visit Cining Palace often.

The Empress Dowager waved her hand: "No need. Yongning is very busy running the girls' school, and Huaijiang is not in good health. Why make them make the trip?"

Lee Geon-kyu had nothing to say.

Li Jun didn't expect the Empress Dowager to come today. That's fine too. She can ask for an imperial decree to grant the marriage. It would be good if the Empress Dowager knew about it.

Liang Ruoxue stared intently at Li Jun, eager to see when he would speak.

Liang Ruoyan held the wine in her hand. When Liang Ruoxue saw this, she whispered provocatively, "Sister, there's a surprise coming up later. You'd better watch carefully."

Liang Ruoyan smiled and said, "Little sister, there's going to be a good show later, so watch out."

Liang Ruoxue didn't understand what Liang Ruoyan meant, but after saying this inexplicable sentence, Liang Ruoyan stopped talking.

"Yongning, how is your girls' school going?"

The Empress Dowager asked casually.

Princess Yongning nodded: "Everything is going smoothly. The first imperial examination will be held in a few days."

The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered slightly; so the imperial examination was about to begin so soon.

"Yongning, you're always so busy with these things, but you can't forget about your own wedding."

The Empress Dowager picked up her chopsticks and said this with a smile.

Princess Yongning was taken aback. Could it be that the Empress Dowager was going to arrange a marriage for her at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet?

"Mother, there's no rush with Yongning's matter. Let's first taste the zongzi made by the Imperial Kitchen."

Li Jiangui casually changed the subject, and presented the zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) to the Empress Dowager.

Knowing it was meant to shut her up, the Empress Dowager ordered a palace maid to peel open the rice dumpling.

Shen Hanyu looked at the rice dumpling in front of her. The Empress Dowager wanted to bestow a marriage upon Princess Yongning. Did this mean she didn't approve of the girls' school?

In her previous life, she knew far too little about this.

Many people took the Empress Dowager's words to heart, especially those who were not optimistic about girls' schools, and some of them wanted to speak out again.

Qin Shoujie didn't say anything, only lowered his head and ate a couple of bites of zongzi, not taking the Empress Dowager's words to heart.

Seeing that Li Jiangui and the Empress Dowager had finished their conversation, Li Jun stood up.

"Father, I have a favor to ask of you."

Li Jiangui looked over and gestured for him to speak.

Liang Ruoxue's excited gaze disgusted Liang Ruoyan and Liang Ruochu, who were standing next to her.

Liang Ruochu didn't react as strongly as Liang Ruoyan, because she was already used to it. As long as Liang Ruoxue was around, she never got to have any of the good things.

But if it weren't for Shen Hanyu's help this time, Liang Ruoxue wouldn't have had this ability.

"Your Majesty, I am in love with the Second Miss Liang of the Marquis of Anping's household. I beg you to grant me marriage and make her my principal wife."

Lee Geon-kyu hadn't expected this, and he looked at Lee Jun.

"Jun'er, are you telling the truth?"

Li Jun knelt down: "Every word I have said is true."

At the Marquis of Anping's residence, Li Jiangui stroked his chin. He knew the Liang family's daughters, and since Li Jun liked them, it wouldn't hurt to arrange a marriage for them.

Jiang Li has been gone for a long time, and he was afraid that Li Jun would never be able to get over it. This situation is the best possible outcome.

"Very well, I hereby bestow marriage upon you two. Miss Liang, what do you say?"

Liang Ruoxue stood up. "This subject is willing."

Since they were mutually in love, and today was also a good day to make things happen, Li Jiangui readily agreed.

Li Jun and Liang Ruoxue exchanged a smile.

"I congratulate my third brother on the success of his wish."

Li Jing raised his wine cup and faced Li Jun.

Li Jun repeatedly expressed her gratitude: "Thank you, Your Highness."

Princess Yongning was also happy to see this happen. She had a good impression of this second Miss Liang, better than Liang Ruoyan. Since Liang Ruoxue had helped Li Jun get over the grief of losing Jiang Li, she would not object to anything.

If my mother knew, she would be happy too.

When Jiang Li passed away, Li Jun's condition really shocked many people.

Li Huaijiang played with the peeled bamboo leaves, showing no expression whatsoever about this marriage arrangement that pleased both sides.

Li Jun sat down, his heart pounding with excitement. He hadn't felt such emotional turmoil in a long time. Now that Li Jiangui had agreed, he had no regrets.

Liang Ruoyan downed the wine in her cup in one gulp. As expected, Li Jun had indeed requested an imperial decree to grant them marriage; everything she had heard over there was true.

She glared at Shen Hanyu resentfully, but Shen Hanyu turned back and smiled slightly at her.

It doesn't feel good to be trampled underfoot.

Empress Wang beckoned, and the nanny presented Liang Ruoxue with a gift as a congratulatory gesture.

Since the Empress had already given them, the Consort naturally didn't hold back either.

Liang Ruoxue no longer needed to pretend; she was beaming with pride, a bright future beckoning her.