A Dream Was About to Come True

No longer worrying about things she wasn't good at, and simply dumping political matters on Xiao Lingyan, Zhao Ruxi lived a very happy life from then on.

Earn points by practicing calligraphy and drawing every day, and then make some agricultural inventions every now and then.

In previous years, due to insufficient fertilizer, the fields near the capital were planted only with rice and not with winter wheat. However, Zhao Ruxi submitted a composting method to Gong Cheng in the autumn. The Ministry of Works disseminated the method, and the entire Great Jin followed it to compost and fertilize, resulting in excellent growth of winter wheat near the capital.

Time flies, and it's Chinese New Year again.

This year, Zhao Yuanxun, Lady Zhu, the old lady, and Zhao Jingtai all stayed in Gusu and did not return to the capital.

Because of last year's coup, Xiao Ge had a psychological aversion to the palace's New Year's banquet, so he didn't hold a big one. The family simply had a meal and then dispersed. Zhao Ruxi also avoided the year-end socializing she disliked.

When it comes to attending banquets, Zhao Ruxi is quite an anomaly among the women in the capital.

She rarely attended banquets before her marriage, and she still does now. Even when it's Grand Princess Shangde's or the old Princess Consort of Prince of Zhennan's Residence's birthday, she'll just show up, say a few words to the birthday celebrant, and leave, without ever interacting with the other female relatives.

Therefore, those first-rank noblewomen who were eager to openly or indirectly mock her because they couldn't marry their daughters or granddaughters to the Prince of Qi as concubines were extremely disappointed because they couldn't catch anyone.

"Hmph, these people smile so obsequiously and say such sweet words in front of Consort of the Prince of Qi; but behind her back, they want to send their daughters to Prince of Qi's Residence to compete with Consort of the Prince of Qi for favor. Do they really think Consort of the Prince of Qi is a fool?" Prince of Zhennan's Residence said to Grand Princess Shangde.

"If Zhiwei is a fool, then there's no one smarter in the world," said Grand Princess Shangde. "Look at the husband she chose! He doesn't even care about the crown prince position for her."

Both of them sighed when the topic came up.

Grand Princess Shangde was alright. As a princess, her husband didn't dare to have any wicked thoughts.

However, the Prince of Zhennan had quite a few concubines.

Therefore, Princess of Zhennan was most convinced of Zhao Ruxi's abilities.

She was also particularly grateful to Zhao Ruxi.

Without Zhao Ruxi, her daughter would never have been able to marry Wu Zong.

Wu Zong has never taken a concubine. Even though his wife has been dead for many years, his household is still very clean. A man like that will never take a concubine.

"By the way, what did Consort of Prince of Jingping want with you just now?" Princess of Zhennan suddenly remembered something and asked Grand Princess Shangde.

Speaking of this, Grand Princess Shangde's lips twitched. "She came to ask me if her family should make Consort of the Prince of Qi's cousin their official wife."

Princess of Zhennan: "..."

Prince of Jingping was also a prince, and Princess of Zhennan was very clear about the affairs of Prince Jingping's Estate.

Not long after last year's coup, the Prince of Jingping suddenly fell ill and died, Xiao Sijie, the fourth son of the Prince Jingping's Estate's legitimate family, became the heir apparent.

Xiao Sijie's first wife had always been in poor health and was always sickly. Last spring, she caught a cold and finally succumbed to it, passing away without leaving any children.

Now that the New Year is over, spring will soon be here, and Xiao Sijie's year of mourning for his wife will be almost over. Is Consort of Prince of Jingping looking for a new wife for her son, but worried about offending Zhao Ruxi, so she wants to ask Grand Princess Shangde to sound her out?

Princess of Zhennan asked, "What did you say?"

"How can I make such Zhiwei? Of course, I have to ask Zhiwei's opinion first," said Grand Princess Shangde.

"Zhiwei should be willing for her cousin to be promoted to the rank of principal wife, right? After all, it's not pleasant for people to talk about a cousin being a concubine," said the Princess of Zhennan.

Grand Princess Shangde shook her head. "It's hard to say. That cousin is none other than the fake heiress who was switched with Zhiwei. Back then, the Zhao Family didn't send her back to the Xu Family; they provided her with good food and drink and even sent her to study at the Capital Women's Academy."

"And what happened? After Zhiwei returned home, not only did she treat Zhiwei badly, but she also wentssiped about everything. If Zhiwei smart, she would have fallen into her trap countless times."

"Later, she ignored so many good families and insisted on secretly becoming Xiao Sijie's concubine, bringing shame to the Zhao Family and Zhiwei. If it were me, I wouldn't bother with someone like that; I'd let her be a concubine for life."

Because Zhao Ruxi was ambitious and became the top scholar in the imperial examination, she continued to serve as an official even after becoming the Consort of the Prince of Qi, setting an example for women. In addition, the two of them made a lot of money by jointly opening a textile factory. Grand Princess Shangde was extremely fond of Zhao Ruxi and wished she could take Zhao Ruxi as her goddaughter.

Because she cared about Zhao Ruxi, she knew everything about the affairs of the Earl of Suiping's Residence.

Princess of Zhennan really didn't know that.

Hearing this, she was dumbfounded. "Didn't she stay in the Zhao Family hoping for wealth and a good marriage? Why would she debase herself like this?"

Grand Princess Shangde scoffed, "If she were just a peasant's daughter, she wouldn't even be qualified to be Xiao Sijie's concubine."

Princess of Zhennan: "..."

"Well, it's best we don't say too much about this. You should tell Consort of the Prince of Qi and see what she says," she said.

The next day, Grand Princess Shangde went to Prince of Qi's Residence and told Zhao Ruxi about it.

Zhao Ruxi had almost forgotten about Zhao Ruyu.

Upon hearing that the heir of the Prince Jingping's Estate's Mansion had passed away, Xiao Sijie had become the heir, and his wife had also died, Zhao Ruxi finally realized that her initial guess had been correct.

Zhao Ruyu had her sights set on the position of the Prince of Jingping.

After losing Fu Yunlang's love, all she wanted was status.

Given the social standing of the second branch of the Zhao Family, Zhao Ruxi's status as an adopted daughter, and the reputation of having her adoptive mother executed, it would have been difficult for her to marry into the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence, let alone marry into other powerful and wealthy families.

Therefore, she used the prophet to marry Xiao Sijie as a concubine, thus indirectly securing her position as the future heir apparent of the Prince of Jingping.

But how could she have predicted that she would definitely be promoted to the official position?

"Tell Consort of Prince of Jingping that I don't care about this matter; they can do whatever they want. If they think she's good enough to be a prince's consort, then I won't stop them; but if they think she's unworthy, they don't need to consider my feelings."

Upon hearing Zhao Ruxi's words, Grand Princess Shangde nodded and said, "Then I understand."

After speaking with Zhao Ruxi about the textile factory and the girls' school, Grand Princess Shangde took her leave and went directly to Prince Jingping's Estate to relay Zhao Ruxi's words.

"Your Highness, what do you think... what does Consort of the Prince of Qi mean by this?" Consort of Prince of Jingping felt that she couldn't understand Zhao Ruxi's meaning at all.

For Zhao Ruxi's sake, Prince of Qi rejected so many girls offered to him by powerful and influential people. If Zhao Ruxi gives birth to a son and Prince of Qi is made crown prince, then if she doesn't make Zhao Ruyu her official wife today, she is very afraid that Zhao Ruxi will cause trouble for Prince Jingping's Estate after becoming the crown princess or empress.

"It means exactly what it says." Grand Princess Shangde dared not say another word, for fear that Consort of Prince of Jingping might misunderstand and do something that would displease Zhao Ruxi.