From the words of Mrs. Zhuang and Mrs. Wu, we can tell that the person who wanted Princess Runan to choose her as her surrogate wife should be Mrs. Wu.

But Mrs. Zhuang should have acquiesced, otherwise the people around the old lady wouldn't have invited her.

"I see that Miss Jiang's complexion is quite good. She must be sick because she is often bored in the house and does not come out to move around. As long as she moves around more, her bones will naturally get better." Princess Runan grabbed Jiang Changning's hand.

He didn't let go and stroked her gently to show his closeness.

Princess Runan's movements made Jiang Changning feel uncomfortable and his body froze. He pulled out his hand and deliberately took the teacup on the table, "Your Majesty, please have some tea."

"Okay." Princess Runan looked at her with a smile, as if she were looking at a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

For a moment, Jiang Changning had already thought of excuses, "What the concubine said is true. It's just that my illness was brought from my mother's womb. The doctor asked me to rest in the room and not move around."

"Miss Jiang is not only good-looking, but also smart in speech. The more I see her, the more I like her. I want to adopt her as my goddaughter. I wonder if the old lady is willing to give her up?" Princess Runan, relying on her noble status, showed her unscrupulous intentions.

It is easy for a high-ranking royal concubine to bully an orphan girl who has no father, no mother, and no one to rely on. There is really no need to go around.

Although Jiang Changning was furious, her expression was calm. She wanted to see how Mrs. Zhuang would respond.

Wu was the first to speak, "It is this child's destiny to be favored by the empress."

Old Mrs. Zhuang glanced at her coldly, she was a short-sighted fool. Jiang Changning was an orphan dependent on the banker. If she was recognized by Princess Runan and given away in marriage, how would the banker's face be saved?

Besides, Jiang Changning is extremely beautiful. If he could be sent to the palace or married off, it would be great for the banker.

Being sent to marry on behalf of others can only bring temporary benefits.

Wu curled her lips and turned her head away. Was she wrong?

Zou, on the other hand, had an indifferent expression as if it had nothing to do with him and was not bothered by anything.

"This girl has bad bones in her body. The imperial doctor repeatedly warned her that she should not work hard due to this disease, so she was left to rest at home. She has never seriously studied music, chess, calligraphy, painting, or needlework, and she has never seen any great people.

The world cannot bear the love shown to her by my mother-in-law." Mrs. Zhuang was politely refusing Princess Runan's request to accept Jiang Changning as her goddaughter.

When she asked her maid to invite Jiang Changning, she regretted it, but she couldn't call him back in front of Princess Runan.

"What the old lady said is too modest. If such a smart and lovely child is not good, then there will be few good girls in the world." Princess Runan said with a smile.

"There are a lot of good girls in Beijing." The implication of Mrs. Zhuang's words was to ask Princess Runan to find a girl from another family.

Princess Runan did not answer, but looked at Jiang Changning carefully up and down. Her skin was white and smooth, her eyebrows were long and curved, her eyes were as dark as gems, and her red lips were slightly pursed.

This kind of bright and charming appearance is even more beautiful than the Empress Dowager who dominated the harem for her beauty back then.

It would be a pity to send such a beautiful woman away for marriage.

But she was an orphan. Being sent to get married was her fate.

Princess Runan's eyes fell on the purse around Jiang Changning's waist. The light green brocade was embroidered with white gardenia flowers.

She stretched out her hand to hold the purse in her hand, "Look, the stitches are fine and the embroidery is lifelike. Such exquisite embroidery can be done better than an embroiderer with many years of experience."

"The concubine praised it, but Changning is ashamed of it." Jiang Changning lowered his head and pretended to be shy, "This purse was embroidered by Changning's nanny, not Changning."

Wu glanced at Jiang Changning with annoyance and anger. This girl was so ignorant that she didn't even want to follow the concubine's words.

Princess Runan heard Mrs. Zhuang's evasiveness and saw Jiang Changning's resistance, but she made up her mind to replace her daughter with Jiang Changning, "Changning, my mother and I really hit it off.

I also like this gardenia tweed.”

"What a coincidence, I didn't expect that the empress also likes gardenias." Jiang Changning said, untied his purse and gave it to Princess Runan for her to play with.

Princess Runan also discovered something in her purse as Jiang Changning expected, "What delicious food is in it?"

"It's not food, it's a golden lock." Jiang Changning said with a smile.

"What kind of golden lock is this? You have to take a closer look." Princess Runan took out the golden lock and saw that the color was a bit dull. It was not a new one, but an old thing.

Princess Runan thought it was the longevity lock that Jiang Changning wore when she was a child, but when she saw the word "Jin Shu" engraved in seal script on the lock piece, her expression changed slightly.

Jinshu is the Queen Mother’s maiden name!

"Where did the girl get this golden lock?" Princess Runan asked.

Mrs. Zhuang and others heard the difference in the concubine's tone and looked over.

The gold lock is not much different from the gold locks usually worn by wealthy families on their children.

Why did Princess Runan ask so nervously about the origin?

"As for the princess, this golden lock was given to me by a lady." Jiang Changning replied.

"What kind of lady is she?" Princess Runan asked.

"The lady has a beautiful appearance, a dignified demeanor, and an awe-inspiring and inviolable nobility." Jiang Changning deliberately complimented the Queen Mother, "There is a cinnabar mole between her eyebrows."

The most obvious mark of the current Queen Mother is the cinnabar mole between her eyebrows.

"Why have you never said anything about this?" Wu asked dissatisfied.

If they had known that Jiang Changning had such a relationship with the Queen Mother, the banker would definitely have gone one step further.

"My late father once warned me that you don't expect repayment when you show kindness, not to mention that it is just a simple task and there is no need to mention it." Jiang Changning said calmly.

Wu gritted her teeth and pulled off the handkerchief hard, this difficult girl!

There was no need to mention it, but he kept the golden lock with him.

Princess Runan looked at Jiang Changning with a look of scrutiny.

This girl is not at all like Zhuang Qingru said, weak and independent.

"In what year did Miss Jiang come to Beijing?" Princess Runan asked.

"Early winter of the 14th year of Chenglong."

"That was six years ago."

"Yes."

Six years ago, the late emperor was seriously ill and secretly arranged to be framed by the imperial concubine and the eldest prince, so that he could avoid concubine Li and the third prince from Lingnan and return to the capital.

The imperial concubine and the eldest prince sent many killers to hunt down Concubine Li and the third prince, and prevented the mother and son from entering the capital. Jiang Changning rescued Concubine Li and the third prince by chance on the way.

We were on the same boat for seven days and got along harmoniously.

Li Fei specially left the gold lock as a certificate and made a promise that whatever she said would be rewarded generously.

Later, the late emperor passed away, and with the strong support of several princes, the third prince ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor. Concubine Li was also named the Holy Mother Queen Mother.
Chapter completed!