"We've had such a great time drinking today, and since there's no one home anyway, you two don't need to go back. We're all family, so just send someone back to tell His Royal Highness the Crown Prince that you can stay here tonight."
It was already curfew time, and although Li Xiang could go back, Cheng Yaojin was obviously still drunk. Although he had drunk quite a bit yesterday, it was the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace after all, and there were many things he couldn't let go of, so Cheng Yaojin held Li Xiang and wouldn't let him go, and even planned to drink all night long.
Li Xiang had a headache for a long time after drinking that day, so he naturally couldn't continue drinking with Cheng Yaojin. However, he tried to stop drinking, and finally drank almost a pound of wine.
While Li Xiang and Cheng Yaojin were drinking, Cheng Luan and his mother were talking in the back. In the end, Cheng Luan agreed to the family's arrangement. After weighing the pros and cons, Cheng Luan knew what to do about this matter. Instead of having the child come out of someone else's belly, it would be better for the child to come out of his eldest sister's belly. In this way, at least the child's maternal grandparents are the Cheng family, and there is a blood relationship.
Moreover, according to some current practices, if one's status is not high, then one is not qualified to raise a child. The child must recognize Cheng Luan as the mother. After all, she is the aunt, and they are related by blood. It doesn't matter whose womb the child comes from.
"Mother knows you're upset, but as someone from a wealthy family, what decisions can we make on our own? Mother doesn't mean to curse you, but if you can't give birth to a boy, if your eldest sister does, it could be your lifelong hope."
Madam Cheng hugged her daughter. If she hadn't made long-term plans for her daughter, how could she agree to such a thing? However, such things are too common in large families. Many young ladies were reluctant at first, but they regretted it in the end. Letting another woman give birth to a concubine's eldest son would be very annoying in their eyes in the future. But if this concubine's eldest son is their own nephew, that would be a different story.
"Mother is right. I was overthinking it. I just wanted the two of us to be happy and not have to fight each other in the future. But it's a pity that it's still impossible to achieve."
Cheng Luan did think so. You have to know that girls of this era would never think so. They would think it was normal for their men to have three wives and four concubines. Although there would be competition for favor, they would never think that they were the only woman. Of course, this was all the result of Li Xiang's indoctrination.
"Mrs. Fang, is my elder sister willing?"
Cheng Luan suddenly saw Aunt Fang standing next to him. She was Cheng Yaojin's concubine and the biological mother of his eldest daughter Cheng Ying.
"Miss, what are you talking about? The marriages of our children are naturally decided by the master and mistress. How can she have the final say?"
Concubine Fang abides by her duties. Even when her daughter is about to marry into the Eastern Palace, she still stands obediently by the side. In Cheng Yaojin's world, Concubine Fang is also the one who knows the rules best. Otherwise, she would not dare to send her daughter to the Eastern Palace. What if they are naughty sisters? Not only can they not take care of each other, but they may even fight with each other, even more fiercely than others.
"Your sister is a bit of a taciturn person and doesn't know how to deal with many things. It's a good idea for her to follow you. Your uncle is a good man, and you are smart. If there is anything, you two sisters should discuss it together. After all, it is the Eastern Palace, and it may even become the Imperial Palace in the future. You two sisters are the only ones who are close to you."
Mrs. Cheng was speaking the truth. Cheng Yaojin's eldest daughter had always been kind-hearted, and everyone in the mansion knew it. If she had married into the Eastern Palace alone, she might have been eaten up by others. But Cheng Luan was a scheming woman. If the two sisters could complement each other, they would really be able to stand firm in the palace in the future.
"Please rest assured, mother and auntie, I will respect you and support you in the East Palace."
Cheng Luan stood up and bowed deeply to the two of them. Aunt Fang's tears came out. Aunt Fang was naturally very clear about Cheng Luan's temper. The Cheng family was also a noble family with many children. Cheng Luan and Cheng Ying had a good relationship.
In fact, according to Cheng Luan's idea, she could arrange for one of her maids to consummate the marriage with Li Xiang. It would be easier to control the child after she had one. But after all, she and the maid were not on the same page. If she had other ideas, it would be too late to regret it.
Cheng Yaojin naturally wanted to send his eldest daughter in, so that no matter who gave birth to the young master first, he would be the grandfather of the future king.
"Hurry up and get up. We are all family. What's the point of making such a fuss? Go to the front hall and keep an eye on things. Don't let the son-in-law get drunk tonight. Wait a minute..."
Mrs. Cheng did not continue speaking, this was also for her daughter's feelings. Letting Li Xiang stay here tonight was something Cheng Yaojin and his wife had discussed for a long time, just wanting Li Xiang to consummate the marriage with Cheng Ying here first.
By then, there will be wine to drink, and if the family reduces the number of candles, the two sisters will still look 70% similar, and Li Xiang may not be able to notice it by then. The matter will be considered accomplished. For the entire Cheng family, it can be said that there are only benefits and no harm. Of course, the only person who is hurt is Cheng Luan.
Looking at her daughter's thin back, Mrs. Cheng felt uncomfortable, but as a member of a big family, she had to consider the family's interests when doing anything. Since we have chosen to stand with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, we must ensure the maximization of interests. If her daughter was pregnant, she naturally could not mess around with all these messes. But now more than half a year has passed, and there is no movement in her daughter's belly. How can this be possible?
They believed that Li Xiang had many women around him, and they couldn't just watch him every day. Even if they did, who would His Royal Highness want to favor? Would they dare to stand in his way? If they waited, the officials from the Ministry of Rites would immediately intervene. This was no small matter.
What's more, Li Xiang is about to go south to Nanzhao, where there is a princess waiting. If she gets pregnant prematurely, it will be too late to regret. If a boy is born, Cheng Luan's status will be in jeopardy. Cheng Yaojin is old, and the whole family will be in danger. It is naturally safer to send Cheng Ying there now.