Chapter 553
Chapter 553
Cheng Qingli looked at her granddaughter with an amused expression.
"You silly girl, do you really think your father has been a weak emperor all these years?"
Cheng Qingli shook her head. She naturally knew that her brother-in-law was quite resourceful.
The reason the Kingdom of Lannuo was poor wasn't because it had become that way during Zhu Jingchen's reign—it had been poor since the time of their ancestors.
Moreover, after Zhu Jingchen took office, the situation had actually improved significantly.
Later, with Li Zhiwei's dowry and Li Tianyou's additional donations, the kingdom's circumstances had greatly improved.
Besides, news from Qingyu Pavilion indicated that Prince An had left the capital several times recently.
Even Zhang Yanchu was staying steadily in the capital.
The information his people brought back said that Lannuo had discovered iron ore and gold mines.
Wasn't that like adding wings to a tiger?
Wasn't the reason the Kingdom of Qinling was so powerful precisely because they had iron mines?
Now that Lannuo had these resources too, what did they have to compare with Lannuo anymore?
As long as they were given enough time, a small kingdom like Qinling was nothing to worry about.
"Auntie, do you mean to say that our Lannuo isn't actually afraid of Qinling?" Zhu Miaohe was startled. She wouldn't have dared to even think of such an answer.
"And have you seen any intention from your father to arrange a betrothal?" Cheng Qingli thought that recently neither the emperor nor Zhang Yanchu showed the slightest bit of tension.
However, she herself had indeed rushed to settle her engagement with Zhang Yanchu back then because she was worried about being noticed by Shangguan Mu.
But the person she truly wanted to marry had always been Zhang Yanchu, so she actually felt very happy about it.
Her granddaughter's situation was different though—she was the Grand Princess.
Still young, there was no rush.
But Cheng Qingli thought to herself that she really hoped Zhu Miaohe wouldn't have to marry far away for political alliance.
After all, this was a girl she had watched grow up.
She wouldn't want her to marry too far away.
If her future husband ever bullied her, Cheng Qingli wouldn't even be able to go defend her.
"Ah He, listen to your auntie. When you choose a husband in the future, find someone from the capital. If he dares to bully you, your auntie will take care of him for you." Cheng Qingli patted Zhu Miaohe's shoulder and said with a serious expression.
"Auntie, why are you talking to me about something like this?" Zhu Miaohe's face turned red.
I felt somewhat helpless inside. How could I not want to stay in the capital too?
But she was the Grand Princess—how could her marriage be something she could decide herself?
Wasn't it ultimately up to her father?
"It's fine. Your uncle knows how to fight wars. Your auntie knows how to make money. Even if I don't make enough, the Princess Consort of An can make some too. We'll protect you together."
Cheng Qingli patted her chest and made the promise.
"Auntie, counting yourself is one thing, but why are you counting the Princess Consort of An too?" Zhu Miaohe asked with a mix of amusement and exasperation. She hadn't even met that Princess Consort of An yet.
She knew her auntie disliked socializing with the noble ladies of the capital, yet this Princess Consort of An, despite coming from a merchant background, had managed to earn her auntie's favor.
"Hehe, that's because the Princess Consort of An suits my taste," Cheng Qingli said with a slightly embarrassed smile.
"But how can you be sure the Princess Consort of An would be willing to use her money to protect me?" Zhu Miaohe asked curiously.
"Because she's an extraordinary woman. She even plans to open a school for women." The moment Cheng Qingli thought about what Li Zhiwei had mentioned, she felt a sense of anticipation.
"A school for women? Is it like what we learn from our tutors?" Zhu Miaohe asked with interest.
"Probably not. She said it would teach many things people find interesting—everyone learns whatever they're interested in. The specifics haven't been put into action yet. If you're interested, you can come and take a look then."
Cheng Qingli thought for a moment and said.
She showed no sign of thinking it beneath the Grand Princess to attend such a school.
"Then you have to save me a spot. I want to go see it too." Zhu Miaohe said with a smile.
"Alright, I'll keep a spot for you. But are you still going to Mount Wutai?" Cheng Qingli looked at Zhu Miaohe and asked.
"I'm going, of course. How could I not? I've already promised Grandmother—how could I break that promise? Even if it's not to escape Mother's matchmaking for me, I've made a promise, so I must keep my word. Isn't that what you taught me, Auntie?" Zhu Miaohe said with a smile.
"That's right! Auntie taught you well!" After Cheng Qingli finished speaking, she burst into laughter, feeling a little proud of herself.
"You're so much better. That rascal Zhu Hanyu looks at me like a mouse seeing a cat." Cheng Qingli thought of the Third Prince, who ran away every time he saw her, and found it truly exasperating.
They came from the same parents, so why was there such a difference in how they treated her?
"How could it be the same? He's a boy—it's not proper for him to get too close to you, Auntie. Besides, you always tease him every time you see him. How could he not run from you the moment he sees you?" Zhu Miaohe thought about it and said with a laugh.
"I don't tease him. It's his fault for not being able to take a joke. By the way, what has he been up to lately? I haven't seen him in a long time." Cheng Qingli realized she hadn't seen Zhu Hanyu recently and wondered what the little rascal was doing.
She actually missed the way he got all flustered when she teased him.
"Father sent him to study with the other princes." Zhu Miaohe smiled just thinking about it.
After all, Zhu Hanyu wasn't exactly a studious child.
He was always finding ways to skip class.
Father would get so angry his beard would stand on end every time.
But Zhu Hanyu always hid in the imperial study.
And Mother would always blame Father for indulging the Third Prince.
"Studying? Does that boy even know how?" Cheng Qingli thought that with Zhu Hanyu's temperament, he probably wouldn't enjoy studying.
"No, he doesn't, which is exactly why he's going. Besides, he's a prince. If he doesn't study now, he can't just grow up to be an idiot, can he?" Zhu Miaohe said with a laugh.
"Being an idiot isn't so bad either—nothing to worry about food or clothing." Cheng Qingli genuinely thought, why should people live so exhaustingly? As long as one was happy, that was what mattered.
Zhu Miaohe smiled but said nothing.
Who wouldn't want to live freely? But the shackles of her station didn't allow her to act so recklessly.
Still, her father treated them with great kindness. It was her mother who seemed to have extremely high expectations.
"Auntie, did Mother treat you this strictly when you were little too?" Zhu Miaohe looked at Cheng Qingli with curiosity.
With such an easygoing and unrestrained personality, Cheng Qingli could hardly have grown up that way under such strict rules.
"No, she didn't. I had your other auntie above me and your grandfather supporting me below. All I had to do was be a carefree loafer who could eat and drink well." Cheng Qingli laughed at herself after saying it.
If not for her sister and father sheltering her, she probably couldn't have lived so freely.
"I really envy you. Why was I born so early? If only I had an older sister to back me up too." Zhu Miaohe rested her chin on her hands and said regretfully.
"You'd better not think about that. Even if you had siblings, I doubt anyone would back you up."