Lady Meilin is seduced by her green tea brother-in-law everyday-Chapter 280: Zhenzhen’s preparations.

Chi Lian’s face turned straight in a second. "Fine, I was aware of it." She admitted. "And before you ask why I never said a word to you, it is because Junjie was also aware of the extra marital activities of his wife. Some things, even I cannot step in to handle unless I am invited."

The Empress Mother looked away from the crowd again. "You are my fixer Chi Chi, this is the kind of thing you are supposed to fix. What would you have done if she gave birth to a boy?"

That question did not need her to think over. Chi Lian knew exactly what she would have done. "I would have kidnapped the child and taken him to an orphanage somewhere in a village. Of course I am not heartless, I would make sure that he gets to go to a good family in the end. Just not a noble family."

"So why didn’t you do that with Long Shuang?" The Empress Mother asked her.

Chi Lian was stunned. "You know!"

The Empress Mother laughed. "How could I not know when the girl is so different from us? I had a DNA test secretly done on the day she was sent off to the temple. She is not of royal blood."

"And yet you didn’t throw her out." Chi Lian mentioned.

The Empress Mother sneered. "And allow mockery to be made of my son! of this family! I would rather she die of sickness and be buried as a princess than have people find out the truth."

Chi Lian took a small breath. It seemed like Long Shuang was skating on this ice with the Empress Mother. If she failed to change her ways, she would not live long. "And if she corrects her ways?"

The Empress Mother looked at Hui Zhenting through the binoculars and said, "Tensions between us and some of our neighbors have been on the rise lately. Political marriages always solve that sort of thing."

"You are going to marry her off!" Chi Lian was surprised.

"As soon as she turns eighteen" The Empress Mother replied firmly. "It is the least she can do to repay the royal family for raising her. And she will get to remain a princess all her life. Maybe she will even be a queen or an empress. The way I see it, that is the best outcome we can all hope for."

Chi Lian kept her opinion to herself. She did some pity for Long Shuang. Being married off for political or economic alliances to rival nations was one of the saddest fates for princesses.

She looked through the binoculars and resumed her watch of the crowd. "What do we do about Mingzhe and Jingzhe? You have yet to tell me if their memories should be wiped."

"Don’t bother, I can trust those two not to spill." The Empress Mother replied.

"Mei Mei wants Jingzhe out of operations." Chi Lian said.

The Empress Mother scoffed. "Mei Mei should stop treating him like a child, he is a man that can think for himself."

It was the same answer that Chi Lian had given her daughter.

****

Not everyone was mourning the death of the empress. There were some that were celebrating it because it was a thing of ultimate joy.

The noble Kang household was one such family. They were not lighting candles, buying wreaths or saying prayers for the dead empress. They were preparing for Kang Zhenzhen’s crowning.

The Empress Mother had already confirmed that Zhenzhen was the next empress so she needed to look the part from now on.

Even though she had learned etiquette as a child, she was re-learning it again. She was also learning how to walk like an empress, talk like one and smile like one. Her knowledge on world affairs was being expanded as her father had hired many professors to teach her. One of those professors happened to be Jun Muyang.

Lessons on bedroom affairs were not neglected either. Zhenzhen’s mother had bribed a maid that once shared Junjie’s bed to educate her on what he liked and how he liked it.

Her diet had been changed. All the foods she was eating were meant to help her improve her skin and fertility. She was taking supplements provided by Lady Chi at the request of the empress.

Zhenzhen had just one job: bear the empire a male heir.

So, while others were gathering outside the royal palace and mourning, she was picking out the outfits which she would be wearing when she "coincidentally" met the emperor in future.

"Don’t bother going to the royal palace tonight, he is not there." Kang Mingming walked into the bedroom. "I have received word that the Emperor is at Jun Meilin’s house."

Zhenzhen’s mother set down the dress which she had picked out for her daughter to wear to the palace and accompany the Empress Mother during this time of mourning. Of course, Zhenzhen was to bump into the emperor and comfort him. "Can she got to Jun Meilin’s house then?"

Kang Mingming shook her head. "Absolutely not. Meilin and Zhenzhen are not friends so how can she just show up to her house? What reason would she even give for being there? I understand that you are eager sister-in-law, but Zhenzhen should not come off as thirsty or she will scare the emperor away. Remember, they need to fall in love naturally."

Zhenzhen’s mother was still worried, "But...."

Kang Mingming read the thoughts in her sister-in-law’s eyes and decided to warn her niece and her mother. "I hope that you both understand the relationship between Meilin and the emperor. He considers her his best friend. Everyone knows about their closeness and the fact that he used to go to her with all his problems.

He is closer to her than he is with most of his siblings and members of his family. Zhenzhen, you are to be his wife and friend. Even if their closeness worries you, don’t start scheming against her.

He grew up with her and the Jun’s are the right hand of the royal family. If you try to scheme against Jun Meilin, I am afraid that you will not enjoy your marriage or position. So, make her your friend. Look at the friendship between Lady Chi and the Empress Mother and Princess Rize. That is the kind of relationship you must aspire to."

Kang Zhenzhen nodded. "Yes aunt. I am not worried about Jun Meilin, she already announced her relationship with Feng Jingzhe. Besides, you have said it yourself that she grew up with him. If she was to marry him, she would have done so long ago.

I would like to have Jun Meilin on my side because it means I have the backing of the Jun’s and other elite noble families. It will be extended to my son and all my children. I won’t have to worry about inheritance wars."

Kang Mingming nodded. "Long Wen too. Make that child your friend. She is not a threat to you so don’t go to the palace and start playing the role of the wicked step mother. She is of Long blood, you are not. If you mess up, they will choose their blood over you."

Zhenzhen bobbed her head up and down. "Aunt, why would I compete with a ten year old girl? Long Wen is nice, cute and well behaved. I will raise her with love and care."

Kang Mingming smiled. Zhenzhen had a good head on her shoulders. It was her mother that was often silly. After Zhenzhen was crowned, they would have to keep her sister-in-law away from the royal castle.