Chapter 152 Consort Su's Schemes

Jiang Fenghua looked at the table full of food and said calmly to them, "Come and eat with us, everyone. Don't waste any. Granny Xu made mutton soup tonight. It's warming on a cold day."

Lianye was so angry that the corners of her mouth almost reached the sky, her eyes filled with rage. "How could Your Highness be like this? The Princess Consort started preparing all afternoon. At least eat before you leave!"

Hongxiu said, "You should say less. At least the first thing the Prince thought of after returning to the manor was our Princess." Besides, the Princess is currently unwell, which inevitably gives Consort Su an opportunity to take advantage of her. Xu Mama's worries have come true.

Hongxiu has also become more experienced and insightful. During the time she was learning from Steward Cheng, she learned a lot, but she focused more on planning for the Princess. No matter how many women the Prince had, she felt it was more important to delve into the inner workings of the Prince's mansion.

With power in her hands, no one can bully her.

Fortunately, the prince handed over all the power of the palace to the princess. As for Consort Su, she was just trying to seduce the prince to her courtyard.

Hongxiu pulled Aoxue to sit down, "Let's eat together. Tonight's meal is worlds apart from this morning's. Aoxue, you should try it."

Aoxue had been there for so long, and this was the first time she had seen the prince leave the princess and run off to another woman. She sat down on the stool and said, "This humble servant is also hungry. Today, I will indulge myself and dine with the princess." She had also seen the prince being called away by the concubine's maid.

They all thought Jiang Fenghua would be unhappy, but Jiang Fenghua picked out her favorite dishes and ate them with ease. Now her appetite has increased, but she is used to not talking while eating, so she eats a little slower. Her movements are still very elegant, making people feel that she is very beautiful when she eats.

After dinner, Jiang Fenghua strolled slowly around the house to digest her food. She didn't want to become a little fat girl after giving birth and then lose her figure.

Always looking beautiful has always been her guiding principle, regardless of men, as it at least keeps her in a good mood.

Fortunately, with the help of culinary experts Xu Mama and Lianye, she was able to prepare her meals carefully, ensuring her child's health while also preventing her from gaining excessive weight.

Seeing that she was relaxed and not unhappy at all, the three men felt relieved.

Jiang Fenghua, however, was wondering if it was proper for her to go to the palace to pay her respects to the Empress tomorrow morning.

Su Tingwan's only intention was to regain Xie Shang's favor while she was pregnant, but Su Tingwan's wishful thinking will likely be thwarted forever.

She curled her lips into a smile, a sly glint in her eyes. If that was the case, then she would shatter her illusions once again.

-

Su Tingwan, dressed exquisitely and with a very alluring makeup, was waiting in the Sandalwood Courtyard. When she saw Xie Shang, she took the initiative to kneel before him and said, "This concubine greets Your Highness."

"Get up."

Seeing her exquisite makeup and rosy complexion, Xie Shang asked, "Weren't you feeling unwell?"

"It's good to see Your Highness." Su Tingwan smiled slightly and walked up to him. "Today, I'll cook for Your Highness myself to give you a surprise."

He followed her into the house without making a sound.

Su Tingwan took off his cloak for him. "Your Highness, please sit down. I'll go get a pot of wine; it's hot."

The dishes on the table looked very exquisite. They weren't meat dishes, but rather a table full of vegetarian dishes and porridge, which didn't seem like Su Tingwan's cooking skills.

Xie Shang clenched his fingers, his mind flashing back to the delicious dishes on Jiang Fenghua's table, and then to Su Tingwan's cooking skills. He pretended not to know, "When did Wanwan learn to cook?"

“I learned it at Jingci Nunnery.” She smiled. “After going to Jingci Nunnery, I realized the suffering of the people and how many people in the world are suffering. I ate vegetarian food for three months and chanted Buddhist scriptures every day, praying that all people in the world would be free from illness and disaster. I was so ignorant before.”

Xie Shang smiled, "So Wanwan has really grown up."

"Your Highness, please try this dish. It's called 'Rippling Green Waves,' and it's truly refreshing and delicious."

Xie Shang picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. It was indeed refreshing, with a unique and fragrant flavor, just like the taste Jiang Fenghua liked. However, she was pregnant now and had developed a craving for meat.

Su Tingwan added, "I used to love eating meat, but I didn't realize that the meat I ate in one meal was only enough for an ordinary family to eat once a year."

"That's true. This time, when I went to Jiangnan to provide disaster relief, everyone said that Jiangnan was rich and the people were well-fed and clothed. In fact, only the wealthy families were well-fed and clothed, while most people were still living in poverty. In addition, the floods during the autumn harvest season made life even more difficult for the people. They have to survive this winter before they can look forward to next year's spring planting." Xie Shang said slowly, and he almost subconsciously called out to Ruan Ruan.

Upon suddenly seeing that the person in front of him was Su Tingwan, he raised his wine glass and downed the wine in one gulp.

Su Tingwan said, "Your Highness, please have some porridge before drinking wine, otherwise your stomach will feel uncomfortable."

She pushed the bowl in front of him, saying, "I've also been preferring this light flavor lately, and the rice aroma is even stronger."

Xie Shang nodded and awkwardly finished the porridge in his bowl. "Wanwan, you should eat too. Now that you're back, just tell the kitchen what you want to eat. You don't have to do everything yourself."

"I understand." Su Tingwan ate a small bowl of food and was full.

This was the first time Xie Shang had seen her eat so little. "Eat more!"

"Your Highness, please eat more." She smiled, "My appetite seems to have shrunk recently, and eating too much makes me feel uncomfortable."

Looking at the bland and watery dinner, Xie Shang really had no appetite. He said, "I will soon be going to the border with your elder brother."

"I have been in the capital for many years and have never had the chance to visit my father and mother. It is because of the long distance. I really feel guilty towards my father and mother. Can Your Highness take me with you?" Su Tingwan wanted to go to war with the army so that she could rebuild her relationship with him.

Xie Shang said, "Times have changed. If I were to bring my family to war, it would be against the rules, and there is no precedent for it." There is no reason for a general to bring women to war.

"Wanwan wants to go home to visit her family," Su Tingwan began to coax. "I don't need to travel with Your Highness, so no one will gossip."

“My elder brother has already told me that he wants me to go back with him,” Su Tingwan added.

Xie Shang thought it over and over again, "That's fine, but the Emperor hasn't given the order yet, and I don't know when it will begin." He would definitely try to lead the troops into battle.

Su Tingwan's plan succeeded. She rested her head on his shoulder and said, "I would like to go with Your Highness to see the eagles on the grassland. Riding a horse on the grassland is a completely different experience from riding a horse in the palace's horse farm."

She felt that even God was on her side this time. Xie Shang had left Shengjing, and neither Aoxue nor Susu could get close to him. He could only belong to her alone.

"Your Highness, you must be tired. Let me help you rest!"

Su Tingwan's hint was quite obvious, but Xie Shang suddenly became nervous. He said, "I'll read for a while. You go to sleep first!"

"Let me accompany Your Highness," she said again. "Since entering the Prince Heng's residence, I have read a lot of books. Although I was forced to, I have indeed learned some things."

"What books does Wanwan like to read?" Xie Shang suddenly became interested.

Su Tingwan snuggled into his arms intentionally or unintentionally, her hair exuding a faint fragrance that was refreshing.

She hooked her arms around his neck, her voice sweet and seductive, "Your Highness..."

After her teasing, Xie Shang could no longer concentrate on reading.