Chapter 156 Consort Su Stays to Serve the Ill

"That may be true, but Ruan Ruan, you are pregnant. Your mother's health is not important; protecting my grandson is your most important task, cough cough..."

The Empress covered her mouth, "Don't get so close to your mother, keep your distance, lest your illness affect you and harm the child. Shang'er, just take good care of Ruan Ruan, your mother is fine, cough cough..."

Jiang Fenghua greatly admired Empress Cheng's acting skills. Every cough she heard made her feel heartache and anxiety.

In front of everyone, Xie Shang dared not let Jiang Fenghua sit down anymore, otherwise she would be criticized and it would affect her reputation. She had already done very well, and she could not let people give her a reputation for being unfilial.

His mother only had him as her child, but there were two women in his palace. Now one of them was serving him wholeheartedly, while the other ignored him. No wonder his mother never liked Su Tingwan.

If he had actually married Su Tingwan as Princess Heng, I wonder how heartbroken and sad his mother would have been.

In comparison, it is clear that Jiang Shaofu and Madam Jiang have indeed raised Jiang Fenghua very well. The Empress Dowager also has excellent judgment. Everyone in the Hengwang Mansion likes her. With such a wife, what more could a husband ask for? As long as Jiang Fenghua is in the mansion, he can entrust the entire mansion to her even when he is busy outside.

Put yourself in her shoes. Su Tingwan always angered the Empress Dowager, and he indulged her in hurting her mother's feelings for reasons that didn't even exist. He deserves to die!

Last night, he even agreed to let Su Tingwan accompany him on the expedition. Now they are just waiting for the court to make preparations before they set off. War is not child's play, and the battlefield is extremely dangerous. He is going to repel the barbarians, not to watch the eagles in the sky with Su Tingwan, nor to ride horses on the grassland.

With his mother so seriously ill, how could he leave the capital with peace of mind? And with Ruan Ruan heavily pregnant, how could he be at ease if something happened to her?

However, if the old lady Su and Su Xuan openly or secretly intend to take Su Tingwan away, it is feared that if word gets to the ears of the common people or the army, where will his dignity as a prince be? Will he still have any face left for the royal family? If the generals in the army know that he is taking a concubine with him, and everyone follows suit, how can he command respect?

Perhaps this opportunity presented itself as a good pretext to send Su Tingwan to the palace to serve the Empress Dowager during her illness. The Su family had nothing to say about it.

Xie Shang left the palace and sent someone to the Prince Heng's residence to fetch Su Tingwan to the palace.

Soon, Su Tingwan arrived gracefully, wearing a new cloak in vibrant colors that made her look exceptionally beautiful.

Seeing Xie Shang waiting for her at the palace gate, she was overjoyed. She remained gentle and charming, and respectfully bowed to him, saying, "This concubine greets Your Highness."

Seeing her dressed so festively, Xie Shang wondered if she didn't know his mother was ill. His eyes darkened, but his face remained impassive as he said calmly, "Let's go!"

Perhaps because he was so used to seeing Jiang Fenghua's stunning beauty before him, he was no longer bothered by Su Tingwan's attempt to imitate her in order to please him.

"Did Your Highness come here specifically to fetch your concubine?" Su Tingwan had learned to stop calling him by his name and instead be mindful of her status as a concubine. Jiang Fenghua was very discreet and would never overstep her bounds by calling him so intimately. She also recognized her own position and knew that she had to elevate Xie Shang to his level to win his favor.

"Mm," Xie Shang replied with a nasal tone, and said no more.

Su Tingwan sensed his distance and became increasingly uneasy. She tried to start a conversation: "Your Highness had Steward Cheng make these clothes for me. I like them very much. Thank you, Your Highness."

"I'm glad you like it. If you need anything else, just tell Butler Cheng."

Xie Shang never shortchanged his women in life. Whether it was money or material things, he could satisfy them. Jiang Fenghua didn't ask for much because she didn't lack anything. Su Tingwan didn't ask for anything now either, but she still didn't. In front of the Su family, even if it was just for show, he still had to prepare everything he was supposed to for her.

Su Tingwan felt a sweet warmth in her heart, thinking that she could finally leave Shengjing with Xie Shang to explore the outside world and leave behind their beautiful memories. Xie Shang was a sentimental person, and she wanted to seize this opportunity to create opportunities to be with him.

Little did she know, her little scheme was about to be shattered.

Upon entering Kunning Palace, Su Tingwan saw all the princesses present. It was so cold outside that people's teeth were chattering, but she had a warm new cloak made of mink fur and the latest style. She was also holding a hand warmer. Apart from her nose being slightly red from the cold, she didn't feel cold at all and looked very cute.

All eyes were on her. She followed Xie Shang obediently, feeling a little smug. It was indeed quite nice to be the center of attention.

However, everyone felt that Consort Su's attire was too flamboyant. After all, the Empress was her mother-in-law, and it was against the rules for her to arrive at this time. Considering that she was a consort, not the principal wife, no one blamed her. However, her attire was more gorgeous and charming than that of Princess Heng.

She should know what clothes to wear for what occasion!

Upon arriving before the Empress, Xie Shang said, "The Empress Dowager is ill. As the concubine of Prince Heng, you should come to the palace to visit her."

His eyes held a warning, hoping that after learning the rules for so long, she would be sensible and polite, and stop upsetting her mother.

Su Tingwan was taken aback at first, but quickly regained her composure and asked a superfluous question in a gentle voice, "Why is Your Highness ill?" as if to say that she might not be faking it!

Xie Shang frowned, a cold glint in his eyes. "The Empress Dowager is ill. As her daughter-in-law, you and the Princess should both be by her side. Ruan Ruan is pregnant, so it's up to you to take care of the Empress Dowager now. You can do that, can't you?"

Su Tingwan's expression was almost cracked, but she quickly recovered, "This concubine will certainly do her best to take care of Her Majesty the Empress." If her aunt knew that she had come to serve Empress Cheng, her aunt would probably go crazy again.

Her grandmother had long taught her that the woman she should never offend in the palace was the Empress. Although the Emperor did not like the Empress, she was the head of the harem and Xie Shang's biological mother, so she had to curry favor with her.

This is also Jiang Fenghua's cleverness; if she can please her mother-in-law, she will naturally please her son as well.

She used to have her aunt around, but now that her aunt has fallen out of favor and she no longer has that opportunity, she can no longer act as freely as before.

When Empress Cheng saw Su Tingwan, she suppressed her anger. Since she had come to attend to her, she would wait and see. She would take back all the anger she had suffered at the hands of her aunt from Su Tingwan.

Su Qingqing thought she could escape this calamity by pretending to be crazy, but I will take my anger out on your niece.

Empress Cheng and Su Qingqing were destined to be irreconcilable enemies for life.

Su Tingwan stayed by the Empress's side to attend to her illness. The Empress did not refuse and said to everyone, "I am fine. Why should I trouble you all? Go back! Each of you has a lot of things to do in your own household. Su Tingwan can take care of things here. Ruan Ruan, take care of the baby in your belly and go back to your household with Shang'er as soon as possible. Your mother will get better."

Empress Cheng spoke up, and everyone left. There were indeed a lot of things to do at home, and it wasn't easy to go to the palace, which would take up most of the day.

Su Tingwan was furious. If she was alright, why did they have to keep her here to take care of her? But she didn't dare show it. She put on a gentle and charming face, hoping that Xie Shang would take her away.

Xie Shang also had state affairs to attend to, so he went to the Imperial Study and would come back after he finished.

These past few days, everyone has been in turmoil over whether the Hu people and the Great Zhou should go to war, so he couldn't care less about Su Tingwan's emotions.

Jiang Fenghua said to the Empress, "Your Majesty, I am going to see off the princesses. They must have had a hard time making this trip."

"Ahem..." Empress Cheng coughed a few times before saying, "Go, thank them on behalf of your mother."