Chapter 195 Xie Ling'er's Counterattack

Lianye brought back the information she had gathered: "They were all dressed up in a flamboyant manner, vying with each other in their skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as if afraid of being outshone. It seems that everyone knows what this plum blossom appreciation banquet hosted by the Empress is all about."

Jiang Fenghua remained calm, holding a newly published storybook in her hand, reading its humorous and witty content, which made her chuckle.

Lianye said, "Your Highness, are you even listening to what I'm saying?!"

Jiang Fenghua kept her eyes on the book, her slender fingers gently turning the pages, relaxed and content. She said softly, "I heard it, but there's nothing to hear. It was expected." Because these women would all become concubines in the palace in the future.

"Didn't they say that Minister Tang's daughter and Minister Lu's son were childhood sweethearts? She already has someone she likes, so why is she still trying to get involved? You didn't see how eager she was, afraid of falling behind." Lianye continued to complain.

"And then there are Zhu Zhenzhen and Qiao Xuan'er. They haven't even reached marriageable age yet, but they're dressed up like vixens. They're so eager to marry the prince and become his concubines. It's infuriating! First there was Consort Su, and now there's a bunch of Consorts Zhu, Tang, and Qiao."

"How could the Empress be like this!"

"The Empress's idea of ​​taking a concubine for the Prince didn't just come out of nowhere. She considered them when she was choosing her daughter-in-law. It's just that I got lucky and was chosen by the Empress to be the Princess Consort of Heng. Now that the Empress is making moves again, they naturally have designs on me again." Although the Empress didn't directly propose marriage, isn't what she did more conspicuous than a formal proposal?

Empress Cheng was ultimately too hasty. Her actions would only put Xie Shang in a difficult position. If Xie Shang did not marry her in the future, he would offend even more people, including important officials in the court.

Ao Xue also said, "So even if they become concubines, they would be willing? They are all delicate and weak noble ladies, with family backgrounds and knowledge, and are proficient in all the arts, such as music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Why would they demean themselves by becoming someone else's concubine?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Xue felt horrified. How many women would a prince of the royal family marry in his lifetime? With a beautiful, erudite, and kind-hearted woman like the princess as his wife, what more could a prince possibly want?

Knowing that the prince wanted to take another concubine, didn't the princess stop him, get angry, or get jealous?

Jiang Fenghua didn't care at all; compared to Xie Shang's pace of taking concubines in his previous life, this was considered a small amount.

There are still beauties, noble concubines, virtuous concubines, and beautiful concubines. Empress Cheng won't stop until she's finished tormenting them all.

The war at the border had been going on for more than two months. The Empress was busy selecting women for her son. Jiang Fenghua received the news but did not pay any more attention. Fortunately, the Empress did not take any major action.

Jiang Fenghua lived comfortably in the palace, enjoying a leisurely life. She was used to it and didn't feel bored. The days passed quickly, and soon it was New Year's Eve. Good news came from the border: the enemy army was being defeated and retreated. Prince Heng's army had swept through the Hu tribe's army.

The emperor was so pleased that he bestowed rewards upon everyone in the palace, from the empress and concubines to the eunuchs and maids; no one was left out.

Jiang Fenghua also ate her New Year's Eve dinner in the palace this year. It was the first time she hadn't eaten with the Jiang family, and she was a little disappointed. In order to match her status as a princess, she tried her best to appear happy.

All the princes, princesses, princes and princesses were present. The emperor had quite a few children: thirteen princes and nine princesses. Xie Ling'er was the ninth in line. Since her mother's accident, she had been living alone in her mother's former palace. When they met again, Xie Ling'er was much quieter and rarely spoke throughout the entire process.

In her previous life, Xie Ling'er was incredibly famous and lived a life of glory. But who knows what will happen in this life? It's said that Empress Cheng often punishes her under the pretext of teaching her manners.

Jiang Fenghua suddenly glanced at her, and in that single glance, she saw that Xie Ling'er's eyes were filled with hostility.

People in the palace also had to stay up all night on New Year's Eve, but after the New Year's Eve dinner, everyone stayed up in their own palaces. At this time, people in the palace felt even more lonely.

The saying "one misses one's family even more during festivals" is vividly expressed in this holiday.

Jiang Fenghua also had to stay up all night on New Year's Eve. For the sake of her family, no matter how tired she was, she would wrap herself in a fur coat and sit by the stove.

Just then, the sound of gongs and drums rang out outside, and the entire palace instantly went from tranquility to noise.

Lianye opened the door and ran out to see what was happening. She quickly brought back the news: "A huge event has occurred in the palace."

Jiang Fenghua was dozing off when she was suddenly woken up. She looked up at her and asked, "What happened?"

"Consort Wang has been caught having an affair with a guard," Lianye whispered. "The Empress has already rushed over. Consort Wang dares to do such a thing in the palace; she's practically courting death! She's so foolish!"

Jiang Fenghua had no reason to get involved in such a scandalous affair.

As she waited for the outcome to reach her ears, a hint of regret flashed in her eyes.

Lianye continued recounting the gossip she had gathered, "I heard that Consort Wang and the guard had been together for a long time. The Emperor personally ordered them to be each given a hundred lashes. They were both beaten until they coughed up blood. When Consort Wang died, her eyes were still wide open, and her hand was tightly clasped with the guard's. They were holding each other's hands until their deaths. Alas, how could they be so foolish? One was a guard, and the other was the Emperor's concubine. What kind of feelings could lead to such a tragedy that they had to risk their lives?"

"For them, death is better than suffering in the deep palace," Jiang Fenghua sighed. This is the imperial palace that everyone is desperate to enter.

"I heard they were reported, otherwise, in this cold weather, on New Year's Eve, who would bother to go to Consort Wang's palace to catch them in adultery?" Lianye added.

"Who reported this?" Ao Xue asked coldly from the side. She felt that since the emperor couldn't take care of so many women, he should marry fewer.

She had met Consort Wang before. She was a delicate and charming young woman, not even twenty years old, yet she was to marry an emperor who was over fifty. The emperor favored her and gave her the title of Consort, but in the end, he abandoned her, leaving her to live out her days alone in the palace.

“It was the Ninth Princess. She personally went to the Emperor to report it, and then it reached the Empress’s ears,” Lianye added. “I heard that the sound of the gong being struck was from the Ninth Princess.”

Jiang Fenghua was now in a panic. "What does the Ninth Princess want to do?"

Just then, Jiang Fenghua received news that Empress Cheng had been punished by the Emperor and was now kneeling in the snow in front of the Qianqing Palace.

Jiang Fenghua hurriedly had someone help her put on her clothes, boots, and cloak. Because it was so late, she felt that it was gloomy and chilly outside when she went out.

Lianye and Aoxue supported her on either side, while two palace maids carried lanterns in front and behind.

Jiang Fenghua carefully recalled the way Xie Ling'er looked at her that night, wondering how Empress Cheng had trained her over the past few months to make her so gloomy and terrifying.

It seems that Wang Zhaoyi's affair with the guard tonight was not accidental. Xie Ling'er must have known about it for a long time, and she deliberately waited until tonight to make a scene.