Chapter 22 Consort Su's Unruly Behavior

Suddenly, a fragrant aroma wafted over, and Xie Shang's stomach rumbled loudly, causing him to look embarrassed.

Jiang Fenghua frowned, her beautiful, watery eyes sweeping over his stomach. "Has Your Highness not eaten yet?"

Xie Shang was very hungry, and then she remembered Lin Feng saying that Jiang Fenghua could cook delicious food. She also remembered that she had eaten in Jiang Fenghua's courtyard once before and hadn't eaten enough, so she missed it.

She preemptively struck, a sweet smile spreading across her face. "Your Highness invited me for tea, and I invite you to a meal, is that alright? Your Highness needn't be shy, anyway..."

Her voice stopped abruptly.

Xie Shang didn't point it out, knowing she had already prepared the meal. "I'll accept it without being impolite."

I'd like to see what other tricks you have up your sleeve.

He was at the yamen during those days, and she understood that he wasn't eating well there, so she asked Steward Cheng to send him some food every few days.

There wasn't much good food at the government office, but he ate a little bit and found it delicious. He seemed to enjoy it.

He said gently, "I am merely borrowing the Queen's tea to offer to the Buddha."

Jiang Fenghua smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Turning her gaze, her eyes were deep and indifferent. Xie Shang's kind words were all because she was attractive enough. The only person he loved was Su Tingwan, which was why he indulged her endlessly. Other women were just his pastimes.

This time was different from the last time; each item was served in a small dish, totaling seven or eight dishes, a mix of meat and vegetables, which looked very appetizing.

The fish was fresh and tender, smooth like tofu, and had a wonderful aroma. Xie Shang couldn't help but swallow, feeling his taste buds awakened. He first took a small bite, and then couldn't stop eating it.

Jiang Fenghua didn't touch her chopsticks. Occasionally, she would pick out a dish that looked good and put it on the plate in front of him. During this time, she only stared at the food and didn't look at him once. It was as if she was seriously considering which dish would suit his taste, or perhaps she was trying to avoid him. She sat upright, with beautiful features and a quiet demeanor.

Jiang Fenghua's lack of action made Xie Shang feel uneasy.

After eating and drinking his fill, Xie Shang's mind began to wander. She didn't eat a single bite, and she didn't like to talk while he ate, showing excellent manners.

Suddenly, Su Tingwan's voice rang out in the courtyard, "How dare you! I am the prince's concubine, how dare you stop me..."

Lianye quickly apologized, "This servant would naturally not dare to stop Consort Su. Please don't be angry, Consort Su. The Prince and Princess are inside, but..." Lianye hesitated, looking as if she was about to kneel down before Consort Su.

"But what? I need to see the Prince." She hadn't expected Jiang Fenghua to be so cunning, dressed so flamboyantly to seduce A Shang. She had heard that Jiang Fenghua was dancing in the courtyard, which was why A Shang was drawn to her there.

Jiang Fenghua is two-faced; she hates women like that the most, who are not upright or honest at all.

Su Tingwan forcefully barged inside, calling out, "Ah Shang, are you there?"

Hearing the noise, Xie Shang quickly got up from his seat and turned around to come out. As soon as he reached the door, he saw her looking aggressive, and the maid couldn't stop her.

"Wanwan, what are you doing?" he said sternly.

Su Tingwan stared at the graceful Jiang Fenghua standing there, tears suddenly welling up in her eyes. "I've been waiting for you at the Sandalwood Courtyard, waiting for you to have lunch together, but instead you came to Jiang Fenghua's place. You said you don't like her, and she doesn't like you either. And what am I seeing now? What are you two doing in the room?"

When Xie Shang saw her crying, he panicked and became flustered. It was indeed his fault; he shouldn't have kept Wanwan waiting. He was about to step forward to explain.

Jiang Fenghua opened her big eyes, looking innocent and aggrieved, and said, "Consort Su, you've misunderstood. The Prince and I didn't do anything..."

Su Tingwan persisted and went straight in. She saw two sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table, along with leftover food scraps, indicating that they had been eating leisurely together for a long time.

She pointed at the table, her eyes fixed on Jiang Fenghua, "Is this what it means to not do anything? Can someone explain this to me?"

"I..." Jiang Fenghua hesitated, her husband was being blamed for having a meal at her place, and she felt wronged but couldn't express it. She said softly, "Let's just say it's my fault."

"See? You finally admitted it. I knew you couldn't possibly dislike A-Shang. You were just putting on this aggrieved act in front of him, like nobody owed you anything..."

Xie Shang suddenly recalled the scene of the Second Prince humiliating him, mocking him for liking a wild and unruly girl. Wanwan had been learning manners for half a month, but hadn't made any progress at all. He raised his voice and scolded, "Have you made enough of a scene?"

"You yelled at me..." This was the first time Su Tingwan had been raised to such a level, and she felt incredibly wronged. The thought of them being alone together, Jiang Fenghua's beauty, and her deliberate seduction made her furious. "Didn't you see she was pretending? She's seducing you..."

"Get out." Xie Shang clenched his fists, his eyes cold and piercing.

Without considering the consequences, Su Tingwan abruptly overturned the table, spilling food scraps all over Jiang Fenghua, staining her pink tube top, thin blouse, and even her embroidered shoes with oil.

Jiang Fenghua's face was also full of expressions. Caught off guard, her eyes were full of grievances and she was so shocked that she didn't know how to move her eyes. She stood there dumbfounded.

Xie Shang's brows furrowed with anger. He strode over to Jiang Fenghua's side and, seeing her disheveled state, gave Su Tingwan a cold, sharp look. He said in a cold voice, "It's one thing for you to be insolent in front of me, and I can tolerate and indulge you. But you went to Lan Yue Pavilion and splashed the Princess Consort all over. Is this the etiquette you've been learning for half a month?"

Su Tingwan was stunned by his shout. She was in a daze and could only cry. Seeing Xie Shang protecting Jiang Fenghua like this, she kept crying and felt heartbroken. "You clearly said that you would only love me for the rest of your life. You changed so quickly. When you see her, your eyes don't even blink and your legs won't move."

After Su Tingwan finished speaking, she ran out crying. Xie Shang wanted to chase after her, but saw that Jiang Fenghua's face was flushed red, and she was filled with grievances that she could not express. Tears were welling up in her eyes, but she held back her tears.

Seeing her appearance, Xie Shang felt very guilty. "Are you alright?"

"Originally, I just wanted to live a peaceful life in my own little world. I know that I am insignificant and my voice is weak. The Imperial Concubine has also said that the Prince and Consort Su are in love and affectionate. I... I will not disturb you. So the Prince should not come to Lanyue Pavilion anymore, so as not to cause Consort Su to misunderstand and ruin my life for nothing."

Jiang Fenghua was already in tears after she finished speaking. She hugged herself and squatted on the ground, feeling wronged. "I don't understand why I had to marry into the Heng Prince's mansion, marry someone who doesn't like me, and marry a husband whose heart and soul are devoted to other women."

Her implication was that I must have done something wrong.

Her voice trembled, carrying a hint of sobbing, as if it could break one's heart.

Xie Shang originally wanted to leave, but then he remembered that day when Consort Su arrived at Prince Heng's residence with an imperial edict in a very aggressive manner. She sat in the main seat, while Jiang Fenghua stood respectfully below her. It turned out that Consort Su had come to support Wanwan that day.

Jiang Fenghua was just the daughter of a junior tutor. Who could she offend, and who would she dare to offend? When she went home, she would only report good news and not bad news, so as not to worry her parents. She was weak and helpless, disheveled, and only dared to cry in her own arms.

What did she do wrong? He had just doubted her.

She was not wrong at all. Even if she wanted to please him, it was because he was her husband.