Chapter 404 Zhu Zhenzhen Remains Incorrigible

After Gao Qingtong entered the palace, she thought she could compete for the throne with her talent. There were many concubines in the Eastern Palace, and everyone relied on their own abilities. However, no matter whether she was brewing tea, playing chess, or discussing poetry and songs, the Crown Prince remained indifferent.

Later, she learned that the Crown Princess's talent and beauty were something she could never match.

So no matter how much she does, it's all just imitation, and if she gets any deeper into it, she'll only end up like Zhu Zhenzhen.

The Crown Princess was not a pushover, nor was she a vicious mistress who bullied the weak. If she wanted to live like the Crown Princess, she probably wouldn't live another lifetime. Her appearance wasn't particularly beautiful, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't attract the Crown Prince.

Gao Qingtong was even a little depressed and became more and more cautious.

Jiang Fenghua, supported by Granny Wang, entered Zhu Zhenzhen's room. The maids, not daring to breathe, hurriedly bowed. Her eyes were cold and stern, and she showed a slight concern, asking, "Have you summoned the imperial physician to treat Miss Zhu?"

Meixiang quickly said, "Both Physician Wang and Physician Zhu have come. Your Highness has caught a cold and is therefore unconscious. The physicians also told Your Highness to rest more."

"Just follow the imperial physician's instructions and take good care of her!" She glanced at Zhu Zhenzhen, who was lying on the bed like a dead fish. In fact, Su Tingwan was more beautiful than her. She wanted to compete for favor and Xie Shang's love. She didn't understand Xie Shang at all.

Just as Jiang Fenghua was about to leave, Zhu Zhenzhen suddenly coughed. Meixiang quickly went over to her and asked with concern, "Your Highness, you're awake!"

"Meixiang..." She uttered only two words before bursting into tears, her eyes half-open and half-closed, her voice choked with sobs, "Go tell the Crown Princess that I really know I was wrong, sob... I... I..."

Jiang Fenghua stood by the door, feeling as if her heart was about to ache. How could she possibly finish saying everything in one sentence?

Meixiang also cried, "Don't worry, Your Highness, the Crown Princess is here. She has come to visit you."

If it weren't to let Xie Shang know how difficult things were for her, she wouldn't have come to watch Zhu Zhenzhen act. The ladies of the Eastern Palace are all quite good at acting; they all seem to have received professional training.

Immediately afterwards, Zhu Zhenzhen scrambled off the bed and crawled to Jiang Fenghua's side, tears streaming down her face. "Your Highness, I truly know I was wrong."

Jiang Fenghua asked, "Where did you go wrong?"

Zhu Zhenzhen was stunned. "I shouldn't... I shouldn't have been ignorant of the rules. Your Highness told me to learn the palace rules properly, and I will definitely learn them properly." Now that her father was no longer speaking up for her, she could only hug the Crown Princess. After all, she hadn't done anything to wrong the Crown Princess, and she was soft-hearted and wouldn't hold it against her.

Even Granny Wang, standing to the side, was worried for the Crown Princess. She was determined not to give in to her, as Consort Zhu was a woman who would never learn her lesson.

Jiang Fenghua wouldn't play the farmer and the snake story with her. She said, "Since you know you're wrong, then you should stay in Yuling Palace and cultivate your mind and body! Since Consort Zhu is so ill, you should stay in your room and rest properly for His Highness the Crown Prince's birthday banquet. Don't go out and cause trouble."

Zhu Zhenzhen paused, a hint of anger flashing in her eyes. Why? The Crown Prince and the Empress didn't confine her, and she hadn't committed any serious offense. Why couldn't she leave?

"I am only thinking of Your Highness's health. If Madam Zhu sees Your Highness looking so haggard, she will definitely worry about you." Jiang Fenghua's face was full of tenderness. Whether His Highness would show more pity for her depended on what Your Highness wanted to do next.

Zhu Zhenzhen is restless no matter what, so she can take advantage of her. It all depends on what Zhu Zhenzhen is planning.

"Granny Wang, hurry up and have someone help Miss Zhu up and take her to bed to rest properly," Jiang Fenghua ordered in a stern voice.

Soon, Granny Wang and her servants helped Zhu Zhenzhen up and put her on the bed. "Please rest well, Your Highness. I will have the servants take good care of you. Please rest assured, Your Highness."

After Jiang Fenghua left, Zhu Zhenzhen threw off the blanket and onto the floor. Unable to find anything to tear, she tore off the bed curtains. Only after venting her anger did she calm down. "Why can't she let me go to the birthday banquet? I already begged her, what more does she want?"

After uttering that curse, Zhu Zhenzhen coughed repeatedly, as if she were about to cough up her lungs.

Meixiang glanced at Granny Liu, hoping that Granny Liu could persuade the young mistress.

Granny Liu quickly patted her back and advised, "Your Highness, you should focus on recovering. Nothing is more important than your health. Getting well is the most important thing right now."

“I just caught a minor cold, I’ll be fine soon. Why can’t I go to the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet?” Zhu Zhenzhen asked repeatedly. “She did it on purpose, deliberately finding an excuse not to let me see the Crown Prince.”

"My lady, let's rest first!"

"Meixiang, go and invite His Highness here for me. Tell him I am ill, very ill. Go quickly."

Meixiang said with difficulty, "But this morning when Your Highness was still kneeling at the entrance of Kunning Palace, we went to invite the Crown Prince, but he didn't come. I'm afraid he won't come now."

"He will come. He will definitely come because of his father's sake." She didn't want to lose the Crown Prince's favor, even if the Crown Prince's affection for her was insincere. She couldn't lose the Crown Prince.

What did she do wrong? She just liked him and wanted to see him more often. How could he ignore her over such a small thing?

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She was weak and listless, her face deathly pale, her forehead burning hot. She looked like she was about to collapse. In a hoarse voice, she cried out, "Meixiang, go quickly!"

Meixiang was also afraid, so she didn't dare not go to the Crown Prince. After finding out that the Crown Prince was in Taihua Palace, she went there directly.

When she arrived at the entrance of Taihua Palace, Wuxin stopped her, saying, "His Highness the Crown Prince has state affairs to attend to, Miss Meixiang, please go back quickly!"

Meixiang was still unwilling to give up and shouted loudly, "This servant requests an audience with His Highness the Crown Prince. Your Highness, please go and see the young mistress. The young mistress is really sick."

"Your Highness..."

At this moment, Xie Shang came out and said coldly, "Since you are sick, you should take good care of yourself. Summon the imperial physician to take a look. I am not a doctor."

"Your Highness, I know I was wrong. Please give me a chance." Mei Xiang knelt on the ground, her eyes darting around. "The Crown Princess went to Yu Ling Palace just now. She wouldn't let me celebrate Your Highness's birthday. I haven't slept for several nights in order to prepare a gift for you. Please, Your Highness, take pity on my sincere feelings and go see me!"

At this moment, several ministers walked out of the Taihua Hall, including Imperial Censor Zhu. He said coldly, "What's all this commotion? What kind of behavior is this!"

Meixiang was startled. "Master."

Xie Shang said to Imperial Censor Zhu, "Princess Zhu is ill, Imperial Censor, please go and see her!"

Just then, Imperial Censor Zhu also wanted to see his daughter. "Yes."

Once Censor Zhu left, Xie Shang led the court officials to discuss state affairs.

He thought to himself: Zhu Zhenzhen sent people to cause trouble again. Does she know that her father is in Taihua Palace and think that I will go to see her this time out of consideration for Imperial Censor Zhu?

He sneered, saying that such tricks would eventually become tiresome if used too often.