Chapter 504 Method

Jiang Fenghua did not refute, her expression indifferent. It didn't matter where she lived, as long as she could live with her child.

For the next two days, Xie Shang still did not come to Chenxi Palace. Whether he came or not was irrelevant to Jiang Fenghua. What Jiang Fenghua was worried about now was that Xie Shang would tell the Jiang family about this. She did not want her family to worry about her.

If Jiang Jinyan were to ask her, how should she answer? This matter cannot be kept secret from Jiang Jinyan.

Jiang Jinyan did not enter the palace for the next few days. After inquiring, it was learned that he had been sent out by the emperor to work.

Why were they sent away at this time?

On the third day, the Empress Dowager returned to the palace. Jiang Fenghua had already learned from Lin Yu that the Empress Dowager had found a merchant's daughter from outside the palace to seduce Xie Shang. Upon hearing this news, she smiled indifferently, no longer having the fighting spirit to compete with the concubines. She only wanted to take good care of her child.

She was the empress appointed by the late emperor and had given birth to three imperial heirs for the Xie family. Her position was already very secure. She no longer cared whether Xie Shang was willing to hold a coronation ceremony or whether he could keep his promise to remarry her.

If he wanted to depose her, she would have nothing to say now. Jiang Fenghua was certain that Xie Shang would not depose her as empress, because her fourth brother, Jiang Zhiqin, was currently working hard to conquer the Hu tribe for him.

His plan has already begun; even if it's just for show, he'll put on an act.

Jiang Fenghua thought he would pretend to be a harmonious couple with her, just like he had with the Su family, the Zhu family, and even General Peng, to show the Jiang family. However, Xie Shang did not come. He was busy being the emperor and dealing with various political affairs in the court.

Jiang Fenghua was able to focus on her postpartum recovery.

The news caused an uproar throughout the entire harem, except for Chenxi Palace, which remained quiet.

So, the concubines used the excuse of paying their respects to the Empress to crowd into Chenxi Palace. Jiang Fenghua, in her current physical condition, naturally did not have the time to go out and entertain them.

Consort Song and Consort Gao assisted the Empress in managing the harem, and the concubines crowded into their palaces to discuss the women the Empress Dowager had brought back.

Half a month later, Jiang's mother entered the palace, accompanied by her maternal grandparents and her uncle Feng Yi.

Jiang's mother, along with her elderly parents, were about to pay their respects to Jiang Fenghua when Jiang Fenghua quickly stopped them, saying, "Grandfather, Grandmother, Uncle, what brings you to Shengjing? And you even went to the palace."

Grandma Feng held Jiang Fenghua's hand and said, "If your maternal grandmother doesn't come to see you again, I'm afraid I'll never have the chance to see you again in this lifetime."

Jiang Fenghua's eyes were red, and tears welled up in them. She threw herself into the old woman's arms and said, "Grandma, Ruan Ruan missed you so much."

"Don't cry, you're still in your postpartum period." Madam Feng said, "The escort agency has business in Shengjing, so your grandfather and I came with your uncle. Your mother had already sent a letter saying that Ruan Ruan was about to give birth, and we've been thinking about it, so we came right away."

Grandpa Feng glanced around the magnificent palace and asked with concern, "Are you comfortable living here? Is your husband treating you well?"

Jiang Fenghua smiled and said, "His Majesty treats Ruan Ruan very well. You can ask your mother, Grandfather. She knows best."

"Father, please rest assured, Ruan Ruan and the Emperor have a very good relationship. I was worried at first, but I never expected that Ruan Ruan would marry such a considerate husband, unlike a monarch..."

Jiang Fenghua quickly stopped her, "The Emperor is very busy every day, Mother, please don't talk about him. Be careful not to say anything that might cause trouble. You've come to visit Ruan Ruan, haven't you?"

The group immediately fell silent. Feng Yi said, "We also brought gifts for Ruan Ruan. Your maternal grandparents also brought many local specialties from Yu County, saying that Ruan Ruan has loved eating them since she was little, but she hasn't had the chance to eat her hometown snacks since she entered the palace."

Jiang Fenghua suddenly felt very sad. She could no longer go to her maternal grandparents' house. No matter how big the world was, it no longer belonged to her. She smiled and said, "Why can't I eat it? Now I can eat it, can't I?"

Granny Wang then brought the three children to them, and Xie Ziyan and Xie Hongyou were not intimidated at all.

Jiang Fenghua pulled Feng Yi aside and whispered, "Which merchant house in Shengjing did your escort agency take on this time?"

"It's a big order, and the pay is pretty good. The other party's surname is Cheng, and his name is Cheng Feng..." Feng Yi explained.

"Has the goods been delivered?" Jiang Fenghua asked.

Feng Yi said, "We've handed it over, but Boss Cheng has other goods entrusted to us for escort, so we're not in a hurry to return to Yu County. If we come to Shengjing often in the future, we'll have the opportunity to visit Ruan Ruan. Everyone in the family wants to see you, but your identity doesn't allow it. Uncle Wang, Uncle Ma, Aunt Li, and Fatty all miss you very much. However, they don't know that you married into the royal family. The Feng family has kept this a secret. Fortunately, you disguised yourself as a man when you came to Yu County, otherwise it would have been really hard to explain."

Just as she had expected, Xie Shang went to Yu County. Actually, she wasn't afraid of Xie Shang investigating. She hadn't done anything harmful to him. Judging from her mother's state, Xie Shang probably hadn't told anyone about that matter, not even Jiang Jinyan.

Feng's Escort Agency is considered one of the best in the industry, and there are many people in the agency who share weal and woe with the Feng family. They need to make a living, and she doesn't want Xie Shang to disrupt the lives of everyone in Feng's Escort Agency.

She wasn't worried if Cheng Feng honestly did business and handed the goods over to Feng's Escort Agency; she was worried about Xie Shang. She didn't want anyone connected to her to be implicated because of her.

Jiang Fenghua didn't see her mother and maternal grandparents off until the afternoon.

Afterwards, she washed and dressed herself up, and looking at her stunning face in the bronze mirror, she was very satisfied.

In half a month, she recovered well. When Granny Wang heard that she wanted to go out, she hurriedly came to stop her: "Your Highness is still in confinement. Is she really going out?"

"What do you think of my hairstyle, Granny Wang? Will the Emperor like it?" Jiang Fenghua asked, her makeup exquisite.

"Your Highness cannot go. Not resting properly after childbirth will harm a woman's body!" Granny Wang was truly distressed for Jiang Fenghua.

Jiang Fenghua smiled and said, "I can just wear a cloak and a hat, or have someone send a sedan chair. Don't worry, Granny, I know my own body."

“I can’t go out. Madam Jiang entrusted me with the important task of taking care of Her Highness, so I must take responsibility. It’s already dark outside…”

"It was precisely because it was dark that I was able to find His Majesty!" If I don't look for him now, it will be too late if I wait until later.

Granny Wang's eyes immediately reddened again. More than half a month had passed, and the Emperor was truly heartless, not even coming to see her once. On the third day after the Empress Dowager returned to the palace, she arranged for a woman surnamed Bai to meet the Emperor. No one in Chenxi Palace dared to mention this matter. She felt that even if she didn't say it in front of the Empress, the Empress would still know.

What kind of temper does the Empress Dowager have? Under the pretext of increasing the imperial heir, she insisted on sending all the concubines in the harem to the Emperor's side, aiming to sow discord between the Emperor and Empress. That was the Empress Dowager's purpose.