Chapter 96 He spoke his heart to her for the first time

Xie Shang was about to light the lamp when she quickly stopped him, saying gently, "No, don't light the lamp. I'm afraid that if I light it, you'll see me looking ridiculous. I want to look my best in front of you." The last part was just an excuse; she didn't want him to see the fierce look in her eyes.

"Silly girl, I've seen you in every way imaginable. You're not ugly at all when you cry; you're still very pretty," Xie Shang said with concern.

"I had a nightmare, I'm scared, please don't leave me, please hug me?" Jiang Fenghua made up an excuse; she hadn't expected to dream about her past life.

Xie Shang gently embraced her, "Dreams are always the opposite of reality. I'm here with you, so don't be afraid. I'll protect you. Besides, you're the Princess Consort of Prince Heng, so you don't need to be afraid of anything."

She smiled through her tears and said gently, "Will the prince always stay by Ruan Ruan's side? Will he always protect Ruan Ruan?"

Xie Shang replied without hesitation, "Of course."

Jiang Fenghua snuggled into his arms. Why hadn't she received any affection from him in her previous life? Her heart was already riddled with holes and could never be filled again.

If he knew that every step they took together was calculated, would he still love her?

"What did Ruan Ruan dream about?" Xie Shang suddenly asked.

She said, "Child."

Xie Shang frowned. "Then how could it be a nightmare?"

“I dreamed that they didn’t like me, that they hated me as their mother.”

"Them?" Xie Shang asked, puzzled.

"In my dream, the prince and I had two children, a daughter and a son, but neither of them liked me." Jiang Fenghua's tears flowed again. "I don't know how to be their mother. I'm afraid I won't be a good mother..."

Xie Shang smiled and said, "You must be too anxious. Once we have children, if they dare to bully you, I'll beat them up for you."

His voice was low as he continued, “Actually, I’m also afraid that I won’t be a good father. I’ve never been liked by my father since I was a child. No matter how hard I try, he has never praised me. I used to think that if I were a father, I would never make my children sad like my father did. I would never let them be lonely or sad. I would love them all equally.”

When he spoke these heartfelt words to Jiang Fenghua for the first time, she felt it was all fake. He had clearly suffered so much, so why did he treat her two children that way? Was it because he disliked their mother? So he, like his father, loathed her two children?

Jiang Fenghua didn't want to dwell on the past; she just wanted to live in the present and plan for the future.

In this life, she will not depend on men, nor will she devote herself entirely to her children. She will make up for all the grievances she has suffered.

The next day.

Xie Shang got up early and went to the yamen. Jiang Fenghua woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't fall back asleep. For the first time ever, Xie Shang chatted with her for half the night, telling her many things about his childhood.

She knew he respected his father, and that he was also a child who longed for his father's love, so she deliberately contradicted him.

He told her why he liked going to the Jiang residence; he felt that the Jiang family was very warm and humane, and that her father was strict but loving, and a truly learned scholar.

He said another reason he liked her was that he liked the Jiang family. Jiang Fenghua had never thought about this; she thought he liked her beauty.

Because she didn't sleep well in the middle of the night, she took a nap in the morning.

At this moment, Steward Cheng personally went to Lanyue Pavilion. Hongxiu respectfully said, "Please go and serve tea to the guests first, Steward Cheng. I will go and invite the Princess Consort. Before leaving, the Prince instructed that the Princess Consort should sleep a little longer."

Since Jiang Fenghua took over as housekeeper, Hongxiu has also taken on many affairs of the Prince's Mansion, and she has become increasingly composed.

Butler Cheng said, "Hongxiu, there's no rush."

Hongxiu entered the inner room and saw that the princess was still awake and had not yet gotten up. "The Su family has sent an invitation. The old lady of the Su family is waiting in the front hall. Would the princess like to go out and greet her?"

Lianye followed closely behind, saying, "Let's leave her out for now. I received news a long time ago that the old lady of the Su family left from the border two months ago and only returned to the Su residence a few days ago. I guess she came back after receiving the news that Consort Su had been banished to the Cold Palace. I'm afraid her visit now is about Consort Su."

Jiang Fenghua got out of bed and said calmly, "Let's get ready. We can't be negligent with our distinguished guests." The Su family was finally making a move.

"What about Consort Su? Should we inform her?" Lianye asked.

"It was the Prince who ordered her confinement. I, the Princess Consort, have no authority to lift the confinement for her. Keep her locked up!" She added, "Old Madam Su is a female general who has been on the battlefield and has been granted an imperial title. Send someone to invite the Prince back to the manor. Today, Old Madam Su is a guest at the manor, so have the kitchen prepare more good dishes. Do not neglect her." Su Tingwan had been confined for two months, and she was served plenty of meat and fish, choosing only the dishes that Su Tingwan liked.

Hongxiu replied, "Yes."

Lianye beamed with joy, "Our Princess and the Prince's relationship is getting better and better. Consort Su has been neglected for so long, the Prince has long forgotten about her."

“The Su family has returned to the capital, and Su Tingwan will soon be favored,” Jiang Fenghua said. “Just you wait and see! Even Consort Su might be released from the Cold Palace.”

The two maids exchanged a glance. "How could this be?"

Jiang Fenghua explained, "If Consort Su's crime had happened in the common people's world, she would probably have been drowned in a pig cage long ago. But in the royal family, even if the emperor had been cuckolded, he would first consider the benefits Consort Su brought him. After all, the Su family has military power. Even if the emperor didn't give Consort Su a white silk noose, our Prince Heng wouldn't really banish Consort Su to the cold palace." The father and son were exactly alike.

Lianye said, "Then what should we do? Will the prince go and favor Consort Su again?"

Jiang Fenghua straightened her clothes and had Hongxiu style her hair into an elegant and noble updo before saying, "Of course... I will." However, she wouldn't give Su Tingwan a chance.

Regardless of whether he likes Su Tingwan now or not, he will no longer neglect her.

Xie Shang is capable and ambitious; she even suspects that Xie Shang's relationship with Su Tingwan is a deliberate attempt to anger the emperor and empress.

One was desperately trying to stop him, while the other was deliberately wary of him. He just wouldn't listen, as if he wanted to drive them crazy.

His parents, well, they weren't exactly innocent either.

Upon arriving at the front hall, they saw that Madam Su, with her full head of white hair, was over fifty years old but was dressed in armor and holding a cane, looking quite vigorous despite her advanced age.

The maidservant accompanying her was also dressed in a soldier's uniform.

When Madam Su saw Jiang Fenghua, she raised her head high. Because she was a titled lady, she did not need to bow to Princess Heng.

Jiang Fenghua, dressed in a magnificent gown, gracefully entered the hall with her slender fingers supporting her red sleeve. She walked directly past Old Madam Su, who was sitting on a soft chair, and headed towards the main seat.

As soon as she took her seat in the main seat, a maidservant quickly brought her a bowl of tea. She picked up the teacup, took a sip to moisten her throat, and then slowly spoke, "This princess was unaware of Madam Su's arrival and has been neglected."

There was a hint of anger in Madam Su's eyes. "It is indeed improper for a junior to make me wait for so long."