Xiangzhu shook her head and said regretfully, "Song Kaifeng has become a Duke, living a life of luxury with beautiful concubines in his arms. It's a pity that you have to endure so much in the Southern Frontier. Who would have thought that the powerful Princess Jiahua in the Northern Chu would fall to this state?"
As the other party mentioned the past, Princess Jia Hua's expression gradually darkened.
"Seventh sister-in-law".
The Third Prince's Consort walked towards them with a beaming smile, and you could feel her overflowing joy from afar.
She looked at the two of them in surprise: "You two have met. Did I disturb you?"
Xiangzhu spoke first: "How could that be? We're all living in Jincheng, so we'll have plenty of time to see each other in the future."
Princess Jia Hua did not refute, presented the congratulatory gift, and said congratulations. The Third Prince's wife's smile deepened: "Thank you, Seventh Brother's Wife."
Xiangzhu said to the Third Prince's wife, "Sister-in-law, go ahead if you're busy. We won't stand on ceremony."
"Alright."
The Third Prince's wife was indeed too busy to spare any time today. She instructed Xiangzhu to take good care of Princess Jiahua before leaving with her maid.
As soon as the person left, Xiangzhu's expression changed, and she glanced at Princess Jiahua.
"Xiangzhu." Princess Jiahua took a deep breath and said solemnly, "You are young and impetuous, and somewhat reckless and ignorant of the rules. I apologize to you."
Xiangzhu was stunned.
Princess Jia Hua said, "My life may seem glamorous, but who knows the hardships I've endured? Whatever your purpose, I just want to tell you that my only wish is to go back to my child alive."
Seeing Princess Jia Hua, who used to be high and mighty and arrogant, bowing her head in front of her, Xiang Zhu's resentment disappeared.
She waved her hand: "You're not a child anymore, why hold so many grudges? I've already let it go since you married Song Kaifeng."
Such a scoundrel is not worthy of Princess Jiahua at all.
Princess Jia Hua lowered her eyes and smiled bitterly.
Xiang Zhu dismissed those around him, glancing casually at his surroundings with the corner of his eye: "Do you know that the Seventh Prince has won the battle and will soon be returning to the capital?"
Princess Jia Hua frowned; she really didn't know about this.
“Jiahua, I have a favor to ask of you.” Xiangzhu turned her head and looked at Princess Jiahua with a solemn expression: “If one day comes, please arrange a way out for Chun’er.”
“Xiangzhu…”
“Today, I, a mere merchant’s wife, am not worthy to be here. You have always been intelligent and should know that even the poorest noble families are most concerned with their status.” Xiangzhu’s gaze was fixed on Princess Jiahua: “You are luckier than me and still have hope, but I have no hope in this life.”
Princess Jiahua grabbed Xiangzhu's wrist. Xiangzhu gasped. She instinctively tried to lift Xiangzhu's sleeve, but was stopped.
"With people coming and going, do you want others to laugh at me?" Xiangzhu frowned.
"He...he treats you badly."
Xiangzhu shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes: "There is no future for Chun-ge'er if he stays in Jincheng. If you can go back one day, please take him with you and give him a place to stay."
She choked up and looked at the people in the courtyard, saying, "Jiahua, I only believe in you."
After all, they were childhood friends. Princess Jia Hua nodded: "If I can go back, I will do my best to take Chun Ge away."
Xiangzhu smiled, wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, and lowered her voice: "The Seventh Prince is back. Some people are worried that the Seventh Prince will seize the throne, and you, as everyone knows, are the Seventh Prince's weakness. If we can control you, we can control the Seventh Prince. Some people want to take this opportunity to rise to power. The emperor in the palace has long been sidelined."
Princess Jia Hua's expression changed slightly.
"The Empress... may not necessarily be a good person."
"We need to be wary."
As soon as she finished speaking, a palace maid walked over. Xiangzhu immediately lowered her voice and said to Princess Jiahua in a sarcastic tone, "You've finally met your match. If you hadn't been competing with me at every turn back then, how could I have married into the Shang family!"
"Seventh Prince's Consort, Her Majesty the Empress summons you," the palace maid said.
Princess Jia Hua snapped out of her daze and glanced at Xiang Zhu.
Xiangzhu said with a fawning expression, "I haven't seen Her Majesty the Empress for a long time, and I was thinking of paying my respects to her."
The palace maid glanced at Xiangzhu, then at Princess Jiahua, and remained silent.
Let's go.
The two followed the palace maid to a pavilion. The Empress was drinking tea in the pavilion, and the wet nurse was holding a swaddled baby. The Empress was lovingly playing with the baby. When she saw the two of them, she waved to the wet nurse and said, "Take the young master away."
"yes."
The Empress was dressed very brightly today, with a phoenix robe and two phoenix hairpins swaying gently in her hair, and a gentle smile on her face.
Princess Jia Hua then got a clear look at the Empress's face.
The Empress was not very old. When they met three years ago, the lights were dim and the Empress was ill, so her voice was hoarse. She thought she was about the same age as the Emperor of Southern Xinjiang.
Looking at him today, he's only in his early twenties.
Bright and charming, gentle and elegant, graceful and noble.
"This humble woman greets Your Majesty the Empress."
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress."
The Empress raised her hand and said, "No need for formalities. Xiangzhu and Jiahua are old acquaintances, and they are the same age. They must have a lot to talk about. It is also rare for you to meet in the Southern Frontier."
Xiangzhu snorted coldly: "I don't have the good fortune of the Seventh Prince's wife. She was disliked in Northern Chu, but became a hot commodity in Southern Xinjiang."
The Empress frowned and looked at Xiangzhu.
Xiangzhu explained, "Jiahua abandoned her husband and children, and everyone in Northern Chu despises her. The Seventh Prince is truly blind to have been bewitched by her. Once the Seventh Prince sees through her true colors, he will definitely abandon her."
Princess Jia Hua pursed her lips. Although she didn't understand why Xiang Zhu said that, she clearly saw a hint of surprise and relief flash across the Empress's eyes.
Letting go?
She was puzzled.
"Your Majesty, you may not know this, but if it weren't for her bullying others back then, I... I wouldn't have had to leave my homeland." Xiangzhu rubbed her eyes and burst into tears on the spot, looking as if she hated Princess Jiahua to the extreme.
The Empress gently patted Xiangzhu's hand: "So many years have passed, don't hold a grudge, or people will laugh at you."
Xiangzhu knelt at the Empress's feet, her face full of flattery. Every now and then, she would deliberately glare at Princess Jiahua, as if she wanted to devour her alive.
The Empress comforted Xiangzhu with a few words, and then said, "Your clothes are dirty, go and change them first."
After sending Xiangzhu away, the Empress looked at Princess Jiahua and smiled slightly: "That's just her personality, you don't need to take it to heart."
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