Chapter 218
Murong Huai Shi immediately frowned again. He knew that getting benefits from her would not be so simple.
"Do whatever you want, I can't stop you."
He sighed helplessly and said, "But I still hope that you will consider the Prince's Mansion more before making any decisions."
"I understand, I know what I'm doing."
Tao Tao slowly stepped forward, picked up the teapot and poured him a cup of tea. Just like his daughter, she lowered her head and said respectfully, "Father, please have some tea."
He became extremely wary of her, scrutinizing her suspiciously. Just moments ago she had acted so lawless, but now she was so respectful; it was hard not to suspect that she had ulterior motives.
What are you planning to do now?
She blinked innocently and said, "I didn't mean to do anything. Aren't we family? As your daughter, isn't it only right that I pour you, your father, a cup of tea?"
I dare not drink the tea you poured! He was urinating in his abdomen.
Seeing that he had no intention of drinking, she casually placed it in front of him and shook her slightly sore and numb hand.
"Murong Jia Hui is of marriageable age. The Princess Consort brought her here to find her a high-ranking family to marry into in the capital. However, her status is too low. There was also a plan to send her to the Eastern Palace, but the Empress did not take a liking to her."
"She was just a concubine's daughter, and she had neither stunning beauty nor extraordinary talent, so it was quite normal that she did not win the Empress's favor."
"I advised Shuqing long ago not to have any wishful thinking. How could a concubine's daughter like her possibly be worthy of the Crown Prince? She would be better off marrying one of my men and winning people's hearts for me."
His words were full of belittling and contempt for Murong Jiawei, showing no leniency whatsoever just because she was his daughter.
Upon hearing this, she frowned slightly and said calmly, "Wouldn't it allow her to realize her full potential by adopting her as an adopted daughter of Lu Shuqing?"
"You mean make her the legitimate daughter?" He frowned.
She was just the child of a concubine, her birth mother was still alive, and he had many children. Mu Jia Hui wasn't particularly outstanding, so there was no need to treat her so specially.
Therefore, he never considered adopting anyone under Lu Shuqing's care.
Why did you suddenly decide to speak up for her?
He didn't think she was a kind person; she might have other motives.
"I was just saying it casually. Didn't you say we're family? I was only thinking about the Prince's Mansion. How can you suspect me of having ulterior motives?"
"Whether you want it or not is the decision to you. How could I possibly interfere with your choice?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and left, leaving Murong Huai Shi alone to ponder her intentions. Could it be that she was really considering the Prince's Mansion?
Upon careful consideration, he realized that what she said made sense, so he sent someone to fetch Lu Shuqing, intending to discuss the adoption with her.
In the front hall, Murong Jia Hui cautiously looked up at her mother, whose face was pale. After thinking for a while, she said, "Mother, Huai Min is just outspoken; she doesn't mean any harm."
Upon hearing this, Lu Shuqing turned her head, looking at her with a disappointed expression, "Why can't you stand up for yourself! You actually lost to that ill-mannered little bitch."
"She was absent for most of the banquet. The Empress even praised you for your erudition and talent, so how come this good thing still fell to her?!"
"And now you actually have the nerve to speak up for her? Do you want me to think you've chosen the wrong person?"
"In the end, children born to concubines are never respectable. Even if they are born into a royal family like a prince's mansion, they still cannot change their inherent lowliness and pettiness."
Praising her for her extensive knowledge and talent only meant that she outshone the noblewoman in a poetry contest, and it doesn't signify anything.
The mother felt everything was settled, but only she noticed that there was a hint of contempt hidden deep in the Empress's eyes as she looked at her, and that the praise was just a formality.
These words clearly conveyed a sense of disdain, showing that she looked down on the fact that she came from the womb of a lowly concubine.
Even after being by Lu Shuqing's side for so many years, he would still relentlessly rub salt in her wounds when he was angry, never caring about her feelings or treating her like a daughter.
She was just something her mother used to pass the time when she was bored.
"Mother, I just... I just didn't want to make you so angry."
She lowered her head, tears welling in her eyes, her face showing embarrassment. Even though she had heard so many derogatory and hurtful words, she still felt very sad.
"If you were more ambitious and won over Father and the Empress, you wouldn't be treated as inferior!"
She was looking impatient and was about to leave when a servant came over and said that the prince wanted to see her, so she walked towards the study.
As soon as she entered, she couldn't wait to ask about Tao Tao.
"Your Highness, who exactly is this Princess Huaimin? Why do you always defend her? Do you know how outrageous her attitude towards me is? She's utterly arrogant!"
"Could it be that you have a mistress outside, and she is your illegitimate child? If you want to take a concubine, when have I ever stopped you?"
"But if she really is an illegitimate child, and you've gone to such lengths to get the Emperor to bestow upon her the title of County Princess, then you should also pay attention to Jia Hui. You can't be so biased..."
"How dare you! What nonsense are you spouting!" Murong Huai Shi glared at her impatiently.
He felt that what she was saying was getting more and more outrageous. He already had enough trouble with so many women in Yingzhou's backyard, so where would he find the energy to keep any mistresses outside?
That woman is so ignorant; all she does all day is nitpick and be jealous in the backyard.
Lu Shuqing frowned and looked at him with a mournful expression: "Then, why did you take her in as your goddaughter and bring her before the Emperor? I still can't believe in her ability to save the Emperor."
"What's the point of asking? Would I lie to you? He's a man of Lord Duan Gan of the Privy Council. Do you think you can afford to offend him?"
"Don't provoke her over trivial matters, or you'll only make yourself look bad and lose face in front of her. She's not someone you can deal with using the same methods you use on your backyard."
There was one more thing he didn't say: "Even I, the king, can't get the upper hand in front of her."
But saying such a thing would be incredibly shameful, completely undermining the dignity of the Prince of Yingzhou.
Lu Shuqing lowered her head further as she was being scolded, and replied in a humble voice, "Yes, Your Highness, I understand."
She was even more astonished. She had previously learned from the Prince that this Chief Envoy Duan held a high position and power, controlled the army of the whole country, was the head of the military officers, and was a favorite of the Emperor.
Unexpectedly, the person behind that little bitch was him.
No wonder she was so fearless and didn't take anyone seriously.
Seeing her obedient and docile appearance, he felt much better after being so angry with Tao Tao. He couldn't help but think that this was what a woman should be like.
Women should revere their husbands and follow the three obediences and four virtues, instead of being as unruly as Tao Tao.
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