The Shufei has been in the emperor's good graces these years and lives in the beautiful Zihua Palace in the palace.
The Zihua Palace was decorated in a luxurious and grand manner. Zhou Suihuan had been here once before, and it was not so exquisite and luxurious at that time. Now it seemed that Concubine Shu was living in a better situation in the palace.
Seeing Jiang Mingzhi, Concubine Shu looked at her calmly. Although she was surprised, she did not show any astonishment.
"Sit down."
Concubine Shu smiled, her voice gentle and beautiful. If Jiang Mingzhi didn't know that she was nearly forty years old now, he would probably mistake her for a girl in her teens, just looking at her face.
The Wang family members all have good looks, and Concubine Shu has undoubtedly inherited the good looks of the Wang family. She has almond eyes and rosy cheeks, making her a standard beauty. What's even more rare is that she has a set of neat teeth.
Jiang Mingzhi knew from the past that there was another reason why the emperor loved Concubine Shu, which was that she had a set of neat and beautiful millet teeth. When she smiled, she showed eight standard teeth, which made her lively and playful. Even in her age, she could still vaguely see some of her youthful and beautiful beauty.
The palace maid brought a soft stool over, and Jiang Mingzhi thanked Concubine Shu and sat down.
When the tea was served, Concubine Shu raised her hand and said with a smile, "This tea was your mother's favorite when she was alive. Try it and see if it suits your taste."
Her mother's favorite tea when she was alive... Jiang Mingzhi's heart moved slightly, wondering if Concubine Shu had any ulterior motives in bringing this up. She lowered her eyes, took a sip of tea, and replied with a smile, "Of course Concubine Shu's tea is good."
This sentence is naturally good and makes sense to me.
It seemed that if this tea did not come from Zihua Palace, it would be a different matter. Concubine Shu listened, pursed her lips, and gently put down the tea bowl.
"Child, although you haven't met your aunt since you were born, your mother and I were very affectionate when we were still young. It's a pity that the palace is so crowded that even if your aunt wanted to, she couldn't bring you to her side to take care of you all the time."
But this is not the first time I see you.
Jiang Mingzhi said to herself that the appearance of Concubine Shu was different from her impression, and she seemed to be putting on a show.
She is a noble lady in the palace and the most favored concubine in the six palaces. Is there anything else that requires her to put on a show with a mere servant like her?
Jiang Mingzhi had an idea in his mind, but he held back and just waited to see what Concubine Shu wanted to do.
"Do you blame me for not taking care of you all these years?"
Concubine Shu suddenly changed the subject and asked directly.
Jiang Mingzhi was stunned, feeling that this was really out of the question. Not to mention that she was an aunt from another family, even if she was a biological aunt, a daughter who is married off is like spilled water. She has a father and grandmother above her, so how could she blame an aunt?
Jiang Mingzhi quickly stood up and apologized in a panic, "Aunt, what did Mingzhi say wrong?"
She looked as anxious as a deer, and Concubine Shu didn't know what to do next for a moment.
There were many occasions for drama in the palace, but she had never acted like this with Jiang Mingzhi, an unmarried girl, and she was a little unable to continue.
But thinking of her intention today, she wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and asked, "Tell your aunt the truth. She will definitely not blame you."
Jiang Mingzhi lowered her head and said respectfully, "This humble servant has absolutely no intention of blaming Her Majesty Shufei. If this humble servant has said or done anything inappropriate, Her Majesty Shufei will punish her."
She kept calling Concubine Shu and her servant "you", which made Concubine Shu feel unhappy.
I have even condescended to ask her to call me aunt, but you still deliberately keep her at a distance. It is really ungrateful of me.
Thinking of Jiang Mingzhi's life experience, she felt relieved again, so she sneered and changed the subject, "Although you don't have the love of your biological mother, you still have the Wang family. Your aunt and I are now in Kyoto. There will be someone to take care of you in the future."
After saying that, she looked at her hand again and gently turned the jade ring on her hand.
The ring is cleverly designed, and it has a string of small jade beads pendants. When you raise your hand and move, the beads will swing with the movement, and when they collide, they make a crisp and pleasant tinkling sound.
Jiang Mingzhi took a look at the jade ring and thought the design was quite interesting.
"Mingzhi, if your aunt asked you to marry Prince Yi, would you be willing?"
Marry Prince Yi?
Jiang Mingzhi raised her eyes, her eyes were moist, but she looked helpless.
Although Concubine Shu is now the most favored concubine in the harem, the prince's marriage is a major event in the royal family. If this is the emperor's wish, the emperor will not consider her opinion. Once the imperial edict comes down, as long as the Jinyi Marquis's Mansion does not want to be completely destroyed, it will have to nod and agree.
Since Concubine Shu asked this, it was obvious that the matter was not simple.
Seeing that Jiang Mingzhi refused to respond and did not take the initiative to continue talking, Concubine Shu finally couldn't help it and took the initiative to get to the point.
"Mingzhi, do you envy your Qiang'er?"
Concubine Shu smiled, walked over to me, and pushed the plate of Suzhou-style snacks on the table towards me. She smiled very gently and said, "If your mother were still alive, your life would not be worse than Qiang'er's. You would have everything she had, and the Jinyi Marquis's Mansion would not have been occupied by your stepmother for so many years, causing you to suffer so much injustice."
It turns out she knew all this.
Jiang Mingzhi lowered his eyes, thinking that what Concubine Shu said was a bit ridiculous.
"But it doesn't matter. Although you don't have your mother's love, don't worry, your aunt will love you in the future."
Jiang Mingzhi lowered his eyes, hiding the teasing in them, and pressed the corners of his eyes with a handkerchief, which turned red from being rubbed. He really looked like he was touched.
"Prince Yi is my aunt's only child. When you marry into our family, we will become an even closer family."
"A woman's marriage is determined by her parents and the matchmaker. I dare not make my own decisions."
Concubine Shu was displeased. What she said was clearly an excuse. Even though she had been stupid for many years and her mental faculties were not as good as those of ordinary people, she shouldn't be like this.
"Okay, I'll have someone tell your father about this."
"But..." Concubine Shu hesitated for a moment, then said with some embarrassment: "Auntie will not let a girl like you face these marriage matters, but Auntie also hopes that you can understand my good intentions."
What is Concubine Shu's good intention? Isn't it just to prepare for the acquisition of power?
But Prince Yi is neither the eldest son nor the legitimate heir, so why does he sit in that position?
Of course, rather than letting Prince Hui, Prince Jin and others sit in that position, she would rather it be Prince Yi. Compared with the other princes, Prince Yi is still a decent person and has not killed so many people.
But this doesn't mean that she is willing to be used by others.
She had already died once, and after seeing the dirty things happening in the royal family, how could she allow herself to be used like a fool?
But if she doesn't agree, given Concubine Shu's determination to get what she wants, she will definitely start from other places.
Instead of doing this, it would be better not to refuse first, see what Concubine Shu really wants to do, and then remain unchanged in the face of all changes. Wouldn't that be better?
Having made up his mind, Jiang Mingzhi felt at ease.
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