Chapter 482: Take a seat, the Hate Prince drinks to boost his courage
Madam Qian is much more shrewd than Qian Qiyue. Tang Ning was just paving the way for Miss Wang. It was a rare achievement that she could force Xie Yuyan to apologize. From now on, there will be less gossip when Miss Wang enters the academy and studies with men.
But if they continue to chase after them and act aggressively, and a real fight breaks out, it will not be easy for the people in Prince Ji's Mansion, and Tang Ning and Miss Wang may not end up well either.
In the palace, some things should be kept to a minimum, which is better for everyone.
Qian Qiyue pouts after receiving a slap, but Miss Wang bows towards Tang Ning and says, "Thank you, Princess."
Tang Ning helped her up: "No need to thank me, there has been a long-standing rift between me and the Ji Palace, and it is because of me that I have implicated you today."
She liked the girl in front of her who was of the same age as her very much. If Miss Wang had retreated when facing Prince Ji's Mansion just now, Tang Ning would not blame her, but she might not care much about her. However, Miss Wang obviously understood her intentions.
Looking at this smart and insightful girl, Tang Ning was willing to make friends with her.
"The academy's supplementary enrollment will take some time. If you'd like, you can come to Jiyun Lane to find me, or go to the academy's library to read some books. I have a younger sister who, like you, enjoys studying and staying in the library. I'm sure you and she will get along well."
Miss Wang was delighted: "Can I?"
Tang Ning smiled and said, "Of course."
Miss Wang quickly said, "Yuzhen thanks the princess."
"Don't call me Princess anymore, call me Tang Ning. From now on, I will call you Yuzhen."
Miss Wang could feel the friendly attitude that Tang Ning was sending towards her. Her cheeks flushed a little, and she felt more intimate. She called out "Tang Ning" softly, and saw the extremely beautiful Princess Xiangning showing her a brilliant smile, which made her unable to help but smile slightly.
It turns out that the rumors are all false, the princess is obviously a good person.
…
Fu Jinrou looked at Tang Ning and Miss Wang who were chatting happily, and saw Qian Qiyue also chattering beside them, obviously very friendly.
She bit her lip lightly and said worriedly to Madam Fu beside her, "Grandaunt, although Miss Xie has lost her title of princess, she is still a member of the royal family. The princess and Sister Qian have publicly humiliated her and Princess Ji. I'm afraid the people in Prince Ji's mansion will bear a grudge against them."
Madam Fu clapped her hands and said, "You're overthinking it. It was the people from Prince Ji's Mansion who were at fault first. If Tang Ning doesn't speak up and fight back, she'll be looked down upon."
She is the daughter of the Rong family, a princess personally appointed by His Majesty, and has the Rongsheng Academy behind her.
If someone hits her in the face and doesn't fight back, and continues to smile when humiliated, others will not think she is tolerant and forgiving, but will only despise her for being timid.
Madam Fu thought Fu Jinrou had just arrived in Beijing, so she explained softly to her:
"Tang Ning had her share of setbacks in the past, and it took a lot of effort to redeem her reputation thanks to the academy. If she doesn't protect the academy's reputation today and allows herself to be insulted at will, then Rongsheng Academy will become a huge joke."
The scholars in this world are all noble and they will not like a person who is servile and spineless. On the contrary, Tang Ning has reasons and evidence, and he refutes the powerful in the name of students and the academy. Even if his words are spread, he will only be praised.
As for Prince Ji's Mansion...
"The man from Prince Ji's Mansion had already been enemies with Tang Ning and A Yue a long time ago, so this incident won't make any difference."
Fu Jinrou sighed softly upon hearing this: "That's good. I was worried that the people in Prince Ji's Mansion would embarrass the princess and the others."
Madam Fu chuckled, looked at the gentle Fu Jinrou beside her, and said to her:
"Tang Ning is a good-natured girl, and Ah Yue is also a simple-minded girl. You can hang out with them more often in the future and learn to be tougher so that you won't be bullied."
Fu Jinrou was worried: "But I'm afraid the princess doesn't like me."
Madam Fu smiled, "How could that be? Tang Ning has a very good personality. You will definitely get along well with her."
Fu Jinrou smiled faintly: "Then I will listen to my great aunt."
Seeing her docile and well-behaved appearance, Madam Fu couldn't help but say, "You are just too well-behaved, child."
Such a soft personality is not a good thing in Beijing.
It seems that I need to ask Tang Ning and the others to teach Fu Jinrou how to stand up for herself so that she won’t be bullied.
Madam Fu was calculating in her heart while patting Fu Jinrou's hand: "Let's go, I'll take you to meet the others."
…
There was a commotion in Deyu Palace, but the news did not spread anywhere else.
After Princess Ji and the others left, the Crown Prince's wife of Prince Lu's Mansion and the remaining female relatives who had originally "shared a common hatred for the enemy" all avoided Tang Ning. Having seen what happened to Princess Ji and her daughter, no one would be hesitant to come and cause trouble for the extremely stubborn and defiant Princess Xiangning.
When it got dark, palace maids came to invite the female family members to go to the Zichen Hall where the banquet was to be held. When they arrived at the banquet, the court officials had already taken their seats.
Tang Ning and Qian Qiyue separated and followed Rong Yue to their respective locations.
That seat was not particularly close to the front, and was some distance away from the seats of the emperor and his concubines above and the palace gate. Moreover, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the two of them were separated from the other seats by red-painted pillars behind them, and the musicians playing at the banquet were not far away from them.
Before Tang Ning sat down, he glanced back at the musicians playing, and his gaze paused on two of them.
"Tang Ning, it's time to take a seat." Rong Yue turned her head.
Tang Ning smiled and said, "I'm coming."
…
The Zichen Hall is much larger than the Deyu Hall. In previous years, it was used to entertain envoys from various countries, with singing, dancing and banquets during grand court meetings. Because the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet this year was so grand, many more people attended the banquet, so the palace decided to hold the banquet here.
But even so, there was not enough space in the hall for so many seats, so the banquet was set up all the way outside the hall.
Fortunately, palace lanterns were set up in front of the hall early on, so some officials of lower ranks would not feel dim when sitting under the wide eaves outside.
The music was playing and the full moon was rising in the sky outside.
Many people in the hall were talking and laughing in low voices. Tang Ning sat at the table, chatting casually with Rong Yue while keeping an eye on the other people in the hall.
The princes and princesses of the royal family occupied a separate area, and the aristocratic court officials and the upright faction were also clearly separated. The female relatives who had previously been able to chat and laugh with each other in Deyu Hall were now separated.
Prince Zeng sat diagonally above him, holding a wine glass as if to boost his courage. Grand Tutor Liang was whispering to someone beside him, while Cao Dejiang seemed to be studying the dishes on the table...
Tang Ning glanced over and his eyes paused.
"What are you looking at?" Rong Yue followed her gaze and murmured, "Isn't Cui Lin seriously ill? Why is he still attending the banquet?"
Tang Ning pursed his lips slightly. Cui Lin had been seriously ill before and had lost a lot of weight. Now, his empty official robe was gathered around him, making his frail face look a bit gloomy.
He still looked ill, his "broken" arm still hadn't healed, and he hadn't even attended the morning court for several days, yet suddenly there was a palace banquet...
Tang Ning felt a little uneasy, but at this moment, a loud shout suddenly came from outside.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
The sound in the hall disappeared instantly, and everyone stood up quickly.
Emperor An led several concubines into the palace one after another. Xiao Yan and Yu Yanfeng followed behind them and stood in front of the platform.
Tang Ning collected his thoughts and knelt down with everyone else.
"Your Majesty, long live your Majesty!"
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