“My granddaughter-in-law is Nianfu, she is the principal wife of Lu’er, your mistress, and the one in her womb is the future heir. Logically speaking, you have grown up in the palace since you were a child, how could you not even understand this basic etiquette of respect? Is it because others have not taught you well, or are you trying to rebel against your superiors?”
"If it weren't for the fact that you grew up in the palace, would you, as a concubine, be qualified to be here on an occasion like this?"
Empress Dowager Zheng disliked Cheng Suyun, even though she was pregnant with Jinglu's child.
But she was pregnant, and her good grandson Jinglu was soft-hearted and didn't want to make things difficult for her.
However, Cheng Suyun was too arrogant. Relying on the child in her womb, she dared to speak recklessly outside, especially when the Yongshou Palace found out that Cheng Suyun dared to act arrogantly in front of them.
Isn't that telling others that you can't intimidate her?
Empress Dowager Zheng was angry and didn't want to save face for her, so she also made sarcastic remarks to Empress Dowager Cheng who was standing next to her.
Empress Dowager Cheng immediately understood that Empress Dowager Zheng had been making veiled attacks. She lifted her eyelids slightly and thought about Empress Dowager Zheng's situation in the past, and how it was any different from Cheng Suyun's.
She no longer intended to care about Cheng Suyun; any further arguing or shouting was their own business at Changshou Palace.
Empress Dowager Cheng leisurely picked up the teacup in front of her, blew on it a few times, and sipped slowly.
Cheng Suyun was exposed on the spot and scolded harshly. Her face turned red and white, and she looked extremely aggrieved.
Ever since Cheng Suyun married Jing Lu, she has never entered Yongshou Palace again. She dares to say this only because Empress Dowager Cheng was present, because she does not believe that her great-aunt has abandoned her like this.
Jing Shuo is useless; Xiange is not a member of the Cheng family at all.
Only the child she carries will have the bloodline of both the Cheng family and the royal family; at the very least, the child will be the Cheng family's last resort.
But even after Empress Zheng reprimanded her so severely, Empress Cheng remained unmoved, which drove Cheng Suyun to the brink of collapse.
Unconvinced, she bit her lip and, relying on the confidence of still being Empress Dowager Cheng's grandniece, mocked Empress Dowager Zheng on the spot, hoping to regain her filial piety towards Empress Dowager Cheng.
"Why does Your Majesty speak so harshly? Su Yun has taken Your Majesty as her role model ever since she married the Third Prince."
"Your Majesty's words have not only hurt Suyun's feelings but also disgraced yourself. I urge you to reconsider."
The person in Yongshou Palace had broken the heart of his grandniece whom he had raised, and he hadn't said a word about her affairs, which made Empress Dowager Zheng feel much better.
She turned around and was immediately mocked by Cheng Suyun for her lack of respect, which made her so angry that she slammed her hand on the table.
"You...you have some nerve, daring to speak such arrogant words to me! So what if you're pregnant? Do you think I'm afraid of you? Guards..."
"Grandmother, please don't upset yourself," Zheng Yutong said, trying to calm things down as she saw that Empress Dowager Zheng was about to deal with Cheng Suyun.
“Consort Cheng, no matter what, your great-aunt is still an elder. How can you talk back to your great-aunt?”
She said this not to help Cheng Suyun, but because she knew that Cheng Suyun's audacious behavior in the main hall would surely anger her great-aunt.
At that time, the great-aunt will inevitably complain to Jinglu. So, whether I spoke up for Cheng Suyun or comforted the great-aunt, Jinglu will definitely know, and he will definitely not forget me.
Cheng Suyun was wary of Empress Dowager Zheng, but not of Zheng Yutong. Coincidentally, Zheng Yutong had become a member of Yongshou Palace. She disdainfully mocked her and glanced at her sideways.
"I am not good at speaking, and I am not as obedient as my second sister-in-law. I know that I am not worthy of being spoken to. Another day, I will ask the third prince to personally apologize to my second sister-in-law on my behalf."
Throughout her speech, Cheng Suyun emphasized the term "Second Imperial Sister-in-Law" very much, and deliberately flaunted her extraordinary relationship with Jing Lu.
Even though Zheng Yutong was mentally prepared, even though she had once looked down on Jing Lu, she still went up to him and treated him well.
But now that she had suddenly lost all connection with Jing Lu, and seeing others flaunting him, Zheng Yutong couldn't help but feel a surge of sadness.
Empress Dowager Zheng saw that Cheng Suyun, now a minor concubine, was becoming more and more like Consort Cheng in her former ways, arrogantly disregarding even her and lecturing Zheng Yutong.
Another surge of anger welled up within her, and she glared at him, about to speak.
Zhao Nianfu got up and brought a cup of tea to her, trying to defend Cheng Suyun.
"Grandmother, please don't be angry. Today is a family banquet. There are also relatives invited in another side hall. Even if Sister Suyun is wrong, it is the responsibility of your granddaughter-in-law. If we make a big fuss, we'll become a laughing stock."
"Moreover, the Third Prince is not around. If something happens to Sister Suyun and her unborn child, the Third Prince will definitely be heartbroken."
Zhao Nianfu patiently mediated the conflict, telling Empress Dowager Zheng that at her age, there was nothing to fear except for her beloved grandson, Jinglu.
After careful consideration, he convinced himself that the child in Cheng Suyun's womb was, after all, Jinglu's first offspring.
From the lineage of the late emperor to the lineage of Empress Dowager Zheng's son, the imperial lineage had always been difficult to produce.
Even if Cheng Suyun had given birth to this child properly, and made him a lucky charm to enrich Jinglu's bloodline, it would be better than something going wrong.
After calming herself down, Empress Dowager Zheng's angry expression softened: "Since Nianfu has said so, I will give you face and let those who don't know what's good for them see what it means to prioritize the big picture."
Cheng Suyun couldn't bear to listen to Empress Dowager Zheng's sarcasm. She waited for a long time for Empress Dowager Zheng to speak up for her, but in the end, she didn't hear a word from her. Her eyes silently reddened.
Ultimately, the matter ended with Empress Dowager Zheng ceasing to pursue it, thanks to Zhao Nianfu's persuasion.
Everyone waited quietly in the side hall for the time to begin the banquet. Zheng Yutong coughed lightly from time to time, holding a handkerchief in her hand.
"Yutong, is your cough from falling into the water still not better?" When Empress Dowager Zheng heard this, she felt heartbroken that Zheng Yutong, whom she had nurtured for so long, had married that good-for-nothing Jing Shuo.
After the woman who had assaulted her married off, she dared not call her to her side, fearing that she would suffer retaliation from the other side, and also fearing that she would betray her.
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