“No need. Jiang’er just returned from outside the city with me and is tired. I’ll take her back to rest first,” Jing Yan said, politely declining on behalf of Yue Jiang.
Cheng Suyun's expression had always been gentle, but after hearing Jing Yan's words, her gentle face suddenly stiffened slightly, though she quickly recovered with a faint smile.
She tactfully stepped aside, watching the carriage continue its slow journey.
Only after the carriage left did the surrounding chatter become clearer.
"The princess of the Moon Kingdom is from another country after all, and we don't have any deep feelings for her. Princess Cheng is much better."
"As the orphan of a martyr, she understands our hardships best. Every year, she has donated countless bowls of porridge and Buddhist scriptures to us disabled Jing soldiers and the families of Jing martyrs."
"Yes, Princess Cheng clearly has the qualities of an empress. Now that the Princess of Yue Kingdom has interfered, isn't she just like Consort Cheng in the palace, destined to become a concubine?"
"Back then, Empress Ye was the daughter-in-law personally chosen by the late emperor, so we can't say anything. What about the princess of Yue Kingdom? Would she pity us? The Cheng family is originally the imperial family. If they produce concubines, I feel sorry for Princess Cheng."
"I don't care. In my heart, I consider Princess Cheng to be the Crown Princess. Your Highness and Princess Cheng are childhood sweethearts and cousins. He must have a place for Princess Cheng in his heart."
"In my opinion, there are already two empress dowagers in the palace, one in the east and one in the west. So what if His Highness has two wives who are of equal rank? Why should Jing Kingdom be inferior to Yue Kingdom in our country?"
"Empress Dowager Cheng and the Cheng family have done a great deal for the Jing Kingdom back then. The royal family must not treat the Cheng family unfairly. The Jing Kingdom's sacrificial festival is approaching. On that day, only Princess Cheng can appear with His Highness. We will keep an eye on things for the Cheng family."
...
Amidst the murmurs and whispers, Cheng Suyun remained oblivious, continuing to distribute scriptures at her stall.
Inside the carriage, which was still moving forward, Yue Jiang gazed at the blurry scene through the rear window.
The car was moving fast, and she didn't hear what the people behind her had said, but it was clear that they adored Cheng Suyun. Yue Jiang asked Jing Yan for more information, though she only vaguely understood.
"Your Highness, were these people once soldiers of the Jing Kingdom?"
Jing Yan nodded heavily, his eyes filled with suppressed sorrow: "Yes! It was all because Anguo broke its promise back then, and the soldiers who were harmed and the widows of the soldiers who lost their lives."
"I see," Yue Jiang understood, and suddenly stopped caring about what was behind her, focusing instead on the man in front of her. She "complained."
"Just now, Princess Cheng wanted to invite me to go for a walk. She was surrounded by meritorious officials of the Jing Kingdom, but Your Highness directly refused on my behalf. I wonder how those officials will think I'm cold-blooded?"
"Your Highness, you must not make decisions for me so easily next time. I will also set up a charity stall in the future."
Jing Yan thought Yue Jiang was just curious, but the more she talked, the more she complained, as if he was the one who was preventing her from being loved.
"Do you know who Cheng Suyun is? Or..."
“I know, isn’t she His Highness’s childhood sweetheart cousin?” Yue Jiang quickly interjected, before Jing Yan could finish speaking, she said in a sour tone.
Jing Yan: "..."
"It doesn't matter who she grew up with or whose cousin she is. What you need to know is that forty years ago, the Cheng family was at the height of its power in Jing Kingdom. In just forty years, it went from a rising family to a once-powerful but now infamous old noble family in Jing Kingdom."
"And how did Cheng Suyun acquire her status as a princess, and what is her relationship with those people? Once you know, will you still think I'm acting on your behalf?"
Yue Jiang: "I know, a palace maid has briefed me on the situation inside the palace."
Cheng Suyun's grandfather went to An with Emperor Jing. An Guo was ruthless and not only harmed Emperor Jing, but also slaughtered all of Emperor Jing's entourage.
Cheng Suyun's grandfather was one of those killed. The Cheng family lost a patriarch and then faced a lack of successors, resulting in the decline of the family into a mere old noble family.
Because the Cheng family was the most famous among the generals sent to Anchen, the other unknown soldiers of Jing State who were victims naturally empathized with the Cheng family's experience of being victims.
Like grains of sand forming a tower, the Cheng family won the hearts of the orphans and the people even more deeply than the royal family of Jing Kingdom.
Although the Cheng family had lost its powerful figure in the court and was in decline, with its descendants supporting them, they still maintained a considerable status in terms of treatment.
The Jing Kingdom royal family felt they had wronged the Cheng family greatly, so they bestowed upon them the greatest honors, granting not only her legitimate sons titles but also granting legitimate women the status and treatment of a princess.
Back then, Cheng Wan was a princess before she became Consort Jing Huaixu, and the current princess is Cheng Suyun.
Jing Yan: "Those people trust the Cheng family more than the royal family, so Jiang'er shouldn't get involved, lest she do something thankless."
He remembered that when he was young, Consort Cheng was just like Cheng Suyun today, personally giving alms to the orphans, who were extremely grateful to her.
As for the Empress Dowager's mother, she was treated coldly by them and seemed to have no presence at all.
Jing Yan is the crown prince and the future ruler of Jing Kingdom. The orphans have a fairly good attitude towards Jing Yan, but with the Cheng family around, he can't bring Yue Jiang into their sights.
“Your Highness, how is this flattery? I am your Crown Princess. It is my duty to treat them well. If I cannot see their suffering, wouldn’t I be justified in being scolded?”
“Or perhaps,” Yue Jiang paused deliberately. Jing Yan hesitated to speak when he heard Yue Jiang stop mid-sentence, a look of curiosity rising in his eyes.
"Jiang'er rarely hesitates or speaks in front of me, or what?"
Yue Jiang looked pitiful: "In Your Highness's eyes, I am not as capable as Princess Cheng. I don't even have the ability to win people's hearts. Your Highness is hoping to bring Princess Cheng into the palace in the future so that she can share your burdens."
"Don't talk nonsense. You are my Crown Princess. Don't be influenced by Jingyi's words that day," Jingyan said solemnly.
Yue Jiang glanced at him sideways, seemingly unconvinced, and gently corrected him, "I never said she was the Crown Princess. What if she's a concubine..."
“I have no intention of taking Cheng Suyun as a concubine,” Jing Yan said frankly.
Just as Yue Jiang had guessed last time, Jing Yan did not want his harem to be manipulated like his father, Emperor Jing Huaixu.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Jing Yan frankly expressed his thoughts, but Yue Jiang remained silent. He looked at Yue Jiang suspiciously and found her with her head down, looking regretful.
Yue Jiang didn't look up, nervously clutching the lace of her clothes, her voice weaker than before, and she spoke truthfully.
"I dare not say more. I did not mean to speak out of turn, and I even interfered in His Highness's affairs of taking concubines and conferring titles. I had no intention of being jealous. It's just that Princess Cheng has a Noble Consort aunt, so I took it for granted."
"It doesn't matter if it's not Princess Cheng. I hope Your Highness won't misunderstand me. If there's anything I need you to do in the future, just say the word, and I will do my best to handle it to Your Highness's satisfaction."
Jing Yan: "..."
Who misunderstood?
He didn't accept Cheng Suyun as a concubine, nor did he mention accepting anyone else. Why did Yue Jiang have already planned out the arrangements?
Previously, Jing Yan had repeatedly expressed his feelings to Yue Jiang, and he had deeply realized how much she loved him. Today, however, his words revealed Yue Jiang's unexpected virtue.
Does she value being her own wife more, or being a beloved Crown Princess?
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