Chapter 150: I Want to Be the Empress Dowager!
There are many forbidden areas in the inner palace, and no one may enter without permission. In addition, it was late at night, so Eunuch Wang only took her for a symbolic stroll in the Imperial Garden, for fear of encountering any lawless princes or concubines, which would lead to misunderstandings about Zhou Mujiao's identity.
Zhou Mujiao seemed to have plenty of free time, looking around and occasionally offering her comments on the roadside flowers and plants with great seriousness, which made Eunuch Wang frown.
He didn't know where Zhou Mujiao got the leisure to do this. Didn't she know that she had to be careful every step of the way in the palace? If she met a master who loved flowers and happened to have a different opinion from her, wouldn't they end up arguing?
As it turns out, some things really shouldn't be discussed. No sooner had Eunuch Wang's thought crossed his mind than an impolite female voice rang out from the other side of the road: "Hey! Who's spouting nonsense?!"
That voice... could it be...?
"How dare you! You fail to show respect to the princess!"
It was Princess Jinling!
Princess Jinling had long since changed out of her riding clothes and was now wearing a pink palace dress. Even though it was night, her hair was still adorned with many pearl hairpins, making her look extremely elegant.
"Oh, it's Princess! My eyesight always gets blurry at night. I could only see a blurry figure and thought it was a night patrol guard. Princess, I apologize."
As Eunuch Wang was about to kneel down, the old nanny beside Princess Jinling helped him up, and he stood up straight: "Princess, why are you in the Imperial Garden so late?"
"I heard from my brother that the epiphyllum flowers in the Imperial Garden will bloom tonight, so I came to wait for them," Princess Jinling replied to Eunuch Wang, then looked Zhou Mujiao up and down with a puzzled expression. "Which sister are you? I've never seen you before."
Just as Zhou Mujiao was about to speak, Eunuch Wang interrupted her, saying, "My princess, this is not your sister. She came to the palace with Lord Tian. Lord Tian has important matters to report to the Emperor. He will take her out of the palace once he is done. Princess, I will not disturb you any longer while you are enjoying the flowers. I will take my leave."
Eunuch Wang grabbed Zhou Mujiao and started to walk away, almost running. Suddenly, Zhou Mujiao turned around and met Princess Jinling's gaze. She smiled slightly, and Princess Jinling suddenly shouted, "Stop!"
Princess Jinling shoved Eunuch Wang aside: "I'll settle the score with you later for deceiving me. Hey, didn't you come in with Lord Tian? Your surname is Zhou, isn't it?"
"This humble woman, Zhou Mujiao, greets Your Highness."
"It really was you!"
Princess Jinling raised her chin: "Come with me! Eunuch Wang, go and tell my father that I hit it off with Miss Zhou at first sight and have kept her in the palace tonight!"
"But Princess—"
"My words have no effect? Eunuch Wang, you must remember that you are Eunuch Lu's adopted son, and the most trusted person by my father's side besides Eunuch Lu. Your status is extraordinary, and even my imperial brother has to show you some respect. But remember this: you are just a servant. No matter how high your status is, you can never be a master!"
"Princess--"
"Eunuch Wang, I truly feel an instant connection with the princess. Please do as she instructs. At the latest, she will release me from the palace by tomorrow."
Princess Jinling's palace was some distance from the Imperial Academy. Zhou Mujiao was 'escorted' by two palace maids and it took about fifteen minutes to get there.
The princess's palace is called Fenghua Palace. It is the most unique palace in the palace, grand, simple and noble, which matches her temperament.
“Zhao Yunjing mentioned you in his letter, saying you are a very generous and intelligent girl,” Princess Jinling said.
"Thank you for your kind words, Princess."
Princess Jinling frowned: "Aren't you going to ask why Zhao Yunjing wrote a letter to me, and why he mentioned you in the letter?"
"It's nothing more than the Emperor wanting to bestow a marriage upon Yun Jing and you, Princess. After Yun Jing refused, he specifically explained the situation to you, Princess. There's nothing to ask."
"Are you so sure he was just explaining the situation, and not expressing his affection for me, or even asking for my hand in marriage?"
Zhou Mujiao laughed: "If so, then I must congratulate the princess on acquiring a scumbag."
"You...you're not angry or sad?"
"I'm overjoyed to be rid of this scumbag, why would I be sad?"
Zhou Mujiao smiled faintly, "Princess, you are of noble birth. Although there are rumors that you are willful and capricious, you have lived a carefree life since childhood and have never lacked love. You should live freely and unrestrainedly. However, I believe that since you were personally raised by the Empress Dowager, you will not act recklessly. You also have your pride. No matter how outstanding Zhao Yunjing is, he is just an ordinary villager. If he fails the competition, he can only go back to farming. I do not believe that you would give up your life for Zhao Yunjing and become a village woman."
"How could I possibly let the man I'm determined to marry go back to being a country bumpkin?" Jinling laughed. "I will not give up my identity and life for any man, but I can make any man give up his original life and identity to accommodate me."
"oh."
"Just you wait and see, I will make Zhao Yunjing marry me willingly!"
"What if he would rather die than marry the princess?"
"He'll be willing! The condition is that I still like him!"
"oh."
Princess Jinling was somewhat annoyed by her attitude.
Having lived in the palace since childhood, she had seen many concubines use all sorts of tricks and schemes to get her father to stay overnight, so she thought that all girls in the world were like that. However, Zhou Mujiao was unperturbed and indifferent—how could a girl not care that her fiancé was stolen?
The only explanation is that she simply didn't like that guy!
She was with Zhao Yunjing only because he might become the top scholar in the imperial examination; she was gambling on her future!
“Just tell me what you want,” Princess Jinling said. “As long as you can tell me, I can do it.”
“The last person to ask me what I wanted was the Sixteenth Prince. That time I said I wanted to be the Sixteenth Prince’s consort, and he laughed at me for being delusional.” Zhou Mujiao blinked. “Since you and the Eighteenth Prince are siblings, I’ll be frank with you too. I want to be the Empress Dowager.”
I thought that no matter how bold she was, she would only dare to say that she wanted to be the Crown Princess, but I never expected that she would actually say that she wanted to be the Empress Dowager!
An eighteen-year-old girl actually wants to be the emperor's mother. She's not just audacious, she's lawless!
Is there no one in the world she cares about anymore?
Princess Jinling flew into a rage: "Guards! Drag her out and beat her to death with sticks!"
Eunuch Wang arrived just in time, and upon hearing this, his legs went weak. He rushed in, pleading, "Princess! Princess! You can take her life anytime you want. The Emperor will be summoning her soon. Please calm down and let her head stay on her neck for a while longer. You can take her dog's life after the Emperor sees her."
"If the Emperor summons you, tell him that Zhou Mujiao wants to become Empress Dowager. I would kill her a thousand times over, and that would not quell my anger! Guards, drag her out!"
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