"You're here to laugh at me, aren't you!"
The prince consort was given a disdainful look by Chaoyang. He was embarrassed for a moment, but quickly smiled and said, "I am your father. How could I laugh at you? I am too busy feeling sorry for you."
Chaoyang rolled his eyes again. "You care about me?"
She certainly didn't believe it. Unexplained concern was always a sign of ulterior motives, like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken. Given her father's current situation, his sudden concern could only mean two things: First, he wanted her to speak well of him to her mother so that his future would be easier. Second, he harbored hatred for her mother and wanted to use her to harm her.
Chaoyang understood perfectly, but when the prince consort mentioned Zhang Qing, he was immediately drawn to him.
Do you know who instructed Zhang Qing to disguise herself as a man and parade around in front of you?
The prince consort spoke mysteriously, his eyes observing Chaoyang's expression.
Chaoyang was puzzled. Her encounter with Zhang Qing was accidental, so how could someone be behind it?
"It's Chuanwen, the granddaughter of the Marquis of Changxing who was found."
"That's what the prince consort said." Chaoyang was even more puzzled. The image of the adorable, porcelain-doll-like little girl he had seen when he entered the palace before came to mind, and he couldn't help but laugh and say, "Impossible."
That girl seemed so innocent and naive; how could she possibly frame someone? Besides, Chuanwen and Zhang Qing didn't even know each other. How could she have instructed Zhang Qing? And what was her purpose? She and Chuanwen had no past grudges or animosity.
The prince consort sighed and said that Chaoyang was still too naive and easily deceived by appearances.
"Think about it, you and Zhou Yong were doing just fine, so why did your mother suddenly come looking for you and forcibly bring you back? It's because that little brat Chuanwen spoke ill of Zhou Yong in front of your mother."
"And why did Zhang Qing have to run into you of all people? Chuanwen and Zhang Qing knew each other before they came to Beijing, they were already in cahoots to lie to you!"
The prince consort explained things to Chaoyang step by step, but Chaoyang became more and more confused as she listened. However, she recalled the time when Zhou Yong filed a complaint with the emperor, and the way the message was transmitted was indeed different from ordinary people—others could hear what she was thinking.
Moreover, wasn't it she who exposed Zhou Yong's murder of his wife and children? She also played a part in Zhou Yong being sent to prison.
"But why?"
Chaoyang was still a little suspicious. She and Chuanwen were not familiar with each other at all. In fact, they didn't know each other at all before she came to Beijing. Why would Chuanwen ask someone to play a trick on her?
"It's just jealousy, isn't it?" The prince consort observed Chaoyang's expression while casually making up a story: Chuanwen was the little sister next door, and Zhou Yong was the big brother next door. They grew up together as childhood sweethearts. Then one day, Zhou Yong got married, and Chuanwen, out of jealousy, killed the mother and son. Afterward, Zhou Yong went to the capital and became a third-place scholar in the imperial examination. Just when Chuanwen thought she could finally be with Zhou Yong, Chaoyang suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Do you think Chuanwen wouldn't hate him?
Of course I hate it!
So, the first thing Chuanwen did upon arriving in the capital was to separate Chaoyang and Zhou Yong. Not satisfied with just separating them, he then had a woman disguised as a man to tease Chaoyang, making him the laughingstock of the entire capital.
The jokes about the shameless pursuit of Zhang Qing, who is disguised as a man, by the Princess of Chaoyang County are now circulating all over the streets!
As for Zhang Qing, she was new to the capital and didn't want to rely on Zhang Hui, so she had to find someone else to rely on. At this time, Chuanwen's father discovered that she was the long-lost son of the Marquis of Changxing, and the two hit it off at this time.
It's simple and reasonable, but upon closer inspection, there are still many flaws. For example, Chuanwen and Zhou Yong's hometowns are completely far apart, so where did this neighborly little sister and big brother come from?
However, Chaoyang, who was usually not very bright, was even less so now that he was angry. He believed it 90% of the time, and for the remaining 10%, he asked a question: "How do you know all this?"
“Wang Sanlang told me.” After the prince consort finished speaking, he saw Chaoyang frown in confusion, so he explained, “Wang Sanlang’s sister is the wife of Chuanhai from the Changxing Marquis’s mansion. Ever since Chuanwen and his family returned, they have been eyeing the title of Changxing Marquis. So Wang secretly sent people to investigate them and that’s how she found out about this.”
Okay, now that 10% doubt has disappeared and been transformed into 100% belief.
Thud—
The sound of a teacup shattering echoed loudly in the room. Chaoyang muttered Chuanwen's name angrily, "Let's settle both our old and new scores!"
The prince consort quickly comforted Chaoyang, but said, "Chuanwen is currently a favorite of the emperor and empress, and is very favored. We must not mess with her. If she complains to the emperor and empress, we will be in big trouble."
Chaoyang snorted coldly, "She's a favorite, but I'm the Emperor's most beloved niece! Do you think the Emperor would side with an outsider!"
Seeing Chaoyang's burning anger, wishing she could immediately grab a knife and rush into the palace to stab Chuanwen, the驸马 (驸马) secretly curled his lips and sighed in a pretentious manner, "I heard that Chuanwen really likes to fish in Mingyue Lake in the Imperial Garden. If only God would have eyes and let her accidentally fall in..."
Chaoyang's eyes lit up when she heard this. Seeing that the plan had succeeded, the prince consort quickly left, telling Chaoyang not to mention that he had been there, as he was afraid that her mother would be unhappy if she found out.
Since her father was imprisoned, her mother had forbidden him from having any contact with her. Chaoyang understood her father's instruction and didn't think much of it. Besides, most of her attention had been focused on how to push Chuanwen into the lake without anyone noticing, and she didn't want to pay much attention to her father anymore. She casually told him that she wouldn't tell anyone and told him to leave quickly.
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