Chapter 3: A Gentleman Judges His Deeds, Not His Intentions
Gongsun Ying looked at her in surprise, his face showing disdain, and said in an exaggerated tone, "Even if? So what? Do you know how much silver it costs to feed the refugees outside the city every day? A few melons and dates? That's 800,000 taels! It's hard for the national treasury to come up with that much silver at once right now. Have you ever seen this much silver?"
"What... 800,000 taels?" Ding Momo's eyes almost popped out.
Not to mention 800,000 taels, she couldn't even bear to take away 800 taels of head ornaments and jewelry at once. How could this shrew be so rich!
Someone in the crowd gasped, and everyone started discussing it in whispers, all of them showing great respect for Pu Qiongzhi.
"Roujia, I heard that you are the most noble lady in Kyoto. How come there are no noble ladies in Kyoto now?" Gongsun Ying glared at her.
Pei Wanqing clenched the handkerchief in her hand and smiled reluctantly, "I didn't expect Wen Shu'an to be so noble. However, it's better not to say such misleading words, lest someone with ulterior motives misinterpret them and make Princess Roujia mistakenly think An is vulgar and despicable, thinking that An is cursing the fate of the country and looking down on the people."
"Yes, yes, I don't know who said something careless, so I misunderstood." Ding Momo took advantage of the situation to save herself.
It was really that they were the ones saying both good and bad things. Pu Qiongzhi smiled, "Miss Pei, it's my fault for saying that. But merchants are not considered to be ordinary people after all. Look at me, my clothes and jewelry are tacky, and my speech is not refined at all."
"Well, you can't say that. A gentleman judges deeds, not intentions. Wen Shu'an saved countless people with this action. I don't think anyone would pick up the bowl to eat and then put it down to curse his mother!" Gongsun Ying's words were full of murderous intent. With just one look, all the noble ladies were silent.
Seeing that she really spoke for herself, Pu Qiongzhi curved her eyebrows and began to fight back against Pei Wanqing and Ding Momo.
"You two are the epitome of noble ladies in the capital. Although I live in Jiangnan, I have heard of your reputation. Today, I am determined to emulate you, and imitate your actions of removing your hairpins to reveal your true feelings. I hope to also shed my ugliness and get rid of vulgarity."
While the two were still in a daze, Gongsun Ying reacted quickly and winked at the person next to him, "This is a very good move!"
Soon, the man led two servants and moved a basin to the center.
Pu Qiongzhi quickly took off all the hairpins and jewelry on her head and hands and put them in the basin. Then she turned around and looked at the two of them with a smile.
Her action put Pei Wanqing and Ding Momo in a high position, and they had no choice but to do it.
Under Princess Duanhui's expectant gaze, the two had to take off their jewelry and put it in.
Seeing that the headwear she had saved up for a long time and finally decided to buy was "snatched away" like that, Ding Momo's eyes turned red.
But what else can I do if I don't let him go? If I leave here, will I stop being a human being?
The two of them donated all their jewelry, and the other noble ladies and ladies dared not disobey, so they had no choice but to follow suit. Even the imperial concubine was not spared and was also plundered by Princess Duanhui.
Looking at this huge basin of gold, silver and jewelry, Gongsun Ying couldn't help but cast an admiring look at Pu Qiongzhi.
Pu Qiongzhi smiled back at her and spoke again, "I have little education. I wanted to do good things, but I said the wrong thing. I really shouldn't have done that. I heard that Miss Pei is a famous talented woman in the capital. I hope you will give me some advice."
Tsk, how cruel! Not only did they fight back, but they also crushed and humiliated me like this...
Gongsun Ying was amazed in his heart. This was the woman Mingxu loved. She looked weak but had a domineering personality.
"..." Pei Wanqing gritted her teeth to pieces, yet she still had to put on a forced smile, forcing herself to write articles and poems to praise her Pu Qiongzhi and Gongsun Ying's banditry!
God knows why Princess Duanhui defends this bitch Pu Qiongzhi so much!
The scheme she painstakingly set up had become a springboard for the Pu family to gain a foothold in the capital! She was indeed a cunning and treacherous vixen! She was just as hideous as she was in her previous life!
Here, Pei Wanqing was detained, racking her brains over an article, feeling extremely angry. Meanwhile, Gongsun Ying led everyone to admire the flowers.
"A flower viewing banquet, a flower viewing banquet! Now that we're here, shouldn't we enjoy the flowers on this farm?"
If she stayed any longer, she was afraid that Pei Wanqing would be so angry that she would vomit blood and the blood would splash on her.
But who knew that even enjoying the flowers would not be peaceful.
"The bright magnolia flower is untainted by dust. Don't compare it to the magnolia flower, for who can match it?"
Gongsun Ying shifted his gaze and saw Concubine Pei on his right side looking at the magnolia in the pond with deep affection.
"What a great poem and what great writing! The Imperial Concubine is noble and elegant, just like the magnolia flower. It really makes sense that the ancients used flowers to describe beauties." A lady immediately flattered him.
Concubine Pei smiled faintly, "I just wrote this out of inspiration. I'm sorry to make you laugh."
As he was speaking, Pei Wanqing finally finished writing the entire article and came over to hand it in to Gongsun Ying.
Gongsun Ying glanced at it casually, then threw it aside and asked someone to put it away.
"I wonder what you are talking about?" Pei Wanqing asked the daughter beside her.
The girl immediately told her, "The Imperial Concubine just wrote a poem praising the magnolia flower. Miss Pei is a famous and talented woman. I wonder what kind of flowers Miss Pei likes?"
"Wanqing likes chrysanthemums, but now is not the season for chrysanthemums." Pei Wanqing smiled.
The girl also gave her an excuse, "Although it's not the season, flowers can still be used to describe people. Miss Pei is indeed as proud as a chrysanthemum."
"A unique appearance can be both gorgeous and secluded, and a steadfast will is beyond compare. When you raise your face to others, you blush first, and bow your head in silence."
Pu Qiongzhi was sipping tea leisurely on the side, but she didn't know why Pei Wanqing kept staring at her while reciting poetry.
"I don't like the chrysanthemum's pride and aloofness. I just like it when it doesn't compete or attract others, and blooms on its own." Pei Wanqing finished speaking and walked over to Pu Qiongzhi. "I wonder what kind of flowers Wen Shuan likes? Does she share the same feelings as Wanqing?"
"?" Pu Qiongzhi paused and said, "I don't have any favorites."
"Mr. Wen Shu'an, we are now using flowers to represent people and express our feelings. You must say something!" Ding Momo took a few steps forward and said coquettishly.
Pei Wanqing pretended to persuade her, "Princess, please don't embarrass Wen Shuan."
"Does it have to be a flower?" Pu Qiongzhi sighed imperceptibly, "I like gardenias."
Pei Wanqing looked puzzled, anxious and incredulous, and asked, "Do you have any explanation?"
"Gardenia has never been favored by scholars. It has a very strange fragrance and large flowers. It is really of low quality... How could Wen Shuan like such a vulgar flower?" Ding Momo showed some contempt.
Pu Qiongzhi smiled slightly and said shyly, "Flowers are just flowers, and my love for them is never reasonable."
"Does Wen Shuan agree with Juhua's character of not competing with the world?" Pei Wanqing seemed to care about this very much and asked again.
"Chrysanthemum... wait until autumn arrives on September 8th, and all other flowers will die after I bloom... Whether competing or not, I alone will flourish!"
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