She said a lot in her words, but didn't mention Consort Zhang at all. Zhao Nihong was so angry that she almost overturned the trays that the servants were carrying.
Although Consort Zhang was extremely angry and unhappy, she still maintained a proper smile, so well-behaved that she could be considered a model concubine. She understood that she was just a concubine and had no right to let Zhao Shu mention her. Although she had followed Prince Duan to the capital and acted as the mistress of the house among the noble ladies, she was ultimately just a concubine.
Prince Duan originally intended to offer Zhao Shu a few words of advice, but Zhao Shu's words reminded him that he was a guest, not a host, and what right did he have to interfere in other people's affairs?
However, if he had simply treated himself as a guest, it would have been fine, but instead he insisted on calling himself Zhao Shu's uncle and Yong Wang's elder brother, which slapped Zhao Shu in the face.
He glanced at the dishes the servants had brought out and said in a calm tone, “We’re all family, what’s this talk about entertaining? Your second uncle knows your intentions, that’s enough. But Ah Jun, you’re being too unreasonable. How can you make your concubines do all the work? People who don’t know the situation will think you’re eccentric, domineering, and willful. This will damage your reputation. Stop it now and don’t do anything reckless.”
Zhao Shu's smiling face slowly turned cold. "The household is in dire straits, but we have too many concubines to support. How about you give me some money, Second Uncle, so I can support all the concubines and courtesans in the household?"
Prince Duan was surprised by Zhao Shu's lack of respect. He put his hands behind his back, turned to look out the window, and said, "You! You've gone too far. It's not that your second uncle is stingy with the few taels of silver, but he's just thinking about your father's reputation. A prince, can't even support his own woman?"
"Second Uncle is right. In that case, Ah Jun will not ask Second Uncle for money. Ah Jun forgot that Second Uncle also has a family and children. He will not help my father support people." Saying this, she turned to Xiao Guozi and said, "Xiao Guozi, I remember there is a very beautiful concubine in the mansion. What is her name again? Oh, right, her name is Ziyi Concubine. Go and sell her. Sell her and then give the concubines their monthly allowance."
"Yes, Princess." Xiao Guozi, holding his whisk, bowed and retreated, giving Prince Duan no chance to stop him.
Prince Duan glared at Zhao Shu, who was not to be outdone. She met his eyes and smiled brightly, "Does Second Uncle have something to say?" Zhao Shu asked deliberately.
"Ah Jun, you're being too ridiculous! Your father's concubine isn't someone you can just sell off as you please! Who will want to marry you in the future?" He was so angry he wanted to kill Zhao Shu right then and there, because she actually wanted to sell her purple dress! Just yesterday he had promised the beauty that he would stand up for her.
Ziyi was only considered above average in the Yongwang Mansion. What was rare was her skill in bed. Even in the open fields, she could make him feel completely comfortable. As he got older, he was not very good in certain aspects, but Ziyi was rare in that she could make him feel virile.
Moreover, a wife is not as good as a concubine, and a concubine is not as good as a stolen lover. He hasn't had enough of the taste yet. No, why did he have to sell Ziyi? He came back to his senses from his anger, only to see Zhao Shu looking at him with a smile.
Before he could discover anything, Zhao Shu rattled off several more concubine names. He breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed Zhao Shu hadn't discovered anything, and mentioning Zi Yi was just a coincidence.
Zhao Shu, who had sold several concubines in one go, was not in a good mood. He couldn't let anyone know that the beastly Prince Duan had laid hands on his father's women. His father couldn't bear the shame! The royal family couldn't bear the shame either!
You two are deeply in love, yet she insists on separating you. You want to be together forever, yet she will separate you to the ends of the earth! I wonder how His Highness Prince Duan feels when he thinks of the woman who once pleased him now being forced to submit to another man!
"Second Uncle, the food is getting cold. Let me eat with you." Zhao Shu instructed the servants to place the dishes on the table and sat down in the main seat. "Second Uncle, do you find the meal I prepared for you unpalatable?"
Prince Duan broke out in a cold sweat. At this moment, he completely forgot about standing up for the beauty. He sat down and smiled at Zhao Shu.
Consort Zhang pulled Zhao Nihong to sit to Zhao Shu's left, while she herself stood beside Prince Duan to serve him. Zhao Changyan also sat silently opposite Zhao Shu.
Since Zhao Shu was the only mistress in the mansion, everyone else was like brothers and sisters, and Prince Duan was an elder. There was no room for further formalities, so there was no separate seating, and everyone sat at the same table.
"This dish, 'Springtime All Year Round,' is a new creation by the chefs of our household. Second Prince, please try it and see if it suits your taste." She then personally served the Prince Duan some food.
After finishing one dish, he picked up another. "This 'Abundant Wealth' dish is also a new dish. Second Imperial Uncle, please try it. Ah Jun had it yesterday, and it was extremely delicious."
Prince Duan had something on his mind, feeling both apprehensive and excited, and of course, a little reluctant to part with the concubine in purple. But Prince Yong's mansion had so many concubines...
Zhao Nihong stared at Zhao Shu with eyes as sharp as a snake. Zhao Shu looked up at her and asked, "Aren't you going to eat, cousin? Why are you staring at me like that? Are you possessed?"
Upon hearing this, Consort Zhang knew something was wrong and hurriedly went to serve her food. "Princess, try this fish. It looks so fresh and tender; it must be delicious." Then she whispered in Zhao Nihong's ear, "Your father doesn't like his daughters to be loud and boisterous. Look at your second brother!"
Zhao Nihong looked at Zhao Changyan across from her, who was eating his meal slowly and deliberately, and felt a surge of anger.
At this moment, Zhao Changyan looked at him, smiled gently, and even put a piece of tender meat on his plate, "Why isn't Neon eating?"
If Prince Duan weren't here, Zhao Nihong would have loved to throw down her chopsticks, overturn the table, and confront Zhao Shu face-to-face about seniority and hierarchy! How dare she treat her mother like that! She should slap her in the face!
Seeing the family's distress, Zhao Shu returned to Qionghua Courtyard in a good mood. Upon returning, Xiao Guozi said, "Princess, the matchmaker has taken everyone away. The concubine in purple didn't dare to say anything and followed the matchmaker, crying and sobbing."
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