Chapter 429 Bai Qingling and Shen Yuantang have a big argument!
The following day, Emperor Renxiao issued an edict summoning the eldest prince.
Zhou Rulin has almost fully recovered, and from his appearance, you can no longer tell that he was seriously injured.
"Father."
Emperor Renxiao said kindly, "Your enfeoffment banquet has been postponed repeatedly. My birthday is just around the corner, and it would be inconvenient to clash with it. I plan to formally enfeoff you as Prince Chen on the day of your wedding."
Zhou Rulin was overjoyed: "Thank you, Father."
Emperor Renxiao looked at his son, who bore a striking resemblance to the late empress, his eyes filled with longing.
"My son has been wronged. There have been many petitions from the court in the past, urging me to establish a crown prince, but I have suppressed them all."
Zhou Rulin felt guilty: "Father, if I had any merits, I certainly wouldn't have put you in such a difficult position."
Emperor Renxiao nodded: "It's good that my son understands. Now that military power has fallen into other hands, you have no authority in the army. If you want to take command of the army, you must proceed slowly."
Zhou Rulin had a plan: "Father, if you want me to be trusted, besides having achievements, I also need the hearts of the people. My second brother has accumulated a lot of popular support through disaster relief. I think we should use the same method."
Emperor Renxiao was displeased at the mention of Zhou Ruan.
"Even if he had won the hearts of the people before, he had already squandered them all."
Fortunately, Zhou Ru'an readily sent the disciple of Guigu to the capital this time; otherwise, he would have dealt with him long ago.
Emperor Renxiao recalled something: "The Han River floods every summer, causing great suffering to the people. If you can appease the disaster victims and control the floods, it will be a great achievement." This would also win over the hearts of the people and make them serve your purposes.
Zhou Rulin's eyes lit up: "Thank you for the arrangement, Father."
Emperor Renxiao immediately issued an edict to send the wedding date of Zhou Rulin to the eldest prince's residence, along with the imperial decree conferring a title upon him.
Things were changing rapidly in the palace, and every change quickly reached the ears of those who were interested.
Shen Lanxi: "Have someone send a message to Zhang Xinsui and arrange for someone to send Zhou Xinsui to Zhou Rulin's side."
"yes!"
Zhennan Prince's Mansion
After receiving Jiang Wuyai's message, Bai Qingling immediately rushed to the council hall.
He happened to run into Shen Yuantang.
"What are you doing here?" Bai Qingling immediately scolded her in displeasure.
Shen Yuantang chuckled: "Of course I'm concerned about Your Highness's health, so I brought you some nourishing soup."
Bai Qingling said coldly, "His Highness is in good health and doesn't need tonics. All medicines have some toxicity; don't do anything unnecessary!"
Shen Yuantang froze, then said angrily, "You don't care about the Prince, and you don't allow others to care about the Prince either. Bai Qingling, who do you think you are, daring to question the tonics I sent you? You ignorant thing, the tonics I sent you are just as good as those in the palace. You say that medicine is three parts poison, but with your shallow understanding, aren't you afraid of being laughed at!"
Bai Qingling's face darkened, and she immediately called for help.
"Consort Shen has been disrespectful to me, the Princess Consort. From this day forward, she shall be confined to her room and shall not step out of the room without my permission!"
Unfazed and arrogant, Shen Yuantang declared, "Let's see who dares to touch me! His Majesty is my uncle, I am the younger sister of the Duke of Protectorate, and my mother is Princess Minrou, the Empress Dowager's most beloved daughter. If you dare to touch me, you'll be in for a world of trouble!"
Again, it's about background. Shen Yuantang brings up her family background again. Every time Bai Qingling's background is mentioned, it's as if she's been caught out.
Thinking of how the prince had rushed back to the manor today to discuss matters with Mr. Caolu, Bai Qingling's eyes flashed, and then she raised a contemptuous smile.
"That sounds nice, but His Majesty only recognizes Shen Lanxi and has never summoned you to the palace. Shen Lanxi is indeed the Duke of Protectorate, but after you married the prince, what has she done to help you?"
"If His Majesty and Shen Lanxi were standing in your shoes, would I still be sitting in the position of Princess Consort?"
"Shen Yuantang, it's one thing for you to act tough in front of outsiders, but don't make a fool of yourself by showing off to those of us who know the inside story."
Shen Yuantang's face immediately darkened.
Bai Qingling found Shen Yuantang's Achilles' heel and seized upon it.
“My background is not as good as yours, but I was betrothed by His Majesty, and His Majesty also appointed me as a deputy general. When there is a war, I will be able to fight alongside the prince.”
"So what if you come from a good family? You can't help the prince at all. What good is a good family background!"
After Bai Qingling finished speaking, she smiled happily, as if she had finally gotten her revenge.
Shen Yuantang was filled with shame and indignation, but he couldn't think of any words to refute her.
"Bai Qingling, you have ruined the Prince's reputation. You are a shameless jinx!"
Bai Qingling's smile froze; she hated it most when people brought up past events.
"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been able to marry into the Prince's Mansion. You should be thanking me!" Bai Qingling had long since broken ties with Shen Yuantang. When they were hurling insults at each other, they didn't pretend at all and said all sorts of nasty things.
Shen Yuantang's eyes darkened again when she thought of Shen Lanxi. If she were willing to help her, the position of the principal wife should be hers now.
Shen Lanxi is selfish, cold-blooded, and ruthless; she doesn't deserve to be her older sister!
If she were truly her own sister, she wouldn't have the heart to see her being dominated by a despicable person!
"Someone, take Consort Shen back to her courtyard!" Bai Qingling coldly ordered.
Shen Yuantang instinctively shouted, "Let's see who dares!"
The noise from the two had already disturbed Zhou Ruyuan.
"What's all this fuss about now?" Zhou Ruyuan walked over with a dark face.
"Your Highness!"
Bai Qingling and Shen Yuantang bowed to him.
"You've turned the Zhennan Prince's Mansion into a vegetable market. If you like making noise so much, find a room and close the door to argue, so as not to embarrass the Prince's Mansion if word gets out!"
Zhou Ruyuan was already irritable, and the forced interruption of the meeting made him even more upset, so he vented all his anger on the two of them.
"Your Highness..."
Shen Yuantang was filled with grievances.
Bai Qingling knew how to handle people; she hurriedly left with her maid.
Afterwards, Zhou Ruyuan also left with a dark face and a flick of his sleeve.
"Your Highness, the Princess Consort dares to do this because she knows you're not close to the Duke of Huguo's mansion."
Shen Yuantang felt both wronged and angry.
"If Shen Lanxi won't help me, what can I do?"
A hint of disdain flashed in the maid's eyes, and she said, "If you speak to her politely, do you think she won't give you face?"
"Don't you still have parents and elders? With them speaking on your behalf, how could Shen Lanxi not help you?"
Shen Yuantang stubbornly replied, "I've already broken ties with her."
Maid: "Even close sisters don't hold grudges overnight. If you don't back down, you'll always be suppressed by the Princess." You stupid thing, think it over carefully!
~
Taking advantage of Emperor Renxiao's birthday, Consort Shu summoned Bai Qingling and Shen Yuantang to the palace.
"I heard that you two are at odds, which has affected my son's important matters?"
Neither Bai Qingling nor Shen Yuantang dared to admit it.
"Your Majesty, we don't have any."
Consort Shu said coldly, "You two go and kneel outside the door for an hour before you come in and speak to me!"
Shen Yuantang inwardly groaned, and Bai Qingling's face also fell.
The news that Zhou Rulin had been granted the title of Prince Chen caused a huge uproar in the court and among the people.
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