Chapter 336 Empress Cheng's Exploitation
Jiang Fenghua's eyes also reddened. Although she knew this would be the outcome, the emperor had treated her and the Jiang family quite well. The emperor was skilled in scheming and plotting; he could manipulate events with ease in the court.
Perhaps the Jiang family had no value to him, so the emperor's attention was not on them. It was the empress who asked the emperor to grant her permission to enter the palace. Whatever her purpose, the emperor did a good job of putting on a show and did not let her suffer any physical pain.
Even in her previous life, when she married into the palace, the emperor treated her as if she were invisible. When she gave birth to two imperial heirs, the emperor bestowed names upon them and rewarded them with some gold, silver, and cloth. After that, she and the emperor never crossed paths again.
She thought: If the Emperor weren't in this position, and if he weren't concerned about the royal family's reputation, Xie Shang might have already deposed Su Tingwan from her position as Crown Princess.
Now that Empress Cheng is acting this way, how much genuine affection does she have for the Emperor, and how much is she using him?
Besides, she was just Xie Shang's wife. Her mother-in-law was vicious, her husband was indifferent, and she had no relation to her father-in-law.
Thinking this, Jiang Fenghua's eyes welled up with tears, which streamed down her face. "Father, you must get better..."
Seeing her so sad and upset, Xie Shang was also moved. "Father will definitely get better. No matter what happens in the future, we must talk it out. You must not hide anything from me, and I will not hide anything from you. We must never miss out on decades like Father and Mother."
Jiang Fenghua nodded heavily, "Yes, we won't be like Father and Mother."
Since her birthday banquet, Xie Shang has become increasingly attached to her for some reason. Even when he is busy with official duties during the day, he will go to Chenxi Palace to be with her and the child.
She had analyzed it carefully. Because she was drunk that day, she had shown him her deep love, but she couldn't remember exactly what happened. It was Hongxiu and Lianye who helped her recall. She only felt ashamed and never wanted to leave the palace to see anyone again.
How could she be that kind of Jiang Fenghua? It's completely impossible.
Could it be that she wore too many masks in this life, and was too repressed in her previous life, so that another Jiang Fenghua, a third Jiang Fenghua, was squeezed out of her body?
Jiang Fenghua saw that the night outside was deep, and in the dead of winter, the cold wind was howling, as if there were ghosts.
As they left the Qianqing Palace, she held Xie Shang's hand tightly. Xie Shang asked her, "What's wrong?"
"Your Highness, what kind of me do you like?" Jiang Fenghua asked him.
Xie Shang paused for a moment, then said, "I like them all."
"Which version of me do you like best?" she asked stubbornly. She would never love him in this life, but she wanted Xie Shang to love her fiercely. She succeeded, but it seemed that she had not completely penetrated his heart.
"I love the way Ruan Ruan calls me 'my husband,' the way Ruan Ruan's heart and eyes are filled with nothing but me." He leaned close to her ear, "The way Ruan Ruan tells everyone that I am Ruan Ruan's man, the way Ruan Ruan calls me 'Xie Shang,' not 'Your Highness'..."
Jiang Fenghua just wanted to dig a hole and crawl as fast as she could; she couldn't be even a moment slower. It was so embarrassing.
No wonder he didn't go to court that morning, nor did he attend classes at Taihua Hall. She kept him in bed all morning, and then they indulged in illicit relations during the day.
"I can't remember anything at all." That must be the third Jiang Fenghua, because she couldn't have done that in her past life, and she certainly couldn't have done it in this life.
The person Xie Shang was referring to was not her.
Seeing her blush, Xie Shang assumed she was shy. "The plum blossoms in the palace are in bloom. I'll take you to see them."
"Now?"
Xie Shang nodded.
"But it was so late, so dark, so scary, so terrifying..." she said, her heart pounding with fear.
"With me protecting you, you have nothing to fear."
"But I'm still afraid."
Are you afraid of the dark?
Jiang Fenghua nodded, her voice sweet and innocent, "I'm scared, and it's so cold." It was probably going to snow, and the cold air felt like ice knives cutting her face. Her skin was delicate, but in her previous life, when she had thick skin, she would get frostbite every winter. Although it wouldn't kill her, it was so torturous that she wanted to die. So in this life, she took good care of her skin and always wore a thick cloak when she went out.
In the end, she couldn't resist Xie Shang's advances and was taken to his secret base.
She lived in the palace for twenty years, and Xie Shang in her previous life didn't have any secret bases! Maybe she just didn't know!
Jiang Fenghua did not expect that Xie Shang would lead her behind a rockery. Even though she was carrying a lantern, she was still a little scared to be in such a strangely rocky place at night.
She raised the lantern and saw that a plum tree was planted next to each artificial hill. Some plum blossoms had already bloomed, while others were still in bud.
Xie Shang explained, "There are many kinds of plum blossoms here, besides red plum blossoms, there are also green plum blossoms, purple plum blossoms..."
"Did Your Highness plant them?" Jiang Fenghua asked.
Xie Shang gave her a smug look. "Don't you believe me?"
"I didn't expect Your Highness to like plum blossoms."
What flowers does Ruan Ruan like?
"Your Majesty, I love peonies." Peonies are also known as the flower of wealth and honor. What she desires is wealth and honor, not the plum blossom that blooms alone in the cold. She does not possess such noble and virtuous character. It's not that she doesn't like them, but that she cannot afford to like them.
Aren't all the women who enter the palace there for the peonies?
She's the same way, so she doesn't care about principles.
She loved plum blossoms in her previous life. Scholars all love plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums. Plum blossoms represent nobility, steadfastness, and an indomitable spirit.
In the imperial palace, upholding integrity is of no use.
Xie Shang's eyes were full of doting affection. "Ruan Ruan likes peonies, so I'll plant peonies all over your garden." These plum blossoms were just for that person. He had been planting them for ten years. This was also the place where that person and he first met, and the last time they met.
"Why did Your Highness plant so many plum blossoms here?" Jiang Fenghua had long forgotten that Xie Shang had been hiding in a cave in the artificial hill and crying when she saw him. She was so ugly during her teething period that she even disliked herself.
"I was bored in the palace when I was little, so I planted the seed." He made up a reason casually. Now the person he likes is Ruan Ruan, so there's no need to bring up the past. In time, he'll just feel a little regretful.
"It's too dark here, let's go back!" Jiang Fenghua suggested. "The flowers haven't bloomed yet. When they do, I'll accompany Your Highness to admire the plum blossoms." Although she said this, Xie Shang became increasingly busy in the days that followed and never had time to accompany her again.
"Alright, let's go back to the palace." He took her hand, noticing her fingers were icy cold. He rubbed them and placed them against his chest. "Is this warmer?"
"Yes, it's warmer now," Jiang Fenghua said gently.
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