Chapter 189 Playing Chess with the Emperor
After Jiang Fenghua returned to the palace, she was summoned to the Imperial Study by the Emperor. After reporting the task the Emperor had given her, she planned to return to Kunning Palace to pay her respects to Empress Cheng.
The emperor suddenly said, "I've heard that Princess Heng is an excellent chess player. I'm looking for someone to play a game with. How about staying and playing a game with me?"
Jiang Fenghua bowed respectfully, neither humble nor arrogant, and said, "Your daughter-in-law will naturally comply, but if Father Emperor loses, may I ask Father Emperor for a prize?"
The emperor said, "Just name whatever you want. If you beat me, it will be your reward for your meritorious service in handling this case. If you lose, there will be no reward."
Jiang Fenghua thought to herself: The Emperor really is someone who doesn't like to suffer losses. He actually used her reward to gamble on chess. If she wins the game, it should be considered an extra reward!
"Yes," she replied obediently.
Because Jiang Fenghua was pregnant, the Emperor specially ordered Chief Eunuch Cao to bring in a higher table and a soft chair so that she could sit more comfortably.
Before the ruler of the world, she, a pregnant woman, received the greatest preferential treatment, which was indeed a great honor for her. Even the most favored Consort Su should have knelt or stood when she was pregnant with the little princess.
Jiang Fenghua bowed gracefully and said, "Thank you, Father Emperor, for the seat."
The Emperor smiled and said, "Fenghua is carrying my little grandson. How can I let their mother suffer like this? Sit down, don't be shy. Just treat me like your father."
"My father?" Jiang Fenghua slowly sat down. She had been too busy to return home recently, but she had heard that the Emperor had promoted him from Junior Tutor Jiang to Grand Tutor Jiang, which was an extremely honorable honor for a scholar.
"Your father has cultivated many learned scholars for the Great Zhou Dynasty! I've heard that many rising stars in the court were once your father's students," the Emperor suddenly said.
Jiang Fenghua paused slightly, holding the black chess piece. Her face remained calm, but her mind was racing. Was the Emperor testing her? Or was he giving her an important position? Her father had indeed taught many learned people, but he never formed cliques with them. Her father had no ambition; he only wanted to teach and nurture people.
In her previous life, she was neglected by Xie Shang. Someone spread the rumor that they had not consummated their marriage after more than a year of marriage. Therefore, the righteous people in the court used the rules of etiquette to restrain him and finally made him consummate their marriage.
At the same time, the Jiang family and she were also disliked by the Emperor and Xie Shang. The Emperor was most wary of officials forming cliques, while Xie Shang lost face because of this. She won on the surface and forced Xie Shang to consummate their marriage and even have a child with her, but she and the Jiang family also lost the trust of the royal family.
That's why she has to be cautious about this matter now.
Her eyes were clear, revealing innocence and kindness, and she was very happy. She began to talk eloquently, "My daughter-in-law is also proud to have such a father. To her, he is not only her father, but also her teacher, her friend, and a guiding light. My father once said that his only wish in this life is to teach and nurture people."
My most admired person is my father, and my father's most admired person is Grand Tutor Pan. Grand Tutor Pan's students are all over the world; he imparted knowledge, taught skills, and answered questions. He was a truly respectable scholar.
She first stated that her father only wanted to teach well and didn't think about anything else; he was content to be a loyal subject for life. Then she introduced Grand Tutor Pan, whose status, knowledge, and number of students were all above Jiang Huai's. The emperor also respected Grand Tutor Pan and trusted him the most during his decades of rule. Jiang Huai, like Grand Tutor Pan, would dedicate his life to education.
The Emperor suddenly smiled, "It is a blessing for your father to have children like you and your siblings."
Jiang Fenghua said, "The Emperor is very fortunate to have such a brave and powerful son as the Prince."
The Emperor paused for a moment, and just as Chief Eunuch Cao was sweating for Jiang Fenghua, the Emperor's laughter became even more hearty, "It is Shang'er's good fortune to marry Fenghua as his princess. He will be rewarded for giving birth to the little grandson safely."
"Yes, daughter-in-law obeys."
Immediately afterwards, Jiang Fenghua placed a piece, saying, "Father, you have lost."
The Emperor glanced at the chessboard, paused for a moment, his expression dark and unreadable, then smiled and said, "It seems I have no choice but to give you this prize. Let's play another game. If you win again, I will reward you further."
Jiang Fenghua calmly picked up the chess pieces from the chessboard. "Your daughter-in-law won by a narrow margin. Father must have been listening to what your daughter-in-law was saying when he let her win."
"You don't know, do you? For several days I have summoned your father to the palace to play chess with me, but he has never won against me. It's so boring. He said his daughter is a chess master, and I thought he was exaggerating. But after today's game, I believe him."
“My father just loves to peddle his own wares and praise his own wares. Even if his daughter is completely useless, he still thinks she's good.”
"He's being humble now. Being my royal daughter-in-law isn't enough. He'll have to manage the household affairs well so he won't have any worries. I'm counting on him to achieve great feats so I can face my ancestors!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Fenghua dared not answer, fearing that the Emperor had long intended to make Xie Shang the Crown Prince.
Listening from the side, Chief Steward Cao felt that Princess Heng was truly flattered. The Emperor had never been so kind to anyone in his life, and it seemed that he was extremely satisfied with Princess Heng as his daughter-in-law.
When the news that the Emperor had kept Jiang Fenghua in the Imperial Study to play chess reached Empress Cheng's ears, she found it unbelievable that the Emperor valued Jiang Fenghua so much.
Jiang Fenghua lived up to everyone's expectations and exceeded everyone's expectations. She won the first round against the Emperor, and the next two rounds were almost narrow victories as well.
Upon hearing this, the Empress exclaimed in surprise, "She dared to win three games against the Emperor in a row! She's incredibly audacious! She's like a newborn calf that doesn't fear a tiger. She's so young, yet she loves to show off. I've also heard that she's been gathering noblewomen outside the palace to donate money and silver, making quite a spectacle of it. The Emperor is already suspicious, which is why Shang'er has gained his favor. What is Jiang Fenghua trying to do by going around currying favor with court officials like this?"
Empress Cheng felt jealous after hearing Su Tingwan's sarcastic and gossipy remarks, since no one had ever praised her after she had been empress for decades.
Now the Emperor has taken a liking to him.
Seeing the Empress's anger, Granny Xi quickly tried to calm her down, saying, "Your Majesty, don't be upset, the Emperor isn't angry at all!"
"Wait until she comes out of the Emperor's palace, then go and call her over," Empress Cheng said in a deep voice.
Granny Xi quickly replied, "Yes, this servant will immediately send someone to wait outside the Qianqing Palace."
It was already dark when Jiang Fenghua left the Qianqing Palace. The Emperor asked her to stay for dinner before letting her go. As soon as she came out, she waited outside the door. "This servant is on my master's orders to escort the Princess back. The maids of Kunning Palace have been waiting outside to take the Princess to pay her respects to the Empress."
Jiang Fenghua nodded, indicating that she understood.
Wu Xin secretly wondered what the Empress meant by this action!
Jiang Fenghua remained calm and composed. She knew Empress Cheng quite well. During the time she was away from the palace, Su Tingwan must have been whispering rumors about her. The Empress summoned her, probably to receive a reprimand.
Upon arriving at Kunning Palace, Granny Xi, having already received the news, was already waiting outside the palace. "This servant greets Your Highness. Her Majesty the Empress is not in a good mood today. Your Highness, please spend some time with Her Majesty!"
If Granny Xi had to choose between the Princess Consort and the Concubine, she would naturally choose the Princess Consort, since she had offended the Concubine in the past.
Jiang Fenghua understood the implied meaning; Granny Xi was reminding her not to anger the Empress. She smiled and said, "I understand, thank you, Granny."
After speaking, she straightened her back and pushed open the door. She saw Empress Cheng leaning against the soft couch, her figure slender and exuding a noble and languid air.
Jiang Fenghua stepped forward and bowed respectfully, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings."
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