Chapter 20 The concubine's ignorance greatly displeases Prince Heng.
Seeing this, Xie Yu raised his voice again, "I heard that my fifth brother married the niece of Consort Su as his concubine. So it turns out that my fifth brother likes wild girls who are unruly and unruly. I also heard that half a month ago, someone got married at the local temple outside the city. That person's figure is exactly the same as my fifth brother's."
If he weren't afraid of angering his father, he would have spread the news far and wide long ago.
Xie Shang walked further and further away, Xie Yu said arrogantly, "My father doesn't like him, and neither do I. Does he really think he's noble just because he's the eldest son?"
Xie Shang left the palace and went straight back to the Prince Heng's residence.
Su Tingwan had been studying etiquette and manners for half a month, and hadn't seen him for half a month. Suddenly, she saw him walking out of the light and shadow, and Su Tingwan was overjoyed and hurried towards him.
Only when she got closer did Su Tingwan, holding a handkerchief and resting her hand on her waist, gracefully and lightly appear before Xie Shang.
She was exquisitely dressed, her makeup skillfully applied, and with a smile, she gave Xie Shang a slight curtsy. "This humble servant greets Your Highness. I am deeply sorry that Your Highness has not been able to welcome you properly upon your return..."
Xie Shang frowned slightly and looked Su Tingwan up and down, not immediately realizing what she was doing.
Suddenly, Su Tingwan covered her mouth with a handkerchief and burst into laughter, laughing so hard that her chest was pressed against her back and tears were almost streaming down her face.
Xie Shang frowned. He was feeling frustrated, but Su Tingwan was laughing like that. He didn't know what she was laughing about.
He immediately became annoyed.
She said happily, "Ah Shang, do I look like a proper young lady? Ugh, it's so annoying. I've been practicing for half a month since you left the mansion. I've been doing these affected actions every day. Ugh, I'm getting goosebumps. I really think it's so pretentious and disgusting. The noble ladies in the capital have to talk and walk like this every day. Don't they get tired of it? I'm tired of watching them."
Just then, a stunningly beautiful woman in pink appeared in the distance on the corridor.
The light and shadow fell on her, highlighting her slender figure, light steps, and graceful waist like a willow branch.
Her face, lightly made up, accentuated her delicate features. She was as slender as a willow in the breeze, with gentle and tender eyes. She was charming and alluring, yet exuded a pure and dignified aura, like a fairy from the mortal world, leaving people mesmerized.
Jiang Fenghua curtsied gracefully, "Your Majesty, I greet you."
Xie Shang stared intently at Jiang Fenghua's face, so much so that he didn't notice her approaching.
Su Tingwan frowned; the way A Shang looked at Jiang Fenghua was different from how he looked at her.
She reminded him, "Ah Shang."
Xie Shang snapped out of his daze, looked away, and said, "No need for formalities."
Su Tingwan spoke first, "It's noon now, and I haven't eaten yet. Why don't we have lunch together? Your Highness, please join us too."
Jiang Fenghua smiled slightly, her voice gentle and serene, and said softly, "Your Highness has not returned to the manor for a long time. I'm sure you and Consort Su have a lot to talk about. I won't disturb you any longer, so I'll take my leave now."
After saying that, she turned and left without looking back.
She walked with a graceful and swaying gait, her fair wrists hidden beneath a light veil, appearing and disappearing intermittently.
Xie Shang thought: After half a month, her wrist had recovered completely without a trace of redness.
As Su Tingwan was leading Xie Shang back to the Sandalwood Courtyard, Granny Wang suddenly appeared with two stewards, holding a ruler in her hand. She bowed respectfully to Xie Shang and said, "This servant greets Your Highness."
When Su Tingwan saw the group approaching, she instinctively straightened up and obediently put her hand down from Xie Shang's arm, standing upright as if she were extremely afraid of them.
"Greetings to the concubine." Several people bowed respectfully to her.
"No need for formalities." Su Tingwan had learned some things after studying for half a month, but she completely disregarded Xie Shang's feelings in front of him, taking advantage of his affection.
Xie Shang smiled slightly when he saw her like this, his eyes filled with affection, and said gently, "You haven't been back to the manor for many days, your clothes and shoes are all dirty, I'll go back first..."
He originally wanted to say Lan Yue Pavilion, but then he thought that Jiang Fenghua lived there, so it wasn't convenient.
Granny Wang offered, “The Princess Consort has ordered the Tingxue Pavilion in the East Courtyard to be cleaned up, and all the furnishings inside have been replaced with new ones. Why doesn’t Your Highness go to Tingxue Pavilion to change your clothes?”
Xie Shang nodded, "Then let's go to Tingxue Pavilion!"
With Granny Wang present, Su Tingwan dared not act recklessly, lest she be subjected to another beating with a ruler under the pretext of teaching her manners.
She quickly replied, "This concubine will go to the Sandalwood Courtyard to wait for Your Highness."
Xie Shang nodded, "Okay."
Seeing Xie Shang walk away, Su Tingwan pouted and complained, "Granny Wang is such a busybody."
Yinxing, who had recently learned many rules, quickly said, "Miss, be careful that she doesn't overhear us and use this opportunity to settle a personal score."
"I'm not afraid of her at all. I have A-Shang protecting me." Su Tingwan returned to the Sandalwood Courtyard with a smug look on her face. A-Shang is back. Surely the things that weren't finished that night should be done now.
On the other side, Xie Shang arrived at Tingxue Pavilion and found that the furnishings here were very elegant, exuding a scholarly atmosphere. There were even bookshelves and desks in the room, and writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones were all prepared. There was even a chessboard with exquisite chess pieces, which were arranged neatly.
The house has two rooms, with the side room being a study and the inner room furnished with a bed, an exquisite screen, a wardrobe, and other amenities.
Xie Shang's residence was not this exquisite. He asked Wang Mama, who followed him in, "This courtyard was prepared by the Princess. When did Tingxue Pavilion come into being? I don't remember."
Granny Wang explained, "This place was originally called Furong Tower. The Princess Consort thought it was too glamorous, so she changed it to Tingxue Pavilion. The furnishings here were all arranged by the Princess Consort. As expected of a woman from a scholarly family, the things she chose are not only exquisite, but each one exudes a scholarly atmosphere."
"This servant guesses that the Princess Consort may have thought that it was not good for the Prince's health to sleep in the study for a long time, so she arranged a bed and prepared several sets of clothes that the Prince usually wears. It just so happens that Tingxue Pavilion is the closest to the Prince's study, which is also convenient."
Granny Wang then said, "This old servant has something to say, but I don't know if I should say it."
Xie Shang said, "Granny, please speak frankly." She was someone close to the Empress Dowager, and he should show her respect.
Granny Wang said, "Now that the Prince has married his principal wife and taken a concubine into the residence, he can't live in one person's courtyard forever. The Prince must consider the future of the imperial heir. The concubine is more lively, which pleases the Prince. The Princess Consort is quiet and unassuming, which makes this old servant feel a little sorry for her... in the future..."
Xie Shang frowned slightly and said coldly, "Alright, have someone bring in water and then leave. You don't need to serve us here."
Granny Wang knew she was being talkative, but seeing how the Prince clearly doted on Consort Su today, she added her own comment.
Over the past two weeks, they have all witnessed Jiang Fenghua's impeccable manners and upbringing.
Granny Wang stayed at the Jiang residence for a month and taught her for a month. Rather than teaching her, it would be more accurate to say that she was enjoying a life of luxury at the Jiang residence.
Jiang Fenghua learns things very quickly; she can learn them in no time and do them better than I can. Not only that, she is also skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework, and all sorts of other arts, and she is very good at them.
Granny Wang couldn't understand why the prince would give up such an excellent princess and insist on taking that rude and unbearable woman, Su Tingwan.
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