Chapter 33 He will not allow anyone to flirt with Jiang Fenghua.
Su Tingwan followed her gaze and saw Xiao Yu staring intently at them.
On the boat, other young men were drinking, and in the cabin, a woman was singing while holding a pipa. Her voice was delicate and seductive.
Jiang Fenghua did not reply to her, as if she was listening attentively to the song.
Su Tingwan looked at them with disdain. "They're enjoying life here, surrounded by beautiful women, while the soldiers on the frontier suffer from the daily sandstorms, guarding their homeland with unbearable hardship. It's like courtesans who don't know the sorrow of a fallen nation, still singing 'The Flowers of the Rear Courtyard' across the river!"
Her voice was loud enough to immediately attract the attention of those around her, and some praised her for being kind-hearted and righteous.
Some people scorned her for meddling in other people's business and asked why she didn't go and guard the border.
She was dressed in a striking red outfit, her figure imposing, making her stand out from the other women.
Jiang Fenghua said softly, "No, Consort's words are sweeping generalizations and are too one-sided and unfair."
Su Tingwan speaks very directly, she doesn't know how to compose poetry or use classical Chinese phrases, "The princess is also the daughter of the Junior Tutor, yet she speaks up for them, which is unbecoming of a lady from a respectable family."
"I'm not taking sides; I'm just stating the facts."
The words "princess" and "concubine" instantly drew the attention of busybodies to the two women's identities.
Jiang Fenghua's face was veiled, making it impossible to see her appearance. One could only sense her graceful figure, delicate eyebrows, and captivating eyes, making her breathtakingly beautiful.
Seeing that everyone was paying more attention to Jiang Fenghua, Su Tingwan said, "Your Highness is very knowledgeable and talented. Please do not hesitate to enlighten me." Those singers and prostitutes were already immoral, exchanging their bodies for money, but Jiang Fenghua spoke up for them, which really surprised her.
"As human beings, we are all simply shining in our respective fields. The efforts and hardships of the border guards deserve our respect and awe. I believe that when a time of crisis comes, none of us will stand idly by. As the saying goes, 'The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen.' As long as we are citizens of the Great Zhou, regardless of wealth or poverty, we will all strive to protect our land." Jiang Fenghua's voice was calm and steady, but as she spoke, it seemed to become more passionate and inspiring, filled with reverence.
“What this young lady says makes sense. If the barbarian Hu tribes invade my Shengjing City, I will not sit idly by. I will certainly use all the gold and silver of the Guo family to go to the battlefield and kill them without leaving a single one alive,” Guo Xiao, the playboy of the Guo family, stated his position.
He drank a few more glasses of wine today, but he wasn't drunk, and he spoke more confidently.
"I, Guo Xiao, am probably the most dissolute of the dissolute, taking the young masters of Shengjing City out to eat, drink, and have fun. We do everything from visiting brothels to drinking and carousing. But does that mean we are all bad people? At least we all contributed to the cause of punishing the villain Yang Jing today and signed our names. We are not people who punish evil and promote good, but we are not villains either."
Guo Xiaoyi declared loudly and righteously, "If I, Guo Xiaoyi, stand up, who among you dares to say I am a bad person?"
He dared not call himself a good person, yet no one dared to call him a bad person.
"No, our Young Master Guo is a kind man. He respects the elderly and cares for the young, and helps beggars. No one does it as well as our Young Master Guo." The young men behind him started to jeer.
A burst of laughter erupted. Su Tingwan stared wide-eyed. She hated people like Guo Xiao the most. He was so smug about going to brothels and drinking with women. She didn't expect that even though Jiang Fenghua hadn't shown her face, everyone's attention was on her.
Guo Xiao walked directly toward Jiang Fenghua, his words laced with teasing, “Even the lotus cannot compare to the beauty’s makeup; the breeze from the water palace carries the fragrance of pearls and jade.”
Before Jiang Fenghua could speak, Xiao Yu had already disembarked from the boat and stood in front of her, saying, "Young Master Guo, you must not be rude."
"Xiao Yu, the champion of the Flower Competition, is also very well-read. I, Guo Xiao, would like to be your friend," Guo Xiao said boldly. "But you can't compete with me for the beauty, okay?"
"Young Master Guo, please be careful with your words," Xiao Yu said respectfully in a deep voice.
The following two lines are: Who is it that weeps silently behind an autumn fan, while the bright moon hangs empty, awaiting the king? Guo Xiao's recitation of this poem, "Autumn Lament in the Western Palace," in front of the woman inevitably carries the suspicion of seducing the resentful women in the deep palace. He would not allow anyone to flirt with Jiang Fenghua.
Then, he cupped his hands to Jiang Fenghua to show his respect, "I didn't know that the Third Miss would also be coming to the flower viewing party this year. I thought that the Third Miss wouldn't come out after getting married. It seems that Young Master Jiang hasn't returned yet." He was secretly delighted. Even if he could only see her once, he would be happy. In order to hide his emotions, he became even more self-restrained, respectful and polite.
“My elder brother went to the Western Regions to study and hasn’t returned to Shengjing yet, but he will soon.” Jiang Fenghua said calmly and respectfully.
Xiao Yu continued, "In previous years, Young Master Jiang always accompanied Third Miss to the flower viewing party, but this year you're alone..."
Guo Xiao asked Xiao Yu, "You two know each other, whose wife is she? It's a pity she's married..."
"Is it a pity that the youngest son of Minister Guo couldn't attend my wedding banquet?" Xie Shang strode up to them.
Guo Xiao saw that Prince Heng was right in front of him and said with a smile, "Greetings to Your Highness Prince Heng."
Su Tingwan was the first to approach, behaving intimately, "Your Highness, have you finished your official duties?"
"This... turns out to be a concubine from the Prince Heng's mansion," Guo Xiao said deliberately, belittling her.
Xie Shang's eyes were fixed on Jiang Fenghua. Although she was wearing a veil, she had a graceful figure and a unique temperament. He could see her at a glance from the bridge.
Her radiance instantly attracted Guo Xiao and the men around her. She was clearly dignified, polite, and courteous, but seeing other people fawning over her made him extremely uncomfortable, and even inexplicably angry.
Following his gaze, everyone saw that his eyes were fixed on Jiang Fenghua on the bridge.
"What are you still standing there for? Do you want me to come and invite you?" Xie Shang's eyes were icy cold, brooking no argument, and his voice was devoid of any gentleness.
Jiang Fenghua, supported by Hongxiu, gracefully descended the steps and stood elegantly beside Xie Shang. She bowed slightly in greeting and said nothing more.
Xie Shang glared at Xiao Yu, "It's none of your business who my queen goes boating and enjoying the flowers with, Young Master Xiao!"
Xiao Yu paused for a moment, but ultimately did nothing.
Only then did they realize that this was the Princess Consort Heng, whom the Emperor had bestowed upon Prince Heng. Everyone looked at her with respect and dared not overstep their bounds.
Prince Heng dealt with the Yang family in just one day. His decisive and swift actions were awe-inspiring and frightening.
Everyone scattered like birds and beasts; who would dare to gather around and watch the spectacle?
Guo Xiao felt disappointed, but when he saw that she was Heng Wang Xie Shang's woman, he wasn't so disappointed anymore. After all, the way Heng Wang cut his finger with a dagger to sign the petition that morning was quite handsome.
He said, "So you are Princess Heng, my apologies."
Xie Shang glared at him coldly, unwilling to say another word to him. Guo Xiao immediately became obedient, frightened into saying directly, "Then I won't disturb Your Highness and Princess's romantic time. I'll take my leave."
Xiao Yu cupped his hands in greeting to Jiang Fenghua and turned to leave. A hint of heartache flashed in his eyes. Not long after the Prince of Heng married his princess, he took a concubine into the palace. The Prince of Heng's attitude towards her was... It seems that she was not having a good time in the palace.
Jiang Fenghua staring at Xiao Yu's back was spotted by Xie Shang.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
