Chapter 41 A lecherous man barged in
On the other side, when Granny Xi returned to Kunning Palace, she praised Jiang Fenghua profusely, comparing her to Su Tingwan and praising the Empress for her good taste.
The Empress said, "She is the daughter-in-law I personally chose. That's what I value in her. However, she has gained the Emperor's approval, so she must have some brains. If she is wholeheartedly devoted to Shang'er, why shouldn't I promote her?"
Otherwise, it doesn't matter if she's abandoned; it just depends on whether she's worth keeping by Shang'er's side.
She's not her own daughter, so as long as Jiang Fenghua is respectable enough, it's fine for her to pretend to treat her like her own daughter.
“Shang’er has been smart since he was a child. No matter what he does, I am at ease. It’s just that he always thinks about Su Tingwan and has never consummated his marriage with Jiang Fenghua.”
The Empress looked worried. "Consort Su wants a woman to control my son. I will not let her have her way. Now that Jiang Fenghua has entered the palace, let her fulfill her duties as a wife."
Granny Xi's eyes darted around. "With Consort Su gone, it's perfect for the Prince and Princess to cultivate their relationship. The Princess is so beautiful; I'm sure she can win the Prince's heart. I heard that back in the Prince's residence, he slept in the Princess's bedroom for several nights. If we just add a little fuel to the fire..."
Empress Cheng said coldly, "No, nothing is more important than Shang'er's health. It is absolutely unacceptable to use medicine on Shang'er. If Jiang Fenghua still cannot win Shang'er's heart, then send some clever women into the manor."
Granny Xi quickly changed her tune, "This servant will stew some tonics and send them over. The prince is young and vigorous, and the princess is beautiful and charming. A man and a woman alone in a room, surely the prince is still thinking about Consort Su?"
Unexpectedly, the full meal that Granny Xi prepared for lunch was not used. Xie Shang was delayed by official business and did not leave the Imperial Study. He did not come back for lunch.
The Emperor also invited the Second Prince and the Third Prince to the palace, where they were kept in the Imperial Study, mysteriously discussing something.
The Empress was naturally pleased to hear this. As long as the Emperor could give Xie Shang an important position, it meant that the Emperor did not dislike him and would definitely entrust him with important responsibilities in the future so that he could make great achievements.
-
Wu Xin discovered that the palace maid who had been watching Jiang Fenghua that morning was from Consort Su's palace, and he told Jiang Fenghua about it.
Wu Xin said, "Should I go and warn the little palace maid? If I intervene, she won't dare to act recklessly. I still have some influence in the palace."
"No need, you just need to do this... and then subtly reveal the identity of this little palace maid to Her Majesty the Empress." Jiang Fenghua had already guessed that it was Consort Su, after all, she had blocked Su Tingwan's path, so it was normal for Consort Su to want to do something to her.
Jiang Fenghua copied scriptures all day, but Xie Shang didn't show up until dark. It was as if he had forgotten that his princess was still in the palace.
Upon returning to Chenxi Palace, she had a maid find some ingredients for her. It took her an hour to make two small dishes of pastries. She seemed completely unaware of the underhanded schemes behind it all.
She innocently and guilelessly made delicious snacks for her husband, hoping he would come home soon.
The Empress also learned by chance that a palace maid had been following Princess Heng. Upon investigation, she discovered that the maid was a person of Consort Su.
So the Empress remained calm, but to avoid any accidents, Granny Xi had someone serve Jiang Fenghua whenever she entered the ancestral hall to copy scriptures.
Jiang Fenghua knew that the Empress did this because she was afraid that Jiang Fenghua would fall into Consort Su's trap in the palace and embarrass her son. She never expected that Jiang Fenghua was the one who was controlling the game in this contest.
Empress Cheng was bored in Kunning Palace and heard that Jiang Fenghua was making snacks for Xie Shang, so she set off for Chenxi Palace.
No one knows how Jiang Fenghua managed to do it. Empress Cheng entered Chenxi Palace and never came out. Her room door was always closed, and she was acting all mysterious.
As night fell, an uninvited guest suddenly appeared outside the Chenxi Palace. Xie Yu, guided by someone, quietly broke in. Since the palace was empty and there were no eunuchs guarding it, he entered without any hindrance.
Xie Yu had always disliked Xie Shang. Hearing that Xie Shang's wife was incredibly beautiful, yet he was infatuated with his concubine, he cursed, "How foolish! He has such a beautiful woman to enjoy. But just how beautiful is Princess Heng? I'd like to see for myself."
The entire Chenxi Palace was pitch black, except for one bedroom where a light was on. The palace maids who stood guard outside for a while left.
Xie Yu tiptoed toward the dormitory. Through the window, he could hear haunting moans coming from inside.
Xie Yu became increasingly itchy and restless. Anyway, Xie Shang was still discussing state affairs with his father, and he didn't like this woman. What was wrong with taking a look? He didn't want her, but he wouldn't allow anyone else to have her.
As he looked inside, he saw nothing, because several screens blocked the view completely.
Xie Yu's desire grew stronger. He knew he shouldn't have trespassed into the palace, but a strange sound kept emanating from within, like the sound a woman makes when she's in pleasure.
Isn't Princess Heng living inside? How come there's a woman's scolding sound?
Xie Shang wasn't there, which made him even more curious. So he gently pushed the door, and to his surprise, it opened easily.
Xie Yu cautiously walked into the inner room. Through the screen, she seemed to see a graceful figure behind it.
He walked around the screen and was stunned by what he saw inside. It was two old women.
At this moment, Jiang Fenghua emerged from behind another screen. She screamed in fright when she saw a man suddenly appear there, "Ah! Who are you? How did you get here?"
At the same time, the basin in her hand fell to the ground with a clatter, spilling water all over the floor, instantly attracting the attention of the palace maids outside the door.
Empress Cheng, dressed in a strapless long dress and without shoes or socks, climbed out of bed, and Granny Xi also climbed out of the soft couch on the other side in the same manner.
When Granny Xi saw a man enter, she rushed to the Empress's side to shield her, anxious to protect her mistress. "Prince Yu, what are you doing here?"
The moment Xie Yu saw the Empress's face, he was so frightened that he knelt on the ground, prostrated himself, and kowtowed, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
Empress Cheng was furious and shouted, "You unfilial son, get out!"
News of Xie Yu's trespassing into Chenxi Palace reached the emperor's ears at lightning speed.
When the emperor learned the whole story, he was so angry that he personally went to Chenxi Palace. When Xie Shang found out, he rushed into Chenxi Palace and beat Xie Yu up without asking any questions.
It wasn't until Xie Yu was bleeding from his mouth and nose, his arm was dislocated, and he was half-dead that the emperor could no longer bear to watch and finally said, "Stop."
Seeing that Jiang Fenghua was neatly dressed and polite, Xie Shang asked her, "How are you?"
Jiang Fenghua said, "I'm fine. It's just that the Empress Dowager and Granny Xi were in my room at the time. I taught them some health preservation methods. In order to make it easier for Granny Xi to help the Empress Dowager, I used Granny Xi as an example."
Unexpectedly, a man quietly entered. I had never seen Prince Yu before, nor did I recognize him. Thinking he was a lecherous man, I screamed in fright.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
