Chapter 484 Xie Ling'er's Visit
Jiang Fenghua didn't care about Qin Yunyan's whereabouts. Since she was in cahoots with Su Qingqing and Su Qingqing hated her so much, she would definitely come looking for her. Her feud with Su Qingqing was a personal matter, but Su Qingqing's collusion with the Hu tribe had escalated into a national feud.
If Su Qingqing dares to do anything to harm the Great Zhou Dynasty, Xie Shang will deal with her.
The one who is most anxious right now is Xie Ling'er. She is eager to marry into the Hu tribe to escape the Great Zhou. She doesn't even want to be a princess of the Great Zhou. Xie Ling'er is also stupid and has no opinions of her own. She only listens to her mother.
Even if a princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty stayed in the Great Zhou, Xie Shang would not treat her badly. Xie Shang valued her as his younger sister very much. There was no kinship in the royal family, and Xie Ling'er was his only kinship.
Jiang Fenghua then asked Aoxue to tell Xie Shang the information she had found out. Aoxue only brought back one sentence: "Tell the Empress to take good care of herself during her pregnancy."
Xie Shang's words puzzled her greatly, as if Xie Shang knew everything and had everything under his control, so she, the empress, didn't need to worry about it.
The next day, Xie Ling'er suddenly arrived at Chenxi Palace. Upon seeing Jiang Fenghua, she respectfully bowed and said, "Ling'er greets Your Majesty the Empress."
"Princess Ninth, you may dispense with the formalities," Jiang Fenghua said gently.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xie Ling'er stared at Jiang Fenghua's graceful posture and noble temperament. She bit her lip slightly as if out of jealousy, but a smile remained on her face. She added, "Ling'er brought gifts for the First Prince and the First Princess. They are just some little trinkets that Ling'er made in her spare time. Your Majesty, please don't find them offensive."
Xie Ling'er held the toys in her hands and played with them. "These two rattles were made by craftsmen in the palace. I embroidered them myself. The one with the tiger on it is for the eldest prince, and the one with the butterfly on it is for the eldest princess. This rag doll is for the eldest princess."
Her face was full of flattery and her eyes were full of sincerity. "I was young and ignorant before and offended you a lot. Please don't be angry with me, Your Majesty. I really know I was wrong."
“Back then, the Ninth Princess was still young and was misled by others. I won’t blame her. In the end, the Ninth Princess and I are family.” Jiang Fenghua said to Granny Wang, “The Ninth Princess has arrived. Granny Wang, quickly bring tea! Bring up any delicious pastries you have.”
Before long, when the tea and snacks were placed in front of Xie Ling'er, she was a little dazed and unconsciously glanced at the palace maid next to her.
Jiang Fenghua picked up her teacup and took a sip. She also noticed the way Xie Ling'er looked at the palace maid. She even had to ask the palace maid before taking a sip of tea. How worried she was! And she said she knew she was wrong. What a load of rubbish!
"Doesn't the Ninth Princess like to eat them? I heard from the Emperor that the Ninth Princess loves all kinds of pastries. She used to bring them into the palace from outside. These pastries were all bought from outside the palace."
Xie Ling'er held a piece of mung bean cake but didn't eat it.
In the past, Fifth Brother often brought her good things from outside the palace—food, household items, toys, beautiful clothes and jewelry. Fifth Brother really loved her. She was very reluctant to leave Shengjing. Originally, they lived happily together. Her mother wouldn't have been forced to leave the palace, and Sister Wan wouldn't have died. It was all because Jiang Fenghua took Fifth Brother away that everything changed.
"Princess, have some!" Jiang Fenghua also ate a piece; it melted in her mouth and was her favorite flavor.
Just then, Xie Ziyan and Xie Hongyou came running over with small steps.
Xie Ziyan rushed up to Jiang Fenghua and grabbed her hand, "Mother, kite, come fly a kite with me, let's go."
Jiang Fenghua held her little hand, "Where can we find kites?"
“There are people flying kites in the sky outside,” Xie Hongyou said.
Jiang Fenghua glanced at the wet nurse, who explained, "This servant was playing outside with the eldest prince and the princess when someone suddenly flew a kite in the sky, and they saw it."
Xie Ling'er walked up to the children, holding a rattle drum in her hand, and said, "How about Auntie plays with you?"
She shook the rattle drum in her hand, and Xie Ziyan was instantly attracted by the clear and melodious sound. Suddenly, Granny Wang picked up the little princess and handed her to the wet nurse, saying, "Take the princess out and fly her kite!"
As Xie Ziyan and Xie Hongyou were carried away, Xie Ling'er's lips twitched, and she glanced at the palace maid again, but ultimately said nothing.
Jiang Fenghua remained expressionless. "Granny Wang, put away the little toys that the Ninth Princess gave to Yan'er and You'er!"
"Yes." Granny Wang wrapped her hands in a handkerchief as if avoiding the plague and placed the small toy on a plate. "I just served some pastries, and my hands are oily. I was afraid of soiling the Ninth Princess's good intentions."
After speaking, Granny Wang took the toys away, intending to burn them after the Ninth Princess left. How could the Ninth Princess's embroidery be so good? As someone who taught the princesses etiquette, she naturally knew the Ninth Princess's embroidery skills. She had been spoiled by Consort Su since childhood and hadn't even learned basic etiquette. How could she have such exquisite embroidery?
Jiang Fenghua remained silent throughout, suggesting that Xie Ling'er's visit today was likely not just to deliver a gift.
Xie Ling'er clenched her fingers and said with a forced smile, "Ling'er wants to ask Fifth Sister-in-law for a favor?"
"We're all family, there's no need to ask for anything. Ninth Princess, just tell me what you need. I will never refuse to help if it's within my power."
"My brother hasn't agreed to my relationship with Prince Huyan yet, but I really like him." She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, and her eyes immediately reddened, and tears fell involuntarily.
“Princess Ninth, don’t cry. The Emperor’s refusal must be because he can’t bear to part with you and can’t bear to see you suffer with the Hu people. I’ve heard that the borderlands are often covered by sandstorms, making it difficult to grow crops. The Hu people have long been short of food and clothing, and hunger is a common occurrence. They have plenty of cattle, sheep, and horses, though. Princess Ninth, you have delicate skin, and I’m afraid you won’t be able to endure that hardship,” Jiang Fenghua comforted her.
Xie Ling'er thought of Prince Huyan's skin. She had heard that he was only nineteen years old, but he had a beard and was not considered handsome. However, this was the only way she could see her mother. Her mother was the only family she had in the world.
"I've often heard Wan... they say that the scenery in the northern frontier is also very beautiful. I believe that Prince Huyan truly loves me. He said he would take good care of me. As long as I can marry the person I love, I'm not afraid of anything. My brother listens to the Empress the most. Please, Empress, put in a good word for me." Xie Ling'er's voice became gentle.
Jiang Fenghua stared at her. Why did she think she would help her? Locking Xie Ling'er in the palace would only make Su Qingqing even more anxious.
Jiang Fenghua said calmly, "I will visit the Emperor whenever I have time. I also hope that lovers will eventually be united."
"Then thank you, Your Majesty." Xie Ling'er quickly said, "Prince Huyan has been staying at the post station, waiting for my brother's consent so that I can marry him. I really like him."
In her past life, she also loved the prince consort very much, but unfortunately, she eventually forced him to his death.
"Ling'er will take her leave now." Xie Ling'er stood up to say goodbye, and the palace maid beside her also bowed slightly.
Jiang Fenghua stared into the palace maid's eyes. She felt a sense of familiarity. Could she be the woman who had taken Su Qingqing's place in the Cold Palace? She was certain that the maid knew martial arts.
The reason why Ao Xue's whereabouts were revealed so quickly when she was following Qin Yunyan was probably because of her.
Did Xie Shang know that Xie Ling'er had a powerful bodyguard by her side?
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