Chapter 822 Empress Jiang's Warning
Zhang Yumo felt very nervous under Jiang Fenghua's gaze; she always felt that Jiang Fenghua could see right through her.
She said, "I'm leaving now. Mother, take Xiao Chu with you..."
“Zhang Yumo,” Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice.
"Ah!" Zhang Yumo was stunned. "Why did Your Majesty the Empress suddenly call my name?"
She grew increasingly nervous, unable to understand why the Empress was looking at her with those eyes.
"I want you to remember that you are now a member of the Jiang family, and Jiang Jinyan's wife. If you are willing to stay in the Jiang family, I welcome you. You will always be my sister-in-law. If you are not willing, the Jiang family will not force you."
Jiang Fenghua didn't mince words with her and went straight to the point, "I would abandon someone who doesn't care about the Jiang family. My heart isn't as broad as you see it. I'm selfish and protective of my own. If you want to be a member of the Jiang family, you absolutely cannot betray them."
Zhang Yumo didn't expect the Empress to have such an attitude. Could it be because she spoke up for her cousin and angered her?
Zhang Yumo didn't dare to talk back to the Empress. Even though she was proud, she couldn't go back to the Zhang family given their current situation. Besides, she was married and couldn't go back anyway. It didn't make sense!
She needs Jiang Jinyan's protection.
She said gently, "I will remember Your Majesty's words. From now on, I will be a good wife to Jiang Jinyan and will no longer have any contact with the Zhang family."
"Isn't your cousin very pitiful?"
“No matter how pitiful she is, she is still the Fourth Princess Consort, living a life of luxury and honor, far more so than ordinary people. I, on the other hand, have no parents, and my grandparents, the only people in the Zhang family who loved me, have also left me.” She added, “Now my only family is Xiao Chu and my husband.”
Jiang Fenghua was amazed by Zhang Yumo's insight; she had learned to weigh the pros and cons, and the Jiang family was indeed her safe haven.
Jiang Fenghua was the kind of person who would give a slap and then a sweet treat. She held Zhang Yumo's hand and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law is the eldest young mistress of the Jiang family. In the future, you will be in charge of the Jiang family."
"I want you to remember that a person only has one life. No matter how much God favors us, we must cherish our lives and protect our family. As for others, they are really insignificant. Even if you are right to speak up for her in front of everyone, so what? Zhang Yurou was the one who plotted against your husband!"
Zhang Yumo knew that Jiang Fenghua meant her no harm. She blushed a little when she said that, because it was indeed her cousin who instigated Shu Xue to spread rumors about Jiang Jinyan and Bai Yuhan.
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty. I will remember it. I was a bit rash in speaking up for the Fourth Princess today."
Jiang Fenghua said, "Go find your mother and Xiao Chu first. The Zhang family has already fallen. Sister-in-law, live peacefully in the Jiang family. I believe your relationship with your brother will only get better and better."
It's not that she dislikes Jiang Jinyan, but rather that she has closed herself off emotionally, which is probably related to Jiang Jinyan's repeated rejections of the Zhang family's marriage proposals in her previous life.
Zhang Yumo was inherently proud and academically gifted, but she was rejected by others multiple times, for which she lost her life. Now she has finally come to her senses.
Unexpectedly, it was too late when she finally realized her mistake. In this life, thanks to her intervention, she not only married Jiang Jinyan but also gave birth to a daughter.
Zhang Yumo said, "This humble woman will take her leave now." Although the Empress privately called her sister-in-law, the proper etiquette between ruler and subject still had to be observed.
Jiang Fenghua did not expose her. She was not sure how much Zhang Yumo knew about her past life. Although they had no interaction, the Zhang family still had prestige in the Great Zhou Dynasty. The Zhang family would attend banquets held in the palace, and Old Madam Zhang would also bring Zhang Yumo to attend.
In her previous life, she lived a very humble life. Empress Dowager Cheng treated her with disrespect and abuse, sometimes even resorting to physical violence. In the end, she decided that Empress Dowager Cheng was a pushover who could be easily manipulated and that she could not win the emperor's favor, so she chose to give up on her.
The rumors about her from the outside world are even more outrageous. In Zhang Yumo's mind, she had a miserable time in the Hengwang Mansion.
Lu Xuefei picked some fresh flowers and handed them to Jiang Fenghua, "Why did Sister Yumo leave? I picked a bouquet for her too!"
"She's going back to take care of Xiao Chu, isn't she?"
Lu Xuefei said, "Your Majesty must be very disappointed that Sister Yumo stood up for the Fourth Princess just now!"
She hadn't expected Zhang Yumo to suddenly help the Fourth Princess Consort on such a occasion. Although her surname was Zhang, she also had another identity: the wife of the Marquis of Wu'an, and a member of the Jiang family.
"I thank Xuefei for the flowers, and I am even more grateful to you for saving the day." Jiang Fenghua added, "I owe you a favor."
At this point, Lu Xuefei's smile vanished instantly. "I have read so many laws, and today I have said so many things against my conscience. Your Majesty, if power stands in the way, is there really no fairness in this world? Is the rule that princes are subject to the same laws as commoners just a slogan?"
Jiang Fenghua knew that Lu Xuefei was a straightforward person. "Only when you have power in your own hands can there be fairness. Otherwise, the world will never be fair and just. Justice is only for those in power. Remember, ordinary people will never find a way out by fighting against power."
Lu Xuefei stared at Jiang Fenghua, "Back then, Your Majesty..."
“I was indeed interested in the laws at first, but Xuefei, you should know that the rules and regulations of the laws are also set by the Emperor.” Jiang Fenghua added, “You are so smart, you will understand. Besides, the person you will marry in the future will also be a member of the royal family, and you will stand at the center of power.”
Lu Xuefei blushed slightly. "What are you saying, Your Majesty? This humble woman will not enter the palace."
"Don't you like His Highness Prince Qi?" Jiang Fenghua asked directly.
Lu Xuefei did not deny it, "I do like Prince Qi, but he has never come to the Lu residence to propose marriage. I really want to ask him what he is thinking."
“Maybe it’s because of his inferiority complex!” Jiang Fenghua knew Xie Qi quite well. “Although he is a royal prince, his upbringing is completely different from yours, and he doesn’t have a maternal family to support him. You are sunny, cheerful, and unrestrained. When have you ever seen the Eighth Prince like you?”
Lu Xuefei said, "I have never looked down on him. He is actually very smart. I don't know what he means. Sometimes he is distant, sometimes he is close."
"Do you want me to help you?" Jiang Fenghua asked.
Lu Xuefei can do everything well and think things through, but when it comes to matters of the heart, she seems to be facing a problem.
Her eyes lit up. "How can Your Majesty help?"
Jiang Fenghua said, "That's easy. An elder sister-in-law is like a mother, and an elder brother is like a father. I'll ask the Emperor to grant you a marriage, and that will solve the problem."
"Your Majesty, please don't. Xuefei wants to solve this on her own. Once the Emperor's decree of marriage is issued, he will have no choice but to marry me. I only want to find someone who is devoted to me. I don't want my partner to have multiple wives and concubines, not even a prince. This request may be excessive, but I really don't like it when he has other women besides me."
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