Chapter 40 Past Life Grudges
Jiang Fenghua left the imperial study, but her mind was on the theft of the imperial tomb. She remembered that the imperial tomb had indeed been robbed in her previous life. Her father had mentioned it only occasionally, but had not said anything else. The royal family had covered it up very well.
Although she was the Princess Consort of Heng, she had little interaction with Xie Shang and was not favored by him; she knew very little about his affairs.
She remembered that after Xie Shang became the crown prince, he had been searching for something, which must have been a royal item stolen from the imperial tomb. It was something that had been lost, and it hadn't been found for several years.
Why is the Emperor being so mysterious? What important thing could it be?
Jiang Fenghua was lost in her own thoughts and didn't even notice when Wuxin suddenly stood beside her.
Wuxin was somewhat excited. "Wuxin greets Your Highness."
Jiang Fenghua sized him up. He claimed to be Wuxin, but she never expected him to be that little eunuch from back then. He's quite handsome now that he's grown up. She said, "Chief Eunuch Cao asked you to escort me to Kunning Palace."
"Yes." Wuxin was somewhat excited, thinking that she hadn't recognized him. "Actually, this servant..."
Jiang Fenghua looked around and saw someone hiding under the eaves in the distance. She thought it must be one of Consort Su's people.
A gentle smile graced her face as she raised an eyebrow and said softly, "Then thank you very much, Eunuch Wuxin."
Having spent ten years in the palace without any intention of becoming Eunuch Cao's adopted son, he was certainly no incompetent person. "Your Highness, there's no need to be so polite. It's all what this servant should do."
Upon arriving at Kunning Palace, Wuxin personally escorted Jiang Fenghua into the palace, and then bowed to the Empress before leaving.
Jiang Fenghua's face was as beautiful as a flower. "Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty be blessed with ten thousand years of happiness and peace."
"No need for formalities." The Empress warmly pulled Jiang Fenghua's hand and made her sit down on the soft couch next to her. "I've been waiting for Ruan Ruan to arrive. My daughter-in-law is becoming more and more beautiful!"
The Empress already knew that Jiang Fenghua had signed the petition, which meant that she had fulfilled her duty as a wife and supported her son. Based on this alone, she could give Jiang Fenghua some face.
The Empress knew that Jiang Fenghua had not yet consummated her marriage with Xie Shang. She was furious that her son was so foolish to leave such a beautiful daughter-in-law unused.
The Empress, of course, would not let Jiang Fenghua know what she was thinking, and smiled even more kindly and amiably.
After the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law talked for a while, she ordered Granny Xi to take her to the palace where Xie Shang used to live in the palace—Chenxi Palace.
"Your Highness may rest here. The Prince will come to pick you up after he has finished his official duties."
Jiang Fenghua remained calm and gentle as she listened quietly to Granny Xi's introduction. In truth, her heart was already surging with excitement, for Chenxi Palace would also be the future Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.
The Crown Prince has not yet moved in, and the place has not been renovated or expanded; it remains as it was before Xie Shang left the palace to establish his own residence.
Originally, there was a Crown Prince's Eastern Palace in the palace. Xie Shang requested to move back to Chenxi Palace, so this place became the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince's word was law, and no one could disobey him.
In her previous life, she lived here for seventeen years.
Su Tingwan also lived here, but after Xie Shang ascended the throne, she moved to the magnificent Kunning Palace. Xie Shang naturally followed the palace rules and moved to the Chengqian Palace where the emperor lived.
She was not only despised by him, but also abandoned by him, left to languish and ignored in the Dawn Palace.
At that time, she thought he had long forgotten that he had a wife with whom he had a marriage vow. She hated herself for not being able to hold onto Xie Shang's heart. In fact, she didn't understand that it wasn't that she wasn't good enough, but that men were too heartless.
Jiang Fenghua paced slowly, her eyes filled with deep emotion. Memories of her past life flooded her mind, and tears seemed to well up in her eyes.
The Chenxi Palace is currently being managed by people sent by Empress Cheng, so the houses and furnishings here are still very new, and the surroundings are clean and tidy. Apart from the cleanliness, there is only desolation, so cold that it makes her shiver and her heart grow cold.
She pushed open the door to the room she used to live in, unconsciously hugging her arms tightly, wanting to escape. Here, her life had turned into countless lonely days and nights.
"Your Highness, this bedroom is spacious; you may rest here for now," said Granny Xi.
The image of Su Tingwan's smug face flashed through her mind: "Your Highness, I have arranged a spacious bedroom for you. I will make sure you live comfortably once you enter the palace. Are you satisfied?"
Xie Shang handed the Crown Prince's Palace over to Su Tingwan, so naturally she was in charge of arranging everything, and Su Tingwan dared not be dissatisfied.
This place was the farthest from Xie Shang's bedroom, so they rarely met. He had almost forgotten her existence until one day, in order to stop the rumors that he favored his concubine over his wife and to maintain his dignity as the crown prince, Xie Shang broke into her room, took the medicine, and consummated his marriage with her.
She became pregnant, and he never entered the room again. She dared not recall how she endured those seventeen years, because it was too painful.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Granny Xi asked again, "Does the Princess not like this bedchamber?"
Jiang Fenghua straightened her back and said gently, "This place will do! Thank you, Granny Xi." She was quite familiar with this place.
Granny Xi smiled broadly, "Your Highness, please rest. I have sent two maids to serve you here. We will send someone to bring lunch over later. If Your Highness needs anything, please just tell the maids."
"Granny Xi, I have a request, and I hope you will grant it." Jiang Fenghua's eyes were full of sincerity.
Granny Xi was a shrewd and capable woman. The Empress liked her, so the servants naturally couldn't neglect her. "Please speak, Your Highness."
"His Majesty has ordered me and the Prince to stay in the palace for three days to copy Buddhist scriptures to pay homage to our ancestors. Now the Prince is busy with official duties in His Majesty's study, so this important task should be completed by me as his wife. Please ask the nanny to find Eunuch Wuxin and ask him to come and take me to the ancestral hall to copy the scriptures every day."
Her face flushed, and she explained softly, "I'm not familiar with the roads around the palace. I'm afraid I won't be able to find my way." Having someone she knew by her side made her feel more at ease.
Granny Xi quickly agreed, "This is a small matter, I will certainly do it. It was Eunuch Wuxin who brought the Princess here, I will send someone to inform him right away."
It seems that the princess has devoted her whole heart to the prince. She is sensible and well-mannered. These are the exact words that Granny Xi reported to the empress after she returned.
After Granny Xi left, the palace maid changed the sheets on the bed. "Your Highness can rest now. If you need anything, just tell me."
Thank you.
The palace maid's face was rosy. She thought that Princess Heng was extremely beautiful, easy to talk to, and very polite. She was truly dignified and virtuous.
Jiang Fenghua dismissed the palace maids and closed the door alone. She was indeed quite tired today, having gotten up early and rushed around, so she decided to take a nap first. After all, beauties are made by sleeping.
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