Chapter 103 The Wu Family Are Not Good People
The Imperial Palace.
It is the birthday of Emperor Xiao Yu.
The ministers arrived early with their families, and Jiang Wan Ning also went with Jiang Zheng and Zhou Shi.
Because the Empress Dowager's mourning period had just ended, and it was also the Emperor's birthday.
People were not dressed in fancy clothes, nor were they dressed in very simple clothes.
Jiang Wan Ning wore a pale yellow wide-sleeved gauze dress over a white long dress, which was neither too glamorous nor too plain.
"Ningning, you're here." Shen Ruzhi spotted Jiang Wanning in the crowd.
He quickly got up and pulled the person along, saying, "Let's go sit over there."
Zhou also stepped forward. When Shen Zhao saw Jiang Zheng get up to greet him, Zhou then noticed that Wang was sitting behind Shen Zhao.
According to the rules, only family members are allowed to sit behind them.
Zhou laughed and joked, "It seems that it won't be long before I'll be able to attend Lord Shen's wedding banquet."
Wang's cheeks flushed slightly; she was a divorced woman and didn't want to come.
She couldn't resist her younger brother, the Duke of Rong, insisting on taking her to the palace. Once inside, she met Shen Zhao, who insisted that she sit behind him.
Shen Ruzhi also grabbed her hand and begged.
Shen Zhao's lips curled up slightly, his face full of smugness.
"Didn't Grand Tutor Zhou come today?"
“My maternal grandfather is getting old and doesn’t like crowds, so he specifically informed His Majesty that he wouldn’t be coming,” Jiang Wanning answered for Zhou Shi.
"Oh dear, they're adults chatting, why should we join in? Ningning, come sit with me."
Shen Ruzhi pulled Jiang Wanning to sit down.
Shen Zhao frowned slightly and shook his head. "This child has no manners whatsoever as a girl."
"You old man, stop pretending here," Jiang Zheng laughed. "It's not for you or me to manage a daughter's affairs."
Fortunately, Zhiya will have someone to take care of her in the future.
As Jiang Zheng spoke, Wang's cheeks flushed even more.
Seeing his elder sister so delicate and shy like a young girl, the Duke of Rong was delighted and drank three cups of wine.
"Oh, who do we have here?" Shen Ruzhi was just talking to Jiang Wanning when she heard a sharp voice behind her. "So it's just a motherless wild child."
Shen Ruzhi turned around and said, "Wu Xinyi, are you out of your mind?"
"Hmph, I wasn't talking about you, why are you in such a hurry?" Wu Xinyi tilted her head and touched the hair ornament in her hair with her delicate fingers.
"Aren't you just giving yourself a mother figure?"
"But I heard you're not your father's biological son either?"
The events of that day had already spread throughout the capital, but everyone chose to remain silent due to the Duke of Rong's status and Shen Zhao's status as a close advisor to the Emperor.
Wu Xinyi was forced to kneel in the ancestral hall for several days as punishment by Minister Wu because of Shen Ruzhi and Jiang Wanning.
Having gone to great lengths to be invited to the palace banquet, how could he not feel a surge of anger upon seeing those two?
"You weren't some beggar or a prostitute who was abandoned after giving birth, were you?" Wu Xinyi said, covering her mouth with her handkerchief and chuckling.
"Oh, you're lucky. At least you're luckier than those people outside who have no one to pick them up."
"Sister, please stop talking." Wu Xinrui gently tugged at Wu Xinyi's arm and whispered, "This is the palace, it's not good to cause trouble."
He then bowed slightly to Jiang Wan Ning and Shen Ru Zhi, saying, "I'm sorry, my sister has been spoiled since she was a child."
"I didn't mean anything by it just now, and I apologize on her behalf."
"Who needs you to take my place?" Wu Xinyi flung Wu Xinrui's hand away. "Who's your sister?"
“You are a concubine’s daughter, and I am a legitimate daughter. A concubine’s daughter is a maid. We are not the same.” Wu Xinyi glared at Wu Xinrui.
Wu Xinrui lowered her head and gently bit her lower lip. "No matter what, you can't act recklessly at this time."
"Otherwise...otherwise I'll go tell my grandfather."
"Don't try to intimidate me with your grandfather!" Wu Xinyi raised her voice without realizing it. "Grandfather just thinks you're not bad looking."
"That's why we summoned you back from the countryside, so that you could be of some use to our Minister's Mansion."
"Do you really think that your grandfather only cares about you, a concubine's daughter? If he really cared about you, he wouldn't have left you in the manor for more than ten years without paying any attention to you."
Wu Xinrui's eyes were red, and she bit her lip tightly without saying a word. Anyone who saw her would feel sorry for her.
"Cry, cry, all you do is cry," Wu Xinyi said impatiently. "What else can you do besides cry?"
“You are an illegitimate daughter who grew up in the countryside. It is already a blessing from several lifetimes that your grandfather allowed you to attend the palace banquet.”
"You're going to embarrass yourself here."
“I think you’re the one who’s making a fool of yourself,” Shen Ruzhi said.
Wu Xinyi scoffed, "I almost forgot, if you hadn't been picked up by someone else..."
"I'm afraid she's not even as good as that illegitimate daughter."
"Me!" Shen Ruzhi rolled up her sleeves and was about to tickle Wu Xinyi.
"The Emperor has arrived! The Empress has arrived!"
The eunuch's shrill announcement rang out, and everyone rose to their feet and returned to their respective positions.
Wu Xinyi snorted and walked forward, deliberately bumping into Chen Ruzhi with her shoulder.
"ah--"
Just as everyone was about to greet the Emperor and Empress, a scream suddenly rang out.
Everyone looked over, and even Emperor Xiao Yu and the Empress looked in this direction.
Wu Xinyi was lying on the ground, her chin hitting the corner of the table, and she was covering it with her hand in pain.
Wu Xinrui was so shocked that her mouth and eyes widened. She covered her mouth with her hand, paused for a moment, and then immediately bent down to help her up. "Little sister, are you alright?"
Wu Xinyi stood up awkwardly, disgustedly shaking off Wu Xinrui's hand, "Get away!"
Minister Wu sat in front, and upon recognizing his granddaughter, he frowned slightly and immediately bowed to the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me."
"It is because this old minister has not managed his household properly that he has missed the appointed time."
Just as Xiao Yu was about to seize the opportunity to make trouble for this old scoundrel, the chief eunuch whispered a few words in his ear.
Xiao Yu had no choice but to give up, saying, "Today is a joyous day, so there will be no punishment."
"Please be seated, my esteemed subjects."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"
The ministers were all seated, and Xiao Yu said, "Summon them."
The chief eunuch straightened up and announced in a high-pitched voice, "The foreign affairs have been settled, and they wish to have an audience!"
Minister Wu gestured to Wu Xinyi and Wu Xinrui to sit down quickly and avoid causing trouble.
Jiang Wan Ning also pulled Chen Ru Zhi to sit down.
"Ningning, was that you just now?"
Jiang Wan Ning smiled and nodded. It was indeed she who had deliberately tripped Wu Xin Yi with one foot. "Today's occasion is not suitable for a direct confrontation."
Shen Ruzhi was overjoyed. "I think if her chin isn't treated properly, it'll probably leave a scar."
"It's still you I'm waiting for."
Jiang Wan Ning frowned slightly. "If I extend my foot, she should just fall down, not bump into the corner of the table."
"Unless someone pushes her in that direction."
You mean Wu Xinrui?
Jiang Wan Ning neither confirmed nor denied it, after all, she hadn't seen clearly, but at that time, there was no one else beside Wu Xin Yi.
"She looks pitiful and weak, could it all be an act?"
"The Wu family is no good, so we'd better not provoke them."
Minister Wu is part of the Grand Princess's faction, and he will be purged by the Emperor sooner or later.
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