“Sister Rongning, your hairpin is far too ornate. Even the Empress doesn’t wear such a lavish hairpin. Although you are of noble status, you are still in mourning for the late Emperor. You are the late Emperor’s own sister,” Princess Rongqing sighed.
Rong Ning wore pure gold jewelry today, but without any gemstones. The flowers were simply larger, and she wore several pieces.
She always dresses like this, and now she looks much more plain, but I didn't expect it to still be the subject of gossip.
But when she looked around, she realized that she really did have the most jewelry in the entire hall.
I really don't know what to say.
"It was my oversight." She could only grit her teeth: "My brother naturally loves me the most, and my longing for him is no less than anyone else's. Such external things are not worth worrying about. I will remember that."
“Your Highness, you are mistaken.” Yan Nangui stood up. “Even if the late Emperor were alive, he would not know what you are thinking. Besides, it is not enough for us to simply have the concept of filial piety in our hearts when we are observing mourning for the late Emperor.”
"The late Emperor was no ordinary man; he was the Son of Heaven who passed away. The Eldest Princess is not merely the late Emperor's sister; she is a princess of the royal family. Having enjoyed half a lifetime of wealth and honor, she should possess the character befitting that status. If they were merely brother and sister, it would be nothing. But today, wearing mourning clothes is a public spectacle. If someone within the royal family were to disrespect the late Emperor or disregard the proper etiquette, would the world say that because the late Emperor was your brother, Eldest Princess, it didn't matter and they didn't care? Or would they say that the royal family lacks discipline and doesn't understand filial piety?"
"I am still young and only know that if I haven't done something, then I certainly haven't thought of it. I may have these words in my heart, but I'm afraid they are not true."
"Yan Fei, what a boastful tone! What gives you the right to lecture me? I am your mother and your aunt, how dare you speak to me like that?" Rong Ning never expected that it was Yan Nan who came back with these words. She was immediately furious.
Yan Nangui was just waiting for her to get furious.
He smiled faintly and said, "The eldest princess is wrong again."
"If you are referring to my aunt, then I am His Majesty's concubine, and it is not inappropriate for me to offer a reminder. How can you call it a reprimand?"
"To call yourself my mother is utterly shameless, Princess. My mother is Lan Jingyi, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Lan. May I ask, what kind of mother are you? If you had entered the household after my mother's passing, it would be natural for me to address you as 'Mother,' but when did you enter the manor? The late Emperor never said that my mother was not the principal wife. The Yan family genealogy clearly records that she was the principal wife. So what are you? A secondary wife? May I ask, did the imperial decree of marriage include the words 'secondary wife'?"
"If that were true, would the Dayan Dynasty have a system of equal wives? Even though the Princess is of noble status, a concubine is still a concubine! You've treated a concubine like a wife for so many years, and you've actually taken it seriously? The rules are here. If we were talking about the Yan family, it wouldn't be surprising if you knelt down before me. I am the legitimate daughter, and you are a concubine. I hope you will remember that in the future."
These words shocked the entire audience.
Even Rong Ning herself was completely stunned.
Everyone thought, "Has Yan Nan Gui gone mad?"
How dare you call the Emperor and Princess your concubines?
At this moment, Shu Chengfeng smiled and said, "Nan Gui is impolite. No matter what, he is still an elder."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I misspoke." Yan Nangui quickly curtsied to the Empress Dowager: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, I spoke too much."
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "You're not wrong, child. Rong Ning, as an elder, you really should be mindful of your words and actions."
Rong Ning had missed the best opportunity to refute, and could only reluctantly agree.
Ultimately, it was never said whether or not she was a concubine.
Sometimes, ambiguity is a form of certainty.
Everyone understood that Rong Ning's glory days were over.
Having learned that Consort Yan was indeed favored, His Majesty merely remarked "rude" in a mild tone after hearing her words.
She wasn't even asked to apologize.
When Rong Ning left the palace, she had already removed most of her jewelry.
His hair was a little loose, his lips were pursed, and he was on the verge of exploding with rage.
Only after she boarded the carriage did she suddenly smash the teacup on the table, her vision blurring with anger.
"She said I was a concubine? She dares to say I was a concubine?"
“I have been married to Yan Lingyun for many years, and I have been managing the household since that wretched woman Lan was still alive. How dare she call me a concubine? Ha! I am a concubine? I am a dignified princess!”
"Mother, please calm down. We're still at the palace gate..."
But it was no use; Rong Ning's furious voice had already carried far.
In another carriage, Princess Rongqing sneered, "She's finally got what she deserves. How satisfying."
"She'll have plenty of good days ahead of her. Look at the way Consort Yan looks at her; she must hate her so much. With Consort Yan speaking up for His Majesty and the Empress Dowager disliking her, she has no hope of having a good life," the maid said with a smile.
Rong Qing and several of Emperor Shizong's daughters suffered a lot from Rong Ning's mistreatment.
Naturally, no one liked her.
Over the years, if it weren't for the blood ties that forced her to socialize, no one would have bothered with her.
There was nothing they could do in the past. When the late emperor was still alive, Rong Ning was favored, and they had no choice but to fawn over him.
It's not the same now, everyone's the same, she's not even as good as them.
The next morning, Shu Chengfeng summoned Yan Nan to the Beichen Palace.
He had just finished court and was busy when Yan Nan returned.
"Your Majesty is already so busy, why did you still call me here?" Yan Nangui was shocked.
"It's nothing." With that, he tossed down the document: "Just a trivial matter." If it were urgent, he would take care of it regardless of the New Year.
"I summoned you here to see how the sharp-tongued Consort Yan is enjoying her current prestige," Shu Chengfeng said with a smile.
"His Majesty promised me before, so does that mean my wish can't come true?" Yan Nangui snorted.
Shu Chengfeng smiled, went to wash his hands first, and then pulled her to sit down: "Didn't I not refute you yesterday?"
After yesterday's events, Princess Rongning successfully earned a reputation for disrespecting the late emperor and being ungrateful.
Adding to the issue of whether she was a concubine, her reputation is now truly ruined.
"You're so wicked. I wouldn't even know if you used your scheming skills on me someday." Shu Chengfeng pinched her cheek.
This woman really has foresight.
She has ruined Rong Ning's reputation, but she's not in a hurry to reap the rewards.
As time goes on and criticism accumulates, someone will inevitably step forward.
She's dragged her father into this mess. If this goes on, the impeachment will inevitably implicate Yan Lingyun, and then he'll have to make a decision.
“Your Majesty, I dare not say that I would never scheme against you. But if I were to scheme against you, it would be because I want your favor.” Yan Nangui sat on his lap, hugging his neck. “But Your Majesty, what I am doing now is indeed intentional. My mother’s death was not a simple matter of dying of illness. She gave birth to three children, and there must have been no one to seek justice for her. She must have been restless in her eternal sleep all these years.”
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