Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Mutual Love, Damn His Mutual Love...
With the help of the Nine Yang Qi-Boosting Pills and various other medicinal herbs, Old Lady Gu's health gradually improved. The first thing she did upon getting out of bed was to take the post and ride to Prince Jin's residence.
Upon hearing that Old Lady Gu from the Pingyuan Marquis's Mansion had arrived, Princess Jin, who was pruning the flowers, was slightly startled. She accidentally destroyed the precious pot of Eighteen Scholars.
The maids around dared not to breathe a word when they saw this, because this was Prince Jin's favorite flower. Normally, he would not let others touch even a leaf, but now it was cut off by Princess Jin.
Besides, at this point, the severed branches couldn't be put back together. Princess Jin could only mutter to herself that she had bad luck today. She tossed the golden scissors aside in frustration and looked up at the maid who had come in to report.
"Did you say what you were here for?"
The maid shook her head and said, "She didn't say what she came for. She just said she wanted to see the princess and discuss something."
What kind of matter would be worthy of the old lady of the Pingyuan Marquis family coming all by herself? This sudden visit gave Princess Jin a bad feeling.
But she couldn't leave others out, so she nodded to the maid and said:
"Let them in."
Although Princess Jin was one level higher in rank than Old Madam Gu, she was the elder, so there was no need for formalities. The two of them just nodded to each other.
But Zhao Mingsheng couldn't do that. She was just a commoner now, and she was supposed to kneel down before Princess Jin.
Just as she bent her knees slightly and was about to kneel, she was stopped by Princess Jin.
"Is this the Fifth Lady from the Pingyuan Marquis's residence?"
Princess Jin smiled and waved at her, "Come here and let me take a good look."
The story of the real and fake daughter in the Pingyuan Marquis's mansion has long been known to everyone in the capital. Princess Jin had also seen the real daughter at the Spring Banquet before. Although she grew up in the countryside, she looked and behaved well.
But compared to the one before him, there was a world of difference. The girl before him was like a pure lotus, her skin as white as a drop of water, her small face the size of a palm, adorned with two eyes as bright as a spring, a touch of love and affection. Temperament is something you can't acquire through daily nurturing. The girl before him possessed a unique, captivating aura that no one else could imitate.
Comparing the two, the difference is immediately apparent.
The reason why Princess Jin was so polite to her was that she had clearly heard that the little girl had returned to the countryside, but now she was standing next to Old Lady Gu, which was very intriguing.
In addition, she didn't know the reason for Old Lady Gu's sudden visit today, but no matter what, it would never go wrong to be polite to people and things. This was also the lesson she learned after being immersed in the harem for so many years.
Although Princess Jin was polite to her, Zhao Mingsheng knew that she was not as kind as she looked. She had her own fierce methods. Otherwise, how could she sit on the throne of princess? The other women in Princess Jin's house were also under her control.
Therefore, Zhao Mingsheng performed all the necessary etiquette before standing up. Then he walked to her and smiled slightly. After receiving a lot of praise, he returned to the side of Old Lady Gu.
After praising Zhao Mingsheng, Princess Jin turned around and asked with a smile, "I wonder what brings the old lady here today?"
Old Madam Gu's expression was unpredictable. How could the shrewd Princess Jin not know what they were here for today? Or was she feigning ignorance?
Old Madam Gu didn't believe that she didn't know it, but she didn't want to hit someone who smiled at her. Since the other person smiled first, she didn't want to say anything bad to him.
Besides, if this matter were to spread, it would be bad for the reputation of both families. Old Lady Gu had no choice but to be a little more tactful and said, "I came to your house today to bother you, because I am looking for someone."
Princess Jin was stunned, not quite understanding what she meant. Why did she come to Prince Jin's mansion to look for someone?
"Why is the person that Old Lady Gu wants in my Prince Jin's Mansion?"
Seeing that Princess Jin was determined to play dumb, Old Lady Gu's face darkened. However, with so many people around her, she couldn't speak directly. She held back her anger and continued, "Why? Why not ask your good son what he's done that's so shameless!"
Princess Jin was a little confused by the old lady Gu's attitude of accusing her of an offence, and when she came to her senses, her face changed.
As the Princess of Jin, she was capable of handling affairs of state and managing servants. If she had any shortcoming, it was that she doted on her son too much and could not bear to hear anyone say anything bad about her son. Naturally, she was unhappy to hear the insinuations from Old Lady Gu.
Princess Jin's eyebrows raised, her eyes widened, and her words became sharper. "My Shang'er usually follows the rules and is always well-behaved. Everyone says good things about him. How come you guys are saying he's such a wicked person who does all kinds of evil and has no conscience? How did our family offend the Zhao family?"
Bah! If only her son was still following the rules, wouldn't everyone in the world be unruly? Zhao Mingsheng almost lost his appetite after hearing Zhao Mingjing's vague description of the situation that day.
Seeing her angry look, Old Lady Gu began to hesitate.
"You really don't know?"
Although she didn't know what the old lady of the Zhao family was up to, Princess Jin refused to reveal anything when it came to her son.
She swore solemnly, "What should I know? My son Shang'er has been staying in the house obediently studying for his lessons lately, preparing for the upcoming Autumn Examination. Please don't make up bad things about him out of thin air!"
Old Madam Gu assumed that she really didn't know about this matter, but regardless of whether she knew or not, she had to resolve this matter today, so she snorted coldly: "Princess, why don't you call Prince Qi to ask whether what I said is true or not?"
Princess Jin also became angry. She pointed at a maid and asked her to ask the prince to come over, then looked at Old Lady Gu provocatively.
"Please, please. If you have wronged my son, you should have told him the truth to his face."
Old Lady Gu was furious: "That little bastard did such a thing, and he still wants me to apologize to him?"
Zhao Mingsheng bowed her head for Old Lady Gu. Following the etiquette of not interrupting elders, she had been listening quietly. But when she saw her grandmother getting so angry, she suddenly looked up, staring directly into Princess Jin's eyes, and said coldly:
"Princess Jin, please think carefully before you speak so recklessly. There is no grudge between the Prince Jin's Mansion and the Marquis Pingyuan's Mansion. Why would we risk antagonizing our families by coming before you to slander Prince Qi?"
Princess Jin was frightened by her gaze. She didn't expect that a mere little girl could have such courage. She calmed down instantly.
Princess Jin was also excited for a moment. When she calmed down, she found that something was wrong. Just as the little girl said, there was no need for the Zhao family to tell lies and risk the two families becoming enemies. Could it be that her son really did such a terrible thing?
Even she herself began to feel uncertain, but she still refused to give in. Her face was stiff as she said, "Who knows what you are thinking!"
Soon Prince Qi arrived.
Qi Shang only heard the maid say that his mother asked him to come to the yard, and he didn't know that the old lady of Pingyuan Marquis's family had come. He just thought that his mother was asking him to come over for lectures as usual.
When he opened the curtain and saw Old Madam Gu sitting there, he immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
He knew better than anyone what it meant for Old Lady Gu to come here at this time. Zhao Mingzhu was still staying in his yard!
Thinking back on what he had done, Qi Shang couldn't help feeling guilty.
Seeing Qi Shang holding the curtain with one hand, standing there in a daze, Princess Jin couldn't help but frown and said:
"What are you doing standing at the door? Come in!"
Since his mother had spoken, Qi Shang had no choice but to step in reluctantly and greet the two elders.
As soon as Qi Shang came in, Old Lady Gu stared at him hatefully, which made his legs almost go weak and he fell to the ground.
Princess Jin didn't notice her son's abnormal behavior and asked anxiously, "This old lady of the Zhao family insists that you have done something evil. As long as you tell me that you didn't do it, I will definitely seek justice for you!"
"I......"
Qi Shang hesitated for a long time without refuting, and Princess Jin's heart sank.
"Did you really do something so evil?" she asked in disbelief.
Qi Shang waved his hands quickly, "My son didn't do anything against the law! The Sixth Lady of the Zhao Family and I are in love. I was just drunk at the Earl of Yong'an's mansion that day and was confused and rude to her..."
Qi Shang's words were understated, but Old Lady Gu was filled with rage. She suddenly stood up from her chair and wanted to walk up to him and slap him, but was stopped by Princess Jin, who had just recovered from her shock.
"Old Madam Zhao, please calm down. My Shang'er is still young, and it's understandable that he made a mistake."
Princess Jin put on a smile and tried to calm the anger of Old Lady Gu.
Old Lady Gu didn't look at her, but stared at Qi Shang and asked, "Where is my granddaughter?"
Qi Shang hid behind Princess Jin and said softly, "It's in my yard."
Now even Princess Jin couldn't help but turn her head to look. She had no idea when there was another person in the prince's room.
Old Madam Gu sneered, "Princess Jin has truly raised a good son. He's so brazen about abducting my granddaughter. Believe it or not, I'll risk my dignity to confront you in front of His Majesty! Where's my granddaughter? Bring her out to see me!"
Prince Jin's family was already in the wrong, and at this moment they did not dare to refute what Old Lady Gu said. They quickly ordered someone to invite Zhao Mingzhu out.
Zhao Mingzhu, who had been staying in the prince's courtyard during this period, enjoyed having clothes to wear and food to eat provided for her. Qi Shang would buy her some jewelry and clothes from time to time to please her. Her life was so comfortable.
She was so happy that she even forgot that Qi Shang almost strangled her to death, and immersed herself in the beautiful dream she had woven of becoming the queen.
If Princess Jin hadn't suddenly summoned her, she would have almost forgotten that she still had no status in this family. Perhaps the Crown Prince and Princess Jin had said that this visit was to give her a status?
Zhao Mingzhu thought happily, but soon, the smile on her face could no longer be maintained.
Why is grandma here?
Zhao Mingzhu hadn't expected them to find Prince Jin's mansion so quickly. When she saw who was next to her grandmother, she froze.
He even brought Zhao Mingsheng here!
Hadn't she already returned to the countryside? Why was she haunting here again, and so coincidentally appearing in Prince Jin's mansion? Was she here to snatch the crown prince from her? After snatching the fine clothes and delicious food from her for the first half of her life, was she here to snatch the glory and wealth from her for the second half?
Zhao Mingzhu stared at the girl in front of her with some vigilance, and was dazed for a moment when she saw her delicate face.
Why is it that Zhao Mingsheng has been exposed to the wind and sun in the countryside for so long but still can't get tanned? Not only did he not get tanned, but he looks even whiter! His facial features are also more delicate!
In comparison, her face, which she had finally managed to paler by using various methods, was particularly ironic at this moment, and an emotion called jealousy filled her heart.
Zhao Mingzhu couldn't help but stare at the girl in front of her with eyes full of jealousy and resentment.
This slightly cold gaze made Zhao Mingsheng feel very puzzled, but the purpose of her trip was to ensure her grandmother's safety. As for other people, she had no control over them and didn't want to care.
"Mingzhu, come back with me."
When Old Lady Gu saw Zhao Mingzhu appear safely in front of her, she breathed a sigh of relief and was about to take her away.
Who would have thought that Zhao Mingzhu would take a step back and say, "I'm not going back."
Are you kidding? She's already with Prince Qi, and if she goes back, she'll either be drowned in a pond or buried alive. Even if they don't kill her, for the sake of the family's reputation, they'll announce she died of a sudden illness and send her to a farm in the countryside to live out her days. She doesn't want to live like that!
Besides, if she left now, what would the future position of empress be to her? Wouldn't all her hard work and planning for so long be in vain? With hope so clearly within reach, how could she just give up halfway?
Thinking of this, Zhao Mingzhu said more firmly: "Yes, I won't leave. The prince and I are truly in love!"
Zhao Mingzhu's plan was very well thought out. On the one hand, once she expressed her attitude, her grandmother would not be able to take her back by force. On the other hand, the prince would definitely be very moved after hearing these words.
She looked up and saw Qi Shang staring at her in shock.
Qi Shang was certainly moved! He thought he was doomed, but unexpectedly Zhao Mingzhu jumped out to speak for him!
"You! You're confused!"
Old Lady Gu was furious. She had originally thought Zhao Mingzhu was forced into this, but she had actually initiated it! They were having an affair before they were even married, and even hiding in someone else's home. She had completely disgraced the Zhao family!
On the other hand, the mother and son, who were originally uneasy, now felt as if they had been pardoned.
Princess Jin almost couldn't hold back her laughter. Originally, when Old Lady Gu said she was going to implicate their family in front of His Majesty, she was a little scared. This matter could be a big deal or a small one. If His Majesty took advantage of this opportunity to make a fuss, their family would be in dire straits!
But now with what Zhao Mingzhu said, even if Old Lady Gu complained to the emperor, she would not win, and her son's behavior would at best be considered unreasonable.
"Anyway, I'm already the prince's wife." Zhao Mingzhu didn't dare to look into Old Lady Gu's eyes and said guiltily, "If there's nothing else, I'll go back first."
After saying this, he ran out without waiting for Old Lady Gu to react.
After watching such a good show, Princess Jin sat back in her chair, even taking a sip of tea with her orchid finger raised. Then she spoke slowly, "Ah, Madam Zhao, you heard it too. This isn't some beastly thing my Shang'er did. These two were in love and had a lot of fun together. It's understandable, what do you think?"
Old Lady Gu had not expected that Prince Jin's family would be so shameless. She suddenly stood up from her chair and was about to blame and scold them, but because of exhaustion, she felt dizzy as soon as she stood up.
Upon seeing this, Zhao Mingsheng quickly pulled his grandmother back to the chair and settled her down. He then fed her a pill and massaged the acupoints that circulated blood circulation and regulated qi for a while. Only then did Old Lady Gu recover.
Old Madam Gu opened her mouth to say something, but was stopped by Zhao Mingsheng.
"Grandma, you shouldn't get angry right now. Drink some water and rest for a while. I'll handle the rest for you."
Since Zhao Mingzhu has made a decision, she must be responsible for her choice. Arguing further will not help. The most urgent thing is how to resolve this matter.
After all, Zhao Mingzhu entered the Prince Jin's Mansion without any status. Although Prince Qi also made a big mistake, once the matter was leaked to the outside world, they would only laugh at the daughter of the Pingyuan Marquis' Mansion for being ignorant of etiquette and shameless. In comparison, the accusations and influence suffered by the Prince Jin's Mansion would be insignificant, so they were not in a hurry at all.
But the Zhao family is different. The married daughters of the Zhao family will be looked down upon by their husband's family, and it will be even more difficult for the unmarried daughters to find a good marriage in the future.
This is the principle of "prosperity together, loss together".
After calmly analyzing the situation, Zhao Mingsheng raised his eyes to the woman in the main seat and said, "Princess Jin, I wonder how you plan to handle this matter."
"What's the matter?" Princess Jin pretended to be stupid.
"Zhao Mingzhu has been staying in your house for so long without any status. Do you know how much harm it would cause to the Zhao family if this matter were to get out?"
Princess Jin admired the intricate patterns on her nails and said nonchalantly, "I know, but if this gets out, it won't harm my family."
She puts profit above all else and will not do anything that has no benefit to Prince Jin's Mansion.
Princess Jin's nonchalant demeanor made her teeth itch, but she was right. This world is just so disgusting. If this happened to a man, it would at most be a joke after dinner. But if it happened to a woman, it would ruin her reputation and the reputation of her entire family.
Zhao Mingsheng saw the pot of cut flowers on the table nearby and seemed to have thought of something.
"As long as you give Zhao Mingzhu a name, I will give you a pot of flowers that are exactly the same."
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