Chapter 60 Not Being Clever When You Should Be Clever
In this second life, Yang Qing realized that she was not a smart person at all. Knowing how things were going, and looking at things with this in mind, she realized that Yun Xiao's feelings for Rong Yue were almost obvious.
She couldn't help but sigh with emotion. In her previous life, they had become husband and wife by mistake. In this life, they were given a second chance to set things right, but everything was in vain.
But Yang Qing didn't feel much regret. After all, Rong Yue was a very decisive person. Marrying Yun Xiao, while not the worst marriage, was certainly not what Rong Yue wanted.
She is Rongyue's younger sister. Whether Yunxiao gets what he wants or Rongyue gets what she wants, she will definitely stand on Rongyue's side without blinking an eye.
Between a stranger whose name you only know and your own sister, isn't it obvious who is more important?
After the Lantern Festival, the Si and Chi families began to formally visit each other to discuss the marriage. Rongyue still had a cold face, showing no shyness or joy whatsoever.
The second wife was puzzled and privately called Yangqing over to question her, "Ah Xun, tell me honestly, does your third sister have someone she likes?"
In her opinion, Si Jiamu was good-looking, talented, and from a good family; he was even worthy of marrying a princess.
Although Rongyue is not bad, her family is really in decline. Although Yangqing is engaged to the Crown Prince, she does not yet have a male heir who can make a name for himself in the court.
Even if the crown prince ascends the throne in the future, his glory will be limited. How can it compare to the prestigious Si family?
The Si family truly has both a good reputation and a good foundation.
While eating jujube paste cake, Yang Qing complained, "Mother's words are so interesting. Why don't you ask my second sister about her affairs, but instead ask me? I'm not a tapeworm in her stomach."
The second wife glared at her resentfully: "I'm your mother, and I'm just asking you something, and you're making excuses like this. You're not even the Crown Princess yet, and you're already putting on airs?"
Yang Qing was both ashamed and angry: "Who cares about being the Crown Princess? If it were up to me, I would rather have Father talk to His Majesty. I am plain-looking and shallow in learning, and I am not fit to be the Crown Princess."
The second wife exclaimed in surprise, "Have you gone mad, girl? You dare to order your father to do something against the imperial decree? Do you want our whole family to lose our heads?"
Yang Qing said, "So Mother knew about this too. So it's not that I got some great benefit, but that I had to compromise for the sake of our family."
The second wife laughed in anger, and before she could say anything, she reached out to pinch her cheek. "You brat, you've gotten the better of me and you're still acting innocent. You've really grown wings. I'm your own mother, how dare you talk to me like that? Have you wasted all your education?"
Yang Qing touched her face, which had been pinched painfully, and dared not speak anymore, only letting out a soft hum.
The second wife flicked her sleeves and said, "Get out of here. You don't say a single useful word."
Yang Qing pouted and was about to leave, feeling that the Second Madam was being unreasonable and getting impatient.
After taking two steps back, the second madam said again, "If you like to eat it, let Mo'er take the jujube paste cake with you."
"Why not take it if it's free?" Yang Qing picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. It was sweet but not cloying, and it was different from what she had outside. The taste was richer.
She seemed to sense something, picked up the food box and looked at the bottom, where she indeed saw the mark of the Crown Prince.
Liu Ye'er has already gone home to await her marriage. Now, Dou Kou is in charge. She has always been lively, and although she has become a bit more mature as she gets older, she is still quite composed.
The second wife doesn't care about anything, but the third wife is more shrewd. A few days ago, she told her second sister-in-law that if Yangqing married into a commoner's family, it would be fine if she had one or two useful people. But since she is going to the royal family, she will always need four or five useful people by her side, otherwise she will find it difficult to move an inch.
Doukou grew up with Yangqing since childhood. They have a bond, and Doukou is honest, but she lacks cunning.
Lili is skilled in embroidery and tailoring, but she is also overly dexterous and has the same problem as Doukou: she is not very shrewd.
Xiao Man, who is now always by Yang Qing's side, is a complete idiot and isn't even a member of the Chi family.
The second wife, after being reminded of this matter, was also pondering it. If the family didn't have it, she would have to go and take a look.
Doukou also noticed the pattern on the food box. Seeing the annoyance in Yangqing's eyes, she hesitated for a moment before asking, "Did you and His Highness have a falling out, Miss?"
The Crown Prince's Palace hasn't sent anything for a long time.
Of course, it's not that we lack food or toys; even small things are a token of our affection.
The last time the two had a disagreement was last spring. Ever since Yang Qing suffered a sudden mishap and returned safely, although their interactions were not in accordance with etiquette, she had seen it all and felt that Yang Qing's future was secure.
But after only a short time, they suddenly stopped paying attention to him.
Doukou was literate, and she had read many of the storybooks that Yangqing and Chuying had bought indiscriminately. Most men in the world were fickle and heartless. Now that Yangqing hadn't even gone to the East Palace yet, things were already like this. What would happen in the future?
Yang Qing heard her words but didn't say anything. Instead, she vented her anger on the jujube cake, eating a piece in two bites, as if she intended to finish it all off.
Before she had even finished eating half of it, Haitang and Xiaoman, whom she had sent out to buy wontons, came in together. The former was holding a soup bowl, while the latter had a serious expression on her face.
Everyone else was used to it, but Xiaoman, who wasn't very bright, still liked to wear a long face and look like she had a lot of bitterness and resentment.
Doukou immediately handed over the spoon. While Yangqing was eating her wontons, Xiaoman didn't wait for her to speak and eagerly began, "His Highness is ill. Lord Huo asked me to ask you if you want to go and see him."
Yang Qing paused with her spoon. The wontons didn't have much filling, so she could eat two or three in one bite.
She stirred the container casually, "What illness does he have?"
Xiaoman honestly replied, "It's cold. I was out at the Lantern Festival for too long and caught a chill."
After saying that, she lowered her voice and murmured, "The Emperor and Empress are both angry. The Empress said that if Your Highness doesn't take care of your health, how can you shoulder the burden of a country? Luckily, you weren't with Miss yesterday, otherwise they would definitely come to cause you trouble."
Xiaoman was always dissatisfied with the Empress. This woman was too fierce and domineering, and she disliked her very much.
Just like what happened yesterday, it's true that the Crown Prince is sick and pitiful, but what does that have to do with Yang Qing?
Even if Yang Qing hadn't spent time with the Crown Prince yesterday, Xiao Man could have seen it clearly. It was definitely the Crown Prince who took the initiative, so how could it be considered bewitching the Crown Prince?
But she was the empress, and she was of low status and power; even if she didn't like it, there was nothing she could do.
Yang Qing said angrily, "He wants to go to the river to feel the cold wind, so how could I kidnap him? These people are so unreasonable, and they're blaming me for this."
Xiaoman quickly chimed in, "That's right, that's right. Those people are really unreasonable. Everyone gets sick sometimes. Even I, who am so healthy, get headaches and fevers occasionally. As far as I'm concerned, His Highness the Crown Prince is as strong as an ox, so he definitely won't be in any trouble."
After her anger subsided, Yang Qing realized her mistake in saying those things in front of Xiao Man and refused to say anything more.
She hadn't forgotten that Xiaoman was Li Shangxuan's woman.
Even if the Empress is unreasonable, she is still his mother in name only, and the mother of the nation. Yang Qing doesn't even have an official title yet, so how can she make arbitrary comments?
Xiaoman was puzzled when she suddenly ignored her. After thinking for a while, she realized that she was probably angry with the Crown Prince again.
They're always like that, one minute they're happy, the next they're angry.
She had asked Liu Ye'er before, and Liu Ye'er said that young men and women are all like this, and she would know when she got a few more years old.
Liu Ye'er has now returned home and is busy getting married. Xiao Man has also grown a year older, but she still doesn't quite understand.
She wasn't good at offering advice, and after hesitating for a long time, she finally managed to say, "His Highness certainly won't blame you."
Yang Qing felt disdain. He was dressed so thinly, and he was standing by the river by himself. Did she force him to go?
She didn't say a single word.
Why blame her?
The next day, the sky was overcast, and the sun only peeked out in the morning before being covered by layers of dark clouds, never to be seen again.
The second madam called Yangqing to her side and complained, "You knew about the Crown Prince catching a cold yesterday, why didn't you tell me?"
Yang Qing asked in surprise, "What does Mother want to do?"
The second madam stood up, paced a few steps, and said with exasperation, "You silly girl, you're always so clever when you shouldn't be, and you act like a fool when you should be. You're now the legitimate fiancée of the Crown Prince. His Highness is ill, shouldn't you at least show your concern? At the very least, you should send something to express your condolences?"
Yang Qing retorted, "He's in the Eastern Palace, he has all the good things in the world, why do I have to deliver them to him?"
The second wife said, "I have all sorts of good things, but since it wasn't sent by you, how can it convey your feelings?"
Yang Qing said helplessly, "What feelings do I need to convey? It's not like I'm going to rush over there."
Second Madam: "You're still arguing? We were practically begging for their help. Now you can't shirk your responsibilities anymore. Princess Sheng Ning has already sent a maid over, so you have to go whether you like it or not."
Yang Qing was speechless. Princess Sheng Ning looked so domineering, but behind her back she was such a sycophant.
A few days ago, I promised to give her some fur fabrics in front of the hot spring resort. The day I got home, I sent someone to deliver them. Each piece was a rare and precious item.
Yang Qing felt ashamed for not accepting a reward without merit, but now that Princess Sheng Ning had sided with Li Shangxuan and was forcing her to admit her mistake, she naturally ended up in the opposing camp.
Helpless, she boarded the palace carriage. The palace maid beside her was gentle and kind, but Yang Qing couldn't help but feel angry and just kept a cold face without answering.
If Li Shangxuan sees her in the East Palace in a little while, he will definitely laugh at her. How will she ever be able to stand up straight after that?
This Princess Shengning is such a busybody.
The carriage traveled very smoothly, and Yang Qing would occasionally lift the curtain to look.
The house they currently live in was bestowed upon them by their grandfather when he was alive. Because of his reputation, the house was not taken back even after his death, and they were allowed to live there. It was a rare and excellent location, comparable to that of the real imperial relatives, and very close to the capital.
Soon they entered the gates of the imperial city and disembarked at the East Palace Gate. Ordinary people were not allowed to ride in carriages inside the palace.
Because it had just rained that morning, although not heavily, the path was still wet. Yang Qing was extra careful where she stepped, afraid that she might slip and fall and embarrass herself in the palace.
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