Chapter 245 What right does a concubine have to speak?
Before Dou Wenyi even reached the main hall, she heard a burst of laughter and cheerful chatter coming from inside.
"...It was you who saved Old Madam Wen back then. The Empress was grateful for your kindness and decided to arrange a marriage. Marriage is a major event, and everyone in the Wen family knows that it is arranged by parents and matchmakers. She only became the Crown Princess because her birth date and time were compatible with the Crown Prince. If it weren't for the purpose of bringing good luck, how could she have become the Crown Princess?"
"Consort Zhang is not a proper mother-in-law, so there are many things she can't do directly. If the Empress were still alive, how could she be so arrogant?"
Sheng Xiyue feigned annoyance, "Oh dear, Aunt, why bring up those old stories again?"
Dressed in fine clothes and adorned with jewels, Lady Qi exuded an air of grandeur. “Why not mention it? Everything is about first come, first served. The Dou family is a destitute household, not even a third-rate family. What help can they bring to Your Highness? You can put your mind at ease. The entire Wen family only recognizes you.”
"The Crown Princess has arrived!"
The chatter in the main hall abruptly ceased, and they all turned to look at Dou Wenyi.
When the Duke of Wen's mansion learned that the Crown Prince was seriously ill and had no choice but to marry an unknown woman, they were very dissatisfied.
At that time, they all hoped that the Crown Prince would recover as soon as possible, so they did not cause any trouble. Now that the Crown Prince will soon inherit the throne, they feel that they can't stand Dou Wenyi no matter what.
Sheng Xiyue immediately stood up and bowed, "Sister, Aunt has wanted to see you for a long time, but she has never had the time. Today, she happened to be visiting Consort Shu in the palace, so she came to see you on the way."
"Look how much better my sister looks, she's as beautiful as a flower, she's truly blessed."
Dou Wenyi found these words extremely grating, but her face remained unmoved. She smiled faintly and said, "Consort Sheng, you flatter me. You are the one who is truly elegant and dignified. It seems you are in a good mood?"
She really escaped unscathed and even came to Wutong Garden to show off her power!
Lady Qi cast a scrutinizing glance at her, noticing her simple and elegant attire, and her attitude grew increasingly disdainful. "Where is the Crown Prince? When will he return?"
“Your Highness is busy with official duties and will probably be back late,” Dou Wenyi replied gently.
After all, she was Pei Siyan's elder, and he couldn't afford to offend her easily.
Lady Qi put down her teacup, her expression turning harsh. "What kind of tea is this? It's awful. Doesn't the Crown Prince's Palace have any good tea? Why not serve the Imperial Jade Bud Tea? Is this how the Crown Princess treats her guests?"
Dou Wenyi's face instantly turned cold. They really think the Eastern Palace is a theater, putting on a grand opera here?
"The tea you mentioned is worth a fortune, but Wutong Garden certainly doesn't have any."
Madam Qi had no intention of letting her off so easily. She raised her voice and scolded, "No? How could you say there's nothing? Even the Crown Prince wouldn't slight the Wen family, yet you're so arrogant. When elders come to visit, you don't personally greet them, and instead dawdle, making us stay here for so long. I think you deliberately want to slight your elders! You truly have no manners!"
"etiquette?"
Dou Wenyi felt a chill in her heart, took her seat directly, and said in a low voice, "When a prominent family visits another family, who wouldn't send an invitation first? You come here abruptly and complain about the tea served at the Crown Prince's Palace. Is this how an elder should act as a guest?"
"As the saying goes, guests should follow the host's lead. Even though only a glass of water was served today, no one complained in front of the host. Is this the kind of upbringing the Duke of Wen's mansion has to offer?"
Qi thought Dou Wenyi was an easy target because she was gentle and polite, but she didn't expect that she would be put in such an awkward position with just a few words.
"What a sharp tongue you have! Is this how you usually bully Xiyue?"
Dou Wenyi found it even more amusing. It had always been Sheng Xiyue who tried to provoke her, and now she was turning the tables on her?
Just then, a steady footstep sounded outside the door.
Dou Wenyi turned her head and looked over. A familiar voice came from behind her, "Yi'er, didn't I tell you not to see people you don't want to see anymore? Who's the blind fool who came here?"
Pei Siyan hurried into the house.
Lady Qi blushed deeply, forcing a smile, "Your Highness, it's me, your second aunt."
Sheng Xiyue's face instantly turned extremely ugly, and even burned with embarrassment. She hadn't expected that Pei Siyan would not even give face to the Duke of Wen's mansion.
Pei Siyan seemed to only then notice the people in the room, and said indifferently, "It's getting late. If Second Aunt doesn't go back soon, Xiao Bao will probably be crying and looking for someone again."
Lady Qi also had a young son, only four years old, who was very clingy, especially at night when he would refuse his wet nurse and insist on having her. That's why Pei Siyan made this remark.
Lady Qi said awkwardly, "The Crown Prince is right, I will go back now."
She paused, then continued, "However, I still have a few words from the bottom of my heart that I'd like to say to the Crown Prince in person. Empress Wen favored Xiyue the most, and besides, she once saved your maternal grandmother. One cannot forget one's roots; we must acknowledge this kindness. Furthermore, His Majesty clearly intended for Xiyue and Lady Dou to enter the family together for a 'lucky marriage' ceremony. Xiyue should rightfully live in the Eastern Palace. Why do you always make others feel wronged…"
Pei Siyan lost his patience and interrupted her, "It's dark and the roads are slippery, let's talk about these things another day."
After being stabbed repeatedly, Lady Qi was filled with resentment. Although Pei Siyan was the Crown Prince, he had always treated the people of the Duke of Wen's mansion with great courtesy. He had never spoken to them so coldly before.
Even Dou Wenyi was startled when she heard this.
Pei Siyan clearly disliked his second aunt.
Sheng Xiyue interjected at the opportune moment, "Your Highness, it's just a few words, it won't take long."
"No manners! You're just a concubine, what right do you have to speak here?"
Pei Siyan's face turned frosty, exuding a sharp aura.
"Your Highness, is this how you usually teach your concubines? Such a lack of manners will only bring shame to the Eastern Palace if word gets out! When has Your Highness ever been so ignorant?"
"It seems that Consort Shu will have to arrange a few governesses for you to properly teach you the rules of being a concubine."
Dou Wenyi: "..."
Pei Siyan really has a sharp tongue.
Sheng Xiyue was stunned and couldn't believe it.
She had been pampered and raised like a princess, and had never been so humiliated before. She felt so ashamed that she wanted to disappear.
She tried to explain, "Your Highness, it's my fault for upsetting you. I'll never do it again."
Pei Siyan said coldly, "Go back first and reflect on your actions. You are not allowed to come to the East Palace again until you have learned the rules."
With tears blurring her vision, Sheng Xiyue had no choice but to agree.
After the two of them left, Pei Siyan was exasperated and pinched her nose, saying, "Dou Wenyi, when did you become so weak and easily bullied? You're really useless. You only know how to bully your own kind. Where's the fierceness you usually have when you argue with me? If you don't want to see these people, just make up an excuse to deal with them."
"Why bring it all here and spoil your mood for no reason?"
Dou Wenyi felt embarrassed. "I was afraid of offending your second aunt, after all, she is your elder."
Sheng Xiyue's arrival was truly unfortunate; her antics repeatedly backfired and she ended up getting herself into trouble.
Pei Siyan's lips curled into a cold smile. "You don't need to care about them."
He suddenly remembered the words of the eldest princess. Was she trying to sow discord, or was his mother's death really related to the Wen family?
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