Damn it, he tricked me again!
Princess Consort Zhuang saw his smugness but could not refute it. After all, he was born into a good family and what he said was the truth.
She did indeed live a very good life during the years she was married to Prince Zhuang. She was of noble status and extremely wealthy.
If there was anything unsatisfactory about her, it was that she gave birth to three sons. The first two didn't even have names, and the eldest, Hongshen, died at the age of three.
Now she only has two daughters to raise, while Li and the others have sons to raise, but they are not her biological children. Although she loves them, they are ultimately different.
That's why she loves Hongzhou so much and wants to give him the best of everything in the world. As long as he's happy, nothing else matters.
Princess Consort Zhuang said, "Yes, yes, Your Highness is the best man in the world. I am so fortunate to marry you."
"Alright, it's late, go to sleep, you have to go to the palace tomorrow."
After saying that, Princess Consort Zhuang ignored Prince Zhuang's reaction and went straight to bed, covered herself up, and lay down.
Seeing this, Prince Zhuang, though not yet having had enough of showing off, could not very well pull his wife up to continue listening to his smugness, so he had no choice but to go to bed to rest.
*
Sun Miaoqing got up very early, which was rare for her. Qiangwei, Liuli and the others worked for a long time to dress her up very carefully, and she looked very happy.
Linglan said, "Today is a special day for Her Majesty and the Fifth Prince to meet, so we must dress up nicely."
Sun Miaoqing touched the silver-red palace flower on her head, and the tassels hanging a little below her ears. Pearls strung with red coral.
Wearing a bright red embroidered qipao adorned with pearls and gemstones, one could immediately tell that she was a favored concubine in the palace.
It's a bit heavy...
Sun Miaoqing said, "After doing this, it looks better than when I just do it casually as usual."
"However, beauty comes at a price. Before, when I wore the headdress, only my head felt a little heavy. Today, my ears and body feel heavy too."
Liuli said with a smile, "If Your Highness feels so heavy now, what will you do when you become Consort Cheng, Imperial Noble Consort Cheng, or even Imperial Noble Consort?"
"Don't talk so much. Even if that day ever comes, it's still a long way off."
Sun Miaoqing said, "No wonder Consort Hua and the Empress need to be supported wherever they go."
Liuli said, "Yes, Your Highness, I was too talkative. Please give me a chance to make amends and let me help you out."
Sun Miaoqing said, "Approved."
She gracefully extended her left hand, and Liuli quickly bent down to place her hand in Sun Miaoqing's. She helped her walk towards the reception area; judging by the time, it should be about time.
Just as I sat down and had a cup of tea, Linglan, who had gone out to keep watch, came in with a happy expression to report.
"Your Majesty, the Fifth Prince and his wife have arrived at the palace gate!"
Sun Miaoqing stood up and said, "Quickly, come with me to greet them."
Upon reaching the entrance, Princess Consort Zhuang, surrounded by several palace maids and eunuchs, entered.
Hongzhou was dressed in a bright red robe embroidered with the character "福" (fortune/blessing), and wore a tiger-head hat. He was being held in the arms of his nanny, curiously observing everything around him.
"This humble servant greets Consort Cheng. May Your Highness be well."
"Please rise, Madam."
Sun Miaoqing helped the wife of Prince Zhuang up and looked at Hongzhou with a smile, "I woke up this morning and found that the snow had stopped. They say it's not cold when it snows, but it's cold when the snow melts, and the old saying is really true."
"Thank you for taking such good care of the Fifth Prince, Your Highness. Please come inside for a chat."
Princess Consort of Prince Zhuang nodded with a smile, and the group of people walked into the hall.
As the two walked hand in hand into the house, Princess Consort Zhuang subtly gave Sun Miaoqing a thorough once-over.
Everyone outside says that this Consort Cheng is even more beautiful than Xie Daoyun, and looks like a celestial being, which is why she is so favored by the Emperor.
But now that I've met the real person, I can't see their talent in a short time.
Although she was pretty and charming with snow-white skin, and enjoyed the favor of the emperor, making her appear better than Consort Xin and Consort Jing, she could hardly be called a celestial beauty, and certainly not as stunning as Consort Hua.
Princess Consort Zhuang thought that although she looked like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, she must have some extraordinary qualities to win the Emperor's favor, so she still had to be careful in dealing with her.
As soon as the two sat down, a palace maid brought up tea. Sun Miaoqing said, "Your Highness has just come from outside. Please have a cup of hot tea to ward off the chill."
Princess Consort Zhuang said, "Thank you, Consort Cheng."
"You don't need to be so polite, we're all family."
Sun Miaoqing walked up to the Fifth Prince, teased Hongzhou, and patted his little head. Hongzhou did not dodge and let her touch him generously.
He even flashed a big smile, not shy at all. Judging from his behavior at that moment, he was a perfectly well-behaved child, showing no signs of being naughty.
"Hongzhou, how old are you?"
Hongzhou asked in a childish voice, "I'm three years old. Are you my mother? Will you love me like my aunt?"
Sun Miaoqing was very surprised. Could a three-year-old child be so smart?
Seeing that Princess Consort Zhuang did not seem surprised, Sun Miaoqing immediately understood that it was probably Princess Consort Zhuang who deliberately taught her to do so, hoping that she would like and treat the child well.
She thought to herself, how could a three-year-old be so prodigious? If he were this smart, what would be the point of the palace?
Sun Miaoqing said, "I am your mother. Your mother likes Hongzhou and will love you like an aunt."
"Does Hongzhou like his mother?"
Hongzhou looked at the wife of Prince Zhuang, and then said in a childish voice, "Hongzhou likes Mother."
Sun Miaoqing touched his little face. "Hongzhou, be good. Your mother has prepared lots of fun things for you. Shall we have Granny take you to play?"
Hongzhou glanced at the wife of Prince Zhuang, and seeing that his beloved aunt had nodded, he nodded as well.
Sun Miaoqing said, "Although the Fifth Prince looks weaker than ordinary children, he is in excellent spirits and has fair and tender skin. You've worked hard, Madam."
"I still have many questions to ask the Princess Consort. I'm afraid the Fifth Prince will feel uncomfortable being confined to the side. Perhaps we could have Qiangwei and the wet nurse take him to a private room?"
"I had a room specially prepared and filled with many toys that children like, so that the Fifth Prince can play."
Princess Consort Zhuang replied, "Consort Cheng's consideration is very thorough."
"To be honest, Your Majesty, I just received the Emperor's decree instructing me to send the Fifth Prince back to the palace."
"Although Your Highness and I understand that this is the proper thing to do, we have spent so much time raising the Fifth Prince and the effort we have put into him is far more than that of our own rebellious sons."
"Your Highness and I are truly reluctant to part with him, but seeing how much Your Highness loves Fifth Prince, I am relieved."
"I dare not presume to offer guidance. Please feel free to ask me anything, and I will answer to the best of my knowledge."
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