Tao Wanniang was alarmed. Why would the emperor bother to question her? So, she was probably just talking to herself.
"Sister Tao, you have experienced the vicissitudes of life and witnessed the joys and sorrows of the world. Tell me, if I were in such a situation, what would I do?"
Tao Wanniang glanced at Zhao Zhe, who looked at her as if she were looking at everyone else.
"Although I come from a poor background, I only know that there are gods watching over us, and we should always act with a clear conscience," Tao Wanniang said calmly. "Heaven is watching what people do, and there are the laws of this world."
"Really?" Zhao Zhe's expression was somewhat displeased. "Sister Tao, please cook some good dishes for me."
Upon seeing this, Tao Wanniang immediately withdrew, and as soon as she left the private room, she turned off the recording pen.
There is currently no direct evidence to suggest that Zhao Zhe is the one who has improper thoughts about Xiao Yi, but this Zhao Zhe is definitely suspicious!
She didn't think she had anything particularly outstanding about her that would make the emperor treat her with such respect. Moreover, after she repeatedly stated that she had no feelings for Ling Yunzhou, the emperor actually wanted to bestow a marriage upon her?
Back in the kitchen, Tao Wanniang still looked somewhat somber.
"Mother, what's wrong? Is the guest being difficult?" Wang Hongyu asked upon seeing this.
The emperor was traveling incognito, so naturally he wanted to avoid being seen. Tao Wanniang didn't want others to be frightened, so she shook her head, prepared a few dishes, and personally delivered them to him.
Zhao Zhe didn't make things difficult for Tao Wanniang anymore. In addition, Tao Wanniang's dishes were indeed delicious and visually appealing, so Zhao Zhe even gave Tao Wanniang a reward.
Tao Wanniang spent the day in a state of anxiety, and by the time the night market closed, she felt utterly exhausted. After returning home and washing up, she took out her voice recorder and reviewed her conversation with Zhao Zhe.
The emperor must have something going on, but to force a connection with Xiao Yi would be far-fetched. After thinking it over, Tao Wanniang decided the recording was useless and deleted it. If it fell into someone else's hands, the sounds inside would be terrifying!
Hongzhu didn't just practice martial arts in the palace. Princess Rui intended to teach Hongzhu etiquette, since she was the Crown Prince's wife and would be in charge of the entire palace in the future.
That day, Princess Rui took Hongzhu to the Jing'an Marquis's residence to celebrate the old lady's sixtieth birthday. Hongzhu stayed quietly by Princess Rui's side, but she also silently observed the whole scene. Hmm, there was an annoying person who seemed to be discussing something with others.
“Hongzhu, I heard that you had a dispute with Luo Yunxia from the Minister’s Mansion before.” Princess Rui also noticed that several daughters of officials, led by Luo Yunxia, were gathered together and talking about this matter, and were also looking in her direction.
"Yes, I couldn't stand being scolded to my face, so I taught her a lesson," Hongzhu replied directly. "Mother, if they make things difficult for me later, can I fight back? Would that make the Prince Rui's mansion lose face?"
"They dare to lay a hand on the heir apparent of the Prince Rui's residence, so what do they care about saving face?" Princess Rui immediately said, "Hongzhu, don't hold back, just do what you're supposed to do."
Hongzhu glanced at Princess Rui and smiled sweetly. "Mother, I won't let anyone bully me."
If she stayed by Princess Rui's side, how could she be humiliated by someone coming to her door? Seeing Princess Rui talking to the Lady of the Marquis's Mansion, Hongzhu called her maid Ruohui and went to wander around the Marquis's Mansion.
"Princess Consort, are you fishing?" Ruohui was also a female guard in the manor, but she was already deeply impressed by Hongzhu's skills.
“Yes, it’s all about willingness!” Hongzhu whispered. “Guess if someone will come soon?”
The scenery at the Jing'an Marquis's residence was quite beautiful. Hongzhu led Ruohui along the lake to see the lotus flowers that had already sprouted. Several young ladies from the steward's household and their respective maids walked towards them. In Hongzhu's words, this scene looked like they were coming to fight.
"Princess Consort, they've arrived!" Ruohui whispered.
"Princess Consort of Prince Rui, why are you walking alone by the lake? Is it because Prince Rui is not here?" Luo Yunxia harbored deep resentment towards Hongzhu. Seeing Hongzhu looking perfectly fine made her angry. The rumor that Prince Rui was cursed to bring misfortune to his wives was an utterly absurd rumor, yet because of this, her father was absolutely unwilling to form a marriage alliance with Prince Rui's family.
"Who said I'm alone? You're not that old, but your eyesight is bad? Our lovely Ruohui is here too, what, can't you see her?" Hongzhu wouldn't let Luo Yunxia provoke her. When it was time to take action, she didn't want to say a word.
"See? Everyone says she comes from a lowly background, and she speaks so rudely. She thinks a maid can be compared to a princess consort," Luo Yunxia said to her friends without any politeness.
"You can't blame her, I heard that she met the prince in the countryside, when she was a fisherwoman."
"That's right. Don't they even consider their own background? They've climbed up to Prince Rui's mansion, aren't they afraid of bringing bad luck upon themselves?"
Xiao Yi was the husband many women dreamed of, but his reputation for bringing misfortune to his wives was widespread. These women were all pampered by their parents, who would never allow them to be cursed by Xiao Yi. The fact that the position of Crown Princess, which had been vacant for several years, fell to Hongzhu left these women feeling resentful.
"I know you're all jealous of me, but jealousy is useless. I am the Princess Consort of Prince Rui that you've all wanted to be. What, do you want to hit me?" Hongyu wasn't going to put up with this group of people. They all acted like proper adults, but all they said were mean and insidious words.
"You've only got some martial arts skills, yet you're so arrogant. Aren't you afraid of biting off more than you can chew?" Luo Yunxia exchanged a glance with the woman beside her.
The daughters of officials don't want to do things themselves, but they have people around them.
"What do you want to do?" Ruohui stood in front of Hongzhu.
"Why doesn't the Crown Princess go down and take a shower so she knows her place?" Luo Yunxia said indignantly.
Five or six maids crowded around Hongzhu and Ruohui, looking like they wanted to push Hongzhu into the water.
Hongzhu thought these people were really stupid and arrogant. She lowered her body and swept her leg at the maids who came forward, watching them fall to the ground. She then leisurely got up.
"Luo Yunxia, don't you ever learn your lesson?" Hongzhu glared at Luo Yunxia. Wasn't one slap enough last time?
"What do you want to do? This is the Marquis's residence, not a place for you to act recklessly." Luo Yunxia said in a fierce but actually cowardly tone when she saw Hongzhu looking over.
"Princess Rui, you have quite the skill. Let this old woman have a go at you." An old woman stepped out from behind the noble ladies and attacked Hongzhu as she spoke.
"Ruo Hui, get out of the way!" Hong Zhu saw a flash of cold light and realized the other party had a weapon. She immediately pushed Ruo Hui away, barely avoiding the old woman's attack.
This is meant to kill her! After exchanging blows, Hongzhu could clearly sense the killing intent of her opponent. Moreover, as she shifted her body, a cold arrow flew straight past her face. In that moment of pause, the old lady's attack struck her face. Hongzhu quickly dodged, slipped, and fell into the lotus pond.
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