Chapter 5 It's just a toy.
"How could I not know that the Crown Princess is uncouth and utterly ill-mannered? I find her utterly repulsive and cannot get along with her."
Jiang Shuifu's confused eyes lit up instantly—it was her husband!
He's here!
He actually came!
This was his first time attending such a banquet!
All the women at the table were extremely surprised by Shen Jizhao's arrival and immediately stood up to greet him.
Gao Zhuxia was no exception, but she subconsciously took a step closer to Shen Jizhao, and her previous mockery had disappeared, replaced by an extremely happy smile.
But Shen Jizhao's next words made her smile vanish instantly.
"Who was it that was spying on my private affairs and trying to sow discord between me and the Crown Princess? Such a person who spreads rumors, behaves in a vulgar manner, and has no manners whatsoever, I find utterly detestable and abhorrent."
When Gao Zhuxia saw Shen Jizhao refuting her word by word, using those despicable words against her, tears welled up in her eyes. She timidly uttered her name, feeling extremely wronged.
"Gao Qing is upright and self-disciplined in the court, with a reputation for virtue. His family has strict discipline, and he would never lie, fabricate, or distort the truth without evidence. Are you really his daughter?"
Shen Jizhao's eyes were full of questioning and incomprehension, as well as a cold and sharp look, which frightened Gao Zhuxia so much that she took a step back.
Unexpectedly, she had given Shen Jizhao many things, just like Jiang Shuifu, yet he didn't even know who she was.
He also questioned her identity and said she was of poor character.
"This humble woman... this humble woman is..."
Gao Zhuxia was a little scared of his appearance, but then she thought that this might be a good opportunity. She could tell him about her past and awaken and increase his impression of her. She was a sensible and virtuous woman.
So she composed herself, straightened her posture, and looked at him with a captivating gaze:
"Back in the past, at Gutangjiao on North Street, Your Highness, do you remember a shop you would pass by every day? That shop would occasionally give you... and other lucky passersby, gifts such as jade artifacts, inkstones, handkerchiefs, and sachets. As a noble lady, Zhuxia should be grateful and repay the country in return..."
Back then, Jiang Shuifu clung to Shen Jizhao like a mischievous monkey, and Gao Zhuxia was naturally unwilling to give up.
But she wasn't a shameless person like the Jiang family's filthy daughter. After thinking it over, she could only use the shop's reputation to send him some small gifts to express her feelings. In the end, she not only achieved her goal but also earned a reputation for being virtuous.
Shen Jizhao's ruthless words rang out:
"You should look for Jinqing. All these things are with him. He is the one who is destined to receive them. What business is it of mine if you give him gifts in private?"
Jinqing immediately knelt down and begged for forgiveness, "Your Highness is wise and will never accept anything of dubious origin."
Gao Zhuxia's face turned a deep shade of liver. She said that her gift was of dubious origin, which was just a way of implying that she was not presentable. What a lackey she was, insulting her like that.
"Your Highness, how could he say such a thing about me..."
Gao Zhuxia's eyes were moist as she looked at Shen Jizhao with a wronged expression, complaining to him and hoping he would help her.
Since Shen Jizhao ignored her, Gao Zhuxia had no choice but to give up and explained in a soft voice:
"The gift is for His Highness. Who else would it be...?"
"I never accept private gifts. What, does the Gao family woman not only behave improperly, but also question the Crown Prince's character? Loyalty to the emperor and serving the country? Is this how you serve the emperor?"
Seeing that Shen Jizhao was angry, Gao Zhuxia immediately admitted her mistake:
"This humble woman... it is my fault. Your Highness is upright and honest, and naturally would not accept gifts."
Shen Jizhao's expression didn't improve. His gaze was fixed on her back, making her feel almost suffocated. Before she could even realize what was happening, she hadn't finished apologizing:
"I should not have listened to the rumors circulating in the streets and inadvertently mentioned the Crown Prince's palace affairs in public, thus tarnishing the Crown Prince's reputation and the face of the royal family."
Jiang Shuifu had absolutely no part in this apology.
It was clearly Jiang Shuifu who was bullied, slandered, ridiculed, and mocked.
But nobody cared.
Shen Jizhao's expression grew even colder, and his tone seemed to carry a chill.
"Rumors circulating in the streets? How did the matter of the Crown Prince reach the common people? No one else has heard of it, so why did it only reach your ears?"
This statement implies that Gao Zhuxia planted spies in the Eastern Palace.
To put it mildly, this was just the young lady's mischievousness and willfulness; but to put it more seriously, it was the Gao family's treacherous intention to spy on the crown prince.
This crime, at best, is insubordination, and at worst, it is treason!
No one can afford to take that responsibility.
Gao Zhuxia was terrified and could only kneel down and beg for mercy.
"Your Majesty, I have been rude and rash in my words and actions, but I have no intention of spying on the Crown Prince. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
Shen Jizhao stopped giving her the look of his eyes.
"The Crown Princess was a woman I married with great pomp and circumstance, witnessed by the entire Dabei."
He reminded everyone not to forget Jiang Shuifu's identity and not to disobey her superiors.
"Furthermore, I will truthfully inform Minister Gao of today's events."
Gao Zhuxia's face turned ashen. She hadn't expected the Crown Prince to be so ruthless. Wasn't he known for his virtue?
Her father brought her here to make an appearance before the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince's actions have undoubtedly cut off her path to the Eastern Palace.
And the reason is that she is dishonest and good at stirring up trouble.
The Crown Prince's words were considered golden rules and were regarded as inviolable laws.
In doing so, she would lose all face in the entire capital, and which wealthy and powerful family would want to marry her as their principal wife in the future?
Her father was about to be promoted, but after this incident, all hope is lost, and his career is over.
In stark contrast to Gao Zhuxia's sallow and pale complexion, Jiang Shuifu's eyebrows and eyes curved upwards to a distinct arc.
But she still remembered that this was in front of everyone, and she had to maintain the dignity of the Crown Princess.
Shen Jizhao has made an unprecedented appearance today, and even in this extremely important occasion, he is protecting her and punishing others.
He was standing up for her.
He also said that she was the woman he married with proper betrothal gifts, and that he would protect her dignity and rights.
A surge of joy welled up inside her, overshadowing the bitterness she had felt moments before.
Perhaps her gaze was too intense, for Shen Jizhao actually turned his head and glanced in her direction.
In that instant, their eyes met, and Jiang Shuifu's heart skipped a beat.
Shen Jizhao's gaze seemed to be merely a casual glance, his expression utterly calm.
But Jiang Shuifu seemed to see a trace of it, a very faint trace of observation.
She thought that her expression was too joyful, which might appear gloating to others and was not in line with her status, so Jiang Shuifu restrained herself again.
The next moment, Shen Jizhao said something to the middle-aged man behind him, and they walked together to the men's table.
The middle-aged man possessed an elegant demeanor and a somewhat otherworldly air.
He was He Daoge, the leading figure among the civil officials.
He was also the woman from the west of the lake, and the father of the rumored beloved of Shen Jizhao.
Jiang Shuifu glanced at him a few more times without making a sound.
The person Shen Jizhao specifically asked her to arrange was him.
*
After the turmoil subsided, the subsequent banquet proceeded peacefully and smoothly.
Jiang Shuifu smiled from time to time, still immersed in the joy she had just experienced.
The guests left one after another.
Jiang Shuifu instructed the palace servants to clean up the back area.
She suddenly discovered that her bracelet was missing.
The coming-of-age ceremony gift that Shen Jizhao sent her has disappeared.
Jiang Shuifu recalled carefully that it was still there during the banquet, and she even stroked it.
She could only search back along the way, but she searched every corner, wishing she could find a hole in every road surface, but there was still no trace of her.
She only had peaches by her side, and the strength of two people was limited. She was so anxious that she couldn't lose this token.
After much deliberation, Jiang Shuifu decided to call some maids and servants to search together. Remembering Shen Jizhao's instructions, she specifically told them to keep a low profile and to work in groups of two, taking turns to search the garden every half an incense stick's time.
Before long, with many hands making light work, they finally found the jade bracelet in a corner of the artificial hill near Yilou Garden, which was the only way back to the palace.
Jiang Shuifu recalled that when she was talking to the peaches here, there was a faint sound, but it was so faint that she didn't pay much attention to it. She figured it must have fallen at that time.
The jade bracelet was covered by layers of green grass, so the sound of it falling to the ground was greatly reduced.
The jade bracelet was now covered in dirt, and its original luster and color had been obscured.
Jiang Shuifu quickly picked it up with a sigh of relief, completely ignoring the stains on it. She carefully wiped it with her brand-new, gorgeous sleeves and then put it back on.
The bracelet slipped easily onto her wrist; it was just the right size, showing that Shen Jizhao had put thought into the first gift he gave her, and she cherished it greatly.
Before she could catch her breath, a strange sound came from the bushes, as if a dark shadow had flashed by, and a rustling sound came from the waist-high grass and trees.
As she was wondering, a series of orderly footsteps approached from not far away.
The footsteps were firm and rapid, as if they were in a hurry.
Jiang Shuifu turned around to look, but unexpectedly, she was met by Shen Jizhao.
Shen Jizhao was followed by a large group of guards in uniform.
Seeing this scene, Jiang Shuifu's guard immediately went up, and she asked with concern:
"Husband, what's wrong...?"
"Didn't I tell you that no one is allowed to enter or leave Yilou Garden, and that there shouldn't be too many people walking around the area? Why are you disobeying me again! You're not enough on your own, what's the point of bringing all these people with you!"
Shen Jizhao's tone was not as indifferent as before; it was trembling slightly, cold and stern, and showed a rare anger.
Jiang Shuifu's originally shy and rosy complexion instantly faded, leaving her completely bloodless and extremely pale.
"I... I lost my bracelet, it was a gift from you..."
Coming-of-age ceremony.
Before he could even utter those three words, Shen Jizhao roared and interrupted him.
"It's just a bracelet, you can just lose it. It's nothing more than a trinket, why are you looking for it?"
Shen Jizhao's face turned ashen. Did the Crown Prince really need a bracelet from her? She clearly didn't care. He had told her so many times, but she just kept smiling foolishly. He really didn't like her.
“In the past, you used to chatter and chase after me, and I turned a blind eye and never stopped you. Later, you asked Father Emperor to marry me, and I agreed. I also said that since you married me, you would have a place in the Eastern Palace. You don’t need to worry about it. You will always be my Crown Princess.”
Shen Jizhao's words were straightforward. He acknowledged her identity and promised her that he would not abandon her.
She wasn't as happy as she had imagined:
"I have never doubted the Crown Prince. I know he is a man of his word, and he always keeps his promises. I will not do that again, but..."
She mustered her courage and continued, "That bracelet is no trifle; I cherish it very much."
She thought that he probably didn't want her to disregard their token of love, but he didn't seem to care.
"What you cherish is nothing more than scrap metal to me!"
These words struck Jiang Shuifu hard. How could it be scrap metal? How could it be a thing?
She always regarded it as a token of their love.
She wore it close to her body for five whole years.
"In the past, it was one thing for you to break the rules and act recklessly, and I could forgive you for it. But now that you've married into the Eastern Palace, you not only fail to restrain yourself but have become even more presumptuous, repeatedly disobeying my orders. Entrusting such an important matter to you is a complete waste of my time!"
Jiang Shuifu smiled bitterly. It turned out that he hadn't refused her offer to host the celebration banquet and had even unexpectedly recommended her because his plan required her.
It wasn't because he trusted her.
Her eyes welled up with tears uncontrollably, and she instinctively tried to hold them back, succeeding many times.
But this time nothing worked.
A large tear burned into her eye socket and dripped down, glistening.
It is extremely poignant and heartbreaking.
Shen Jizhao saw this and his anger intensified.
Jiang Shuifu sensed his anger and quickly raised her hand to wipe away the tears on her face.
She knew he didn't like her crying.
At this moment, Jinqing rushed over in a panic, sweat beading on her face, and stammered:
"Your Highness, the man was about to break in, but suddenly... just as we were about to close the net, he leaped away again... and escaped again."
Shen Jizhao's neck veins throbbed, and his face was as cold as the depths of winter.
Jinqing dared not continue, "They...they also took the evidence!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuifu had no time to grieve. She immediately stared intently at Shen Jizhao, hoping to glean the words "nothing serious" from his expression, but all she received was a sigh:
"Never mind."
It was as if she had been sentenced to death. Her steps involuntarily retreated, her body went numb. In this round, because of her, he lost.
The series of instructions Shen Jizhao had given her echoed in her mind.
Shen Jizhao deliberately transferred most of the people from Yilouyuan to lure them into a trap, but her unexpected appearance disrupted his plan, startled the people he was trying to capture, and ruined his important mission.
Shen Jizhao has always been extremely attentive to important matters.
Jiang Shuifu knew she had made a mistake and quietly waited for his punishment.
After a few breaths, Shen Jizhao gradually calmed down and suddenly questioned her:
Why didn't you attend your etiquette class last month?
Jiang Shuifu hadn't expected him to ask about this. She sniffed her red nose, held back her tears, and looked at him earnestly, saying:
"The Crown Prince is returning, and I wish to welcome him..."
Why didn't you retaliate against her actions today that embarrassed you and the Crown Prince?
Jiang Shuifu quickly denied it: "I did, I..."
She was about to say that she had also indirectly retaliated by throwing mud at him, but the man didn't even wait to hear her finish before scolding her:
"Your retaliation is to let her question our relationship with complete impunity, and to categorically accuse us of being hypocritical and deceitful? Where do you place the reputation of the Crown Prince?"
"I...I...I don't know, I don't know..."
I don't know how to retaliate.
Although Gao Zhuxia's words were harsh, they were indeed the truth.
Shen Jizhao looked at her:
"Is the Crown Princess blaming me?"
Jiang Shuifu shook her head.
Shen Jizhao remained as indifferent as ever, but a closer look at his eyes revealed a hint of nonchalance and disdain.
I never force or coerce anyone.
"I don't want to..."
You can leave.
Jiang Shuifu understood his meaning and tried to pull on his sleeve to explain, but Shen Jizhao turned aside and strode forward past her.
At the same time, he issued orders in front of all his subordinates:
"Issue the order: The Crown Princess is deemed lacking in virtue and is hereby confined to her quarters for three months, to be forbidden from leaving the Bihua Palace without imperial decree!"
Jiang Shuifu understood.
He didn't care about her explanation, or rather, he had no intention of listening to it at all.
He just wanted her to know that she had made a mistake.
He wouldn't allow her to make mistakes.
A note from the author:
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Take out your notebook and jot this down. Circle the important points on the bracelet; it'll be on the test! (Just kidding, don't mind me.)
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