Shoutout to Tachibanaswife for the commission!
When the carriage stopped outside the main gate of Zhang Garden, Qi Sheng had just finished explaining to me the eldest legitimate daughter of Lady Zhang’s eldest legitimate brother.
Qi Sheng snapped the book shut with a pa, casually tossed it into the drawer of the carriage compartment, and instructed: “It’s said this little girl is closest to you. When you see her later, don’t give yourself away.”
I waved my hand carelessly. “Don’t worry. If I can’t even fool a little girl, I’ll just go hang myself from the southeast branch when I get back!”
Qi Sheng had been about to step out of the carriage, but when he heard this, he stopped, turned back to look at me, and said, “The one on the west side behind your hall, the height and thickness are just right.”
I hadn’t expected him to make that kind of dry joke and couldn’t respond for a moment.
Qi Sheng gave a faint smirk, then turned and stepped out of the carriage.
I didn’t have time to think about his expression; I only wiped a cold sweat from my forehead, still shaken.
So it turns out, pretending to be foolish and pretending to be a woman are equally difficult.
Ladies, you really don’t have it easy.
Following behind the Crown Prince, I got out of the carriage, and Luli was already waiting nearby. While helping me down, she leaned close and whispered, “That b*tch arrived early!”
Hearing this, I looked up and saw, behind a group of neatly dressed gentlemen, Lady Jiang, still dressed in pure white as always.
Sigh! Why does this girl wear white every single day?
Isn’t that so… easy to get dirty?
I suddenly thought of Qi Sheng again, could it be that his brain had temporarily lost blood supply again?
I turned to look. Sure enough, Qi Sheng’s gaze lingered on Lady Jiang for a moment before shifting to Zhao Wang beside her.
Fortunately, fortunately, only the big head had a temporary lack of blood supply; it hadn’t all rushed to the little head.
As brothers, I understand him. After all, whether a man commands the spear or the spear commands the man is only a matter of a single thought.
After the complicated and lengthy formalities were completed, Qi Sheng and Zhao Wang remained in the outer courtyard, while Lady Jiang followed me toward the inner gate. A sedan chair had been prepared, but when I thought about women carrying it, I felt uncomfortable and simply chose not to use it.
Since the Crown Princess did not take the sedan chair, Zhao Wangfei had no choice but to walk as well. Along the way, she remained very quiet.
I couldn’t help glancing back at her, but she caught me looking. Lady Jiang smiled gently and called out, “Eldest Cousin.”
I immediately turned back around… that form of address really struck a blow.
I couldn’t help being curious, what exactly does Qi Sheng like about Lady Jiang?
Her face? At most delicate; there are plenty in the Eastern Palace more beautiful than her.
Her figure? It’s already spring clothing, yet there’s still nothing remarkable to see.
Her personality? But women’s personalities are only a few types, how different can they really be?
I truly couldn’t figure it out, what exactly does Qi Sheng like about her, that all the beauties in one palace seem to be living like widows?
I turned back and sized Lady Jiang up again, still unable to grasp the reason.
Could it be… inner depth?
But the moment I thought of that, I laughed first myself.
Lady Jiang remained calm the entire time.
At the inner gate, all the female members of the Zhang family were already waiting. I finally saw Lady Yan, the beautiful yet jealous woman.
Sigh, what a disappointment, she looked even worse than in the portrait. Truly a beauty past her prime.
And then there was Lady Zhang’s mother, Lady Fan. The moment she saw me, her eyes were already red.
When everyone saw me arrive, they all knelt according to etiquette to greet me. I really couldn’t bear seeing a grandmother kneeling to her granddaughter and a mother kneeling to her daughter, so I quickly had Luli tell everyone to rise. Only then did the group of women stand up.
I pretended to bow to Old Madam Zhang and Lady Fan, but the old lady quickly supported me and cried out in a trembling voice, “Eldest girl!”
The people around immediately cooperated by pulling out their handkerchiefs. In an instant, more than half were crying; those who weren’t crying dabbed their eyes anyway.
My head began to ache, and I kept saying, “Don’t cry, don’t cry.”
Who knew that once I said that, the previously muffled sobs burst into full crying. Now even Luli beside me started crying.
If one woman cried at me, I might still be able to comfort her. But when a whole group of women cried at me, I almost wanted to raise my finger to the sky and swear, I, I, I… really didn’t do anything to wrong you all!
Just as I stood there at a loss, a little girl about five or six years old poked her head out from behind the adults and stared at me with round eyes. Seeing how cute she was, I couldn’t help bending down to tease her. “Little girl, how are you?”
The little girl smiled sweetly and called me, “Aunt!”
I was instantly embarrassed.
Lady Zhang’s sister-in-law quickly pulled the little girl back and apologized softly to me, “Niang Niang, please forgive her; Qing’er is young and ignorant.”
I waved my hand and smiled. “She didn’t say anything wrong, what is there to forgive?”
Everyone laughed as well. With that interruption, quite a few handkerchiefs were finally put away.
Sigh, women truly are creatures with unpredictable emotions.
Old Madam Zhang had finished crying and turned to advise Lady Fan, “You shouldn’t cry either. It’s not easy for the Eldest Girl to come back. Later, the two of you mother and daughter should have a good talk.”
Lady Fan nodded and then looked at me with loving eyes.
That gaze made my hair stand on end. After all, I wasn’t really her daughter, I couldn’t bear such a look.
Fortunately, Lady Jiang relieved my predicament. Lady Jiang, who had been hiding behind the crowd, finally stepped forward to greet Old Madam Zhang. The old lady became emotional again, holding Lady Jiang’s hand and talking at length.
Only then did I understand, Lady Jiang was the granddaughter of Old Madam Zhang’s maternal cousin.
Luli had indeed been right; by Lady Zhang’s generation, they were already cousins several times removed.
This time, no one took out handkerchiefs to cooperate; they only persuaded the old lady not to be sad. It was obvious that the Zhang family women did not treat Lady Jiang very well, they even looked down on her. A dignified Zhao Wangfei stood there, yet they pretended not to see her!
Just because the family produced one Crown Princess, they were already like this. If I get promoted again someday, wouldn’t they all come out tapping bamboo sticks?
Those attitudes need correcting!
That day was very boring.
Women’s gatherings in ancient times were nothing more than drinking a little alcohol, listening to opera, and constantly flattering me. After a whole set of activities, it was already nightfall. Lady Fan had only just managed to pull me aside, and before she could even say a single private word, an inner servant came to report that Crown Prince Qi Sheng had already retired to Fengyi Courtyard and summoned me to go over.
D*mn it, Qi Sheng! I’ve stayed in the Eastern Palace for more than eight months and you never summoned me. Now that I’ve returned to the Zhang family home, you suddenly start summoning me!
Lady Fan quickly wiped her tears and said, “Earlier they only said your health was poor. The family wanted to visit you, but we couldn’t enter that place. Now that I see you’re fine, I’m relieved. Go quickly. You’ll be staying in the garden for several days anyway, we mother and daughter can talk tomorrow.”
Seeing my expression wasn’t good, Lady Fan hurried to persuade me, “My child, you must not be willful anymore. No husband dislikes a gentle and obedient wife. As long as you follow him, he will surely recognize your goodness.”
Perhaps my expression darkened further, because Lady Fan lowered her voice and smiled, “His Highness clings to you, that’s a good thing! Why are you being stubborn? Would it be better if His Highness kept chasing after that Lady Jiang?”
I looked at Lady Fan, feeling rather speechless.
Sigh, if you knew your daughter was no longer your daughter, and that your son-in-law wasn’t interested in your daughter Lady Zhang at all but was simply afraid I’d expose myself here…
Would you… still be able to laugh?
After bidding farewell to Lady Fan, Luli supported me as we slowly walked toward Fengyi Courtyard. Unexpectedly, halfway there we encountered Lady Jiang in white again, and she was entering the courtyard next to Fengyi Courtyard.
Luli said resentfully, “I don’t know who arranged the rooms, so inconsiderate, letting that b*tch Lady Jiang stay next to us!”
I looked at the grove of purple bamboo between the two courtyards and secretly praised: what a perfect place for an affair!
Who arranged these rooms?
D*mn, what a genius!
