Chapter 151 Reward
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Imperial Consort Min naturally had no objections and even wanted to compensate Jiang Shanshan, but she felt a little embarrassed with Mingzhu present. Before she could speak, Jiang Shanshan quickly stood up and declined, “Thank you for your kindness, Princess, but it’s not appropriate.”
“Why is it not appropriate?” Funing pointed at Mingzhu unhappily, “She can stay in the Great Empress Dowager’s palace for as long as she wants, but you can’t stay for two days? Since when was this the rule?”
This wasn’t just directed at Mingzhu but also implicated the Great Empress Dowager. Imperial Consort Min scolded angrily, “Shut up!” Then she looked at Mingzhu, pleadingly, “Don’t take it to heart.”
Mingzhu laughed heartily, “It’s alright. Such trivial matters won’t bother me.” After a moment’s thought, she smiled and looked at Jiang Shanshan, “I suddenly remembered that Second Sister Jiang also has a sheep-fat jade bracelet like mine.”
Jiang Shanshan immediately became nervous, clutching her sleeve and looking at Imperial Consort Min with apprehension.
Imperial Consort Min looked embarrassed and glanced at Yuwen Chu for help. She hadn’t expected Mingzhu to find out so quickly and seemed to want to bring up the matter immediately. She began to regret giving Mingzhu the bracelet, but how did Mingzhu know about it? And so quickly!
Yuwen Chu drank his tea with lowered eyes, as if he hadn’t noticed anything.
Imperial Consort Min sighed helplessly and smiled, “Yes, that was given to her before. Because the jade is rare, and it was bestowed by the late Emperor, the significance is different, so…” She found it difficult to continue, so she looked around nervously.
Jiang Shanshan immediately stood up and knelt silently in front of Imperial Consort Min.
Imperial Consort Min was startled and said, “What are you doing? Get up quickly.”
Jiang Shanshan took off the bracelet, held it high above her head, and said softly, “This was given to me by Imperial Consort Min earlier. Although I came today by imperial decree, it’s also to return this bracelet.”
Princess Funing exclaimed, “Second Sister Jiang!”
Mingzhu smiled gently, “So this was a bracelet Imperial Consort Min gave to Second Sister Jiang earlier. Once something has been given away, how can it be taken back? Besides, it’s not something one can just give away casually. Since one bracelet is not good-looking alone, I’ll offer this one to you too.” With that, she grabbed Jiang Shanshan’s hand, put on the other jade bracelet for her, and smiled gently, “Although this isn’t my fault, Second Sister Jiang has indeed suffered a loss and grievance. This bracelet is just a small compensation.” Then she looked back at Imperial Consort Min and smiled, “Royal Mother, you won’t blame me for acting on my own, will you?”
Although everyone knew the truth, the words sounded flawless, and Imperial Consort Min couldn’t say anything. She just chuckled awkwardly, “Of course not.”
Mingzhu looked at the dumbfounded Princess Funing and said, “Second Sister Jiang, Funing likes you and trusts you. You should teach her more. Both His Highness and I are grateful to you.”
“That’s natural.” Jiang Shanshan frowned at the bracelet on her wrist, wondering why Mingzhu was acting so out of character today. Shouldn’t she have publicly rejected the bracelet instead of giving it to her? Did she really think that these bracelets could make up for her loss? She couldn’t help but feel resentful. Compensate her? Mingzhu was really shameless to say that she could give her things just because she became the Wangfei!!!
“I see that Funing has been playing with Second Sister Jiang for so long and hasn’t learned anything good, but has become more and more unreasonable. In the future, Second Sister Jiang should not accompany her anymore to avoid trouble.” Yuwen Chu suddenly stood up and bid farewell to Imperial Consort Min, “It’s getting late. I’ll take my leave now and come to pay my respects to Royal Mother in a few days.”
Imperial Consort Min was worried about how to end the situation with the two of them here, so it was even better that he took the initiative to leave. She almost didn’t hesitate to agree, “Then go back early.”
Jiang Shanshan’s face turned red and white alternately. She anxiously grabbed the two bracelets to return them to Mingzhu, “These are too precious. I’m unworthy…”
Mingzhu glanced at her lightly, smiled faintly, and said, “Second Sister Jiang is being too modest. I saw you wearing them happily in the Imperial Garden just now and liked them very much. Luckily, I happened to see them, or it wouldn’t have been good to be kept in the dark. It’s just a pair of bracelets, not anything rare. I have many of them.” After saying that, she didn’t look at anyone else in the hall and walked out proudly.
Imperial Consort Min’s face was very ugly, but she really couldn’t say anything.
Seeing Mingzhu and Yuwen Chu walk away, Jiang Shanshan knelt down silently again, her face half buried, tears streaming down as she said softly, “It’s all Shanshan’s fault, causing trouble for Niang Niang.” She explained, “I didn’t mean for Wangfei to see it. I just… I just…” At this point, she choked up and couldn’t continue.
Today’s incident was really too coincidental. Imperial Consort Min’s mood was complicated and difficult to express. She sighed, “It’s not your fault. You’re just too careful.”
Jiang Shanshan choked up, “Niang Niang is kind and always forgives me. I can’t pretend not to know. Today was supposed to be a good day for His Highness and Wangfei. It’s rare for Niang Niang and her children to be together and enjoy each other’s company, but I disturbed it. If it weren’t for me, Wangfei and His Highness wouldn’t have left so early, and Niang Niang wouldn’t have been embarrassed.”
Imperial Consort Min was about to say it didn’t matter, as Yuwen Chu would come here at some point anyway, when Princess Funing, who had been holding back, began to complain unhappily, “It’s all because that woman is petty and can’t tolerate others. Second Sister Jiang has already let it go, but she still shows her displeasure. I don’t know what she wants. Does she have to make Second Sister Jiang completely miserable to be happy?”
Jiang Shanshan hurriedly went to pull her, anxiously persuading her, “Your Highness, please don’t say that. Wangfei didn’t do anything to me.”
Princess Funing said, “Only you, Second Sister Jiang, with your soft-heartedness, always speak up for her. She really hasn’t done anything to you, but the Great Empress Dowager doesn’t like you, the Empress Dowager pressures you, others ridicule you, she refuses to be with you, insists on taking Sixth Brother away, what else does she want?”
Imperial Consort Min frowned and scolded, “Nonsense! Why do you keep bringing up the two Empress Dowagers? Do you want me to have someone shut your mouth?”
Funing pouted unhappily, “Second Sister Jiang is not an outsider. She’s allowed to do as she pleases, but I’m not allowed to speak? Sixth Brother helps her scold me, Mother, are you also going to help her bully me?”
“Inappropriate! Leave immediately!” Imperial Consort Min finally couldn’t help but lose her temper, and Xia Yan Gugu quickly pulled Funing down.
Imperial Consort Min looked embarrassedly at Jiang Shanshan. “I’ve made you witness a joke.”
Jiang Shanshan quickly said softly, “Nonsense, how could it be a joke? Princess is naive and lovely, it’s just that she needs to grow up a bit.”
Imperial Consort Min thought for a moment and said solemnly, “We owe you for what happened before. Rest assured, I will give you an explanation.”
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