Chapter 152: Anger
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Jiang Shanshan took two steps forward, holding up the pair of sheep fat jade bracelets high in front of Imperial Consort Min and said softly, “Originally, according to the decree of the Empress Dowager, I should have left. The main reason I dared to stay was to return this to you, Niang Niang. Although Wangfei gave them all to me, this item is rare and beloved by Niang Niang. It was also bestowed by the late Emperor, not an ordinary item. Shanshan doesn’t have the blessing to keep it… Many people know about this bracelet. Now that I have no relationship with His Highness, it would be inappropriate to wear it again. If others see and know about it, it may cause trouble.”
At this point, tears couldn’t help but flow down, like pear blossoms with rain, pitiful and heartwrenching.
Imperial Consort Min, seeing her so sensible and reasonable, couldn’t help but sigh with emotion, shaking her head, and finally ordered the palace attendants to take them.
Jiang Shanshan smiled gently, “It’s been too long, I shouldn’t stay any longer.” After a pause, she said softly, “During these days, let His Highness try to come to the palace as little as possible.” It was full of care for Yuwen Chu, without any resentment.
Imperial Consort Min hurriedly asked Xiao Yan Gugu, “Please escort her for me.”
“Gugu, please don’t. Taking good care of Imperial Consort Min is already filial piety for Shanshan.” Jiang Shanshan smiled and quietly retreated.
Imperial Consort Min rubbed her temples and sighed, complaining to Xia Yan Gugu, “Mingzhu has been spoiled since she was a child. Even if there’s temporary peace, her inherent arrogance and stubbornness won’t go away. She definitely won’t tolerate others and will cause trouble in the future. Moreover, she doesn’t particularly like Ah Lang. How can she compare to Shanshan’s sincerity towards Ah Lang? Just look at what happened earlier. If it were someone else, they would have let it go, but she… oh… my head hurts.”
“Wangfei is innocent and straightforward. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s better than keeping everything inside.” Xia Yan Gugu was comforting her, but Princess Funing couldn’t help but interrupt again when she saw the pair of jade bracelets, “Huh, why did Second Sister Jiang return this?” Without waiting for an answer, she continued, “I know! She must be afraid of retaliation from Fu Mingzhu.”
Isn’t it just a pair of bracelets? Why is everyone so fixated on these bracelets? Empress Dowager Min said somewhat irritably, “It’s just a pair of bracelets, is it really worth all this fuss?”
Princess Funing widened her eyes, “Don’t you believe it? Fine, let’s bet! I’ve said it before, she relies on the Great Empress Dowager’s favoritism and her powerful family, looks down on me as a Wangfei, looks down on Sixth Brother, and even looks down on you!”
“Shut up! Take the Princess back to her room and lock her up! No dinner tonight! Make her kneel for two hours in front of the late emperor’s spirit! In the future, she’s not allowed to leave without my permission!” Imperial Consort Min suddenly raised her eyebrows, angrily shouted, and turned away without looking at Princess Funing again, only asking Xia Yan Gugu, “Go and call Yang Momo. Each person will receive twenty strokes. Ask them how they usually educate the princess! Such unbridled, vulgar, and arrogant behavior has disgraced the late emperor and me!”
Princess Funing was finally scared and said sadly, “Royal Mother, I was wrong.”
Imperial Consort Min ignored her and said coldly, “Don’t call me Royal Mother. I can’t bear it. I’m afraid that sooner or later, your mouth will kill both me and your brother. I’m even more afraid that one day you’ll go out and never come back, and I won’t know how you died!”
Princess Funing burst into tears and rushed out of the hall, hating Mingzhu more and more in her heart. Imperial Consort Min was determined to teach her a lesson, her face stern as she instructed Xia Yan Gugu, “You keep an eye on her. If I find out the punishment isn’t enough, you can retire.”
A eunuch hurriedly approached and reported, “Your Highness, Second Miss Jiang has been summoned to the Changxin Palace by the Great Empress Dowager.”
Imperial Consort Min sat up straight in shock, and Xia Yan Gugu said, “Her Highness must have misunderstood her. What should we do?”
“We can only endure it, or it will be worse for her.” Imperial Consort Min frowned and pondered for a moment before whispering, “The Great Empress Dowager is not like the Empress Dowager in the Zhaoyang Palace. Maybe she just wants to ask some questions. It won’t be too bad for a while. Keep an eye on it. If there’s nothing major, just pretend you don’t know. If the people sent accidentally reveal it to the Changxin Palace, there’s no need to cover it up. Just tell them directly.”
She had been friends with the Great Empress Dowager for many years and knew her temperament very well. The secretive and petty attitude was what the Great Empress Dowager disliked the most. Being straightforward was better. Even if she tried to hide it well, the Great Empress Dowager wouldn’t believe that she suddenly stopped liking Jiang Shanshan.
Xia Yan Gugu was very worried and walked back and forth. Then she hurried to report, “Second Miss Jiang has been kneeling in the Changxin Palace and hasn’t been able to get up!”
Imperial Consort Min sighed and said sadly, “The Great Empress Dowager is doing this to show me.” Then she hated Empress Dowager Min even more, “It’s all her doing!”
Mingzhu walked out of the Guangming Hall with a straight face, hiding her smile. Yuwen Chu didn’t stop her and followed her calmly. He greeted the palace attendants who congratulated the couple with a good mood. The happier and more composed he was, the more frustrated Mingzhu felt. She wanted to bite a piece of his flesh off. It was all his fault that she ended up in this embarrassing situation!
After leaving the palace gates, Mingzhu quickly got into the carriage and angrily pulled down the curtain. Su Mei, who was waiting in the carriage, was startled to see her unpleasant expression and cautiously handed her a handkerchief to wipe her face, asking quietly, “What’s wrong with Wangfei?”
Su Lan shook her head gently, signaling her not to ask too much.
Mingzhu angrily picked up the tea and drank it in one gulp, feeling that her anger had not subsided. Even if she gave one bracelet to Jiang Shanshan, why give her another one? Did she think she had never seen good things before? Su Mei and Su Lan saw that she was really angry, so they had to cautiously persuade her, “Wangfei, don’t be angry. You are in the midst of joyous occasions. You should be happy.”
Of course, it’s a joyous occasion. The pair of bracelets were divided between two people. Jiang Shanshan would probably become a concubine in Ying Wang’s Mansion soon. It’s disgusting. Just as this thought emerged, Mingzhu was startled. What was wrong with her? Didn’t she try to be open-minded when her family and the Great Empress Dowager persuaded her before? Anyway, she didn’t like to do that kind of thing with Yuwen Chu. As long as she gave birth to a child, she could avoid it. No, it was Imperial Consort Min’s attitude that was wrong, making her feel threatened! That’s it.
Jiang Shanshan’s family background, appearance, and talent are not inferior to hers. Moreover, there was a history between her and Yuwen Chu. If Jiang Shanshan really entered Ying Wang’s Mansion, it would pose a great threat to her and her child. Even if it was troublesome, Mingzhu didn’t think of herself as the kind of generous and broad-minded person. Anyone could be a concubine, but she absolutely wouldn’t allow that person to be Jiang Shanshan! It had reached this point, and no matter how sorry she felt, it couldn’t be used to offset this! Dare to snatch the food from her plate? Humph!
Mingzhu slammed the table angrily, startling Su Lan and Su Mei, who looked at each other, and was about to step forward to persuade her when someone outside the curtain pulled it up, and Yuwen Chu stepped onto the carriage and said calmly, “Withdraw.”
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