Chapter 227: Trinkets
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After walking around behind Dai Wangfei, Mingzhu remembered all these people properly and distributed the gifts. With her memories from her past life, she could accurately call out everyone’s identities, which surprised many people. The gifts were unique, and mingling among the children made her familiar face in the circle.
As the saying goes, “The hand that gives, gathers.” Not to mention that her status alone was different now, naturally aligning her with the royal family. When Jiang Shanshan arrives, she’ll find that the people here won’t fawn over her like her lackeys do. Even if she and Jiang Shanshan have a falling out, no one in the royal family will openly support Jiang Shanshan. Of course, except for Funing, the silly girl.
Mingzhu happily returned to her seat and waited for Jiang Shanshan. After a while, a palace attendant came to report, “Qi Wangfei has come to report.”
Qi Wangfei is from the generation of the Great Empress Dowager, a few years older than her. She has always had an excellent reputation and is renowned for her auspiciousness. Therefore, on occasions of royal weddings, she is often invited to preside. Naturally, this time she represented the female members of the royal family to oversee the engagement ceremony. According to protocol, after the ceremony, Qi Wangfei would report to the Empress about the smoothness of the proceedings. However, since there was no Empress, her report was directed to the two Dowager Empresses.
Mingzhu wasn’t interested in the details of the ceremony. Since things had reached this stage, it was the result of various compromises. There was no chance of anything going wrong. She was only interested in Jiang Shanshan.
Because of her translating duties, Jiang Shanshan was dressed in court official attire. She always carried herself with dignity, and wearing the attire of a fifth-rank female official made her even more elegant and refined. Following behind Qi Wangfei, she truly looked the part, even more so than the proper female officials.
How should she put it? It felt like Jiang Shanshan was thoroughly enjoying the attention. Mingzhu observed her for a while, then turned to look at Princess Funing. Princess Funing was looking at Jiang Shanshan with pride, as if she had achieved something great. Mingzhu smiled, withdrew her gaze, and listened quietly to Qi Wangfei recounting the events. After expressing thanks and joy on behalf of the Wusun Princess, the conversation shifted to Jiang Shanshan, and she was praised as if she had made a significant contribution.
Well, the skill of buying people over was indeed top-notch. But to be able to coax someone into speaking up for her after working on something together? Mingzhu looked at Qi Wangfei and thought she was really getting old. Princess Changhua walked over, gently tugged at her sleeve, and whispered, “I thought you wouldn’t come.”
“Why did you come late, Sister?” Mingzhu quickly had a seat arranged for Princess Changhua and leaned over to whisper, “I thought you would stay in the palace to prepare the dowry, so I didn’t expect you to come.”
Princess Changhua smiled faintly. “I didn’t want to come at first, but the Great Empress Dowager sent someone to tell me that I’ll be getting married soon, and opportunities to meet with relatives are becoming fewer and fewer. So she asked me to come out and socialize more with everyone. Since I’m so far from home, I don’t know when I’ll need their help, so it’s good to leave a way out.”
The topic was too melancholy, and both of them consciously avoided it, biting each other’s ears instead. They were only discussing Mingzhu’s illness; Princess Changhua wasn’t well-informed and didn’t know much about it, but she showed some concern. “You’ve always been healthy. How did you suddenly get sick?” Then she gently reminded her, “Don’t dwell on the past. There’s no medicine for regrets. If you don’t seize the present, you’ll regret it in the future.”
Was she implying that her illness was caused by still thinking about Yuwen You, so she was upset and fell ill? Mingzhu couldn’t help but laugh and cry. “Good sister, am I that kind of person? His Highness and I are very close.”
Princess Changhua was slightly skeptical, but seeing her smile so naturally and brightly, she believed her somewhat. “That’s good. I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to let it go and end up suffering.”
Just then, Princess Funing, accompanied by Princess Kangning, approached. She smiled artificially and said, “What are you two talking about?”
It was impolite to speak to elders without addressing them properly. Mingzhu ignored Funing and Princess Changhua remained silent.
It was Kangning who despite Mingzhu having a quarrel with Consort Xiao, she still smiled and greeted Mingzhu and Changhua as usual, “Sixth Sister-in-law, Second Sister.”
“Truly polite and beautiful,” Mingzhu immediately praised Kangning excessively, praising her to the skies and completely ignoring Funing’s existence. Funing was so furious that her eyes rolled, and she quickly ran over, pulling Jiang Shanshan along, and said with a smile, “Just now, Third Sister asked me where Sixth Sister-in-law got those rare trinkets from. Well, here’s the person herself! If you have any questions, just ask her! The things are all in her hands. If you like other styles, you can ask Second Sister Jiang to make them for you! Guaranteed satisfaction!”
Jiang Shanshan immediately blushed and modestly said, “These are just trivial skills, how dare I show off in front of nobility? Your Highness, please don’t embarrass me. Whatever you want, just let me know, and I’ll do it.”
Funing said, “Second Sister, you’re good at everything, but this is not so good. You’re too modest!” She looked at Mingzhu maliciously, “Look, if your things weren’t good, could my sister-in-law buy them? She’s so proud, yet she likes the scented soap and glass products you made, and even took them to give as gifts. That shows how good your things are. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be impressed.”
Aren’t you proud? Why did you buy things from someone else then? Mingzhu understood what Funing was implying. She pretended not to hear or understand, not only did she not respond to Funing’s words, but she also didn’t even look at her.
Funing felt the anger rising in her heart in waves, and she couldn’t help but point at Mingzhu and ask sharply, but just at that moment, Jiang Shanshan pulled her back and whispered, “A little patience avoids great disaster.” She held back, hummed, and provocatively looked at Kangning, “Third Sister, what do you say?” It was as if if Princess Kangning didn’t praise Jiang Shanshan a few more times and ask Jiang Shanshan for something, she would be against her.
Princess Kangning glanced lightly at Jiang Shanshan and smiled faintly, “The Second Miss of the Changxing Marquis House is indeed talented, and the things she made are interesting. However, in my palace, we lack nothing. As Six Sister-in-law said when she gave the gifts, these are just trinkets, just for fun.”
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