Chapter 40: Differences
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Zhu Changsheng flattered, “It was sent by Changxing Marquis’s Mansion, containing an invitation. The Qingming Festival is approaching, and the Changxing Marquis’s Mansion intends to go to the countryside to celebrate and go for an outing, inviting Your Highness to relax. The invitation was personally written by Second Miss Jiang, and they also sent Cold Swallows, which were said to be made by Second Miss Jiang herself, exquisitely made. Does Your Highness want to take a look?”
“No need.” Yuwen Chu’s expression was indifferent, “You reply for me. I happen to have some tasks to attend to in the next few days, so I’m afraid I can’t make it.”
Zhu Changsheng sighed inwardly. If the Second Miss Jiang, who had worked so hard to get this marriage, received this news, who knows how disappointed she would be. The graceful and elegant girl sent such an obviously suggestive invitation, but was treated like this, her heart must be completely broken.
Seeing him hesitating to leave, Yuwen Chu wondered, “Do you still have something?”
Summoning up his courage, Zhu Changsheng remembered Imperial Consort Min’s instructions and boldly said, “Your Highness is not young anymore. This marriage has been granted by the Great Empress Dowager for five years now. Even the Seventh Prince, who is younger than you, already has five children, but you are still unmarried and have no heirs. It’s easy to attract idle gossip.”
A cold light flashed in Yuwen Chu’s eyes, “You are so concerned, why not take my place as Ying Wang?”
Zhu Changsheng knelt down in fright, swearing to the sky, “I’m wronged, it’s all the Imperial Consort’s orders. She can’t control Your Highness in the palace, but she’s always worried about you. The Imperial Consort said that she’s getting older day by day and wants to hold her grandchildren while she’s still alive. I also advised her, our Highness is going to establish his career before starting a family…”
Yuwen Chu didn’t look at him anymore, “I will talk to Royal Mother about this. You, a servant, should mind your own business! Go!”
Zhu Changsheng’s plump body curled up on the ground, and he exaggeratedly and comically rolled slowly out, until he crawled up outside the threshold and wiped the sweat from his face with a handkerchief, then went to the warehouse with a gloomy face to pick things.
This marriage was good, and both the Changxing Marquis’s Mansion and Imperial Consort Min were very satisfied. The only dissatisfied person was probably Yuwen Chu. Zhu Changsheng didn’t know where Jiang Shanshan, who was famous for her virtuous beauty, had offended Yuwen Chu—when the news first came out, Yuwen Chu clearly expressed his unwillingness to this marriage, and privately approached the Changxing Marquis, indicating that as long as the Marquis withdrew from this matter, he would compensate them elsewhere.
Unfortunately, despite attempts to persuade him otherwise, Yuwen Chu remained unwilling to marry, causing disturbances from time to time. This attitude was far from ideal. While the Changxing Marquis’s mansion seemed strangely calm and unperturbed, regardless of the circumstances, they were always quick to extend courtesy whenever necessary. However, it was unusual for Jiang Shanshan to personally intervene this time, perhaps indicating her advancing age and growing impatience.
They fought like immortals, but the one who suffered was this little devil. On one hand, he had to coax his master, on the other hand, he had to try his best to please Imperial Consort Min in the palace, and he also had to serve the Changxing Marquis’s Mansion well, lest in the future, Second Miss Jiang would make trouble for him once she entered the household. Zhu Changsheng felt aggrieved in his heart, but he didn’t dare to be negligent in his work. He carefully selected a pair of gold-threaded phoenix hairpins adorned with jadeite and sent them as a return gift to Miss Jiang. He also specifically instructed the female steward in charge of the reply, “Be thorough in etiquette, and make sure to speak pleasingly. Make sure to see if Second Miss Jiang is displeased.”
The stewardess came and went quickly, returning with a very pleased expression and praising Second Miss Jiang profusely: “Her character is impeccable, gentle and dignified, elegant and courteous. She hasn’t uttered a single unpleasant word, and her demeanor is extremely gentle and polite. I couldn’t detect any signs of displeasure. Not only did she thank His Highness for his reward, she also thanked you, Chief Steward Zhu, this is a thank-you gift for you.”
A jar of carefully prepared poria cream, invigorating the spleen and moistening dryness, losing weight and preventing diseases, was best for his body. Zhu Changsheng also praised, “Second Miss Jiang is truly meticulous and considerate.” He couldn’t help but think, if that fiend Fu Mingzhu had been treated like this, she would probably have smashed those hairpins into the faces of the people delivering gifts, wouldn’t she? How could there be such a big difference between two young beauties from noble families?
At this moment, in the Fu residence, Mingzhu’s room was crowded with people. The Eunuch Rong, who was favored by the Empress Dowager, looked at Mingzhu with pity and said, “The Great Empress Dowager is very concerned about you. She shed tears last night, and the servants comforted the Great Empress Dowager, saying that Miss, you are blessed and still young. Just take good care of yourself, and everything will be fine. The Great Empress Dowager will take care of everything for you and won’t let you suffer.”
Immediately, the room was filled with sobbing and grateful voices. Madam Cui was heartbroken for her daughter, she didn’t need to pretend, just by acting naturally, she could vividly display the sadness of an aged mother worrying about her daughter, “Letting the Great Empress Dowager worry, it’s unfortunate…” She was too sad to continue, and Mingzhu cried along with her, the mother and daughter hugging each other and crying bitterly, appearing utterly desolate.
Lady Qian and the others shed tears along with them, but they also didn’t forget to inform Eunuch Rong, “Don’t let Her Highness see this.”
Since Eunuch Rong was a trusted aide of Empress Dowager Fu, of course he wouldn’t nitpick. He sighed with sympathy, asked the usual questions about whether Mingzhu had seen a doctor, what medicine she had taken, how she was feeling, and whether she was feeling better, and then asked Physician Zhang, who was accompanying him, to check Mingzhu’s pulse.
Physician Zhang had only returned to the capital a few days ago, but he had already received several subtle hints from Tang Chunlai and the Great Empress Dowager about what to do. He glanced at her meekly, maintained the original diagnosis, and repeated the same words over and over again, shrouding them in ambiguity. Hearing this, Mingzhu sneered inwardly. If she didn’t know any better, she would think she was about to die from hearing these words.
After the whole play was acted out, Eunuch Rong said, “The Great Empress Dowager is still waiting in the palace, and the patient needs to rest. We won’t disturb you anymore.” After leaving behind the gifts rewarded by Great Empress Dowager Fu and Empress Dowager Min, he bid farewell and left.
He was a favored person in front of Empress Dowager Fu, so naturally, everyone wouldn’t let him go easily and had to step forward to leave tea and food, and various other things to maintain good relations. The Fu family was the maternal family of the Great Empress Dowager, and the father and son of the Fu family wielded great power. Eunuch Rong had no reason to push people away, so after a few perfunctory refusals, he happily followed the men of the Fu family outside to have tea and chat.
The women followed them out, busying themselves with arranging the feast, food, tea, and pastries to entertain the people who came out from the palace. Madam Cui stayed behind to comfort Mingzhu, “Don’t be afraid, your father has already made arrangements with the Great Empress Dowager. This matter will be cleared up this time.”
“Yeah.” Mingzhu hummed with her eyes closed. Seeing that she was exhausted, with bruises still not completely faded from her face, and she was still in pain, Madam Cui didn’t want to disturb her and sighed as she instructed Su Lan and the others to take good care of her before leaving herself.
With everyone gone, Mingzhu naturally let go and fell asleep. In a daze, she suddenly heard Su Lan’s sharp voice questioning from outside, “Who are you?” Then came a crisp sound, as if something had broken, and she asked unhappily with her eyes closed, “What’s going on?”
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