Jinyi Spring

Chapter 219 Wang 8 vs. Green Beans

Empress Dowager Xue took her daughter's hand again and said earnestly, "You are not only Yun'er and Raofu's aunt and maternal aunt, but also Yong'an's aunt. You must treat them equally. When the Emperor and I are no longer here, you should help the three of them as much as you can."

She paused, her voice lowered, revealing a hint of sorrow, "Because of Wan'er's matter, the Crown Prince has even come to resent me, and hates Xue Qinghe and the Xue family even more. I'm afraid those two children will suffer great injustice in the future."

"It's all Xue Qinghe's fault. He didn't listen to my repeated advice and ruined himself, his two children, and the entire Xue family."

As he finished speaking, his voice choked slightly, and his eyes reddened again.

Shangguan Ruyu opened her mouth, wanting to say a few words of justice for the Crown Prince, but was glared at by her mother without showing any emotion, and swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

Princess Yanghe smiled and comforted her, "Mother, don't worry. Prince Zhao is intelligent, and Raofu will grow up eventually. You are still healthy, and your brother is in his prime. You have plenty of time, so why the rush?"

Feng Buji also arrived at the Princess's residence on the east road.

He suddenly hugged Shui Chuchen's waist. The boy had grown quite a bit taller, but in this hug, he was still the same cute little boy who used to cuddle and act spoiled with her.

"Sister, I miss you so much..."

He nestled in her arms, his voice muffled, and he was crying.

Shui Chuchen felt a pang of sadness in her heart, and rubbed his head, "I miss you too, I miss you every day."

She held the boy tightly, resting her chin on the top of his head.

The two entered the hall hand in hand, and then squeezed onto a chair to talk about their parting.

It was mainly Feng Buji who said that Shui Chuchen was coaxing.

Taking advantage of the servants' inattention, Feng Buji secretly handed Shui Chuchen another letter.

Shui Chuchen silently slipped the water into his sleeve.

She told Shaoyao to lead Feng Buji to play in the courtyard, leaving only Tangjian and Caiju in the main hall. She then went into her bedroom and closed the door.

This is yet another test for Tangjian.

The letter was still written by Ming Shanyue.

The opening lines read: Standing outside the palace walls at night, the starlight is like a ribbon, like your gaze. The walls are like mountains, yet it feels as if I am standing shoulder to shoulder with you... In just a few words, an unyielding longing is hidden between the lines.

As Shui Chuchen read, her face flushed, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile. This guy, usually as cold as ice, was surprisingly good at sweet talk.

She pressed the letter to her chest, smiled with pursed lips for a while, and then unfolded it to read it more closely.

The story then takes a sharp turn: "Someone" has set their sights on her marriage. The man they've chosen is named Sun Chengyu, who works in the Imperial Guard and happens to be having an affair with his stepmother...

Ming Shanyue told her not to worry too much, that they would find a way to spread the word about Sun Chengyu and Madam Sun, and that she just needed to be careful and not fall into their trap.

"Someone" naturally refers to Empress Dowager Xue.

Shui Chuchen's good mood vanished instantly, and she cursed inwardly: "That old hag, she's so vicious, she's nothing like a real grandmother."

Thinking of the viciousness with which Shui Raofu cursed her, and her recklessness, Shui Chuchen's lips curved into a smile. Those two were a perfect match, a match made in heaven.

Then, I'll infuriate that old woman and leave her speechless.

Shui Chuchen got up and lit a tinderbox, watching the thin paper curl, turn black, and turn to ash in the flames.

Before the ashes could be dealt with, Tang Jian's voice came from outside the door, "Caiju, you're familiar with the people in the Imperial Kitchen, go there. Tell them that Young Master Feng has arrived, and ask them to make some extra pastries to take out of the palace." Judging from his tone, it seemed that Caiju wanted to peek into the bedchamber, but Tang Jian stopped her without making a sound.

Shui Chuchen quickly gathered the ashes into the teacup, filled it with tea, gently shook it, got up and walked to the hanging plant by the window, pouring everything in the bowl into it.

She put down her teacup, wrote a short letter and put it in her bosom, then straightened her clothes and went out.

Only Tang Jian remained in the main hall. He stood quietly by the south window on the west side, holding a whisk in his hand, his posture as straight as a pine tree.

Shui Chuchen nodded at him with satisfaction, then turned and walked outside.

The sun was shining brightly outside, casting a golden glow on the ground.

Peony led Feng Buji in chasing a tabby cat that had appeared out of nowhere in the courtyard. The cat nimbly darted around, and Feng Buji was sweating profusely as he chased it.

Princess East Road is rarely this lively.

Looking at her younger brother's bright little face, Shui Chuchen's mood also lifted.

At noon, Caiju returned to the east road with two eunuchs carrying six food boxes.

The food box contained not only the dishes for lunch, but also several plates of donkey rolls, pea flour cakes, and cream pastries specially prepared for Feng Buji to take out of the palace, as well as four small jars of fruit syrup.

Shui Chuchen looked at the full food box and seemed quite satisfied. She rewarded Caiju with two silver ingots and the imperial kitchen with five taels of silver.

Feng Buji also smiled broadly, "So many snacks, not only for my cousin Jiaojiao, but also for Aunt Wang, my brother Shuping, and my sister Banxia."

Every year on the second day of the Lunar New Year, if he was not preoccupied with urgent official business, Emperor Jianzhang would personally visit Cining Palace to have lunch with his mother and younger sister.

During the banquet, Princess Yanghe pleaded for the Second Princess, Shui Raofu, saying, "Your Majesty, Fu'er is also a pitiful person. Her birth mother has just died, and she is heartbroken, which is why she did something wrong..."

Hearing this, the Emperor softened a bit and nodded, saying, "As my sister says."

Having said that, he turned to the eunuch beside him and instructed, "Go and relay the imperial edict from the princess—Princess Yanghe pleaded for her, so the Empress Dowager and I will reduce her punishment. Her confinement will be reduced to half a month, and she will still have to copy the 'Admonitions for Women' two hundred times. If she dares to disrespect Empress Xiaoxian again, she will be sent to the temple for a year."

He paused, then added, "And you are not allowed to disrespect your elder sister. Anyone who dares to speak rudely will be punished as well."

The eunuch bowed and accepted the order, then hurriedly left the hall.

After lunch, the emperor left.

Soon after, Shangguan Ruyu also went to the princess's residence to find Shui Chuchen.

The Empress Dowager then quietly asked Princess Yanghe, "Now that the Wen family has regained its title, if the Fourth Miss Wen is not yet engaged, would Yu'er still be willing to continue her relationship with her?"

Princess Yanghe shook her head, her face darkening. "I heard from the Prince Consort that before Wen Qian died, he instructed the Wen family that if the Wen family fell into decline and the marriage between Yu'er and the Fourth Miss Wen could not be arranged, the Fourth Miss Wen should be given to Wang Tu as a concubine."

"His meaning was probably to make Wang Tu do everything in his power to avenge him. Although Wang Tu later escaped and Miss Wen did not become his concubine, with these words, Yu'er could no longer marry her."

She paused, her tone calm yet tinged with sarcasm, "To put it bluntly, Wen Qian's move was using his own daughter as a pawn. Now, although the plan has failed, his reputation is ruined."

Empress Dowager Xue frowned even more deeply upon hearing this. "Even without this incident, the Wen family was already marrying above their station. Now that they've caused this mess, they are even less worthy of Yu'er."

As Shangguan Ruyu stepped into the east side of the princess's quarters, she heard Shui Raofu's sarcastic voice coming from the other side of the wall. (End of Chapter)