funbook-pk Chapter 72 Cannon Fodder Meets Cannon Fodder, Two Eyes and One Tear
Chapter 72 Cannon Fodder Meets Cannon Fodder, Two Eyes and One Tear
Inside the Shou Kang Palace, Princess Cheng'an was talking with the Empress Dowager.
"Aunt, is that Miss Zhai the Second outside the door?"
Princess Qin Yan of Cheng'an County looked towards the entrance, but could only see a glimpse of a light green hem of clothing, a slender hand hanging by her side, its ten fingers delicate and its skin as white as jade, reflecting the green waves as if it were transparent.
A pang of sadness welled up in Qin Yan's heart.
Is she the woman who's been pestering Brother Ce lately?
She had just returned to the palace when she heard the news that her brother Ce had recently become close to the second young lady of the Zhai family.
Over the years, there has never been another woman by Ce's side.
He has always been aloof; it must be this Miss Zhai who is shamelessly clinging to him.
The Empress Dowager sensed the bitterness in her tone and said with a smile, "You've been observing mourning at the imperial mausoleum for all these years, and your brother Ce has never had a woman by his side. How do you know he wasn't waiting for you?"
"You two are cousins, childhood sweethearts who grew up together. The bond between you is something that ordinary women can't compare to."
"Why are you getting jealous?"
"Aunt!" Qin Yan blushed and said with a smile, "Please stop teasing me."
"When did I get jealous...?"
Her phoenix eyes drooped.
The Empress Dowager laughed when she saw her acting like a little girl, revealing fine wrinkles on her well-maintained face.
"If you weren't jealous, why did you rush to have me summon Zhai Rongyu as soon as you heard she had entered the palace?"
She leaned against the soft seat and glanced towards the door.
"The person has arrived. Would Yan'er like to see them?"
Qin Yan took a sip of tea, a glint of light flashing in her phoenix eyes. She quickly composed herself and said coquettishly, "Yan'er still has many private things to say to her aunt."
The Empress Dowager turned her nail guards, lifted her eyelids slightly, and smiled slightly.
"I also miss Yan'er."
"I've been so lonely while you were away from the palace."
……
Outside the door, Zhai Rongyu heard the laughter coming from the inner hall, closed her eyes, and rolled her eyes dramatically.
The sun is getting stronger.
She shielded her forehead with her hand and caught a glimpse of the Third Prince passing by outside Shou Kang Palace.
"Thirty-three!"
The Third Prince, Jun Huai Ren, paused, looked inside, and exclaimed with some surprise, "Second Miss Zhai!"
He turned on his black boots and entered the Shou Kang Palace.
"This servant greets the Third Prince." Wen Yue curtsied to him.
"Hmm, get up." Jun Huai Ren waved his hand dismissively and walked up to Zhai Rong Yu. "Miss Zhai, are you here to pay your respects to your grandmother? Why don't you go inside?"
"Your Highness," Wen Yue said, "The Empress Dowager is speaking with Princess Cheng'an inside."
"Your aunt is back?" Jun Huai-ren frowned.
Uncle Wang has no peace and quiet again.
Zhai Rongyu grabbed Jun Huai Ren and winked, "San San, could you arrange a cool-down package for me?"
She pointed to the sun.
Jun Huai Ren frowned and said to Wen Yue, "You're such an inconsiderate girl. With the sun so strong, you let Miss Zhai stand in the sun. She's the legitimate daughter of the Minister's mansion. If she gets sick from the sun, can you take responsibility?"
Wen Yue was somewhat embarrassed and said sullenly, "This servant dares not disobey the Empress Dowager's wishes."
Jun Huai Ren snorted, "Who doesn't know that Grandmother is the most benevolent person in this palace? How could she issue such an inhumane order?"
“Grandmother isn’t one of those unfavored concubines, so how could she have such a temper and such a petty mind?”
"You must have misunderstood her meaning."
Zhai Rongyu was laughing so hard she was practically going crazy.
These three hermaphrodites are really something else.
【Hahaha. 】
Wen Yue opened her mouth, about to speak, but was interrupted by Jun Huai Ren, "No need to explain."
He said to Zhai Rongyu, "Miss Zhai, please wait a moment, I'll be right back."
After a while, Wen Yue saw the things Jun Huai Ren had brought over, and her lips twitched.
Jun Huai Ren told Zhai Rong to wait in the shade while he personally directed his servants from the side.
"Put this chair here, yes, with the cushions on."
"With this awning open, not a single ray of sunlight can get in."
"Yes, yes, the fruits and vegetables are placed here."
"And you, where's the herbal tea? Put it all on the table. Be careful not to forget any."
……
After working for half a day, he walked over to Zhai Rongyu and invited her to sit on the bamboo chair.
"Miss Zhai, are you satisfied with this summer cooling package?"
Zhai Rongyu raised her eyebrows and gave him a thumbs up, "That's exactly what I wanted!"
【This San San is really on point!】
When cannon fodder meets another cannon fodder, tears well up in their eyes.
[My dear family!]
Jun Huai Ren laughed heartily, his little tiger teeth gleaming in the sunlight.
"Then I'll head back now. If you have any requests, just send someone to my mother's palace to find me."
"Xia Zi, you stay here and serve Miss Zhai Er." He pointed to a young eunuch and said.
"Yes." Xiazi walked over respectfully.
Zhai Rongyu nodded and waved goodbye to Jun Huai Ren.
"Miss Zhai, isn't this inappropriate...?"
Seeing Jun Huai Ren leave, Wen Yue was about to reprimand Zhai Rong Yu when she saw her take out a jade pendant from her bosom and place it on the table.
She glanced at it and immediately shut her mouth in fright.
That's the Regent's jade pendant!
Zhai Rongyu raised an eyebrow when she saw Wen Yue's horrified gaze.
Brother Huaixu's jade pendant works remarkably well.
[I should have taken these out sooner; it would have saved San San from having to bring all this stuff over.]
[But this herbal tea is really delicious!]
She took a sip and comfortably squinted her eyes in the cool shade.
Xiazi held up a round fan and dutifully fanned her.
Wen Yue's face darkened, and she was somewhat speechless.
She understood the Empress Dowager's meaning perfectly: to give this Miss Zhai a taste of her power.
But now...
She glanced at the jade pendant on the table and shrank back slightly.
"Wen Yue." The Empress Dowager's majestic voice came from inside the hall, and Wen Yue immediately went in to reply.
"What's that noise outside?" The Empress Dowager frowned, somewhat displeased.
She heard the commotion even inside the inner palace.
Wen Yue bowed and replied, her expression somewhat complicated, "It was Miss Zhai who asked the Third Prince to bring her some things to cool off..."
Qin Yan frowned and spoke softly, "How can this Miss Zhai be so ill-mannered? My aunt ordered her to wait outside, but she's enjoying it."
"They really don't respect their aunt at all."
She smiled slightly, the corners of her mouth curving upwards, yet it sent a chill down one's spine.
The Empress Dowager's face darkened. "Let her in!"
"Since she behaves so improperly, I will teach her some manners!"
……
When Zhai Rong entered the room, she found the atmosphere inside to be somewhat serious.
Besides the Empress Dowager, there was another woman sitting there, presumably the Princess Cheng'an mentioned by Wen Yue.
She was dressed in white and looked delicate and frail, but she had a pair of narrow, almond-shaped eyes that were now scrutinizing her with deep eyes.
Zhai Rongyu keenly sensed her hostility and stared back without fear.
Upon seeing her face, Qin Yan felt a surge of intense crisis, and her hands unconsciously clenched together.
Jealous gazes reflected Zhai Rongyu's slender figure.
Her skin was extremely fair, yet radiant and rosy, exuding a vibrant beauty reminiscent of spring. Upon closer inspection, her features were striking: her eyebrows were like crescent moons, her lips like cherries, and especially her eyes, which shone even brighter than starlight.
Her graceful curves were hidden beneath her light green dress. Qin Yan glanced at her and felt a surge of anger rising within her.
She spoke in a chilling tone.
"Miss Zhai, why do you not kneel before the Empress Dowager?"
"Is this the kind of upbringing the legitimate daughter of a high-ranking official?"