PNB Chapter 122 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (26)
Chapter 122 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (26)
Lu Liruan knew nothing about what happened after she left; she first went to the palace of the Empress Dowager.
Because of her status, Lu Liruan could not travel in a sedan chair freely within the palace.
The princes and empresses lived in the easternmost and westernmost parts of the palace, respectively. Lu Liruan roughly understood why—after all, she had watched some period dramas.
Just walking into the Empress Dowager's palace left Lu Liruan breathless; it was simply too vast!
The Empress Dowager was very happy to see Lu Liruan, and it wasn't just a pretense of happiness.
She held Lu Liruan's hand and looked her up and down, saying, "Ruanruan is so beautiful, I can't get enough of looking at her."
None of the Lu family's daughters are not beautiful. I had long heard from Marquis He'an that the Dowager Consort loved to be pretty when she was young.
The reason she liked Lu Liruan the most was because Lu Liruan looked three or four parts like her.
Lu Liruan looked at the Empress Dowager. Although she was getting on in years, she was still beautiful. With a simple gesture, her beauty and nobility were on full display. It was the grace and dignity that came from being raised in the imperial family.
Lu Liruan chatted with her about everyday matters. Upon hearing the news about the Marquis of He'an, the Dowager Consort sighed: "Your father has always been a good-for-nothing who doesn't care about anything. He's just lucky to have married several wives, each of whom can help and take care of him, and their children are all successful!"
It was a bit strange to speak ill of one's father in front of someone else's daughter, but after thinking about it carefully, Lu Liruan realized that the Empress Dowager hadn't said a single wrong word, and Lu Liruan couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Are you still happy?" The Empress Dowager poked her forehead with her finger and sighed.
"I did think that if you married the Crown Prince, I could continue to protect the Marquis's mansion. I never expected..." The Dowager Consort patted Lu Liruan's hand when she saw that no one was around.
"Your Majesty, you're thinking too far ahead!" Lu Liruan spoke from the heart. Did people in ancient times really love to think about their own affairs after death?
"It's fate, you're such an honest child." The Empress Dowager lovingly embraced Lu Liruan.
"Your Majesty is too kind. I was just trying to save myself some trouble. If my father, brothers, and Your Majesty were to worry about me and run around for me, wouldn't that be my fault?" Lu Liruan was very good at speaking.
"If anything happens in the future, just send someone to report to me, and I will protect you!" A hint of authority flashed across the Empress Dowager's face.
How does the Crown Prince treat you?
"His Highness the Crown Prince has treated me well. People always need time to get to know each other," Lu Liruan said politely.
You can't exactly say, "I think His Highness the Crown Prince is a difficult and mentally unstable person," can you?
“Min’er… never mind.” The Dowager Consort hadn’t finished speaking: “Min’er is not a bad person. You will know once you get to know him. If I didn’t know his character, I wouldn’t have sent someone to inquire about your annulment of the engagement.”
Lu Liruan quickly realized the deeper meaning behind the Empress Dowager's words.
If Ji Shumin were such a vengeful and scheming person, he would surely cause a great deal of trouble after suffering this hardship and then being jilted.
Even if he is no longer the crown prince, a prince can still embarrass the mere Marquis of He'an's mansion if he wants to.
She dared to bring up the matter of annulling the engagement because she felt that Ji Shumin wouldn't hold a grudge.
Lu Liruan was a little surprised that the Empress Dowager had such an impression of him; this was a perspective she hadn't considered.
Because Lu Liruan was going to another palace, the Empress Dowager did not keep her there.
Before leaving, the Empress Dowager asked Lu Liruan if she had enough money.
Lu Liruan: Well... I've never lived such a wealthy life before.
The Empress Dowager understood Lu Liruan's expression: "Then I'll just send you some jewelry, clothes, and fabrics. Your father and brother can't skimp on your money."
"The fabric of this dress is quite nice today," the Empress Dowager said meaningfully.
Looking at the Empress Dowager's smiling face, Lu Liruan thought to herself: You also have things to say but don't want to say, and you have guidance but don't want to give it, right?
Why do you always only tell half the story and only tell half of it?
After leaving the Empress Dowager's palace, Lu Liruan took Qinghe's hand and bent down as she passed through the garden of the Empress Consorts.
Qinghe was puzzled. Seeing the Crown Princess acting suspiciously, she asked, "Did you bring me any powder to touch up my makeup?"
"Bring it."
Women in the palace always paid attention to being exquisite, so their makeup naturally had to be impeccable.
Lu Liruan pointed to her face: "Wipe off my lipstick and put on more powder."
Following her instructions, Qinghe watched as the Crown Princess pouted in front of the small mirror, wiping away the last bit of red lipstick, making her face look vivid.
It was a rare sight of vibrant life in His Highness the Crown Prince's palace.
After getting dressed, Lu Liruan stood up and said, "Let's go. Are we going to Consort Rong's palace next?"
Lu Liruan had heard about Consort Rong's deeds even before she entered the palace.
Lady Gao also gave a special instruction: This Consort Rong is arrogant because of the emperor's favor. Even if a minister's wife accidentally offends her, she will find a way to make him unhappy.
Lu Liruan needs to be even more careful in the palace.
It's too late!
I didn't offend anyone, but someone else went out of their way to offend them for me! Lu Liruan sighed deeply to herself.
When the light shone on her, Qinghe was startled. The Crown Princess had applied far too much powder, making her look deathly pale.
Lu Liruan, dressed in a bright red dress and with a pale face, arrived at the palace gate of Consort Rong.
It took almost a quarter of an hour for the palace maid to go in and report. Lu Liruan felt relieved: the intelligence was true, Consort Rong was indeed very self-respecting.
Lu Liruan was not flustered, but she looked around blankly, appearing somewhat timid.
Sure enough, the old nanny who came out looked at Lu Liruan and slightly raised her chin, looking serious. She thought to herself: "Your Highness is right. This Crown Princess is indeed petty. What kind of good girl can the Marquis of He'an's mansion raise..."
A nobody with no status from top to bottom.
I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince was very concerned about her, and he even specifically instructed the governess not to be harsh on the Crown Princess.
That's true. Now that he's run away, His Highness the Crown Prince probably won't be able to marry any decent girls!
Having served Consort Rong for so long, the old nanny had come to judge people by their appearance.
"Come in." Seeing Lu Liruan so roughly tearing at the soft fabric, the nanny felt even more disgusted by her vulgarity, thinking she was wasting such a good thing.
No wonder the Imperial Concubine was so angry; the Emperor himself had said he would give the fabric to her to make clothes.
Upon entering the palace, Lu Liruan realized that Consort Rong was indeed favored. This courtyard was three or four times larger than where Ji Shumin currently lived. In comparison, Ji Shumin's place was truly shabby.
They stood there for another quarter of an hour, but still didn't see the Imperial Concubine. In fact, they didn't even go into the room, because the nanny went back in to report.
When she came out again, the person was standing in the shadows: "Your Highness has just gotten up and is still washing up. Your Highness needs to have breakfast first, otherwise your body will not be able to take it. Please wait here for a while, Your Highness."
Oh wow! Here it comes! The same old arrogant and straightforward style! Leaving people feeling cheated and powerless to retaliate, because, after all, it's the rule~
Ji Shumin's voice echoed in Lu Liruan's mind.
Her face showed panic, and Lu Liruan curtsied, appearing hesitant to say anything more.
Seeing that Lu Liruan was obedient, the old nanny put on airs and went back to her room to serve the lady.