PNB Chapter 224 "I don't know".
Chapter 224 "I don't know".
After speaking, Chen stood still, seemingly waiting for Consort Chun's response.
Empress Dowager Jiang picked up her teacup and took a small sip, without saying a word.
Consort Chun imitated Lady Yun's usual attitude towards the concubines, remaining silent and without even changing her expression.
Aunt Mei and Mengzhu stood silently behind Consort Chun, neither daring to make the slightest movement, yet both secretly worried about their mistress. Aunt Mei sighed inwardly; the word "return" that the Duchess had blurted out was truly nauseating.
The head of the family and Lady Yun had worked hard in Lin'an for more than 20 years before returning to the capital. The news that Tang Xian had been granted the title of Marquis of Lin'an was still circulating among the people of the capital. Even under such great fame, the Duchess still said such a light-hearted remark.
It's just that they didn't take Consort Chun and the Tang family seriously.
Seeing that Consort Chun remained silent, Qing Zhifei coughed lightly, stood up, and pulled Chen Shi's arm to the side.
"Please don't be offended, Consort Chun. Mother was just acting rashly."
Qing Zhifei took another half step forward, facing Consort Chun directly, but slightly turned her waist to look at Empress Dowager Jiang, and explained gently:
"It's not for treating my daughter's illness, but because my eldest sister loved Xueqing Manor the most. Before she passed away, she often played the zither and painted at the Nine-Bend Pavilion by the lake in the manor. Since my eldest sister passed away, my mother has also often stayed at the manor. Yesterday, my father just arrived in the capital and immediately sent people to inquire about the news. I really didn't expect that it was Consort Chun who bought Xueqing Manor."
(Note: Xueqing was the former name of the hot spring resort.)
After hearing Qing Zhifei's words, Empress Dowager Jiang felt a sudden pang of sorrow in her heart, and a slight ripple appeared on her face. Her gaze then slowly turned to Consort Chun, who was sitting below her.
Aunt Mei's heart skipped a beat. Where no one in the hall could see, she reached out and carefully tugged at Consort Chun's sleeve.
It would be bad if we offended Empress Dowager Jiang for the sake of a manor.
Empress Dowager Jiang hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Consort Chun, it's just an estate. If you're willing to let go, the Duke's Mansion will not only be grateful to you and the Marquis's Mansion, but will also provide other compensation."
Madam Chen immediately nodded and replied, "If Consort Chun can fulfill my wish, the Duke's Mansion is willing to offer a manor near the Longshou Canal as compensation."
Consort Chun slowly rose, curtsied, and said:
"Just as Your Majesty said, 'It's just a manor,' so why make such a big fuss?"
However, Lingxi Manor was a birthday gift from my elder brother when I turned eleven. At that time, I was still in Lin'an, so I asked my mother to write a letter to help the princess manage it.
Five years have passed, and not only has everything in the villa been demolished and rebuilt, but even the Nine-Bend Pavilion mentioned by Qing San has been rebuilt in imitation of the Lakeside Pavilion on the shore of West Lake in Jiangnan.
The only remaining remnant of Lingxi Manor today is probably that lake.
"To be honest, it is indeed my fault. I only just learned that Lingxi Manor was originally owned by the Duke's mansion, which led to this mistake."
(Note: Lingxi was the name given by Consort Chun and Hua Yan when they were drawing paper for the villa.)
When Consort Chun mentioned the princess, Qing Zhifei's brows furrowed. Without a doubt, the only one who could cooperate with Madam Yun was Princess Yongping, the legitimate daughter of Prince Rui, a woman known for her extremely flamboyant personality even in her youth...
Upon hearing the phrase, "The only remaining relic of Lingxi Manor is probably that lake," Chen felt dizzy and nearly lost her composure in front of the hall. Fortunately, Qing Zhifei was there to support her.
Empress Dowager Jiang looked displeased, but since Consort Chun was now assisting in managing the six palaces, she couldn't blame her. "Look at what you're saying, child. You didn't know this before, so naturally it's not your fault."
Qing Zhifei understood that things probably wouldn't work out today. She also knew that since the Duke's Mansion had just returned to the capital, it was even more inappropriate to offend the Prince Rui's Mansion.
"Your Majesty, Lady Qing is only doing this out of love for her daughter. I am willing to give the Hot Spring Villa to the Duke's Mansion. I presume that the Duke's Mansion also has the original blueprints of the villa. It would be perfectly acceptable to replan it according to the previous layout."
Heaven have mercy, Consort Chun's words were truly from the bottom of her heart!
But to Chen and Qing Zhifei, these words were full of sarcasm.
Madam Chen's lips trembled slightly, and after a long while, she finally uttered a sentence, "Thank you for your kindness, Consort Chun, but there's no need. It was only today that I, a foolish woman, realized how much things have changed over the past ten years..."
Qing Zhifei's heart sank suddenly, and she hurriedly tried to stop her mother from speaking.
Mother shouldn't have said those words. "Things have changed, people are no longer the same." Could it be that the people of the Duke's Mansion still harbor resentment towards the late Emperor?
But it was clearly too late; Empress Dowager Jiang's gaze was already like a cold star, sweeping coldly over Chen.
Realizing she had spoken out of turn, Chen's chest and back were soaked with cold sweat, and she hurriedly knelt down to apologize.
She then realized that the one who was deliberately befriending her was Consort Jiang, who had been out of favor with the late emperor ten years ago, not the current Empress Dowager who sat high on the throne in Cining Palace.
"Enough. You only spoke out of turn because you were thinking of Tong'er. Fei'er, help your mother up." Empress Dowager Jiang's voice was calm and unhurried, without the slightest emotion.
Chen rose listlessly, her gaze towards Consort Chun deepening.
In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, every time Consort Chun spoke, Aunt Mei's heart would pound with anxiety, as if she were on a swing, fearing that her mistress's "frankness" would anger the Empress Dowager.
Fortunately, the situation was handled reasonably well. As for how the Duchess felt, that was not within Aunt Mei's consideration.
After what had just happened, the Chen mother and daughter had different feelings, and even Empress Dowager Jiang was not interested in talking. Only Consort Chun was calm and had time to pay attention to Qing Zhifei's makeup...
Qing Zhifei observed Consort Chun's actions and suddenly said, "Your Highness Consort Chun, I encountered a coincidence before returning to the capital."
Empress Dowager Jiang asked in surprise, "What is it?"
"Your Majesty, I rescued a young lady by chance while I was in Guangyang Prefecture. She turned out to be Consort Chun's cousin."
"Could she be a daughter of the Zou family?"
"Yes, the Zou family was among those granted amnesty. Although the Duke's Mansion had no connection with the Zou family, they had still run into them, and they couldn't just stand by and watch her die. Therefore, they took her, who was single, back to the capital to seek protection from her maternal grandfather."
Empress Dowager Jiang nodded slightly, not caring.
Upon hearing this, Consort Chun's eyes turned slightly cold. Qing Zhifei looked directly at Consort Chun and said calmly, "This matter is nothing, but Zou Xiuer has mentioned to me many times that after the Zou family was released, they intended to return to the capital, but were repeatedly obstructed by people sent by the Tang family. I wonder if Consort Chun is aware of this matter?"
Zou Xiuer entered the capital yesterday in the Duke's carriage. Consort Chun, who was in the inner palace, was unaware of this.
While Aunt Mei and Mengzhu were sweating bullets, Consort Chun simply said, "I don't know."
After that, there was no further conversation.
Empress Dowager Jiang, Qing Zhifei, and Lady Chen: "..."
......
In Huining Palace, nearly an hour had passed since Consort Chun left, and Hua Yan couldn't help but worry.
Donggua and Mingyue carried a carved food box into the flower hall. "Xiaonianzi went to find out what was going on. With Aunt Mei looking after him, everything should be fine."
In that situation, Aunt Mei had no right to speak. Hua Yan said, "I'm not worried that Your Highness will offend the Duke's Mansion, but I'm afraid you'll catch the Empress Dowager's eye."
It has to be said that Hua Yan understands Consort Chun very well.
But worrying was futile. For the first time, Hua Yan felt powerless in the inner palace. Whether it was the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, or the Empress, if they summoned Consort Chun to an audience alone, she could not be by their side and could not make amends at any time.
Hua Yan sighed softly, then suddenly smelled a pungent odor and looked up at the food box on the table.
"Winter Melon! I haven't seen you for just one night, and your face is covered in red blisters!"
Hua Yan rarely lost her composure like this, and she grabbed Dong Gua's arm tightly.
Mingyue twitched her nose and lowered her head, not daring to look at Huayan.
Hua Yan tilted her head and looked down at Mingyue, only to see that Mingyue's small face also had five or six red pimples.
Hua Yan: "...Tell me honestly, how many spicy eggplants have you eaten these past two days!"