Chang Youzhong returned to Jingshe Hall and went into the study. He said to the Prince of Jin, "The princess was waiting for the prince. I passed on a message. The princess said that although government affairs are important, the prince's health is more important. Please rest early and don't tire yourself out."
Prince Jin snorted coldly, "Don't exaggerate here. The princess would never say such a thing. That cruel and heartless woman."
Chang Youzhong suddenly realized that the prince was angry because the princess did not say soft words to appease him.
The couple started a cold war, and the people in the mansion who were paying attention soon noticed this.
After all, ever since the two got married, except for the few months when Prince Jin went to the south of the Yangtze River, Prince Jin has always lived in the same courtyard with the princess.
Prince Jin stayed in Jingshe Hall for two consecutive nights, and the concubines in the back house were ready to make a move.
"Madam, this is a good opportunity." said the maid that Chen Yi brought into the mansion from the Chen family.
Chen Yi hesitated for a moment and said, "Don't worry, wait for others."
She still remembered that during the Chinese New Year, her good stepmother sent someone to tell her, "Behave yourself in the palace and don't cause trouble. If you anger the prince and princess, don't expect your family to help you."
The Chen family is not her support, she can only rely on herself, she has no way out.
If this was a trick played by the princess, she would be doomed if she acted rashly.
The concubine also noticed that something was wrong with the couple. On the Double Ninth Festival, when the Prince of Jin gave her Chongyang cake and accompanied her to appreciate chrysanthemums, she asked directly, "Did you have a fight with your wife?"
"No." King Jin denied.
"You're still saying no. You've already been staying here for two nights. You don't like the concubines in the mansion. Jiaoyao by my side is obedient, well-behaved, and also good at writing. You can take her with you and let her serve you."
"Mother, my son lives in the front because political affairs are upsetting. I am afraid that I will lose my temper and scare the princess, so I didn't go back to Rujing Courtyard. I didn't quarrel with the princess."
"Really?" The concubine didn't believe it.
"Mother, when did your son ever lie to you?"
The concubine did not pursue whether he had quarreled with Jiang Changning, "What is it that is bothering you?"
"Your Majesty has been reluctant to agree to trade with Chagatai, causing the Chagatai delegation to be stranded in Beijing, which has caused a lot of trouble and caused us a lot of headaches." Prince Jin said with a serious look.
"As for political affairs, just do your best and don't worry too much. Jiaoyao is a good person. I feel at ease having her by your side to serve you." The concubine still wanted to give Jiaoyao to the Prince of Jin.
"Mother, I already have enough concubines around me. There is no need to add more. I don't want the censor to impeach me and say that I keep concubines and want to be on par with Your Majesty and have three palaces and six courtyards."
The concubine knew that the mother and son in the palace were afraid of the Prince of Jin's Mansion, and wanted to find something to hold against him and strip him of his title.
Hearing this, she immediately gave up the idea of letting Jiaoyao become the woman of King Jin, "Back then."
"Mother, please be careful with your words." Prince Jin quickly interrupted her.
If Prince Jin had been more skillful back then, it's hard to say who would be sitting in that position now.
Jiaoyao, who was eavesdropping through the screen, was filled with disappointment.
At the same time, Xiulan was trying to persuade Jiang Changning, "Princess, it's been two nights. Even if you are still angry with the prince, you should calm down. Just give in and go and comfort the prince."
"Why should I give in to him and try to please him?" Jiang Changning pouted.
"Because it was the princess who made the prince angry."
"Xiu Lan, whose girl are you?"
"I am your maid, so I have to think about you. I will ask Madam Cui to make some cakes and the princess will send them to the prince."
Jiang Changning adjusted the gold hairpin on her bun and said, "There are so many fresh osmanthus flowers dried in August, so let her make osmanthus cakes."
Xiulan pursed her lips and smiled, "Yes."
Osmanthus pastry is the prince's favorite, and the princess even remembers it.
However, when Jiang Changning was almost there with the osmanthus pastry, he saw a pretty figure walking into Jingshe Hall.
Jiang Changning turned around and walked back angrily. Xiulan couldn't stop him, "Princess, Princess."
"Alright, alright, hurry up and go, the prince won't drink your tonic soup." Chang Youzhong pushed the person out, looked up, and saw only the princess's receding back.
Ruined!
Chang Youzhong was even more rude to Keji, "Hurry up and leave."
It’s really a bad thing!
The prince was looking forward to the princess's arrival and asked three times a day. Today the princess came, but it was such an unfortunate coincidence.
"Eunuch Chang, please, just help me pass the message. It will benefit you in the future." Ke Ji raised his hand and gently pushed Chang Youzhong on the shoulder.
"I can't afford your kindness. We are all servants. I'm just kindly advising you that the rafters that stick out will rot first. Don't be foolish and do stupid things."
Ke Ji bit her lower lip, seemingly unwilling.
Chang Youzhong continued, "Those guys are still dizzy, why do you want to be knocked unconscious and carried back to the house?"
Ke Ji's expression changed. "Thank you for your advice, sir. I'm leaving now."
After sending Keji away, Chang Youzhong thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."
"Come in." King Jin's voice came from inside.
Chang Youzhong went in and said, "My Lord, the princess is here."
"The princess is here!" Prince Jin said cheerfully, "Please invite the princess in."
"I ask the princess to return to the courtyard."
"What are you doing, you fool?" the King of Jin scolded.
"Your Highness, you said that women from the back house are not allowed to enter Jingshe Hall." Chang Youzhong said with a look of grievance.
Prince Jin's face darkened. "The women in the harem I was talking about were the concubines, not the princess. Of course the princess can enter Jingshe Hall."
"I admit my mistake, Your Majesty, and I beg you to forgive me." Chang Youzhong bowed.
"What did the princess say?"
Chang Youzhong thought quickly, but what he prepared for the prince was a tonic soup, and he didn't know whether the princess had prepared it or not, so he didn't care.
"The princess has prepared your favorite food, please come over." Chang Youzhong's lie happened to be correct.
"I don't want any food. I won't go." Prince Jin said arrogantly.
The princess has already set up the stairs, but the prince refuses to come down. What should we do
Before Chang Youzhong could come up with a solution, the Prince of Jin said, "It's not good to prepare the food but not eat it. It would be a waste of the princess's efforts, right?"
"Your Highness is right." Chang Youzhong said seriously.
The prince still had to go down this staircase.
Prince Jin left Jingshe Hall and headed straight for Rujing Courtyard.
Jiang Changning returned to the room with the dish of sweet-scented osmanthus cakes that he had not given away, and said angrily, "There are few good men."
Xiulan didn't expect that it would be such a coincidence. "Princess, please don't be angry. The prince..."
"Shut up, don't mention him." Jiang Changning interrupted her, kicked off his shoes, and fell on the kang with his pillow, "Get out."
Her mood was complicated, contradictory, and irritable. She realized that Prince Jin was affecting her emotions. She had already been stuck in the mud, and she didn't want this to happen.
The King of Jin was easy to appease and would back down if given a way out.
(End of this chapter)