Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Qiao Jinniang said, “Miss Li, you’re wrong. It’s just a countryside child toy. How can I get Junior Duke Bao’s hands dirty with it?”
When Bao’er heard this, he cried even harder.
Li Lingling smiled and said, “County Mistress, don’t be angry with a three-year-old child. People will think you’re too narrow-minded.”
Qiao Jinniang looked at Li Lingling. Her intentions were so undisguised that everyone knew that she was hostile to her because of Lu Chen.
Qiao Jinniang didn’t bother with Li Lingling and turned her eyes to Lu Chen.
Lu Chen said in a low voice, “Today is the third birthday of my heir. Why does Bao’er keep crying?”
Hearing this, Prince Qi quickly covered Bao’er’s mouth to stop him from crying.
Why was his wife so stupid just now? What made her think she could mock Qiao Jinniang while the Emperor and the Queen were around?
Seeing that the Crown Prince was so protective of Qjao Jinniang, Li Lingling
felt sullen, but she had to give up.
Not long after the banquet started, children of the royal family came to give
gifts to Tuan’er one after another
Qjao Jinniang breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Tuan’er were getting
along very well with his cousins.
When the banquet was about to end, Tuan’er came with five or six children and
said, “Mother, they all want rabbit dolls.”
Qjao Jinniang: “..”
It was not easy to make this doll. In order to make it look like a little rabbit, she
made it with real rabbit fur, so it was very soft.
But if the doll could help Tuan’er make friends, she didn’t mind being tired.
Lu Chen said to Qjao Jinniang, “Just teach the maids how to make the rabbit
dolls and let them make it for you. You don’t have to make them yourself.”
Qjao Jinniang nodded. “But can I tell the maids that this rabbit doll must not be
given to the son of Prince QP
That child bullied Tuan’er, and she was not that broad-minded.
Lu Chen said, “Of course you can.”
After the banquet was over, no one left the imperial palace.
The princes whose mothers were still alive went to their mothers’ palaces, and
those whose mothers had died went back to their previous palace in the
imperial palace.
Some royal family members stayed in the Chengxi Palace because there would
still be a dinner party in the evening
Qjao Jinniang followed Lu Chen to the East Palace, but before they arrived.
Fulu and Junior Duke Rong came with a large bag of osmanthus.
Her eyes sparkled with supplication.
Qjao Jinniang smiled and said, “Tt happens that I have nothing to do this
afternoon, so I will make osmanthus honey and osmanthus cake.”
There was a kitchen in the East Palace, so she didn’t need to go to the imperial
kitchen.
In Imperial Concubine Wan’s palace, she angrily smashed two vases but she
still couldn’t relieve her anger.
She poked at Bao’er’s forehead. “You useless thing! You are half a year older
than Tuan’er but all you know is to eat, drink and play. Tuan’er can even
memorize the Historical Records. How about you?”
Consort Q was very angry to see this but dared not say anything to Imperial
Concubine Wan, but she also hated Tuan’er.
The two children were both the Emperor’s grandsons. Her son grew up in
Prince Qj Mansion. So why was he inferior to a countryside child who grew up
in a merchant’s family and liked to bite others?
After Imperial Concubine Wan finished educating her grandson, she said,
“Rumor has it that the Crown Prince will not keep Qjao Jinniang
However, it seems that he is very protective of Qjao Jinniang. She is lucky to be
able to return to the Duke Mansion. Im afraid her position will not be low in
the East Palace”
Consort Qi was a bit disdainful of Qjao Jinniang.
After all, Qjao Jinniang wouldn’t be the crown princess. Although she gave
birth to Tuan’er, she could be the Crown Prince’s first concubine at most. As
long as the Crown Prince didn’t become the Emperor, Qjao Jininang was
inferior to her in status.
She would definitely retaliate for the humiliation that Bao’er suffered today.
The real lively part of the Mid-autumn Palace Banquet was in the evening,
when nobles and ministers and their families entered the palace one after
another.
The noble ladies went to meet the Queen.
As soon as Duchess Anyuan carme out of the Queen’s Palace, she was
surrounded by a group of noble ladies who kept fawning on her.
Listening to their flatteries, the Duchess just smiled awkwardly.
“Congratulations, Duchess. Now the little imperial grandson has become the
Crown Prince’s heir. Your family is really trusted by His Majesty!
The Duchess said, “This is the grace of His Majesty, and a blessing for our
family.
Seeing her sister- in- law surrounded by people in the center, Mrs. Zheng
sneered silently. “T heard everyone say that Qjao Jinniang abandoned her
husband and her son and was hated by the Crown Prince. Why are these people
still fawning on her?”
Unfortunately, she couldn’t see Ruoshui today
It was not only the Duchess who was surrounded by people, but also Qjao
Ruoyi
Qjao Ruoyi had been famous for her talent in literature, but those who took
themselves as noble ladies disdained to have any dealings with a
concubine-born girl.
But today they were all apple-polishing her but they were all implicitly
inquiring about Qjao Jinniang.
Qjao Ruoyi glanced at them and knew that these people all wanted to marry
into the East Palace as concubines.
So she praised, “My second sister has a beautiful appearance and a good heart,
and more importantly, she can really cook.”
Hearing this, these noble girls immediately began to think about how to learn
to cook
Perhaps the Crown Prince liked delicious food
The Duchess walked to Qjao Ruoyi’s side and whispered, “Don’t be complacent.
Jinniang is still far from becoming the crown princess, and now His Royal
Highness still hates her!
The Duchess sighed, but Mrs. Zheng was very happy when she heard her
words.
Mrs. Zheng said, “Sister-in-law, since you know this, why don’t you try to
persuade the Duke?
“Now Ruoshui is very favored by Prince Mediocre, while His Royal Highness
grandfather is Duke Wu
“Even if the Duke tries his best to please His Royal Highness, he might not be
able to make the Crown Prince trust him more than Duke Wu.
But it’s a different situation for Prince Mediocre. After all, Earl Cheng’en is not
so reliable.
If the Duke could help him, it would be like adding wings to a tiger! If Prince
Mediocre succeeds, he’ll certainly pay you back.”
The Duchess frowned. “Sister- in – law, we shouldn’t talk about the state affairs
Walls have ears!
Mrs. Zheng said, “Sister, I am saying this for your own good. Ruoshui is also
your daughter after all. She can only count on you.
“She has just won the favor of Prince Mediocre, which shows that Prince
Mediocre is in need of the Duke’s support. If the Duke can help Prince
Mediocre, your family will be even more prosperous.”
When the Duchess heard this, she felt suspicious and asked, “How did you
know Ruoshui is favored by Prince Mediocre?
You’re just Ruoshui’s aunt. Why do you care so much about her?
The Duchess felt very suspicious. Why did Mrs. Zheng bother to inquire about
how Ruoshui was doing in Prince Mediocre Mansion? It wouldn’t be easy to do
that.
Mrs. Zheng said awkwardly, “I did it for your own good, OK? Only when your
family is doing well can our Zheng family be doing well.”
Mrs. Zheng was quite a snob. The Duchess thought that maybe she wanted to
establish a relationship with Prince Mediocre through Qjao Ruoshui.
She could only advise her, “If you want the Zheng family to do well, don’t get
involved in the fight for the throne.
The Duke is only loyal to His Majesty. Since the Crown Prince is His Majesty’s
heir, he must be loyal to the Crown Prince too.”
Mrs. Zheng was a little annoyed.
“Come on, how can you be so stupid?
“Do you really think your daughter can become the crown princess?
“She doesn’t allow her husband to take any concubines, so how could the
Crown Prince possibly accept her? If you’re smart, you should help Ruoshui.
“After all, Ruoshui grew up in front of you, while Qjao Jinniang may not regard
the Duke Mansion as her own home”
