Chapter 217: Why Are You Here Tonight?
After saying that, Wei Chang wanted to directly drive the person out, but he was held back by Jiang Ruanxi.
“Crown Prince, if you can’t endure small matters, you will ruin great plans. Now that the person has been sent here, even if you send her back, the Grand Tutor may not get angry, but the families of these three girls will likely not sit still.”
In fact, Jiang Ruanxi had also considered refusing, but the aftermath of refusal was really too great.
It wasn’t something they could bear now.
Jiang Kui now already knew his identity, and even if they got rid of this matter, there would be other actions in the future.
Rather than having this go on endlessly, it was better to take these three people.
“Xi Xi, it’s fine.”
“No, it matters.” Jiang Ruanxi said firmly, “I don’t want you to work hard.”
When you truly care for someone, some things won’t feel wronged.
Besides, this was also the best way.
“In any case, this matter isn’t a bad thing. We can turn the scheme to our advantage.”
Seeing her sincerity and that she wasn’t uncomfortable anywhere, Wei Chang finally felt relieved.
That night, Wei Chang went to Li Tina’s room.
This news naturally spread quickly as well.
Jiang Kui listened to the secret guard’s report, his gaze darkening, “It really is Li Tina’s room?”
“Yes, and this morning, when the old woman servant by the Empress’s side was cleaning the room, she also found the stains of virginity.”
Was the promised deep affection so fragile?
Jiang Kui frowned, feeling it hard to believe.
Was it really true, or was all of this just Jiang Ruanxi’s ploy?
“For now, it’s only the stains of virginity. I don’t believe it. Have Li Tina step up, best if she gets pregnant with offspring soon.”
“Yes.”
Jiang Kui looked at the overcast sky outside the window, his mood exceptionally heavy.
But then he stroked his hair, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curving into a smile.
It would be soon; by then, his wish could be fulfilled.
The day after Li Tina was favored, the Empress rewarded many things to the Eastern Palace.
Even more than what was given to Jiang Ruanxi back then.
In any case, among the people in the Capital with quick information, everyone knew clearly that the Crown Princess had fallen out of favor.
Yushui didn’t know the truth of the matter and, after hearing those rumors, felt wronged for Jiang Ruanxi, “Your Highness, won’t you summon the Crown Prince tonight?”
“No need. He can go wherever he wants; it’s his freedom.”
After saying that, Jiang Ruanxi calmly went to bed to sleep.
Yushui watched her not fighting or grabbing, anxious in her heart, but helpless as she was just a maidservant and couldn’t do anything.
But in the middle of the night, Jiang Ruanxi didn’t sleep soundly and felt a gust of wind in the room.
When she opened her eyes, she found Wei Chang sitting right in front of her, with a flash of resentment in his eyes.
Jiang Ruanxi’s expression carried a bit of embarrassment, “Why are you here tonight?”
Wasn’t it agreed that he would go to Li Tina’s room for these few days?
The Crown Prince said with a resentful look, “Xi Xi, I’m going to another woman’s room, and you’re really so at ease? Aren’t you afraid I’ll do something?”
“Crown Prince, do you want to do something to Concubine Li?” Jiang Ruanxi said indifferently.
Her voice had no inflection, but Wei Chang always felt it was pointed, so he quickly stepped forward to hug her shoulders, “Xi Xi, what are you overthinking? I only have you in my heart; how could I touch other women? I discovered I really didn’t touch her. I just went in and lit some incense, and she fell into a deep sleep afterward.”
Wei Chang raised one hand as if swearing.
He carefully watched Jiang Ruanxi’s expression.
Thinking that this was the wife he had finally married, if she felt uncomfortable and didn’t want him, turning him back into a lonely man, he certainly didn’t want that.
Besides, in the previous twenty years, the noble officials in the Capital, because he wouldn’t live past twenty, didn’t want to marry their daughters to him. Now that he had broken that curse, they all fawned over him, but he didn’t fancy them.
Jiang Ruanxi naturally knew Wei Chang’s feelings for her, which was why she had always been at ease.
But thinking of him in the same room with another woman still made her feel uncomfortable inside.
But she also knew Wei Chang was the Crown Prince and might become Emperor in the future; he couldn’t guard only her. Standing up and enduring the discomfort in her heart, she considerately said, “You should go back quickly, lest someone discovers you.”
Seeing her reaction, Wei Chang saw through her little thoughts and grinned as he stood up, hugging her shoulders and falling toward the bed, “But without Xi Xi, I can’t sleep.”
Before Jiang Ruanxi could react, Wei Chang blocked her mouth.
By the time it was almost dawn, Jiang Ruanxi was so exhausted she didn’t even have the strength to lift her head, and only then did Wei Chang reluctantly leave.
The next day, she slept until nearly afternoon, missing the greetings from those three.
Thus, another rumor spread in the Eastern Palace.
The Crown Princess was jealous of Concubine Li and disregarded even basic etiquette, actually giving the concubine a cold face.
If it were in an ordinary family, it would be a small matter, but at this critical juncture, it was naturally magnified infinitely, even reaching the ears of the slightly recovered Empress.
Thus, that afternoon, Jiang Ruanxi was summoned into the Imperial Palace.
“Greetings to Mother Empress.”
The Empress seemed not to hear, just lowering her head to drink tea without even lifting it.
After waking up, the Empress had always wanted to win over Wei Chang, because deep down she knew clearly that now she could only rely on him.
But the matter of Jiang Ruanxi drugging her made the Empress, who already didn’t like Jiang Ruanxi, dislike her even more.
Plus now Jiang Ruanxi was jealous, so naturally the Empress gave her even worse looks.
After finishing a sip, she only said indifferently, “Get up quickly and come sit by This Palace.”
She raised her hand and patted the spot beside her.
Jiang Ruanxi wasn’t pretentious and gracefully went forward to sit.
The Empress changed from her earlier indifference, smiling full of kindness as she grabbed her hand, “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. This Palace missed you a bit and had you come to the palace to chat with This Palace.”
Jiang Ruanxi looked down at the Empress holding her hand, feeling a bit doubtful in her heart.
A while ago, when the Empress was ill, thinking it was her drugging, she was on guard against her in every way, but now so intimate.
She couldn’t help but become vigilant in her heart.
But when she lifted her head, she smiled on her face and said apologetically, “It’s daughter-in-law’s fault for being too busy and forgetting to come accompany Mother Empress.” Jiang Ruanxi also played along with her acting.
The Empress patted her hand and smiled, “Today, your Marquis Manor’s Heir Apparent’s Wife came to pay respects here, and thinking you hadn’t entered the palace for a long time, This Palace thought to make it lively and called you over too.”
On the surface, the Empress was very gentle, holding Jiang Ruanxi’s hand, looking intimately close, just like a very harmonious mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship.
But Jiang Ruanxi’s heart sank, having a bad premonition.
