Chapter 243: Collision
“Madam Zhou, our County Princess invites you to come speak with her. She only invited you alone. Let’s go!”
A maidservant stopped Su Yaoguang and spoke condescendingly from above.
“What matter does the County Princess have that requires seeing our Yaoguang alone? We are Yaoguang’s family and also want to follow her to meet a noblewoman like the County Princess.”
Zhang Zhaodi stood in front of Su Yaoguang.
“How noble is the County Princess? How could countryside women like you see her whenever you want? The County Princess only wants to see the Top Scholar’s wife. Are you the Top Scholar’s wife?”
“Mother, little maternal aunt, I’ll go for a bit. You sit nearby. I’ll be back soon.” Su Yaoguang said.
“Yaoguang, I’ll go find your son-in-law to accompany you.”
“No need. This is the Imperial Palace, and this young lady invited me in front of you. If something happened to me, they couldn’t escape responsibility. They are all smart people and certainly won’t bring such trouble on themselves.”
Su Yaoguang followed the maidservant over.
Zhang Zhaodi watched her figure and said to Zhang Yingdi, “I’ll go back to find Wangshu. You keep watch here. If they try to do anything to Yaoguang, shout immediately to draw people over. I just don’t believe these royal noblewomen can cover the sky with one hand?”
“Good. Go quickly.” Zhang Yingdi urged.
In the pavilion. Princess Qinglan was elegant and luxurious, with several maidservants serving her. This display alone was quite intimidating.
“Greetings, County Princess.” Su Yaoguang curtsied.
Princess Qinglan ate grapes, as if she hadn’t heard Su Yaoguang’s greeting, showing no intention of acknowledging her.
Su Yaoguang stood up.
“How bold! The County Princess hasn’t given permission, yet you dare stand on your own.”
“Hasn’t the County Princess given permission? This common woman thought the County Princess had. After all, when greeting the Emperor just now, he immediately allowed everyone to rise. I greeted the County Princess. Her airs shouldn’t be greater than the Emperor’s, right? How could she not let me rise?” Su Yaoguang said with a surprised face.
Princess Qinglan sized up Su Yaoguang, her eyes full of contempt. “Sharp-tongued with good eloquence. I heard you do cosmetics business. As expected of an all-around clever person; you really know how to talk. Come here. This County Princess wants to take a good look at you.”
Su Yaoguang stepped forward a few steps and stopped before Princess Qinglan.
“This County Princess’s tea is not bad. I’ll reward you with a taste.” Princess Qinglan said, personally pouring the tea.
“How bold! You actually dare let the County Princess pour tea for you herself.” The maidservant nearby spoke again.
“County Princess, you should replace the maidservant by your side. This one is always startled and jumpy, with less knowledge than a village girl like me. This tea is being poured by the County Princess herself. This common woman didn’t ask for it, so this charge can’t be pinned on me.” Su Yaoguang said. “County Princess summoned this common woman today to vent anger, right?”
Su Yaoguang rolled up her sleeves, extended her palm, and said to Princess Qinglan, “County Princess needn’t find various excuses. Hit if you want! As long as you vent this anger, we’ll have no grudge afterward. County Princess, please don’t make things hard for this common woman.”
“Do you know what this County Princess wants to do?” Princess Qinglan sized up Su Yaoguang.
“I don’t know. But you wouldn’t kindly pour tea for me yourself; there must be another plan afterward. I don’t know it and won’t take the bait. I just want to talk openly with you.” Su Yaoguang said. “You are the pampered daughter of heaven. My husband does have some good looks, but there are many handsome men in the world. You wouldn’t fixate on one man like this. You must feel your face was lost and are angry inside, so you want to vent your spleen.”
“You vent it. Once vented, this common woman will be at ease. But you are a royal noblewoman of noble identity. If word spreads, others will think you really want to rob a husband from a countryside village woman. That would truly be losing face. Though the Emperor once wanted to betroth my husband to a noblewoman, he didn’t specify you, County Princess, right? I don’t know who is gossiping outside, dragging the County Princess into this. The County Princess should investigate it.”
Princess Qinglan then properly sized up Su Yaoguang. “You really are very bold. Earlier you dared babble nonsense before the Emperor. I thought you truly had no brain, but now I see I underestimated you. Fine. This County Princess isn’t so narrow-minded. You can go!”
“County Princess, there’s some makeup smudged at the corner
“At a time like this, instead of hurrying to leave, you’re staying to bring trouble upon yourself.” The anger on Princess Qinglan’s face had mostly faded. “Give her the cosmetics so she can do my makeup.”
When Zhang Zhaodi brought Zhou Wangshu rushing over quickly, what they saw was Princess Qinglan holding a mirror and looking left and right at it, with an extremely satisfied look.
“Your skills are indeed impressive. It seems those rumors outside aren’t entirely groundless,” Princess Qinglan said. “This County Princess normally uses items from the Imperial Palace, with specialized masters making the cosmetics. I haven’t tried things from outside yet. I’ll try the cosmetics from Peach Blossom Workshop another day.”
“Greetings, County Princess.” Zhou Wangshu bowed to Princess Qinglan.
Princess Qinglan sized up Zhou Wangshu, her eyes full of disdain: “Yaoguang is right. You’re just somewhat good-looking. There are plenty of good-looking men out there. This county princess will definitely find one even more handsome than you. Yaoguang also said your body is frail. When marrying a husband, one should marry a sturdy man. The more this county princess thinks about it, the more sense she makes. Yaoguang, if you’re not satisfied with him, someday I’ll introduce you to a military general. He’ll definitely satisfy you.”
Su Yaoguang: “……”
She didn’t dare to look at Zhou Wangshu’s eyes, afraid that he would kill her with his gaze.
To make Princess Qinglan feel better, she deliberately exaggerated the benefits of marrying a military general. Princess Qinglan clearly understood her intention, yet still dug a pit for her to jump into.
Princess Qinglan leaned close to Su Yaoguang’s ear and said, “Didn’t you say that once the anger is vented, it’s all written off? This county princess thinks you make sense.”
“As long as the County Princess is happy.” Su Yaoguang felt aggrieved.
Princess Qinglan left with the maidservants.
Zhang Zhaodi said in surprise: “It’s over just like that? I thought she would do something to you.”
“This County Princess Qinglan just has a bit of a temper, but her true nature isn’t bad. She didn’t make things difficult for me just now.” Perhaps she wanted to make things difficult, but she so sincerely tried to persuade her and calm her down. As long as the latter isn’t black-hearted, she probably wouldn’t make things difficult for an innocent woman.
After all, County Princess Qinglan doesn’t resent her because of unrequited love; she just wants to vent because she feels she lost face.
“Miss, County Princess Qinglan just let her go like that?” In the corner, a maidservant said to Wang Ruyan, whose face looked unpleasant.
“This time she was lucky. I’ll settle the score with her later.” Wang Ruyan said coldly, “Xiao Gege said that this woman failed to seduce Xiao Gege, then tried every means to bully him and even caused him to fall off a cliff. So much time has passed since the matter, and no evidence could be found, but this grudge must be avenged.”
