Chapter 184: Entering The Palace
Wei Chang was not her biological son at all; his birth time was not ten days later, but had passed early on.
But Wei Chang surprisingly did not die.
What did this mean?
Could it be that his fate had changed?
As long as Wei Chang could live on, she could secure her lifetime of glory and wealth.
Previously, she had cold-shouldered Wei Chang everywhere, but now she naturally had to think for him.
Best of all, she could still control him.
“Someone come, widely distribute the invitations, saying that the Crown Prince’s marriage with Miss Ling makes this palace happy, and hold a flower appreciation banquet tomorrow.”
Once the news came out, the entire Capital was abuzz.
Everyone was envious, jealous, and hateful toward the Ling Family’s girl, who had survived a great calamity and surprisingly become the Crown Princess.
Therefore, the noble families of the Capital all had their eyes on the Ling Family’s every move.
“This is Qi Momo, who has always been by my side. During this time, she will teach you some rules in the palace. If there is anything else you need, just tell her directly.” Ling Yu introduced the person beside him to Jiang Ruanxi with a loving look.
Jiang Ruanxi knew that Ling Yu did not know her real identity; he only thought she was the woman Wei Chang liked and wanted to marry her legitimately, so she deliberately used Miss Ling’s identity.
“Thank you…” Jiang Ruanxi paused, then changed her words, “Father.”
This was not Lingnan; she could call Zhong Ding Master, but she could not call Ling Yu Master.
The Capital had eyes and ears everywhere; one slip could expose her.
So it was still best to be careful.
Ling Yu’s eyes flickered slightly, and his expression unconsciously softened, “No need to thank me; it’s all as it should be.”
It seemed her appearance had made Ling Yu think of the late Miss Ling.
Tomorrow they would enter the Imperial Palace, and Qi Momo actually just wanted to teach her some basic etiquette today to cope with tomorrow’s banquet.
But who would have thought that Jiang Ruanxi learned quickly and very well.
She said with a full face of smiles, “Miss is truly smart. With Miss’s aptitude, tomorrow as long as others do not deliberately make things difficult for you, there should be no problems.”
Jiang Ruanxi gave Yushui a look, and Yushui stepped forward, stuffing something into Qi Momo’s hand, “Momo, this is our Miss’s token of appreciation.”
Qi Momo opened her hand to look at the one hundred taels banknote in her hand, her eyes squinting with laughter, “Thank you, Miss.”
“Momo is too polite. I just came back, and whether at home or in the Capital, there are still many things I need to adapt to. In the future, I will need Momo’s guidance.”
“Miss is too polite. In the future, as long as Miss needs anything, this old servant will certainly help even at the cost of her life.”
Jiang Ruanxi nodded, poured herself a cup of tea, took a sip, and said, “There really is one thing now that I need to consult Momo about.”
“Miss, please speak.”
“After I fell ill, I forgot many things. Can Momo tell me about the past?”
Qi Momo did not suspect her words and told her about Miss Ling in detail.
It turned out that five years ago, Miss Ling was both talented and a great beauty in the Capital. The Emperor betrothed her to Wei Chang, and if there had been no mishap, she and Wei Chang would have been happily together.
But on a certain day five years ago, after returning from the banquet held by the Imperial Consort, she became deranged, and afterward was sent to the countryside to recuperate.
After speaking, Qi Momo’s face was full of regret.
And after listening, Jiang Ruanxi’s heart was very complicated.
Thinking of how Wei Chang had almost married another woman in the past, for some reason her heart felt a bit uncomfortable.
But thinking that she herself had been married, she felt she was being pretentious and suddenly found it a bit amusing.
“Miss, what are you laughing at?” Qi Momo saw that after she finished speaking, Jiang Ruanxi laughed to herself and asked with some doubt.
Jiang Ruanxi composed herself and said, “Nothing. Momo, you can go down first.”
Having learned what she wanted to know, Jiang Ruanxi sent Qi Momo away.
After she left, Jiang Ruanxi learned that Miss Ling was a quiet woman who did not like to show her face much, which saved her a lot of trouble.
Because she had to enter the palace for the flower appreciation banquet, Jiang Ruanxi got up early.
She let Yushui help her with grooming and dressing.
Thinking that today probably would not be so easy to muddle through, she could not help but frown slightly.
“Miss, you look so beautiful.” After Yushui finished dressing her up, she could not help but praise.
Jiang Ruanxi, coming back to her senses, looked at herself in the mirror and was stunned.
An oval face, a plum blossom drawn at the center of her brow, skin smooth like a peeled egg, a high nose bridge, wearing a pink wide-sleeved dress, the whole person exuding a pure yet mature air.
Previously, she had always dressed plainly and had never dressed so elaborately.
Was this still her?
She herself could not look away.
But thinking of something, she could not help but worry.
“You dressed me up so beautifully; then I will become the center of attention.”
“Miss, you are now the Crown Prince’s fiancée. Even if you dress ordinarily, you will become the focus. Better to dress beautifully and let those people be envious, jealous, and hateful.”
Jiang Ruanxi was naturally low-key, but she felt Yushui was right.
With her current identity, no matter how low-key, she would become the focus, so there was no need to deliberately keep a low profile.
“Good, I’ll listen to you.”
**
When they arrived at the Imperial Palace gate, Jiang Ruanxi had just lifted the curtain and saw a circle of people surrounding her outside, startling her.
When the crowd saw her appearance, the previously messy scene instantly quieted down.
Bright, charming, with a touch of nobility, and an extraordinary bearing all around.
This was a true noblewoman.
No wonder the Crown Prince, who had never been close to women, nodded and agreed to this marriage again.
Everyone’s expressions varied.
“Second, Second Brother’s Wife?”
Suddenly, an uncertain voice came from the crowd, breaking the serene atmosphere.
Everyone looked toward the voice and found it was First Madam Lin, He Sheng.
Soon she came before Jiang Ruanxi, “Didn’t you die? How are you here?”
He Sheng looked at Jiang Ruanxi before her in full shock.
The crowd, prompted by He Sheng’s words, looked at her carefully and began discussing animatedly.
“You know, she really does look a bit like her.”
“What nonsense are you talking? Didn’t you hear Miss Ling deny it?”
“Yes, these people are just envious, jealous, and hateful of Miss Ling. Wasn’t Second Madam Lin burned to death at Guangming Temple? At that time, the Heir of Yongning Marquis was burned to death together with her.”
“But she really looks like her.”
Yushui listened to these people’s discussions and felt a bit anxious, afraid they would recognize Jiang Ruanxi’s identity.
Jiang Ruanxi was not angry, with a shallow smile on her face, “First Madam Lin, you have mistaken me. I am not the Second Brother’s Wife you mentioned.”
He Sheng looked at Jiang Ruanxi carefully and found that apart from the resemblance, she was still a bit different.
Jiang Ruanxi did not have that mole at the corner of her eye, and she was not as strikingly beautiful.
