Chapter 188: Leaving The Palace
The Empress lowered her gaze. “Naturally, it will be handled according to His Majesty’s wishes.”
Jiang Ruanxi saw that although she appeared respectful on the surface, her hand was slightly curved, revealing that the Empress was actually not very satisfied with this result.
The Emperor was very pleased and turned to look at Jiang Ruanxi. “Miss Ling, the Fifth Princess treated you this way. Do you have any grievance?”
Jiang Ruanxi slowly said, “Your servant does not dare. His Majesty has already punished the Fifth Princess for your servant. Your servant has no grievance left.”
Although Jiang Ruanxi said this, Wei Chang’s eyes beside her were extremely cold.
The Emperor was very pleased and said to the Empress again, “So many things happened today. I see everyone is tired, so the banquet ends here.”
“Yes.” The Empress respectfully said.
The Emperor swept his gaze over the people present and faintly said, “Today’s matter is because the Fifth Princess is young and immature, so everyone just treat it as watching a child throw a tantrum and forget about it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Everyone understood the Emperor’s threat and all said so.
After the Emperor left, the crowd was also dismissed.
Wei Chang looked at her full of apology. “Sorry, I failed to protect you and let you be wronged.”
Today’s matter was all because he was careless. If he hadn’t arrived in time, he really couldn’t imagine the consequences.
Thinking that she had almost drowned just now, Wei Chang’s face instantly turned cold, and a intimidating aura emanated around him.
Wei Chang was the Crown Prince, yet he apologized to her. Jiang Ruanxi felt a warm current flow through her heart. She held his hand and smiled, saying, “You don’t need to apologize. It’s not your fault. Actually, I knew today that the Fifth Princess would make a move, so I deliberately let her push me into the water.”
Wei Chang was stunned, but he soon understood why she did this, and his heart ached even more. “There were other ways. You didn’t need to take such a big risk.”
“I know, but to make them dispel the notion that I am Miss Ling and not Second Madam Lin, only this method is the most effective. Otherwise, there would be endless suspicion in the future, which is not good for our future actions. Besides, I don’t want to hold you back.”
Hearing that she was still thinking for him at this time, Wei Chang’s eyes flickered slightly, and his heart felt warm.
He had thousands of words in his heart, but he swallowed them all, and in the end could only gently call, “Xi Xi.”
This call was like a feather brushing back and forth on her heart, making her face blush involuntarily.
To divert attention, Jiang Ruanxi said, “Everyone saw the mole on my face just now, and my appearance has not changed at all. They should all believe that I am the Ling Family’s daughter. But even if those hiding in the dark still suspect, they probably won’t make a move for the time being. However, you just made a move against the Fifth Princess for me. Won’t that ruin your big plan?”
Jiang Ruanxi knew very well in her heart that with Wei Chang’s methods, he wouldn’t take the Fifth Princess seriously at all.
Normally he wouldn’t pay attention to her, but now that he did, neither the Fifth Princess nor the strength behind her would let it go easily.
Especially seeing the Emperor’s attitude toward the Fifth Princess today, she felt even more uneasy in her heart.
Wei Chang touched her head to comfort her. “Don’t worry about me. It’s just one Fifth Princess. She can’t harm me. If it were that easy, I wouldn’t be able to sit steadily as Crown Prince. However, for today’s matter, I will definitely give you a proper explanation and not let you suffer harm in vain.”
As he spoke, Wei Chang’s face became stern.
“Crown Prince, the Empress prepared clothes for Miss Ling.”
Suddenly, Wan Bi’s voice sounded from outside.
“Bring it in.” The Crown Prince faintly said, then turned to look at Jiang Ruanxi with a gentle face. “You go change your clothes first. I’ll send you out of the palace later.”
“Alright.”
While Jiang Ruanxi was changing clothes, she found that the clothes seemed a bit big.
Wan Bi also noticed this problem and said with a face full of apology, “Miss Ling has been wronged.”
“Aunt Wan Bi is too serious. Being able to change out of these wet clothes, I am already very satisfied. Where is there any wronging?”
She then changed the topic. “Today, because of me, the Empress’s flower appreciation banquet could not proceed. I feel really guilty in my heart.”
After speaking, she lowered her head.
Wan Bi didn’t expect her to be so kind. Thinking of how not long ago she had blocked that slap from the Fifth Princess for her, she couldn’t help but like her a few more points.
Moreover, since she was the future Crown Princess, Wan Bi wanted even more to curry favor with her.
“Miss Ling, don’t take it to heart. I told the Empress everything about today’s matter. None of this was caused by you. It can only be blamed on bad timing.”
Seeing that she still looked guilty, Wan Bi continued, “Miss Ling, the Crown Prince is still waiting for you outside. Why don’t you go back first? I think the Grand Tutor is also worried about you.”
“Thank you, Aunt Wan Bi, for reminding me. I’ll go out first.”
Wan Bi nodded.
After seeing off Jiang Ruanxi and Wei Chang, Wan Bi returned to the Empress’s side and reported everything that had happened just now to the Empress in detail.
In the end, she couldn’t help but sigh. “This servant sees that Miss Ling is sensible and has no complaints about this matter. When this servant sent her out, I saw her standing together with the Crown Prince. They really look like a talented man and a beautiful woman. I don’t know if that person will be unable to swallow this anger and use some clumsy means at that time.”
“Also, the Crown Prince is also a person with delicate thoughts. If the Empress makes a move this time, who knows if he will suspect you.”
In fact, all of this was designed by the Empress.
Originally, she wanted to borrow Jiang Ruanxi going to rest. The Fifth Princess was narrow-minded, and if her illicit affair was exposed, she would definitely make trouble.
At that time, if it blew up, even if the Emperor usually favored the Fifth Princess so much, he would punish her.
But unexpectedly, the Empress had underestimated the Fifth Princess’s position in the Emperor’s heart.
The Empress looked at the narcissus on the table, her lips slightly raised. “Don’t worry. Even if there is suspicion, there is no evidence. What can he do? The Emperor is reluctant to punish the Fifth Princess, but someone will punish her for us.”
Wan Bi didn’t speak, but she felt faintly worried in her heart.
Although the Empress’s plan was good, if the Crown Prince found out the truth one day, wouldn’t it create a gap between him and her?
Wouldn’t the relationship between the two become more distant?
After leaving the Imperial Palace, Jiang Ruanxi and Wei Chang rode in a carriage.
The Qin Dynasty had open folk customs. The two were already engaged and about to marry, so even like this, no one would gossip.
Inside the carriage, Jiang Ruanxi thought it over and still didn’t understand. “Crown Prince, there is something I don’t understand. Please tell me.”
“Xi Xi, no need to be so polite. Just ask whatever you want.”
Jiang Ruanxi recalled everything from not long ago and couldn’t help but ask doubtfully, “Husband, why do I always feel that His Majesty does not favor you very much?”
