Chapter 190: Making Things Difficult
Qi Momo hurriedly said, “Eldest Daughter, what are you saying? If you can make use of this old woman servant, it is this old woman servant’s honor. You are really too polite.”
Although she said that, looking at the copper coins that Yushui stuffed over, Qi Momo smiled so widely her mouth could not close.
Jiang Ruanxi thought that the matter in the Imperial Palace would have no follow-up, but where could she have imagined that the next day, she received an invitation from the Imperial Consort.
“It is said that the Fifth Princess was reckless that day and brought Miss much inconvenience. The Imperial Consort specially invites you to the Imperial Palace to sit for a bit.”
Jiang Ruanxi slightly furrowed her brows, but Yushui had a face full of worry. “Eldest Daughter, this morning when we got up, I heard that the Fifth Princess was beaten by someone.”
“Beaten?”
Jiang Ruanxi was truly surprised.
“Yes, not only was she beaten, even the servant she favored most had two fingers chopped off by someone.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s first reaction in her mind was, could it be Wei Chang who did it?
No, others would not do such a thing.
This matter could only be done by Wei Chang.
“The Imperial Consort is looking for you. I think she has no good intentions. Most likely it is to cause you trouble.” Yushui was still very worried. “How about Miss goes to find the Master? You just say you fell ill after returning, old illness recurrence. No matter what, the Imperial Consort would not make things difficult for you at this time.”
“What you say is not wrong, but if we can avoid it today, can we guarantee that the Imperial Consort will not come looking for trouble in the future?”
Yushui was stunned. This indeed could not be guaranteed.
“Yesterday I only did it to prove my identity, so I willingly fell for it. Now that my identity has been confirmed, how could I still foolishly let myself be bullied?” Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes were indifferent. “I want to see just how arrogant the Imperial Consort is. So many people saw what happened yesterday. If anything at all happens to me in the Imperial Palace, it cannot be unrelated to her.”
Seeing her so insistent, Yushui had no choice.
However, before leaving, she still could not rest assured and had someone send a message to Wei Chang.
Jiang Ruanxi came to the Imperial Palace again and arrived outside the Imperial Consort’s bedchamber.
“Eldest Daughter Ling, Her Ladyship is taking her afternoon nap. Please wait a moment.”
She called me here, but is sleeping. This is clearly deliberately making things difficult.
“Alright.” Jiang Ruanxi said calmly, “It’s just that I fell into the water yesterday, and my body is rather weak. I do not know how long I can wait.”
That maidservant was a smart person, and her expression could not help but change slightly.
Soon, she entered the room and repeated Jiang Ruanxi’s words verbatim to the Imperial Consort lying on the Imperial Consort’s chair.
“Your Ladyship, this Miss Ling does not seem easy to provoke.”
The beauty on the soft couch had fair skin that evoked pity at first sight. She said unhurriedly, “If she were easy to provoke, how could Jiao’er have been dealt with so miserably?”
The maidservant did not speak and lowered her head. The Imperial Consort coughed a few times. “Forget it. If something really happens to this Miss Ling, it will be hard to clean up afterward. Have her come in.”
“Yes.”
Not long after, the maidservant came out and said to Jiang Ruanxi, “Miss Ling, the Imperial Consort summons you.”
After following the palace maid inside, Jiang Ruanxi then understood what true luxury was.
This palace was not as large as the Empress’s palace, but it excelled in exquisiteness.
It was said that the Imperial Consort’s ancestral home was in Jiangnan, where she was encountered by Emperor Qin while he was traveling incognito.
This staggeredly arranged courtyard was no longer just about spending a fortune to build.
Although not piled up with gold, it exuded nobility everywhere.
“Miss Ling, we have arrived.”
Although separated by a layer of gauze curtain, inside the semi-transparent gauze curtain, a delicate and graceful figure was half-reclining there.
Even the vague appearance already revealed a bit of her alluring posture.
Jiang Ruanxi sighed. In her past life, she had not paid much attention to the Imperial Consort.
She had only heard street rumors that His Majesty greatly favored this Imperial Consort from Jiangnan.
“Your servant has seen the Imperial Consort.”
Jiang Ruanxi knelt down to pay respects.
The Imperial Consort did not make a sound, only staring at Jiang Ruanxi with an appraising gaze.
Time passed second by second. Jiang Ruanxi felt her legs going numb, and she knew this was the Imperial Consort’s show of authority.
Not knowing how much time had passed, the Imperial Consort’s faint voice finally came. “Raise your head and let this palace see what kind of beauty you are.”
Jiang Ruanxi slowly raised her head. The curtain had been removed at some point.
Upon glimpsing the Imperial Consort, a flash of amazement passed through her eyes.
Wearing a pink jacket, it made her skin appear even fairer.
A faint fragrance entered her nose, making one unable to help but be captivated.
She thought to herself: No wonder she has been able to maintain her favor for so many years.
While she was sighing, the Imperial Consort was also filled with jealousy toward her appearance.
This woman was not only younger than her, but also more beautiful.
She had seen countless women, and only Madam Yu from back then had amazed her, but she was even a few points more beautiful than Madam Yu.
She hadn’t expected that after not seeing her for a few years, she had grown even more beautiful than before.
The Imperial Consort slightly lowered her gaze, a glint flashing in her eyes. “I hadn’t expected, child, that after just a few years, you’ve grown even more beautiful than five years ago. No wonder the Crown Prince agreed to your engagement again.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ruanxi recalled that Miss Ling had gone mad five years ago, right after entering the palace and seeing the Imperial Consort.
Could it be related to the Imperial Consort?
She said calmly without changing expression, “Thank you for the praise, Imperial Consort. Your servant has taken quite a few medicines these years. The medicines were originally very damaging to the body, so it’s inevitable for her appearance to change a little.”
A flicker appeared in the Imperial Consort’s eyes. She hadn’t expected her to be so formidable, not taking the bait.
She composed her expression, her voice sinking considerably. “Child, I was just chatting casually with you. I hadn’t expected you to overthink it so much.”
Was this indirectly saying she was scheming?
Jiang Ruanxi lowered her head, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, but her mouth remained gentle and soft. “You’re joking, Empress. Your servant just feels that the matter concerning the Crown Prince and the Fifth Princess relates to the royal family’s dignity and cannot be spoken of casually.”
The Imperial Consort’s face immediately darkened. She tossed the grapes in her hand onto the plate, but whether intentionally or not, the grapes rolled off course and landed on Jiang Ruanxi. Her pink clothing now had a water stain.
The grapes rolled onto the ground.
The Imperial Consort turned to look at her provocatively. Jiang Ruanxi glanced faintly at the water stain on her clothing, then looked away toward the grapes on the ground. Her eyes deepened, and she turned to look at the Imperial Consort with a smiling face.
The Imperial Consort waited for her to get angry, but seeing her smile, she felt a chill down her spine and a bit uneasy in her heart.
Just as she was about to speak, a cough interrupted the words on the tip of her tongue.
The two looked toward the sound and saw Emperor Qin standing not far away, his face full of gloom.
Jiang Ruanxi immediately curtsied to him. “Your servant has seen His Majesty.”
