Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The Huai'an Princess lifted a cup of tea with both hands and offered it to Jiang Xi, hurriedly trying to smooth things over. "Alright, alright, everyone is here today to celebrate my birthday, so please give me some face. For the sake of my great-uncle, let’s all cool down and remain friends."
Jiang Xi had not been particularly angry, but upon hearing the Huai'an Princess's words, she suddenly found herself amused.
Although Fong Yang was young, his status was so high that it compelled respect. The current emperor was much older than Fong Yang, yet he still had to respectfully call him Uncle Emperor. Meanwhile, the sixteen-year-old Huai'an Princess could only refer to him as great-uncle.
Jiang Xi thought about how she was of a similar age to the Huai'an Princess. If she were to marry Fong Yang, wouldn’t she become the Huai'an Princess's great-aunt? She would be a grandmother at such a young age!
Coming back to her senses, she removed a bracelet from her wrist and smiled lightly. "Jiajia, this is a Jade Bracelet I bought yesterday at Moyu Pavilion for ten thousand taels. If you don’t mind the strong metallic scent, I’d like to give it to you as a birthday gift."
Given the friendship between Jiang Xi and the Huai'an Princess, this gift was indeed quite generous.
The noble ladies present stared enviously at the bracelet in Jiang Xi's hand, while the Huai'an Princess was taken aback. "This is too precious; it’s really not appropriate."
Though her words were polite, her eyes sparkled with desire as they fixated on the bracelet.
There was no metallic scent to this bracelet; it exuded elegance and luxury instead.
Jiang Xi deliberately raised her Moonlight Silk sleeves, inhaling the faint fragrance from her dress.
A girl from a merchant family often felt troubled by comments regarding her less noble background. She frequently dealt with gold and silver and feared being associated with a vulgar metallic scent that would make others disdainful.
However, it was fortunate that while gold and silver might seem common, they could buy things that were anything but ordinary.
Jiang Xi gently took Huai'an Princess's wrist and slowly placed the bracelet on her arm. With a tender smile, she said, "Look at this bracelet, so transparent and emerald green, of excellent quality. It deserves to be worn by a noble and elegant lady. Don't you think?"
Huai'an Princess's heart soared with joy as she nodded repeatedly, her face beaming with a smile. "Yes, yes! Lady Jiang is absolutely right. I do love these mundane treasures like gold and silver."
Princess Fong Le scowled and suddenly raised her voice, "Jiajia, you've been bought off with just a bracelet!"
Huai'an Princess, happily shaking the bracelet on her wrist, turned to Princess Fong Le and explained with a grin, "This is a birthday gift from Lady Jiang; it's not meant to buy me off for any misdeeds."
Jiang Xi added fuel to the fire with a slight smile at the corner of her mouth. "Jiajia, once I become the Regent Consort, I will be your elder. I have even more valuable gifts for you."
Thinking of Jiang Xi's wealthy mother, Huai'an Princess's heart swelled with excitement; she almost wished Jiang Xi would marry the Regent right away.
Jiang Jiao stared enviously at the bracelet on Huai'an Princess's wrist, feeling quite jealous. She cursed Jiang Xi in her heart, thinking: Why can she buy a bracelet worth ten thousand taels when I can't even get one or two silver coins? After all, I'm also a Miss of the Jiang Family.
"Princess, Wen has arrived," came the voice of a maid outside Flower Pavilion, breaking the somewhat discordant atmosphere in the hall.
The noble ladies turned to look. Outside Flower Pavilion stood a woman in a light pink and white sheer dress accompanied by her maids. She exuded elegance and had an air of pride about her.
With grace and poise, she presented a long rectangular brocade box and softly said, "Happy birthday, Jia Jia!"
With Jiang Xi's generous gift already in hand, Huai'an Princess accepted the brocade box without opening it and simply smiled, "Wen, please take a seat."
Wen Lan then walked over to sit beside Princess Fong Le. The gloomy expression on Princess Fong Le's face softened slightly as a glimmer of interest appeared in her eyes.
Wen Lan was the granddaughter of the current Grand Tutor, Wen Hongru. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also exceptionally intelligent and talented, a celebrated figure in the imperial capital.
Most importantly, she had her heart set on Regent Fong Yang. To marry him, she even turned down the Emperor's Selection.
If she knew that Jiang Xi called herself the Regent Consort, it would certainly be entertaining.
Wen Lan's gaze fell on Jiang Xi, tinged with a hint of disdain. She took a delicate sip of tea and slowly spoke, "When did the Huai'an Princess become so close with Lady Jiang?"
Her words carried a deeper meaning, implying that she looked down on Jiang Xi and openly stated that the relationship between the Huai'an Princess and Jiang Xi was distant, with a significant difference in their statuses; they shouldn't be so intimate.
The Huai'an Princess smiled lightly and replied calmly, "Lady Jiang and I will be family in the future, so of course we should get along well."
Wen Lan discreetly glanced at Jiang Xi, who was calmly savoring her tea, and pressed on, "What makes you say that, Princess?"
The Huai'an Princess responded, "Because my uncle, the Regent, is going to marry Jiang Xi. Once she becomes the Regent Consort, won't we be family?"
Upon hearing this, Wen Lan's expression momentarily faltered before she smiled faintly. "Regent Consort? I haven't heard anything about that."
As she spoke, she instinctively looked towards Jiang Xi. Jiang Xi met her gaze unhurriedly and replied calmly, "Wen is not a deity; how could she know everything? Besides, this is a private matter between Fong Yang and me; there's no need to announce it to the world."
As her words settled in the Flower Pavilion, several noble ladies exchanged subtle glances at Jiang Xi. They hadn't expected her to speak so directly and assertively to Wen Lan in front of so many people. It seemed she was unafraid due to the Regent's power, disregarding even the granddaughter of the Grand Tutor.
With her noble lineage and reputation as a talented woman in the capital, Wen Lan felt a strong sense of superiority. She continued to provoke Jiang Xi: "Lady Jiang is so eager to share the news of the Regent marrying you; isn't that announcing it to everyone?"
Jiang Xi looked around casually and said indifferently, "I only announced it to those present. After all, the birthday banquet isn't over yet; everyone hasn't had a chance to spread this news."
Everyone fell silent.
At that moment, Wen Lan's personal maid suddenly spoke up, "It seems that the more one lacks something, the more they want to flaunt it. The Regent's intention to marry is merely Lady Jiang's word; let's hope she doesn't end up with a slap in the face."
Jiang Xi frowned, thinking to herself: I've gained some insight today. A mere maid dares to openly slander the legitimate daughter of Feng Yang in front of so many noble ladies.
Wen Lan, known for her grace and elegance as a talented woman, had such an indiscreet maid by her side.
Fong Miaomiao, the silly girl, eagerly nodded, "That's right! I haven't heard any news about Uncle Emperor wanting to marry. Even if he does, he wouldn't choose a merchant's daughter as his consort."
Han Yue also stepped forward, coldly smiling as she said loudly, "The reason our prince hasn't announced anything is simply because Lady Jiang has yet to agree. The prince is afraid of upsetting her, which is why he hasn't made it public."
Han Yue turned to Wen Lan with a sharp tone, "Wen is clever and elegant; Taifu Wen is also a man of strict principles. I never expected that a maid by Wen's side would be so ill-mannered. How dare such a lowly creature openly mock and belittle the noble ladies of the Prime Minister's Residence? Who gave you the audacity?"
Wen Lan's expression changed slightly as she pressed her lips together in displeasure. The maid behind her felt a jolt of fear and was about to retort.
Just then, someone hurriedly approached from outside the Flower Pavilion and reported, "Your Highness."
Feng Yang had just sent someone with news. The Huai'an Princess looked at Jiang Xi in surprise before turning to ask, "What news?"
"The Regent personally went to Feng Yang to propose marriage, saying he wishes to take Jiang Family's Eldest Daughter as his Primary Consort. He mentioned that after your Highness's birthday banquet concludes, Lady Jiang should return directly to the Prime Minister's Residence."
Comment 0 Comment Count