Chapter 161 - 141: Starting Prenatal Education
"That won’t be necessary,"
Noble Princess Consort Rong interrupted her.
Princess Consort Zhang studied her expression. It seemed Noble Princess Consort Rong wanted to break her legs more than just her train of thought. "Lady, what is it that you want? Just say it outright!"
Noble Princess Consort Rong didn’t reply, staring at her coldly.
She wore striking red makeup on the corners of her eyes and lips, looking just like the main villain from a television drama.
Seeing this tense standoff, Jiang Xian broke out in a cold sweat.
’Paging Daji! How do I handle this showdown?’
’Oh? Not bad. You’re finally getting somewhere,’ Daji’s mental voice perked up instantly at the mention of a showdown. ’Let me see which king and young lord are... wait, it’s just two women? How boring.’
So said Daji, the Iron Straight Woman.
However, she still gave Jiang Xian a way out.
After listening to Daji’s advice, Jiang Xian stood and curtsied. "It is my fault. I originally had an appointment to have tea with my Sister-in-law. But when I came to Changchun Palace today, I lost all track of time while absorbed in the sages’ books. I ended up missing our appointment and also disturbed Lady Xianfei. The fault is all mine."
—Of everyone present, the Noble Consort was the one who cared most about saving face.
The Noble Consort wasn’t incapable of telling right from wrong, but she valued her own pride above all else. Jiang Xian had to take the blame and put the Noble Consort on a pedestal before she could say anything more.
The Noble Consort valued familiarity. When she heard Jiang Xian call Consort Xian the formal ’Lady Xianfei,’ but refer to her with the intimate ’Sister-in-law,’ her expression immediately softened and the color returned to her face.
And Princess Consort Zhang, being well-acquainted with the Noble Consort’s tyrannical ways, would surely understand Jiang Xian’s predicament and not press the matter further.
"As it happens, I also wanted to share with you, Sister-in-law, the many lessons I learned from the books of sages here with Lady Xianfei," Jiang Xian added, lifting Princess Consort Zhang onto a pedestal as well.
Daji explained, ’The women in the harem love to hide their true feelings. Someone might look honest, but they aren’t—they just lack the power to cause trouble, so they pretend to be meek and obedient. Since you’ll have to get along with Princess Consort Zhang for the long haul, you can’t let her be too wronged.’
As expected, Princess Consort Zhang heard this and replied humbly, "I’m merely literate and was bored, so I was sharing with Gu Wan Yi. How could I dare to show off in front of you, my Lady?"
She saw Gu Wan Yi in a new light.
’I thought Gu Wan Yi was just like Ma Wan Yi, but I never expected she would have such sway with the Noble Consort. Just daring to praise someone else in her presence is impressive enough.’
Noble Princess Consort Rong nodded. "Good that you wouldn’t dare."
Princess Consort Zhang was taken aback, grumbling internally, ’It’s a good thing Gu Wan Yi is so good-natured. Who else could put up with the way she talks!’
Noble Princess Consort Rong paid no mind to her thoughts. "Since Gu Wan Yi remembers her appointment with me, well, aren’t you coming?"
Having no other choice, Jiang Xian thanked Princess Consort Zhang and followed the Noble Consort out.
Chen Changzai wanted to follow, but Qiu Yun stopped her. "What do you think you’re doing, miss?"
"I thought she said they were having tea?"
Qiu Yun said, "Our Lady did not invite you."
Chen Changzai was surprised. "That can’t be right! Last time, the Lady even set up a special table just for me. She respected me so much."
Qiu Yun had never met such a difficult concubine. She had to take an indirect approach. "...Aren’t you a guest of Lady Xianfei, miss? Gu Wan Yi has left, and if you leave too, wouldn’t that be a great disrespect to Lady Xianfei?"
Chen Changzai thought that made sense. She turned to Princess Consort Zhang and asked, "Lady Xianfei, could you let me stay for a casual meal?"
Princess Consort Zhang snapped, "You can eat just as well back in Bihua Palace."
But Chen Changzai insisted that wasn’t the case. She sighed. "When Gu Wan Yi isn’t at Bihua Palace, the Imperial Kitchen doesn’t send me any good dishes. Besides, the food for a Wanyi is already delicious, but I’ve never even tasted the meals served to a concubine of your station."
In truth, Chen Changzai had tasted food bestowed upon her by the Lady.
But in front of Consort Xian, she naturally had to pretend she’d never eaten anything good. Chen Changzai lowered her head slightly, hiding the smile playing on her lips. ’Sometimes, I’m truly taken aback by my own profound scheming and cunning!’
In Princess Consort Zhang’s eyes, Chen Changzai’s fleeting expression was like that of a mouse that had just stolen some oil.
Princess Consort Zhang said, "Very well, then. You may stay."
Chen Changzai was overjoyed. Her sacrifice of eating only a bowl of bland, watery chicken noodle soup this morning had not been in vain. She had come to Changchun Palace precisely to get a good meal!
※
「Meanwhile, at Zhaoyang Palace.」
After the Noble Consort led Jiang Xian back, she didn’t seem to have anything specific in mind and simply asked her, "What’s so great about Changchun Palace? I have everything she has, and my things are better."
Princess Consort Zhang also came from an aristocratic family.
But the opportunities for a civil servant to earn merit couldn’t compare to those won on the battlefield. The Rong Family was far wealthier than hers, so their food, clothing, and general lifestyle were naturally superior.