Chapter 58: Straight to the Point
Zhao Zun and his group were having a brawl and a meal at Tengyun Building, unaware that Ms Qin had already arrived at her daughter Zhao Qiao’er’s home.
Zhao Qiao’er was the apple of Ms Qin’s eye, smart and clever since childhood, and greatly cherished by Ms Qin. No matter what happened, she would always discuss it with Zhao Qiao’er.
Zhao Qiao’er was Zhao Zun’s sister and Zhao Ling’er’s elder sister.
As a daughter born of a concubine, she could not marry into prominent families as a primary wife, so she married a merchant who dealt in cloth in the Capital City.
Zhao Qiao’er’s husband had the surname Lin and was named Lin Yuanshan, three years older than Zhao Qiao’er, and managed the family’s cloth business.
The Lin family did not do a large-scale cloth business in the Capital City, but after several generations of management, they could be considered wealthy.
Zhao Qiao’er married Lin Yuanshan for two years but had not experienced many days of loving marital life. Lin Yuanshan traveled far and wide for business, often leaving Zhao Qiao’er alone at home.
Though Zhao Qiao’er harbored grievances against Lin Yuanshan, she never voiced them as long as Lin Dafu brought home silver for her to spend.
Instead, she proactively joined her sisters-in-law in caring for her elderly in-laws, earning a good reputation within the Lin family.
At this moment, Zhao Qiao’er had just finished lunch with her father-in-law and mother-in-law and was in her room counting the silver note Lin Yuanshan had sent back when her mother Qin Yanran came in tearfully.
"Mother, why are you here?" Zhao Qiao’er tucked the silver note into her sleeve and rose to greet her mother.
"Qiao’er, mother, mother cannot live anymore. Wuwu..." Qin Yanran burst into even more tears upon seeing her daughter.
Zhao Qiao’er hurriedly guided her to sit beside the table and handed her a cup of water. "Who upset you? Tell me!"
Ms Qin sniffed, took a sip of water, and finally stammered, "Yesterday, Zhao Zun returned from Beiguan. He brought a young woman home to stay, named Han Lei, and Zhao Zun said he wants to marry her as his Princess Consort."
Zhao Zun was granted the title Prince Xiaoyao, which Zhao Qiao’er knew. It was normal for Zhao Zun to want to marry a Princess Consort, but Zhao Qiao’er’s focus was not on that.
She asked in surprise, "Did that woman truly move into the house?"
"Yes! She moved into the Prince Mansion yesterday."
"Moving in before marriage, what kind of decency is that?" Zhao Qiao’er said in disbelief, "Is Zhao Zun blind? Marrying such a shameless woman?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Yanran felt even more aggrieved, "That wretch moved in and even hit me. Wuwu..."
"What?" Zhao Qiao’er’s eyebrows furrowed.
"Wuwu... She said I didn’t know a concubine’s etiquette, didn’t respect the mistress, and slapped me hard. Look here!"
Like a child complaining to a parent, Qin Yanran not only lamented her grievance but also showed Zhao Qiao’er the five-finger mark on her face that hadn’t faded overnight.
"Unbelievable! That wretch, whose daughter is she for being so audacious?"
Seeing the clear five-finger mark on her mother’s face, Zhao Qiao’er was angrier, her chest heaving up and down.
Her anger wasn’t just at the mark on Qin Yanran’s face but at the words Qin Yanran spoke: not understanding a concubine’s etiquette.
A concubine’s etiquette?
For these years, while Zhao Zun was away, Qin Yanran had been flaunting her power over the old lady, living gloriously, almost forgetting her identity as the original concubine of the Zhen Guogong Mansion.
The word ’concubine’ was a perpetual pain in Zhao Qiao’er’s heart.
Her mother was a concubine in the Zhao family, and she was the daughter of a concubine. Clearly, she was Zhao Ling’er’s elder sister, yet she could only be a concubine-born daughter at Zhao Mansion.
At Zhao Mansion, her every necessity was inferior to Zhao Ling’er, even her marriage prospects could never compare to Zhao Ling’er.
Zhao Ling’er could gloriously marry into powerful families as a primary wife, whereas she could only be a concubine to marry into those families.
Why?
"That wretch, what noble daughter is she?" Qin Yanran wiped her tears and continued, "She is a wild girl Zhao Zun brought back from Beiguan Border City; her clothes are worse than the maids in the Prince Mansion."
"How vile! A common wild girl dares to accuse you, a dignified Prince Mansion’s concubine, of not understanding rules?" Zhao Qiao’er grew angrier, slamming her palm on the table, grinding her teeth.
"Even if she marries Zhao Zun, she is junior; by status, she should call you concubine."
"Qiao’er, mother is not content! Mother’s status is humble enough in this mansion and now suffers such humiliation, mother cannot swallow this!" Qin Yanran rubbed her tears pathetically.
Zhao Qiao’er upon hearing this, flashed a ruthless gleam in her eye, "Mother, rest assured, your daughter will certainly seek justice for you!"
"Shall we go fight back? That won’t work, she’s got Zhao Zun backing her!"
"Hmph! You’re just too kind, no wonder you haven’t outmatched that vile woman Lanhui all these years." Zhao Qiao’er had an increasingly fierce gleam in her eyes.
Lanhui was the maiden name of Zhao Zun’s mother, and Zhao Qiao’er called her ’mother’ in public but always referred to her as ’that vile woman’ behind her back.
"Then how do you plan to do it?" Qin Yanran looked at her daughter, full of anticipation.
"How do I want to do it? Hmph!" Zhao Qiao’er narrowed her eyes ruthlessly, "I want to eliminate her directly, lest she obstructs you."
"Ah?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Yanran’s brow wrinkled, but remembering Han Lei slapping her and how Zhao Qiao’er criticized her for not being fierce enough, she quickly agreed with her daughter’s plan.
"You’re right! Simply eliminate her. She’s this disrespectful before marrying, who knows how unbearable mother’s life will be after she marries!"
"Mother, rest assured, I know of a slow-acting poison, colorless and tasteless, difficult to detect. Once I get the poison, I’ll go to the Prince Mansion to find mother. Then we’ll seek a chance to put it in that wretch’s food, quietly eliminating her."
"Good! Good!"
Qin Yanran repeatedly said ’good’, and the same thought grew in her mind, making her hand tremble slightly as she held the teacup in excitement.
Once this thought took root, it spread like wildfire, never to be contained...
(Note: This is a fictional novel, aiming to showcase the emotional and psychological changes of characters for plot development and does not promote or advocate violence or criminal acts. In real life, respect the law and morals, and address issues peacefully and rationally.)
...
At the same time, in the Imperial Palace.
Emperor Jing was dining with the Empress in her palace, then heard the eunuch outside report that Princess Changle had arrived.
Princess Changle was the Empress’s niece and often visited the palace to see the Empress, so there was no need for strict protocols; Emperor Jing directly let the eunuch escort her inside.
Dressed in finery, Princess Changle entered and greeted Emperor Jing and the Empress.
"Changle greets Your Majesty, greets Aunt."
"Hmm! Rise. What brings you to see your aunt at this moment?"
Emperor Jing smiled, letting her sit beside the Empress, just about to ask if she wanted to dine with them. However, Princess Changle knelt before the Empress and hastily stated her intent.
"Aunt. Changle came to the palace to request you and Uncle to bestow a marriage upon me."