Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Old Madam Zheng said with joy on her face, “You’re welcome. I am Jinniang’s grandmother after all.
“Even if she can only be Bo’er’s concubine, as her grandmother, I will protect her! “
Hearing her words, the noble ladies around talked in a low voice.
Mrs. Yu, whose husband had just been promoted, recalled that her son Yu An wanted to propose to Jinniang.
Fortunately, he didn’t succeed in Yuanxi Temple that day.
Miss Yu said to Mrs. Yu proudly, “Mother, Qiao Jinniang looked down on Brother and I back then. You saw it, right?
“Fortunately, she rejected Brother. Otherwise, she’ll be a disgrace of our family!”
Mrs. Yu nodded and said, “Mrs. Li is really smart. Perhaps she had long discovered what kind of a woman Qiao Jinniang is.”
Hearing their words, Mrs. Li explained, “Jinniang had been married and had a child indeed, but she had long told us. The annulment of the marriage has nothing to do with this matter.”
Mrs. Yu taunted, “Oh? Really? Then why did you want to annul it?”
Not only were the common people gathered at the door, but there were also some maids from the families of dignitaries and nobles who also came to inquire about the news.
Seeing that Qiao Jinniang refused to admit it, the man pinched the child again and said, “Come on, ask your mother to hug you.”
The child, whose facial features were wrinkled into a ball, cried and broke free from the pull of the servants, and shouted loudly, “Mother! Mother, give me a hug. I’m your son.”
“You are talking nonsense. This is my mother.”
Tuan’er ran towards Qiao Jinniang in a bright little red robe.
A large group of imperial maids and guards followed behind.
The little rice ball had just recovered from a serious illness and was looking much better.
Qiao Jinniang opened her arms and hugged the little rice ball in her arms. “Good son.”
The little rice ball placed his head on Qiao Jinniang’s shoulder, rubbed against it and said with a smile, “Mommy, you smell so sweet.”
Qiao Jinniang said to the guards of the Duke Mansion, “Tie up these two people who pretended to be the Crown Prince and the little imperial grandson and came to slander me. Send them to the Ministry of Public Security for an investigation.”
The Duchess was stunned, and couldn’t help recalling when the imperial grandson had just returned to Chang’an, he often called her and Ruoshui “Mother”.
The Duchess suddenly figured out everything. It turned out that the Crown Prince was the jerk who divorced her daughter.
Mrs. Zheng hurriedly said, “Slander? Pretend to be the Crown Prince and the little imperial grandson? Qiao Jinniang, this is your own son!”
Qiao Jinniang arranged the bangs of the little rice ball in her arms and said, “I know who my son is. Aunt, I’m afraid you don’t know my ex-husband is the Crown Prince and my son is the little imperial grandson, do you?”
As soon as she said so, it was dead silent and then there was an uproar.
Who would have imagined that this long-lost daughter of the Duke was actually the wife of the Crown Prince?
Of course Mrs. Zheng didn’t know about it.
Not only Mrs. Zheng, but Second Madam also almost fainted.
Second Madam hated Prince Mediocre even more now. If Prince Mediocre hadn’t made use of Qiao Ruofeng, given the fact that Ruofeng and Jinniang were on good terms before, she wouldn’t have only married a merchant!
Old Madam Zheng’s expression changed, and she said flatteringly, “Oh, is this Tuan’er? I miss you so much, so does your mother. Let Grandma hug you.”
Qiao Jinniang hugged the little rice ball tightly and secretly exclaimed that her grandmother’s face had changed too quickly.
Qin Miaomiao clenched Qiao Ruoyun’s hand and said, “I guessed right.”
Mrs. Zheng snapped, “Qiao Jinniang, how dare you get engaged to Li Yun with your husband as His Royal Highness? Were you trying to cuckold His Royal Highness?”
“I and the Crown Prince are already divorced!”
Qiao Jinniang said casually, “His Majesty and Her Majesty have allowed me to marry someone else. Do you have a problem with it?”
Mrs. Zheng was relieved. Since they had already divorced, it meant that Qiao Jinniang was not favored by the Crown Prince
Although she had borne the imperial grandson, the Emperor was still strong, and it would still be a long time before the Crown Prince’s enthronement.
In such circumstances, this imperial grandson might not necessarily be the future emperor.
When he grew older, he might not be so close to Qiao Jinniang.
Tuan’er hugged Qiao Jinniang and said, “Mother, why did that boy call you Mother? You are my mother.”
Qiao Jinniang pinched Tuan’er’s little nose. “Someone wanted to set me up. You’re my one and only baby.”
Old Madam Qiao took the lead to salute Tuan’er. “Little Imperial Grandson.”
The people present saluted him one after another, and Tuan’er casually waved his little hand. “Arise.”
Still holding Tuan’er, Qiao Jinniang saluted the Duchess and Old Madam Qiao. “Mother, I’m sorry. I had been hiding it from you because I didn’t want to make you worry. Sorry for shocking you.”
The Duchess smiled and said, “No, it’s great that you found Tuan’er. No wonder I felt so close to him at the first sight of him.”
It just so happened that Duke Anyuan and his colleagues had just returned from court.
Duke Anyuan had heard the news from his servant on the way home, and he was relieved to hear that Qiao Jinniang had turned the two people to the Ministry of Public Security.
But his colleagues had complicated feelings when they heard about this.
Duke Qin really hated his mother now. She abused Qiao Ruoyun back then and offended the Qiao Family badly. Now with the little imperial grandson, the Qiao family was definitely on the rise!
Qiao Jinniang would be the Crown Prince’s second concubine at least.
“Congratulations, Your Excellency.”
Thinking about Qiao Jinniang’s attitude towards Lu Chen, Duke Anyuan said helplessly, “No, we’re going to lose our Absolution Token.”
After Duke Anyuan came back, a banquet was held, and Qiao Jinniang sat next to Tuan’er.
The Duchess hurriedly ordered maids to serve Tuan’er his dinner.
Qiao Jinniang said, “Mother, no need. Tuan’er could already eat by himself when he was two years old.”
Tuan’er picked up a small spoon and babbled, “Yes, I’m a good baby. I should eat by myself.”
The Duchess looked at her youngest son, a six-year-old boy, but he still needed two maids and a mammy to chase after him to feed him. What a shame.
Old Madam Qiao said with a smile, “The little imperial grandson is very well-behaved. There are very few children who can obediently eat by themselves.”
Qiao Jinniang said, “He didn’t want to eat by himself when he was two years old, but after I starved him a few times, he surrendered.”
At that time, Lu Chen felt that she doted on Tuan’er too much, and Tuan’er didn’t want to eat obediently when it was time for dinner.
Every time she finished feeding Tuan’er, the dishes would go cold, so he made Tuan’er eat by himself. If Tuan’er refused, he would starve him once.
In less than three days, Tuan’er was able to eat by himself. Judging from the way he ate by himself now, Lu Chen must have not spoiled him when he was in the East Palace.
When Mrs. Zheng heard this, she was surprised. “Jinniang, you dare to starve the little imperial grandson? He is your son! How could you be so ruthless?
“No wonder His Royal Highness wants to divorce you!
“It must be for the sake of your father that he didn’t punish you!”
Mrs. Zheng didn’t know why the people here were so afraid of Qiao Jinniang.
She was abandoned and disliked by the Crown Prince!