CH 135.1

Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine Ch 135 Pt. 1

Translated by gingercat

Edited by gingercat

Qing Wang’s face instantly turned ugly. He stood up and walked outside without saying another word.

Seeing him like this, Consort Qing naturally understood what it meant. So Side Consort Han had stolen the golden seal?

For a time, her mood was very complicated. She had mixed feelings of both joy and sorrow.

She was very happy that it wasn’t him who gave the golden seal to Side Consort Han. But at the same time, she couldn’t help feeling downcast. If she hadn’t listened to little fifth sister-in-law’s words and talked to him like this, they would’ve definitely had a big fight. Although Side Consort Han’s move seemed reckless, she actually calculated the estrangement between her and Qing Wang very accurately. In the past, as long as a matter had to do with Side Consort Han, she never bothered to explain her side. As for today’s matter, the servant who passed the message only told the beginning and the end. Without what happened in between, she was put in an extremely unfavourable light.

Consort Qing felt enlightened then sobered up at once. She couldn’t help shuddering.

She had no idea how many stumbling blocks Side Consort Han had created and how many misunderstandings she caused between her and Qing Wang. And who knows whether Qing Wang will simply gloss over this matter after that woman puts up a front of affection and tears?

On the other hand, Side Consort Han received a report from her servant. Qing Wang had stormed out of the main courtyard and was heading her way towards Xianyue Pavilion. She hurried over to the mirror and looked at her reflection. Feeling satisfied, she rushed over to the big Kang underneath the window and sat down.

On the Kang, there was also a red sandalwood Kang table and a basket of needlework was placed on it. Side Consort Han took out a piece of clothes and started to sew it carefully. This was a winter sweater for Qing Wang. The warm sun sprinkled in through the window, casting a faint golden light on her, making her skin appear crystal clear. Side Consort Han had been very weak earlier, but after giving birth to Cheng Ge’er, she gained a little weight and her complexion was much better than before.

As soon as Qing Wang walked in, he saw this picture.

Seeing Qing Wang, Side Consort Han put down the needle and thread in her hand and greeted him with surprise.

“Cousin, why are you here now? You must have drunk a lot. I’ll have one of the maids bring you a cup of sobering tea.”

Side Consort Han was about to go outside and call a maid when Qing Wang grabbed her arm.

“Cousin?” 

“Where is my golden seal?”

Side Consort Han’s face turned white.

Her thin pink lips trembled a bit as if she had something to say but didn’t know how to say it.

“Why aren’t you speaking? Why did you steal this prince’s golden seal? Why did you use this prince’s golden seal for Cheng Ge’er’s Zhua Zhou? What do you want to do?”

Side Consort Han burst into tears. Her crystal clear tears fell down one after another, and she knelt down with a plop. Her shaking hands pulled out a small seal and she held it pitifully to Qing Wang.

“Cousin, don’t blame me, I didn’t take it on purpose. I just thought that Cheng Ge’er is not as noble as the eldest young master, and is not as valued by the servants of the house, so I wanted to make others take him more seriously. You know Cheng Ge’er. He falls ill every two or three days. The nanny and the maid…”

Qing Wang interrupted, “Don’t mention the nanny and the maid. You had said that the nanny and the maid were arranged by the consort and didn’t treat Cheng Ge’er with enough care, always making him sick. Then you changed them into people you chose yourself.” He was full of distress. He never expected that Side Consort Han would do such a thing. He was even more annoyed by himself. His golden seal was gone, and he had no idea.

“Cousin, I know that no matter what I say right now, you won’t listen. But I really don’t have any bad intentions nor do I want to fight for anything. I know you don’t like Cheng Ge’er, you don’t even want to hold him in your arms, because the consort doesn’t like me, nor Cheng Ge’er. But I’m a mother, and I have to think for my child. I was muddle-headed and took your golden seal, wanting to show how important Cheng Ge’er is to you in front of the outsiders. This way, we mother and son will have a better life in the future…”

Side Consort Han cried as she explained everything.

“…I’m not strong. I know that people look down on me and feel that I’m not worthy enough to be your side consort… Because of me, even Cheng Ge’er is looked down upon… I also have no intentions to deceive you. I planned to look for you to confess my mistake after a period of time. Cousin, since you’re already aware of it, give me my punishment. Punish me however you wish…”

Qing Wang frowned and looked at Side Consort Han, who was crying like a pear blossom bathed in the rain. It took a while before he picked up the golden seal, and left without looking back.

Before stepping out, he instructed, “Side Consort Han will stay behind closed doors for a month, reflecting upon herself.”

After Qing Wang left, Side Consort Han stood up. She picked up the basket of needlework on the Kang table and smashed it onto the ground.

“Go investigate for me! Who on earth was bold enough to tell His Highness!”

Side Consort Han believed that she had concealed the truth behind this matter well. Qing Wang rarely uses this seal. It was the night before yesterday, when Qing Wang was resting at Xianyue Pavilion, she took the opportunity to steal the seal. There were several other seals in the pouch. Even if one were to go missing, it would take a while for Qing Wang to realize.

Yet it had only taken him a single day. As long as the servants didn’t dare to talk, and since the noblewomen present wouldn’t confront Qing Wang about this matter, everyone would think that it was done with His Highness’s acquiesce. Even the servants and the consort would think so. The servants were all too afraid of the consort to be bold enough to discuss this matter. By the time His Highness learns about what happened, he’d furiously storm to the main courtyard. Given the personality of the consort, it was impossible that she’d explain what happened. They’d only end up getting into a big fight.

At that time, she would simply put the golden seal back. Even if Qing Wang were to know about it in the future, she would simply say that it was a fabricated rumour used to frame her. As for the golden seal used for Cheng Ge’er’s Zhua Zhou, she had specially ordered someone to create it. How could it be His Highness’s golden seal? To back up this story, she even ordered someone to prepare a golden seal ahead of time.

As for the person who fabricated the rumour to frame her, His Highness wouldn’t even need to think hard to believe it was Consort Qing.

She had planned everything very well. What she didn’t expect was that someone had snitched in front of Qing Wang. Side Consort Han was furious and couldn’t wait to skin the culprit alive.

But soon, the person she ordered to investigate came back to report. Apparently, no one had said anything about it in front of Qing Wang. When His Highness came back from the banquet, he went straight to the main courtyard.

Then could it be the consort who changed and filed a complaint to His Highness? How else could the matter have been exposed?

This was the only way!

“Xiao Jirou, damn you!” scolded Side Consort Han fiercely.

As for this loss, she could only accept it. Now, she can only lay low and not cause any more trouble. But since there’s still a Cheng Ge’er by her side, His Royal Highness will forgive her eventually.

After thinking through all this, Side Consort Han gradually became calmer.

When Wang Defang returned to the Wang Residence, she went to the main courtyard.

Old Madam Wang lived in the main courtyard.

When Wang Defang arrived, Old Madam Wang was resting. Now that she was old, she developed the habit of taking a nap in the afternoon. If she didn’t sleep, she wouldn’t have enough energy to last for the day. And whenever Old Madam Wang takes a nap, it’s for at least one hour.

Wang Defang didn’t come at an opportune time. But instead of leaving, she went to the small Buddhist hall at the back to help Old Madam Wang and copy Buddhist scriptures.

The small Buddhist hall was filled with the scent of sandalwood throughout the year. If one were to only smell it every now and then, it was fine. But if someone were to smell it day after day, month after month, for over a decade, it was impossible not to find the scent revolting after a while.

Wang Defang suppressed her nausea and knelt in front of a low table, copying the Buddhist scriptures sheet by sheet. By the time Old Madam Wang woke up, Wang Defang had already copied over 20 copies.

As for the arrival of the seventh young miss, it was naturally reported to Old Madam Wang by a maid.

“What a pious young lass.”

Old Madam Wang sat on the Kang, and Wang Defang sat opposite her. A maid had lifted her pants and was massaging her knees. Her skin was delicate and her flesh was tender, so it was inevitable for her legs to turn green after kneeling for a while. But by now, she was already used to it. As the maid massaged her, she didn’t even make a noise. Instead, she smiled and said to Old Madam Wang, “Since granddaughter prays for grandmother and grandfather, naturally, granddaughter should be devout.”

Old Madam Wang smiled until her eyes squinted. She was very satisfied with Wang Defang’s attitude.