C34

The Queen and Noble Consort Kang sat at the very top of the palace. The young miss of the Duchy glanced over at Xue Ronghua and then sat down beside her.

"Eh, where did this Lv Ying that's on the side of Noble Consort come from?" Empress Chen looked at Noble Consort Kang in confusion, and unconsciously glanced at Xue Ronghua.

Xue Ronghua's spirit was secretly hurt, everyone in the palace knew that Lv Ying only possessed Prince Duan's Xinyang Hall, the cherry blossoms that Noble Consort had suddenly put on must have been plucked by her when she went to the Hall of Faith. If only she had known that the Empress would ask, she would have listened to his words and not impulsively gifted it to the Noble Consort Kang.

"When concubine found out that the wangfei had gone to the Xinyang Hall, she called the maidservant to call her back and picked a bunch of Lv Ying for concubines," the Noble Consort Kang said with a gentle smile. "But the concubine remembered that the empress didn't really like cherry blossoms, so she didn't bring any for her."

"Yes," Empress Chen took a sip of tea and continued, "Peony is the true color of a country.

"The empress is the master of the harem, and the concubines live their lives in the palace because of the empress's kindness. Naturally, peonies are the best contrast to empress life."

Empress Chen was satisfied and did not speak anymore.

"The quasi wangfei is really lacking in consideration. Even if the Noble Consort Kang didn't say it, she should have brought it for the empress."

Xue Ronghua smiled as she looked at her, not wanting to stir up any trouble.

"Quasi-wangfei?"

Xue Ronghua heard Empress Chen calling him and quickly replied.

Empress Chen looked at her in confusion, "Have you discussed the marriage with Prince Duan yet?"

"Prince Duan has been busy these past few days reading the history books for the Emperor. I have not discussed this with my daughter yet."

National Duke’s daughter faintly sighed, "How can marriage be delayed so long? In my eyes, a book of history far surpasses a quasi wangfei."

Xue Ronghua was smiling on the surface, but her eyes were cold. "No matter how important the marriage is, it's just a private affair between my children and Master Duanwang.

The Noble Consort Kang praised, "It's hard for you to not get married into the Duke's Palace even after being a quasi wangfei for a few days without being justified, and you still have to think for the Prince Duan. It's very reasonable."

The Empress Chen smiled, "The crown prince is busy with matters on the side of the emperor, so there is no need to expend too much energy on his side.

"But it's Prince Jin," Empress Chen changed the subject, "Look at your two elder brothers who have already taken wives, why are you still dragging it on?"

Prince Jin cupped his hands: "Don't worry mother, I have already found the woman I love, it's just that it will take a few more days for me to marry her into Prince Jin's Palace."

"Oh?" The Empress Chen asked with interest, "Will there still be women that you cannot immediately welcome into the Palace?"

"This is a beauty whom I have spent a lot of luck to meet. I naturally have to prepare well."

Empress Chen shook his head helplessly, "If you are like this, then what should we do about the spring colors filling the hall?"

When the few girls who admired Prince Jin heard that he already had someone he liked, all of them became dispirited and drooped their heads like dainty flowers. Their originally bright eyes were immediately covered in a thick layer of dust. Xue Liuhua tightly gripped the front of her clothes, and his heart seemed to have been thrown into a huge boulder as it rose and fell unsteadily.

Prince Jin swept a glance over all the beauties present, "The beauty that I want, is right here."

Everyone present absolutely did not expect Prince Jin, who was always smiling silently, to say such words. They could not help but raise their heads, as they waited for his next words with rapt attention and breath.

Noble Consort Kang, who had initially thought that the Prince Jin was trying to stall the empress, was also stunned. She secretly tugged on her sleeves and whispered, "What's wrong with you, don't play with a child."

Not only did Prince Jin not restrain himself, he said even more imprudently, "However, this girl and I have yet to communicate with each other. We only know that I have feelings for her, and do not know if she has any feelings for me."

Empress Chen's gaze swept across Xue Liuhua's body as she probed: "Who is that woman?"

Prince Jin smiled mysteriously: "Please forgive me empress. This son cannot tell the empress yet, but the day I marry the beauty, the empress will know."

Xue Liuhua's heart raced a hundred times. Amongst all of the girls present, she was undoubtedly the most outstanding, so was the woman that the Prince Jin had in mind her?

Xue Ronghua nodded at Prince Jin with a smile, and silently prayed in his heart for him to find such a heroic woman, and for her to become his concubine.

Just that, she slowly swept her eyes across the entire competition grounds. In terms of looks, the only one who could match Prince Jin's looks was Xue Liuhua, but Prince Jin would probably not like a woman who was too flamboyant.

Xue Ronghua was still changing glances at the girls, trying to guess who the Prince Jin woman was. Suddenly, she felt something burning in her right hand, and a white porcelain cup fell onto her white skirt, causing him to faint on the spot.

Little Zhui hurriedly picked up the white porcelain cup and placed it on the table, then took out a handkerchief to wipe the tea in her hand. National Duke’s daughter hurriedly stood up, apologizing repeatedly, but there was not a trace of shame in her eyes.

"Your Highness, forgive me. I didn't mean to."

The Noble Consort Kang frowned in displeasure. "Why is National Duke’s daughter so flustered today that the surface of future wangfei's skirt has become dirty."

"The National Duke’s daughter and the quasi wangfei have sat too close together, so it's natural for them to be careless for a moment," the Empress Chen said lightly. "Men, please invite the wangfei to the backyard to change."

National Duke’s daughter had specifically waited for the servant girl to brew a fresh cup of tea before using the boiling heat to splash it onto her body. Xue Ronghua clenched her teeth and endured, answering "Yes" as he supported Little Zhui to leave the arena.

Using the excuse that her body was unwell, Noble Consort Kang asked Prince Jin to accompany her to the guest courtyard to rest.

"How did you suddenly get a girl you like?" The Noble Consort Kang said in annoyance, "I don't know if that's true or not."

Prince Jin laughed: "Right now, I am only interested in the throne, I don't care about the affairs of my children."

"Then why did you still dare to say that in front of the empress? Aren't you afraid of losing your tongue?"

"Your son's words aren't just for the empress to hear."

The Noble Consort Kang could not react in time, "Then who are you trying to tell me?"

Prince Jin squinted his eyes dangerously. "Quasi-wangfei, Xue Ronghua."

"Isn't she already a would-be wangfei of the Prince Duan? Why are you still telling her about it?"

Prince Jin laughed. "It's just a quasi wangfei, this word can help her become a real Princess Duan, or it can also make it so that she will never be able to step into the Prince Duan Palace."

Noble Consort Kang asked doubtfully: "What do you mean by that?"

"Isn't the mother curious about why so many high ranking officials and young misses with pretty looks would choose to find a lowly concubinage to be her wangfei?"

"This is also very strange, but back then, Liu Chengyun was also very strange. Naturally, her son is more similar to her."

The Prince Jin shook his head, "If Prince Duan had a personality like Liu Chengyun's, cold and proud, he would not have competed with the crown prince for the throne."

"Could it be that you mean to say that there is something special about Xue Ronghua's body, which allows Prince Duan to give up the chance to form a marriage alliance with a minister and accept her as his concubine?"

Prince Jin nodded happily and smiled.

"Actually, I feel that she is much more mature compared to the other girls. If Xue Liuhua or any of the other girls from National Duke’s daughter had a cup of tea with her, they would have already been enraged."

A trace of evil flashed past Prince Jin's eyes, "If Xue Ronghua really has some ability, then we can't let Prince Duan get her easily."

"What do you want?"

Prince Jin laughed sinisterly: "Of course it's to rob others."

The Noble Consort Kang said anxiously: "What do you want to do will cause displeasure in this Prince Duan."

"In any case, there will be a conflict between the crown prince and Prince Duan sooner or later. If Prince Duan is displeased, I will turn to the crown prince.

"If Xue Ronghua is really that valuable, then that would be great, but it's just that …"

Prince Jin comforted softly: "Don't worry, mother. This son has an extremely good eyesight and definitely won't make a mistake."

"Then what do you want to do?"

Prince Jin pointed to his right hand, "It's chaotic if you care."

Little Zhui was in the backyard changing Xue Ronghua's clothes, and she was gently stroking her burn wound, her eyes filled with pain.

"That National Duke’s daughter is truly a wicked mind. He threw such a scalding tea cup into the hands of the young miss."

Xue Ronghua laughed coldly: "I'm afraid if there was a fire stove in front of me, she would be even more energetic."

Little Zhui sighed: "National Duke’s daughter likes Prince Jin so much, why don't you go chase after him yourself? Why are you hurting young miss?"

Xue Ronghua tidied up the hem of her skirt, and leisurely said: "To hate me to this extent, I'm afraid it's not yearning for Prince Jin, but Prince Duan."

"The Prince Duan has already made young miss a would-be wangfei, what is she trying to cause trouble for?"

"It is precisely because there is no longer any hope of turning back that she is so noisy."

"Then what does Miss intend to do?"

Xue Ronghua sighed, "So what? Although the Noble Consort Kang is protective of me, she's not the main target. The Empress has never liked the Prince Duan, nor does she like to pay attention to me.

Little Zhui said sorrowfully: "What matter did Master Duanwang offend the empress? He must vent his anger on young miss."

"Isn't it just about those matters? It's better if you, a young maid, don't understand it too well."

"But I don't know how long the tea in the Tolling Hall will last. If National Duke’s daughter wants to stir up trouble again, is Miss going to retaliate?"

Xue Liuhua said sinisterly: "I will endure for now, there will be more chances in the future."

"If only Master Duanwang was here, he definitely wouldn't have caused Miss to suffer so much."

Xue Ronghua could not help but exclaim. If Chu Zongge was here, he would have helped to block the scalding tea right? But he would have been injured.

"Alright," Xue Ronghua feigned jealousy, "Why are you worried about the Master Duanwang, hurry up and take care of me."

Little Zhui replied: "I only care about Miss."

When Xue Ronghua returned to the hall, Prince Jin took out an exquisite pink and blue porcelain box and gave it to her. She opened it and found a milky white paste.

"This is Shu Ningshuang, the most effective way to treat scalding wounds." Prince Jin's gaze was as gentle as water.

Xue Ronghua was moved: "Thank you Prince Jin."

"No need for thanks, I'm an old friend of the Duke of this country, please accept it as an apology for the National Duke’s daughter." He intentionally glanced at the National Duke’s daughter who was fidgeting.

Xue Ronghua laughed: "Then thank you, Master Duke."

Xue Liuhua gnashed her teeth as the distance between them got closer and closer. She got up and bowed towards the empress, "Empress, drinking tea is good but not pleasing to the eye. It's better if my daughter dances one for everyone."

Empress Chen asked with interest: "What kind of dance is Liuhua going to dance?"

"Spring Dancing."

Everyone present could not help but be shocked. This dance was extremely difficult, and one could even count the number of people that could dance to one hand.

Noble Consort Kang laughed: "For this dance, I have always only heard the sounds of their dancing and could not see their shadows. I never expected that today I would be able to achieve my wish."

The Prince Jin squinted his eyes and said softly: "This son had the fortune to once see a dancer dancing in the palace, but that dancer died not long after, I wonder if Xue Liuhua could reach that standard."

"Then let's wait and see."