Chapter 225: Volume 1, Chapter 225 — You Are Truly So Stupid

In the Jinhua Hall, Noble Consort Ming was losing her temper, while Princess Zhaoqing stood to the side with reddened eyes, head bowed and silent.

Bai Zhuo spoke up cautiously from the side: "Your Ladyship, please calm your anger. Taking care of your health is what matters most. Think of His Highness, and look at Her Highness the Princess—they both still need you to look after them."

Noble Consort Ming looked as though she had aged several years all at once. She sat dejectedly on the rosewood chair and looked at her daughter, saying: "All my life I've been strong-willed, never one to admit defeat. I can't claim everything I've done has been watertight, but I've always thought things through carefully. I've fought with the Empress Dowager for so many years—even when she was Empress, she couldn't do anything about me. But look at the two children I've raised—one is more infuriating than the other."

"His Highness and the Princess are still young. You can teach them slowly."

"Young? One is already married, and the other will have her marriage arranged as soon as the mourning period is over. And look at Noble Consort Rong—isn't she about the same age as them?" Noble Consort Ming had a terrible headache. "In any case, don't go to your brother's place recently. No matter what Rong Dai says to you, don't believe a word of it."

"Mother, I know I was wrong."

"If only you truly knew, then I'd have peace of mind." Noble Consort Ming's face darkened. "You believe whatever Rong Dai says? So what if her birth mother was a princess of Qingxuan? Even with a princess's title, didn't she still remain the Protector Duke's mistress for over ten years? Even if the Protector Duke truly married Di Yue Nu as his principal wife, which noble family in the entire capital doesn't know her background? Who would truly respect her?"

Noble Consort Ming paused to catch her breath, and Bai Zhuo hurriedly brought over some tea. "Your Ladyship, have some tea."

Noble Consort Ming took a sip of tea to compose herself, then continued: "Besides, Noble Consort Rong is like a sieve—she's full of schemes from top to bottom. Though she severed ties with the Protector Duke, look how she turned around and won over the children born to the Duchess Who Guards the State. Noble Consort Rong is no one who suffers losses. Why don't you think about it—the child who lived with Chu Ke has already boarded Noble Consort Rong's ship. Would Noble Consort Rong let her suffer a loss?"

How would Princess Zhaoqing understand any of this? She said with a pale face: "It can't be. How could Rong Luoge be so kind-hearted as to protect someone who harmed her?"

"Hmph. In this world there are no permanent enemies, and no permanent friends. Prime Minister Su and Marquis Ningyuan were political rivals in court in earlier years, and aren't they now joining forces?" Noble Consort Ming gave a cold laugh and said, "Noble Consort Rong was a child raised in the countryside, thrown there by her own father. When she returned to the capital, she played the part of someone weak and easily bullied. The Protector Duke and Rong Dai fell right into her trap, thinking she was truly easy to manipulate, and so they had your brother marry her as a puppet. But the result—did you see it? She used the identity of Princess Consort Qi to connect with the Crown Prince at the time, and now in the blink of an eye she's become a Noble Consort!"

The more Noble Consort Ming spoke, the angrier she became. "If it were you, could you have such cunning and ability? Let alone you—even I, your mother, wouldn't dare claim I could do better than Noble Consort Rong. And look at how Noble Consort Rong dealt with me after your imperial father passed away. She protected the Emperor's reputation, propped me up to clash with the Empress Dowager, and sat back to reap the fisherman's benefit. Do you think I enjoyed being used as someone's weapon? There was no choice. Without your imperial father's protection, we could only swallow our pride and play the grandson to keep ourselves safe!"

Zhaoqing cried even harder, choking out: "I never agreed to do anything for Rong Dai. I just helped her say a few words, that's all."

"By speaking on her behalf, weren't you trampling your sister-in-law's face? Behind your sister-in-law stands the Yun family. Although Prime Minister Yun is currently overshadowed by Prime Minister Su, he still holds real power in his hands. And look at your brother—he has no official post right now, and is feared and suppressed by His Majesty, all his power swept clean. He's now a prince with nothing to his name. If Prime Minister Yun truly backs his daughter, do you think your brother would have any confidence standing before a Prime Minister Yun with real power? Do you understand or not?"

Princess Zhaoqing's face went pale. She didn't want to understand, but she understood anyway.

"How stupid you are. Whether it's your sister-in-law or Rong Dai, let the two of them fight their own battles. Wouldn't it be better for you to watch the fire from across the river? Neither of them is easy to deal with. Let them fight until both are exhausted, so that in the future, when I leave the palace to live at your brother's estate in retirement, I can seize control of the situation all at once." The more Noble Consort Ming spoke, the more she sighed, wishing she could dig out her own brain and stuff it into her daughter's head.

"Your Ladyship, Noble Consort Rong has sent word that she wishes to come pay you a visit." Bai Zhuo saw a young palace maid gesturing from outside, hurried out to inquire, and only then learned that Noble Consort Rong was coming over.

"What is she coming for? She couldn't possibly know what Zhaoqing did, could she?" Noble Consort Ming said suspiciously.

Bai Zhuo said: "This servant thinks probably not. After all, what happened with Her Highness the Princess took place at the Qi Wang Fu. Noble Consort Rong couldn't possibly know about it."

Noble Consort Ming thought about it and agreed. Though Noble Consort Rong was once her daughter-in-law, now that she'd become a Noble Consort, she wished to have nothing to do with their family at all.

"Mother, then should I avoid her for now?" Princess Zhaoqing didn't want to lose face in front of Rong Luoge.

"Hide from what? Noble Consort Rong's arrival is perfect timing. I can take this opportunity to probe her attitude toward Di Yue Nu. You should know that Noble Consort Rong suffered greatly at the hands of Di Yue Nu and her daughter. I refuse to believe she doesn't want payback." Noble Consort Ming hit upon an idea in an instant, then instructed her daughter: "When you see Noble Consort Rong, your attitude must be good. You should know that your marriage may well be arranged by His Majesty through her. If Noble Consort Rong asks you anything, just say you were deceived by Rong Dai. Don't say anything more, and speak less about your sister-in-law's rights and wrongs."

Princess Zhaoqing quickly nodded. "I'll remember."

Only then did Noble Consort Ming look at Bai Zhuo. "Go out personally to welcome her. Noble Consort Rong is with child now. We can't have anything happen to her at our place—ten mouths wouldn't be enough to explain it away."

"Yes." Bai Zhuo quickly nodded, bowed, and withdrew.

Rong Luoge arrived very quickly. Seeing Noble Consort Ming, she smiled and said: "It's been a long time since I last saw you, Your Ladyship. What has happened here? It seems I've come at a bad time."

Noble Consort Ming wore a look of dejection and helplessness, and said dispiritedly: "Please sit and talk, Noble Consort Rong. It's just Zhaoqing making me angry again."

Rong Luoge's eyes fell on Princess Zhaoqing, who hadn't spoken a word, and she said with a smile: "Princess Zhaoqing is understanding, clever, and kind-hearted. How could she make you angry, Your Ladyship? You shouldn't be too strict with the Princess now. Last time you mentioned the Princess's marriage to me, I have already reported it to His Majesty. After the mourning period ends next year, His Majesty will choose a good husband for Princess Zhaoqing to marry. You can rest easy, Noble Consort Ming."

Zhaoqing's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately looked at her mother.

Noble Consort Ming's heart also gave a jolt, but she put on a face of pleasant surprise. "Thank you so much, Noble Consort Rong. Zhaoqing's marriage is the worry weighing on my heart now. Once she's safely married off, I'll be at peace."