Chapter 284: Simply Unparalleled

For example, during the New Year you can prepare a few large bottles of Cola for the kids and the like.

Not for any other reason, just let the children have something fresh; of course, the firecrackers and such are also hauled home in trucks.

On the twenty‑eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Wang Zongsheng's family also arrived at Jixiang Yuan.

To be able to come to Jingcheng and see this mansion, they gave themselves a holiday, cutting off all relatives and friends.

The moment they entered Jixiang Yuan, Wang Zongsheng's family was even more shocked than the Zhen Guo Gong Zhai; the house was superb, especially the bathhouses in each courtyard—utterly delightful, every corner was incredibly comfortable.

No wonder the old master and old lady won't leave; this place is so wonderful—oh my, the air feels so smooth to breathe.

It doesn't feel damp and cold at all, just unusually dry; the inside of the mansion feels ten‑thousand‑plus li different from the outside.

They had previously stayed in Jingcheng; after getting used to the north, they never wanted to return to Jingcheng, which is damp, humid, and cold. Now it's fine—if it's like this, they'll have to come more often.

Wang Zongsheng can't, but Lady Wang certainly can; she can bring Zihan here for a short stay without any issue.

This place is simply amazing.

"Look at the foolish things you've done; other wives help their husbands manage the household and teach their spouses, but you? You're crazy all day, always causing trouble. I tell you, if you want to die, go ahead; if you want to make a scene, do it. No one will indulge you—if you don't change, you'll be stuck here forever."

"Father, mother, why did you just arrive? Hurry and rescue your daughter!"

Even if the emperor came, he'd probably linger and not want to leave.

Wang Jiaru chased after them, but a matron at the door stopped her and sent her back; she then squatted on the ground like a shrew and began wailing.

"Ru'er, Ru'er"

"What are you going out for? To compare yourself with others again, to cause trouble for the Prince Consort's Zhai? To flaunt that you're a princess everywhere?"

"No, we won't go. If we had gone early, our Wang Family wouldn't have a daughter like that."

"Father, mother"

In the back courtyard of the Prince Consort's Zhai, within a tranquil little courtyard, two matrons stood guard at the gate.

"Open the door,"

After crying for a while, Lady Wang had the servant girl help Jiaru inside, and then the three of them entered the house.

Yuan Jiaqi took a holiday on the twenty‑eighth day of the twelfth lunar month; the Fengyun brothers took turns on duty, and the household was filled with celebration.

"The old Ru'er was enthusiastic, helpful, brave, kind, talkative and cheerful, never judging by status. But look at what you've become now?"

The courtyard gate opened, and the Little Prince respectfully extended his hand, "Father‑in‑law, mother‑in‑law, please."

Wang Zongsheng entered with his wife and son; the Little Prince did not follow, turned and left, and the matrons shut the courtyard gate.

When Wang Zongsheng heard it, his head swelled; if you don't comply with her request, she'll cause a scene like this.

Wang Zongsheng, one hand pulling his wife, the other pulling Zihan, stormed off in a huff.

"Father, mother, the son wants to go see Jiaru, what do you think?"

Lady Wang, being pulled, looked back while walking and cried.

"Alright, son‑in‑law, I'll take you there right away."

"Prince,"

"We haven't seen Ru'er for several years; shall we meet today?"

"Since we stopped letting her leave, she caused a ruckus for a while, then became more obedient. When the mother‑consort saw she'd calmed down, she let her out, but a few days later she reverted to her nature, so we placed her under house arrest—there was no other choice."

Lady Wang rushed over, embraced her daughter, and the mother and daughter clutched each other's heads, crying bitterly.

The old lady over there, Wang Zongsheng bowed his head and was reporting to them.

"The old me?"

"I'm only going out because of them?"

"Go ahead."

"Yes,"

Seeing his son and daughter‑in‑law in such distress, the old master waved his hand, "If you want to go, go. It's good to see each other; it's been several years since the last meeting. You may look, but you must not promise her anything!"

"Servant girl, you have a son and a daughter, and they're not young anymore. You must think of them, if not yourself, right?"

"We can't do anything for her; after all, this is the Prince Consort's family's matter. I'm just a Fourth Rank official—what can I do?"

Then someone rushed out; Wang Zongsheng, Lady Wang, and Zihan looked up, startled—this was no longer the Jiaru they knew before.

Both sides took seats, and shortly after the Little Prince arrived. He showed no airs, even bowed to the father‑in‑law and mother‑in‑law, and was especially friendly to his younger brother‑in‑law.

"I think you've spoiled her; once she suffers she'll understand. By constantly paving the way for her, she'll only think she's important and won't change her ways."

The woman in the flowing cape, like a madwoman, had two servant girls rush out behind her, all of whom had married and come along with her.

"Mother, I'll change. Tell the Prince, please let me out."

Everything was no different from before, "Father‑in‑law, mother‑in‑law, shall I take you to see Ru'er?"

"I"

"They're all like that; if I don't use power, they'll pressure me."

"Then tell mother what you did wrong?"

Lady Wang wiped her tears, "Mother, she's still my daughter no matter what. If I go, I can speak to her properly."

"We don't have that much face. If you truly want to repent, cultivate yourself here. Your mother‑in‑law tells others you're a vegetarian who chants sutras; that will help restore your reputation. Temper your temperament, and after a few years you may leave again."

The mansion isn't lacking; aside from its tranquility, there's nothing bad about it.

There's no sign of mistreating Jiaru, and although this time Wang Jiaru looks a bit thinner than before, she isn't sickly.

"I"

Lady Wang's biggest worry is that, to preserve the royal face, they'd usually have the princess quietly die of illness, but her concerns didn't materialize, showing the Prince Consort's Zhai still values this family.

Upon hearing this, Wang Jiaru went mad, "I want to go out, I want to go out! You want to drive the daughter mad, right? You want the daughter to die, right?"

"She's okay, right?"

They froze on the spot, and Wang Jiaru did the same; she looked at her parents and siblings, then plopped onto the ground and sobbed loudly.

She entered the house, and Wang Jiaru pulled the Princess Consort into a tearful complaint.

"Mother, please go speak to them, stop keeping the daughter locked up; the daughter knows she was wrong."

Wang Zongsheng furrowed his brows, Zihan pressed his lips together, and the father and son watched this scene, their eyes also red.

When the Prince heard the in‑laws had arrived, he hurried with the Princess Consort to the Keting to receive them; in etiquette they were flawless, and Wang Jiaru was not under house arrest— they had underestimated this in‑law.

"As long as you are the Princess Consort, who would dare? Not giving you face—that is, not for the Old Prince, not for the old prince's wife—indulging in a moment's pleasure, you are discarding a lifetime of fame; look, your reputation now is completely ruined."

"You've forgotten your roots, do you know? You are merely the daughter of a Fourth Rank minor official; because you once caught the Little Prince's eye, you became a Princess Consort. You don't know how to cherish, you rely on favor to act coy, squandering the Prince's kindness, comparing yourself with others, putting on airs everywhere, oppressing people with your status; the Ru'er of the past was not like this."

Li Longji wore a helpless expression, and Wang Zongsheng also understood the lady's grievance, so he stood up.

"Yes."

"Father, Mother?"

When the Little Prince arrived, they quickly offered their respects.

A voice came from inside the house, "Who? Is the Prince here? Longji, you're here?"

Thus, Wang Zongsheng prepared generous gifts, and took the Princess Consort and Dizi to the Prince Consort's Zhai.

They hurriedly said farewell to the in‑laws and returned to Jixiang Yuan; at that time the old master and the old lady were waiting anxiously, knowing this trip would surely be unsatisfactory.

Sure enough, after hearing Wang Zongsheng's words, the old lady thumped her own chest.

"That servant girl, how can she be so unrepentant? She has such wonderful children, yet she squanders blessings, insists on causing trouble, it makes me so angry, it makes me so angry."

"Mother, Qiao Niang's abilities are so great; could you ask her, see if there is any way to change Ru'er? If this continues, she will definitely be stripped of her position."

(End of Chapter)