Chapter 338: Extra: The Tough Neighbor Chapter 57 (Supplement)

Extra: The Tough Neighbor Chapter 57 (Supplement)

Facing Jin Jingwen's assertiveness, Yin Fengxuan unusually stood his ground. Refusing to go to the office no matter what, he stubbornly stayed in the Wangfu.

And regarding his thoughts, Jin Jingwen naturally knew them. The more she knew, the more she pretended to be domineering outwardly, while inside she grew increasingly pleased.

After all, Jin Jingwen is also a woman. Facing someone like Yin Fengxuan, even a rogue can make her feel at ease. Moreover, these past days Jin Jingwen hasn't been blind; she knows whether Yin Fengxuan is sincere or feigning. So now seeing Yin Fengxuan, for her sake, even refusing to go to the office, Jin Jingwen can't help but be moved!

Moreover, last night's incident as well…

So thinking that way, Jin Jingwen said little else. She still sent Lin Quan to run to the Grand Equerry Temple to deliver a message, to avoid suspicion.

Jin Jingwen is always thorough in her actions. When she saw that she no longer urged him to leave, Yin Fengxuan instantly cheered up. But his joy didn't last long; turning his head, he recalled last night, and began to display his meddlesome side, pestering Jin Jingwen with caring questions, which made the irritable Jin Jingwen want to hit him!

…

This time Jin Jingwen would make such a fuss. In the end it was because the weather suddenly turned cold, and Jin Jingwen was a bit careless about it. So from the start, Yin Fengxuan noted the matter, and after returning to the palace he went to find Long Jingyun.

As for Jin Jingwen's health issue, it was personally tended by Sheng Ziyan, and Long Jingyun knew a little but not much. Regarding his mother's skill, Long Jingyun still wanted to trust it. So when Yin Fengxuan came to complain to him, Long Jingyun didn't want to go, but couldn't stand Yin Fengxuan's rudeness; in the end he was forcibly dragged back to the Gong Wangfu.

Long Jingyun has an odd and sharp tongue. Already unwilling, meeting in person he naturally wouldn't say anything nice to Jin Jingwen. Unfortunately, others don't know Long Jingyun; Jin Jingwen had briefly stayed at Mingye Palace, so she had a grasp. As soon as Long Jingyun opened his mouth, Jin Jingwen retorted sharply, spouting several of Long Jingyun's past black histories—

For example, his childhood nickname: Little Potato!

So Long Jingyun was intimidated. With a lever in the other's hand, he had to plan his moves. Afterwards he merely glanced at Jin Jingwen, then took her pulse, gave a concise explanation, wrote a prescription, and fled like the wind!

Time passed like flowing water, and before long it was the year's end.

Because of Jin Jingwen's matter, Yin Fengxuan stayed at home for three days, and only after confirming she was truly fine did he go to work at the Grand Equerry Temple!

At this time, with Yin Fengxuan, the chief steward, absent, the officials under the Grand Equerry Temple were already swamped. Everyone complained, especially upon learning that Yin Fengxuan skipped work because of his own wife, which sparked resentment among the crowd.

Fortunately, they only knew that Yin Fengxuan's absence was due to Jin Jingwen's ill health; had they learned that the "illness" was actually the woman's menstrual period, they'd have been outraged to the point of collapsing!

So regardless, that matter was considered settled. Time flew to the year's end, and the various offices of the court were all nearly done with their duties, finally just waiting for the New Year holiday.

And since the last incident, Yin Fengxuan and Jin Jingwen's relationship has leapt to a new level. Although Jin Jingwen still often gets angry enough that Yin Fengxuan resorts to force, keen observers could see the subtle *.

That's a good omen. Not only the Wangfu's servants, but also several Houyuaner women were delighted to see it. Though Jin Jingwen said nothing, she felt as if she were soaking in a honey jar.

But compared with the idle court offices, the Gong Wangfu was bustling.

After all, the New Year was coming. In previous years, Yin Fengxuan was unmarried, so things were muddled. But now Jin Jingwen has entered the marriage, and it's the first year, so naturally they wanted to make a big celebration.

As for this kind of matter, although Jin Jingwen hadn't handled it before, she showed no panic, delegating authority to Lao Hu and the other stewards, handling everything orderly. Then she took time to settle the affairs of her own family next door.

Days passed like this, and before two weeks it was New Year.

Perhaps because Jin Jingwen's mood had been good lately and the New Year was approaching, the ever diligent Jin Jingwen handed out red envelopes to everyone before the year turned. She was generous, giving each person a substantial amount; everyone was pleased, and they increasingly hoped that their Prince would soon secure the Princess Consort, so their lives would become even better.

Of course, since the servants had received, the several Houyuaner women, Jin Jingwen included, each gave a sum of money, as a reward for them keeping to their duties.

To this, the women were naturally overjoyed. Thinking that the New Year was imminent and the streets would be bustling, they made plans to go out together for a proper shopping trip.

They acted on the thought, and one morning the women dressed prettily, then went to Yingxiu Garden to find Jin Jingwen—both to greet the Princess Consort, and also to try to take Jin Jingwen along.

But Jin Jingwen, being a person who fears the cold, preferred staying indoors in winter rather than wandering outside. Moreover, she didn't like crowds, so she declined. Yet despite that, she specifically let a few young servants from the Wangfu follow, and also gave the women several silver notes, saying they could enjoy themselves.

People are like that: when they should save, they save; when they should be generous, there's no need to hoard. Take Jin Jingwen, who isn't naturally a big spender, yet whether toward servants or the Houyuaner women, she never holds back, so her popularity keeps soaring, impossible to curb.

Seeing that Jin Jingwen had no intention of going out, the women didn't press. Then, happily clutching the silver notes Jin Jingwen had just given, followed by maids and young servants, they walked toward the gate, laughing as they went:

"Ah, we already got the New Year money earlier, and now hearing us say we want to stroll the street, you slip more cash in, making us embarrassed, don't you think~!"

"Hmph~! Do you think everyone is as stingy as you? Let me tell you, the Princess Consort is the truly generous one! A few coins are nothing; the key is everyone's happiness, that's what we call 'family harmony brings all prosperity'! What do you understand~!"

"You get it! Then why don't you pull out some private money and show us a bit of 'family harmony brings all prosperity'!"

Although the Houyuaner women no longer schemed and plotted daily as before, the habit formed over such a long time cannot be changed overnight. So when no outsiders are present, the women don't hold back; each sharp tongue is more biting than the last, and none of them are easygoing.

Their words were full of mockery, yet the women wore smiles, and they hurriedly walked to the gate, where the Wangfu's coachman had already prepared the carriage!

Obviously, this was the result of the earlier conversation; Jin Jingwen had sent people to prepare. Seeing this, the women smiled again, about to sit on the steps and board the carriage… but just as they were about to step down, a slender figure suddenly sprang out of nowhere.

…

It was a woman. A very young woman.

Her face was very pale, her cheeks thin and a bit gaunt, yet delicate—clearly a beauty.

Her body was slender, dressed in an old, plain gown. In the cold weather she stood there, repeatedly drawing the heads of passersby to glance sideways…

Seeing this, the women about to step down were startled, silently exchanged glances, then fixed their gaze on the unfamiliar woman before them—disheveled yet still beautiful.

"…Who are you looking for?"

The women weren't the type to be fooled; a keen eye could tell that the stranger was heading for the Gong Wangfu. So they couldn't help but ask.

At that moment, hearing this, the stranger flinched slightly, then pursed her slightly chapped lips and whispered.

"Excuse me… excuse me, ladies, is Prince Gong here?"

Oh… so she's looking for the Prince!

The women almost simultaneously thought this in an instant. Then they couldn't help but each smile slightly, and the one who had spoken first, Xiu Zhu, spoke again:

"Oh~! So this lady is here to see our Prince! But we don't know who you are…"

At this point, Xiu Zhu paused deliberately, then gave the stranger a sideways glance, looking her up and down.

Xiu Zhu's manner clearly carried a hint of sarcasm. Hearing this, and with Xiu Zhu's sideways gaze, the stranger's face slightly changed, then she pursed her lips again.

"My surname is Han…"