Chapter 159

Lady Tang hadn't even taken a bite of her vegetarian meal when she first apologized to the two tables of guests.

Tang Lingheng runs away whenever he causes trouble; he not only doesn't repent, but after Lady Tang apologized, he even circled back to make faces at others.

Lady Tang: ……!

What sin has she committed!

Among these guests, some are merely ordinary commoners.

At a glance, Lady Tang and Tang Lingheng's attire reveals their noble status, so it's naturally best not to provoke them further.

It's already quite good that they're willing to apologize.

But one table belonged to the Qiao family.

The Qiao family is related by marriage to the Noble Consort's maternal clan.

The Tang family is the Empress's maternal clan.

The relationship between the two sides is visibly tense and discordant.

When they collided, the Qiao family simply refused to back down.

Even so, they still instinctively protected their young child.

Watching this scene, the Princess Consort of Qi silently sighed.

Such talk made the Princess Consort of Qi want to shake her head.

However, looking at Lady Tang's attitude……

It's probably just a thought.

Tang Lingheng not only failed to realize his mistake, but kept provoking: "Crybaby, so noisy, so annoying—can't you cover his mouth?"

Moreover, the Qiao family's entourage also brought a child over three years old, who was now wailing loudly from fright.

His mother was apologizing there, yet he was still provoking.

Not coming to blows was already giving each other face.

How could the Qiao family possibly give Lady Tang face?

Discipline?

……

If this child isn't properly disciplined, who knows what shocking deeds he might do in the future.

"He's still a child."

"Looking at the relationship between the two families, don't quibble so much; let us adults relax a bit."

Moreover, Tang Lingheng is indeed outrageous.

……

Extending beyond the palace, the relationship between the two maternal clans is obviously tense.

Lady Tang: ……!

She really shouldn't have brought this brat out just because she was soft-hearted today.

The Qiao family is unwilling, naturally not even willing to give an inch.

Lady Tang only felt she had lost all face.

"Little kids don't understand things; it's truly not intentional."

The Empress and the Noble Consort reside in the inner palace; although they aren't outright enemies, their relationship is indeed not harmonious.

The Princess Consort of Qi has no intention of meddling in others' family affairs, especially since it involves the feud between the two mansions.

Even if it's just some verbal disputes, the Princess Consort of Qi can't be bothered to intervene.

The Qi Wang Fu is noble, yet also sensitive.

The young princes are gradually growing up; in the future, struggles for power and profit are unavoidable.

They, the Qi Wang Fu, certainly don't want to wade into these muddy waters.

Seeing that Sui Sui had eaten her fill, the Princess Consort of Qi held the child and left discreetly.

By the time Lady Tang was harried by the Qiao family to the point of being frazzled and sought help from the Princess Consort of Qi, she discovered the latter had already left.

Watching this scene, Lady Tang secretly gritted her teeth.

Sui Sui, having eaten her fill, was a bit drowsy.

The Princess Consort of Qi was planning to stay a few days at Lanruo Si; when she came to offer incense, she had already greeted the temple.

Just then, while eating, the things had already been tidied up and arranged into the west courtyard's vegetarian hall.

Lanruo Si's vegetarian hall is a "hui"-shaped courtyard.

There are two rows of houses front and back, forming a "hui" pattern.

The abbot, being casual, didn't give names to the various vegetarian halls, only hanging the signs Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding at the entrances to help guests distinguish them.

The Princess Consort of Qi came early; when she met Lady Tang, she had already greeted the temple, saying she wanted a quiet place.

So the temple arranged for her to stay in the outer courtyard of the "hui"-shaped layout, the easternmost Jia room.

The Jia room consists of three large bays; the Princess Consort of Qi and Sui Sui sleep in the middle, while the servants sleep on the sides.

The temple's vegetarian hall is a simple heated brick bed, so it doesn't fear crowding.

On that large heated brick bed, sleeping five or six adults is no problem.

Aunt Qiu and the others had eaten early, then came back to tidy up.

At this time, the vegetarian hall had already been cleaned once.

Even in the corners and crevices, not a speck of dust could be felt.

Looking at Sui Sui in her arms, drowsy and nodding, the Princess Consort of Qi gently patted her back: "My Sui Sui, you've been wronged."

Sui Sui looked at Mother Consort blankly, tilting their head in confusion.

The little girl was already so exhausted she could hardly think; after pondering a while and still not understanding, she obediently leaned against Princess Consort of Qi's shoulder.

Seeing the soft little girl, Princess Consort of Qi's heart softened even more, and her voice grew gentle: "Sleep, sleep, Mother Consort is watching over you."

Princess Consort of Qi sat in a chair, holding Sui Sui as she slept, planning to wait until the little girl fell soundly asleep before moving her to the bed.

Though Sui Sui was groggy, she also longed for Mother Consort's warmth, yet she felt more sorry for Mother Consort, so she struggled to get down: "I'll sleep on my own; sleeping like this, Mother Consort's arm hurts from holding me."

Hearing that, Princess Consort of Qi felt both relieved and heartbroken.

She thought, if she couldn't placate the Empress Dowager with Xiao Liu, she would instead try to placate the Prince.

Let the Prince and his child go plead with the Empress Dowager!

No matter what, Sui Sui's status is definitely something she must strive to obtain.

Once she has a status, Sui Sui won't be looked down upon!

Princess Consort of Qi thought about these matters while gently putting Sui Sui back onto the bed.

She took off her shoes, removed her hat, and shed her outer robe.

Then she covered her with a small blanket, and Princess Consort of Qi, very practiced, lifted her hand to pat gently.

Sui Sui, in Mother Consort's gentle pats and the familiar faint scent, slowly drifted into sleep.

Seeing the child asleep, Princess Consort of Qi stepped back, letting Aunt Xiang keep watch, and she took Aunt Qiu out first.

Although she was a bit weary in the morning, Princess Consort of Qi wasn't sleepy, and she still had doubts, so she wanted to ask Aunt Qiu.

After leaving the room, Princess Consort of Qi glanced toward a nearby spot.

Lady Tang had probably just finished arguing with the Qiao family; now she was walking toward the fasting hall while scolding her young son.

Unfortunately, Tang Lingheng simply wouldn't listen to the scolding.

Lady Tang likely said something he didn't want to hear; Tang Lingheng turned and ran, and Lady Tang behind him shouted at the top of her voice but couldn't stop him.

Seeing this, Princess Consort of Qi shook her head.

When Princess Consort of Qi first met Lady Tang, doubts arose in her heart.

That's also why she kept a wary eye.

When she had the little novice monk help her prepare the fasting hall, she said she wanted tranquility, preferably close to the regular residents staying here, so she could absorb some of their tranquil aura.

Princess Consort of Qi's meaning was simple and clear: keep some distance from the Tang family.

The Tang family is the Empress's Tang family.

If the two mansions get too close, should the Qi Wang Fu be dragged into future disputes, it would hardly be a good thing for the children living in the residence.

The Wangfu is already affluent enough; there's no need for them to contend over anything else.

If they mishandle it and drag the Wangfu in as well, the loss would outweigh any gain.

Lady Tang's fasting hall is the Geng-character room in a rectangular inner courtyard, with the sides set apart, although they are in the same temple.

However, not having to constantly face them puts Princess Consort of Qi much more at ease.

Seeing no one around, Princess Consort of Qi turned her head and quietly asked Aunt Qiu: "Has anything been happening at the Tang Fu lately? We've run into them twice these past few days, right?"

Second watch

Recommended new book by a fellow cultivator: 《In the Sixth Year of the Disastrous Empress, I Built a Farm by Selling Bean Sprouts》

Author: Song of Thorns

A warm, healing farming tale.