The news quickly reached the Imperial Palace.
Emperor Ying leaned sideways on the dragon chair, like a faded shell of an imperial robe.
The morials on the desk piled up like a precarious tower, the imperial brush hanging above the inscription "peace and tranquility," with the ink congealed into a dying fly.
"Idiot!"
Emperor Ying put down the brush, unable to conceal the disdain in his eyes.
"How could such a simple donation event be ssed up?"
He had sent people to observe the activities below.
It was supposed to be a foolproof event. He thought the Fifth Prince’s wife was shrewd, but she ended up being unfit for important responsibilities.
She sent out invitations early, with her own motives, eager for everyone to know she was busy. Initially, it was nothing.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see the intention of the Fifth Princess Consort.
People are self-serving; how many genuinely expect nothing in return?
But she was outmaneuvered by Yao Ru, and her faults were pointed out in person, becoming a criticism.
"And she still dares to faint?"
The eunuch relaying the ssage knelt on the ground.
"The Holy Emperor might not know, but after the Fifth Princess Consort fainted, no one was there to host the banquet. It was all won who attended, so even when the Fifth Prince rushed back after getting the news, it was hard to host properly."
"Then the General’s wife offered to step in, saying she could help host."
"She’s eager to claim credit, excessively proactive. Desperate for everyone to know she has talent. She said she wants to gain experience, promising that when she hosts in the future, it will have more grandeur than the Fifth Princess Consort’s. She even said that even if it fails, it’s soone else’s event that’s ruined. She is doing a good deed, and surely the people at the Fifth Prince’s Mansion wouldn’t bla her. She behaved just like a petty person."
"Even though the General’s wife intended to turn the tide, the banquet ultimately... still dispersed."
"Before leaving, she noticed that the food at the table wasn’t touched much and feared it would be wasted. She said she knew the hardship of hunger and was used to being frugal, so she packed quite a lot."
"She specifically packed the expensive dishes."
Emperor Ying: ...
"After leaving the mansion, she handed the food to the beggars missing arms and legs on the street, letting them share and eat it."
Emperor Ying was not surprised upon hearing this.
Indeed, as he expected, the Yu Family showed so cleverness.
But... not much.
The Second Prince’s wife raised her up, belittling the Fifth Prince’s wife.
But wasn’t this just using her as a pawn?
She didn’t realize it, yet was still cheerful about it.
The eunuch braved his fear: "Isn’t the Holy Emperor afraid that there’s collusion between the Duke Shun Mansion and the Second Prince?"
Emperor Ying: "Wei Zhao is a smart man; he doesn’t even fancy the Fifth Prince, would he choose the Second?"
In recent tis, the Duke Shun Mansion had been peaceful, but he couldn’t help worrying that Wei Zhao had other intentions.
And Prince Liang Yue, still nowhere to be found.
Ying Zhi... turned out to be more capable than he thought.
One must be cautious.
The Emperor’s face showed no sign of anger.
He even laughed aloud.
The laughter was chilling.
"Having provoked the Yu Family, what good can co to the Fifth Prince’s wife?"
"The Yu Family, hailing from the countryside with little worldly experience, knows little yet rises in status, making anyone a bit conceited. How could soone like that understand respect and hierarchy? She can’t bear grievances and assus that with Wei Zhao and Grand Tutor Gu backing her, she can walk sideways in Shangjing."
"I fear no one told her that in Da Jin, the surna is Ying."
"I’m vexed by my sons beneath , but they are still my bloodline, the Fifth Princess Consort is my daughter-in-law, yet the Yu Family wants to climb above her."
"Does this not put out of consideration?"
He laughed coldly.
The eunuch knelt, recalling sothing, cautiously: "After the banquet dispersed, Grand Tutor Gu went to pick her up. She still threw a tantrum at the gate, saying she ant well, but the people at the Fifth Prince’s Mansion were unappreciative and lacked hospitality."
"Just found treasure, precious by the Grand Tutor, he hastily coaxed her, yet she was hard to please, with a stubborn temper."
Emperor Ying: ...
Great. The Yu Family didn’t even show respect for her biological father.
The eunuch: "One wonders what the General’s wife is thinking, having such good parents, yet not trying to please them, instead throwing a fit."
Emperor Ying’s eyes were deep.
"What else could it be?"
"It’s just acting high and mighty, thinking what Grand Tutor Gu offers isn’t enough."
"People are selfish; just watch, can she really stay out of the Gu Family’s door?"
"The Gu family couple may indulge her now, but as ti goes on, I’m afraid they too might beco annoyed."
Emperor Ying had a poor impression of Yu Tingwan.
How could he know that Yu Tingwan’s antics in front of the Fifth Prince Mansion greatly enlivened Gu Fuju.
The girl stood there gracefully, overseeing as Shunzi and Tan Jiang moved the ladies’ boxes from each household to be pawned for money to buy rice.
Her small mouth chattered nonstop.
———"I’m not especially free, my mother-in-law threw a few shops to , I have to manage six at once."
Which noble girl doesn’t own a dozen shops to try her hand at?
But Gu Fuju was just worried Yu Tingwan would be overworked.
Yu Tingwan continued on her own accord.
——"I helped the Fifth Princess Consort today because I found her approachable, like a sister."
Who dares call themselves a sister to the Fifth Princess Consort?
But Gu Fuju thought the Fifth Princess Consort was unworthy.
——"But she constantly made things difficult for ."
Trying to take down!
She had improved it.
——"Trying to send to prison."
Gu Fuju: ...
He almost believed it.
——"It’s the Second Prince Consort who’s kind, believing I am not an ordinary person. Willing to hand over money to ."
So noble ladies hadn’t left, and so commoners watched the commotion in the street.
Yu Tingwan let them scrutinize.
She acted as if she felt wronged.
——"Can I refuse?"
Gu Fuju told her: "You can."
——"Can I refuse?"
——"You... can’t?"
Yu Tingwan clapped her hands: "That’s what I’m saying."
——"The Second Prince himself isn’t great, but his wife is really nice. I agreed to it."
——"Other ladies turned to for help, can they bla ? But she just closed her eyes and fainted. Without knowing, people might think I knocked her out."
Yu Tingwan snorted, placing her hands behind her back, pacing back and forth in front of the Fifth Prince’s Mansion, her necklace of jade and agate jingling as she moved.
Gu Fuju suppressed his laughter.
——"Yaoyao, your father will take you ho."
——"I’m not leaving, I want to see when the Fifth Princess Consort wakes up."
——"When she wakes up, what will you do?"
Yu Tingwan had a well-thought-out reason.
——"I have a benevolent heart, I must go in and visit again, show my concern. Though she was insincere, playing tricks on , and wanted her servants to push and shove . But since I’m unhurt, just took a silent loss, I can’t be overly petty."
——"This matter... may ruin my reputation."
Yu Tingwan pretended to care deeply.
——"I actually feel quite helpless."
She stepped forward.
She admired the lanyard on the Grand Tutor’s jade pendant, finding it beautifully crafted.
She had made so herself.
But they were the most ordinary styles.
Yu Tingwan didn’t take it without asking.
Gu Fuju directly took it off and handed it to her.
Yu Tingwan examined it carefully before returning it to Gu Fuju, looking up, her eyes glistening with tears.
——"Do you know why I haven’t fallen yet?"
——"Why?"
She replied softly, with flawed reasoning.
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