Chapter 76
Chapter 76: Provocation on the Road
The day after Luo Ning went to Prince Yong’s residence, the Empress Dowager summoned her into the palace again. It was also to ask about what would happen next in Luo Yin’s case.
The weather in April was fine, so the Empress Dowager told Luo Ning to accompany her for a walk in the Imperial Garden, talking as they walked.
A palace maid carried a basket in her hand. There were scissors inside the basket. The Empress Dowager planned to pick some flowers in the Imperial Garden to take back with her.
The Empress Dowager suddenly asked: “A Ning, do you have any resentment in your heart?”
Luo Ning was slightly surprised and said: “Imperial Mother, why would you say that?”
The Empress Dowager said: “I can see that the arson happened because you and your brother argued. Now that your brother was released as innocent, do you feel disappointed?”
Luo Ning’s heart suddenly trembled.
She had thought she hid it well, but the Empress Dowager still saw through her.
Her feelings and actions had left traces. Once something had happened, it existed. It could not be completely covered up, and sharp, careful people would notice.
Luo Ning said: “Imperial Mother, I was not disappointed. I never thought of making him go to prison.”
The Empress Dowager took her hand and patted the back of it lightly with her other hand as she said: “You are of the same blood, branches growing from the same tree. You can trim the leaves, but you must not hurt the roots. Otherwise you harm the enemy a thousand but lose eight hundred yourself.”
Luo Ning answered softly: “Yes.”
Seeing that she knew the bigger picture, the Empress Dowager did not say more. She only led her around the Imperial Garden to enjoy the flowers.
There they ran into Empress Zheng.
Beside Empress Zheng, besides palace maids and palace ladies, stood two other people. One was the Madam of Duke Yan, who was Empress Zheng’s mother. The other was Zheng Jia’er, the Empress’s younger sister.
When they met each other, everyone exchanged greetings.
Madam of Duke Yan smiled and said: “I have long heard Her Majesty the Empress praise Prince Yong’s intended consort and have admired you from afar. Now that I finally see you, I realize Her Highness was being modest. The intended consort is truly a fair lady of peerless beauty.”
Her son had been hurt twice because of Luo Ning, and her young daughter had been wronged into becoming a secondary consort, yet in front of Luo Ning she still looked truly pleased.
Luo Ning smiled and returned the greeting: “Madam flatters me. I do not deserve such praise. Who would dare show off her looks in front of Her Majesty the Empress?”
The Empress laughed and said: “Sister-in-law, you are too modest.”
Madam of Duke Yan also laughed and said: “The intended consort has such noble character, no wonder she is so modest and polite. With good looks and good upbringing, she truly excels in every way.”
Then she turned to the Empress Dowager and said: “Your Majesty has good fortune. Your daughters-in-law are all so outstanding.”
The Empress said: “Mother, you are praising yourself too.”
Madam of Duke Yan said: “Exactly because they are all good that I must praise them. I am not afraid of being shameless.”
Everyone laughed.
Zheng Jia’er stood to the side. Only her smile was faint, almost forced, while everyone else laughed sincerely.
Madam of Duke Yan added: “Jia’er will rely on the intended consort in all things in the future. Intended consort, please do not blame her if she is a bit spoiled and headstrong. All the really good young ladies in our family were taken by Her Majesty the Empress. The ones left are not quite as accomplished.”
The Empress Dowager laughed and said: “Once she enters the prince’s residence, everything will follow rules. You, do not worry too much. As long as a young lady is married off, she will naturally understand manners.”
That one word, “rules,” directly shut Madam of Duke Yan’s mouth.
After they chatted a bit more, Empress Zheng led her people away.
The Empress Dowager said to Luo Ning: “Do not be afraid. Nothing is that hard to do. You only need patience. A Ning, you have plenty of patience now.”
Luo Ning smiled and said: “Thank you for your trust, Imperial Mother.”
Empress Zheng and her mother and sister returned to Kunning Palace. Madam of Duke Yan played with the Eldest Prince for a while, then asked about Luo Ning: “Does she come into the palace often?”
Empress Zheng replied: “Imperial Mother likes her very much.”
Madam of Duke Yan said: “It is common to favor the younger daughter-in-law a little more. You are the Empress. The person the Empress Dowager values the most is still you.”
Empress Zheng smiled and said: “Mother, you are right.”
She was the Empress of the realm. Why should she compete with Princess Consort Yong for the Empress Dowager’s favor? Was it worth it?
Madam of Duke Yan added: “Your Majesty has never been jealous since you were little. That is what puts me most at ease.”
Empress Zheng thought of that time when they were fleeing.
Her mother had protected Third Brother and Fourth Sister, leaving her outside the carriage…
Her aunt, who was pregnant and could hardly move, used all her strength to lift Empress Zheng up in the crush of people. The two of them were almost pushed into the mass of refugees.
It was Third Uncle who ignored his own safety and pushed upstream through the crowd to search for them, finally dragging the two of them back onto the carriage. They were almost caught by the rebel soldiers.
After they returned to the capital, whenever Empress Zheng saw her mother dote on her younger brothers and sisters-in-law, she rarely felt jealous.
She had no need to be jealous. Her aunt treated her and her cousin with true fairness, and she had already gotten what she wanted.
Zheng Jia’er, standing at the side, said: “Sister is so generous. That Luo Ning is fawning and sly, and only by that did she win over the Empress Dowager. But in the end, the daughter-in-law the Empress Dowager likes the most is still you, Sister.”
As soon as she spoke, Madam of Duke Yan frowned and said: “What nonsense. How dare you talk about the Empress Dowager like that. You have no manners!”
Zheng Jia’er was not convinced.
After sitting a while, Empress Zheng deliberately yawned twice to show that she was tired.
Madam of Duke Yan had no choice but to leave with Zheng Jia’er.
When they left the palace, there were two carriages. Zheng Jia’er’s carriage was behind, and she ordered the coachman to stop by the roadside outside Golden Water Bridge.
After Madam of Duke Yan’s carriage had gone a distance, she sent a maidservant back to ask.
Zheng Jia’er said: “Tell my mother I still have something to do. She should go back first.”
Madam of Duke Yan knew that she was waiting for Luo Ning.
Luo Ning was only the daughter of a third-rank military general. She had become the Young Lady of the Marquis Manor only because she saved the Empress Dowager’s life, yet now she was going to press down on Zheng Jia’er as Prince Yong’s principal consort. Zheng Jia’er could not accept that.
As the legitimate young lady of the Duke Yan residence, Zheng Jia’er was noble beyond words.
The principal consort and the secondary consort were both enfeoffed ladies, just like the Empress and the Noble Consort, not like the ordinary relationship between wife and concubine in other noble households.
If one side was strong, the other would naturally be weak.
If she did not suppress Luo Ning from the very beginning, Zheng Jia’er’s future days would be hard.
Thinking of this, Madam of Duke Yan said to the coachman: “Let’s go.”
Luo Ning needed to understand some things. Even if she was Prince Yong’s principal consort, she still had to know the weight of the Zheng family.
A young lady of the Zheng family, even as a secondary consort, was not someone Luo Ning could push down. Luo Ning should keep a clear head and understand that.
And the Empress Dowager still talked about rules.
Marriages between the imperial clan and great noble houses were always about mutual benefit. Which family here did not have a foundation going back a hundred years?
Power was the real rule, not titles like principal consort and secondary consort.
In no time, Luo Ning’s carriage came out of the palace.
Zheng Jia’er’s coachman blocked the way and forced Luo Ning’s carriage to stop.
Luo Ning lifted the carriage curtain.
Zheng Jia’er’s maidservant walked over and bowed to Luo Ning: “Miss Luo, our Fourth Miss asks you to come over to speak with her.”
Luo Ning’s expression was calm as she said: “If Fourth Miss has something to say, she can come over here.”
The maidservant was stunned and said: “Miss Luo, Fourth Miss is inviting you. Please do not misunderstand.”
Luo Ning said: “I am not misunderstanding. Tell Fourth Miss she can come see me. Otherwise, have her make way and stop blocking the road.”
The maidservant had no choice but to go back.
A moment later, Zheng Jia’er’s voice sounded outside the curtain: “Luo Ning, come out!”
Luo Ning did not get out. She only lifted the curtain again and said: “Miss Zheng, do you need something?”
Zheng Jia’er lifted her chin slightly and said: “Your carriage is too shabby. I am not used to sitting in it. You get down. I have something to ask you.”
Luo Ning said: “I cannot be bothered to move. Miss Zheng, you are not qualified to question me like this. If you have something to say, just say it. I am not as idle and bored as you.”
Zheng Jia’er’s expression changed.
Zheng Jia’er said coldly: “Luo Ning, tell your family to behave themselves. That shabby noble household of yours is always making a fool of itself and will only embarrass our Prince in the future. You too had better watch your words and actions. Do not bring shame to the Prince.”
Listening to her tone, Luo Ning almost found it funny.
Someone who did not know better would think she was the principal consort and Luo Ning was some lowly concubine.
Luo Ning’s face sank as she said: “Miss Zheng, I am Prince Yong’s intended consort, appointed by Imperial Edict. Who are you? Who is this ‘our’ you speak of? Did no one at home teach you?”