Chapter 77
Chapter 77: Your Princess Consort Is Impressive
Zheng Jia’er had crossed paths with Luo Ning many times and had never gotten the better of her, yet she still came looking for trouble. It was not that she forgot her previous losses, but that she was too proud and arrogant. She never really took Luo Ning seriously and was sure that, each time, Luo Ning only relied on Prince Yong.
The first time, it had been Prince Yong who raised his hand. The second time, it had been Prince Yong’s “dog” who spoke up.
Without Prince Yong backing her, Luo Ning was just a girl from a poor family. Zheng Jia’er could not look at her with any respect.
Zheng Jia’er said with disdain: “All you know how to do is use the Prince as an excuse. An Imperial Edict for a marriage, what is so amazing about that?”
She added: “Your family has never seen an Imperial Edict before, has it? No wonder you keep it on your lips all the time.”
She was mocking Luo Ning for being ignorant of the world.
Luo Ning said: “Of course I will keep it on my lips. The Imperial Edict is His Majesty’s great favor and brings glory to my family. Miss Zheng, since you look down on the Imperial Edict, I will report it to His Majesty and have you punished for great disrespect.”
Zheng Jia’er’s face changed slightly as she said: “You wouldn’t dare!”
She had not thought that Luo Ning would not rise to the bait at all and would even dare strike back.
Luo Ning smiled faintly and said: “Why would I not dare?”
Zheng Jia’er said: “You cannot threaten me. My sister is…”
Luo Ning cut her off and said: “If Her Majesty the Empress learns that you are so arrogant and that you attack the Imperial Edict, she will not spare you first of all. Do you dare turn back to Kunning Palace with me right now and go see Her Majesty the Empress?”
Zheng Jia’er was choked speechless.
Luo Ning pressed her advantage and said: “You do not dare? If you do not dare, then get far away. A good dog does not block the road.”
Zheng Jia’er was furious and said: “Fine, you actually dare insult me. You are insulting Her Majesty the Empress and insulting the Duke Yan residence. How many heads do you have?”
Luo Ning said: “I am sitting in my carriage, and my carriage is on the main road. You are standing in front of my carriage, and your carriage is on the side of the road. The bodyguards over by Golden Water Bridge can all testify that you were the one who started this.”
She stopped looking at Zheng Jia’er and instead said to her own coachman: “If she still refuses to move, drive straight through.”
The coachman answered: “Yes.”
He lifted his whip, and the horse raised its front hooves.
The hooves were about to kick Zheng Jia’er when her maidservant reacted quickly and dragged her to the side.
Zheng Jia’er twisted her ankle.
She had never expected Luo Ning to have no fear of her at all. The first few times they met, Luo Ning had still been reserved. Now, only after being granted the position of intended consort by Imperial Edict, she had become so bold, speaking to Zheng Jia’er in such a harsh tone.
Zheng Jia’er had completely lost face. Pulled around by her maidservant, she staggered, and the hairpin in her hair became crooked.
In fury, she raised her hand and slapped the maidservant across the face.
In the distance, someone rode over on horseback and dismounted beside Zheng Jia’er.
The newcomer was handsome, with eyes full of feeling that seemed to carry a trace of a smile no matter whom he looked at.
He smiled and said: “Fourth Miss Zheng, why are you so angry?”
Zheng Jia’er was already furious. When she looked up and saw that it was Cui Zheng Qing, she felt even more annoyed.
She gave a cold hum and said: “Is it your turn to care?”
She quickly walked to her carriage. The coachman did not have time to put down the footstool, so he knelt on the ground, and Zheng Jia’er stepped on his back to get into the carriage.
The carriage quickly drove away.
Cui Zheng Qing watched this scene with great interest, then went into the palace.
He was delivering something to the Empress Dowager.
It did not take much time, and he left the palace and went home.
His younger sister Cui Zheng Lan was still being confined. Cui Zheng Qing took some pastries and small trinkets to her so she could pass the time.
Cui Zheng Qing laughed and said: “You do not need to lose heart. Huai Feng’s principal consort is very capable. Today at the palace gate, she even dared to deal with Zheng Jia’er. Zheng Jia’er left with dirt on her face and had to give way to her.”
Miss Cui said gloomily: “I am upset because the family wants to lock me in the inner residence. Who cares about those women’s fights and who wins or loses.”
Cui Zheng Qing said: “Huai Feng will not treat you unfairly.”
Miss Cui perked up a little and said: “How about this. You dress up as a woman and marry him, and I will go to the northern frontier. He definitely will not treat you badly.”
Cui Zheng Qing was speechless.
He reached out and knocked his younger sister hard on the head.
Miss Cui took the hit, then drooped again, sighing over and over.
She said: “I started martial training at the age of three. With a long spear I can exchange twenty moves with a Prince. During the three years I ran away to the northern frontier, I almost earned myself the post of commandant general.
Now they want to tie me down and make me marry as a secondary consort, to be locked forever in the inner residence with those delicate precious daughters who never see the sun.” Cui Zheng Lan sighed again.
Cui Zheng Qing said: “There will be a turn for the better. The principal consort and secondary consort are both part of a contest between the Emperor and Huai Feng. You know he is helpless too. In less than three years, Huai Feng will surely be able to give you freedom.”
She said: “Three years? I cannot live even one day with those inner residence women.”
Cui Zheng Qing said: “Miss Luo is very good. You may get along with her. When she scolded Zheng Jia’er, it was so crisp and clear, and she has a good temperament.”
Cui Zheng Lan asked: “Can she ride horses, or use a spear?”
Cui Zheng Qing said: “Uh…”
She said: “If she cannot do either, what would I talk about with her? The newest silks and jewelry? How to deal with Zheng Jia’er? That is really low and not what I want.
Eleventh Sister was the one who wanted to marry him. She has always admired the Prince. Yet they refused to choose her. They are trying to force me to death.” Miss Cui continued to sigh.
Cui Zheng Qing was again speechless.
He felt that, when there was a chance in the future, he should take his sister to meet Luo Ning.
After meeting Luo Ning a few times, Cui Zheng Qing had a very good impression of her.
He kept feeling that Luo Ning and Cui Zheng Lan would definitely get along. Luo Ning had no romantic thoughts about Prince Yong, and just on that point alone, she and Cui Zheng Lan would have something to talk about.
After comforting his sister, Cui Zheng Qing went to Prince Yong’s residence.
He said to Prince Yong: “I have delivered the things to the Empress Dowager.”
Prince Yong nodded and said: “Thank you for your trouble.”
Cui Zheng Qing could not help bringing up the matter of Luo Ning dealing with Zheng Jia’er at the palace gate.
He said: “Those two are completely incompatible and want to fight the moment they meet. But your Princess Consort never seems to suffer any loss. This time no one helped her.”
Xiao Huai Feng glanced at him irritably and said: “You can leave now.”
Cui Zheng Qing asked: “Why are you suddenly turning hostile?”
Xiao Huai Feng said coldly: “You are an outsider man, and you think about my Princess Consort all day long?”
Cui Zheng Qing was speechless yet again.
One after another, people were snapping at him.
Did none of these people care about this marriage at all?
With a capable principal consort, whether for the Prince or the secondary consort, things would be so much easier.
Cui Zheng Qing had worried for them for nothing. It was thankless and tiring, so he went off to find a place to listen to music and drink.
When Luo Ning returned home, she changed into everyday clothes and sat on the heated kang by the window, waiting for Nanny He to give her lesson.
Luo Ning said to Nanny He: “Madam Cui and Madam Zheng are not that close, are they?”
Nanny He told her that the two families actually had quite a good relationship.
However, since both were part of the Imperial In-law Clan, there were naturally times when their interests clashed, so in the past two years they had not been as close as before.
Luo Ning then said: “The Zheng family really indulges Fourth Miss. Why is that? Do they not discipline her?”
Nanny He could not help laughing.
Luo Ning asked: “Did I say something wrong?”
Nanny He said: “No, Princess Consort. It is that you are very ambitious. Normally, when people see Fourth Miss Zheng, they all kneel and bow. No one thinks that Fourth Miss is arrogant.
In this city of Shengjing, there is no young lady of a good family who feels she can stand on the same level as Fourth Miss of the Zheng family. Everyone is a head shorter than her. Her proud temper is only natural.”
Luo Ning was speechless.
Nanny He went on: “The Zheng family has three dukes of the realm and has been a prestigious clan for a hundred years. They are also related by marriage to almost all the nobles in Shengjing. This old servant has told you before.”
In other words, a family like the Luo family did not even have the qualifications to look up to the Zheng family.
Madam Zheng did not feel that Fourth Miss was spoiled.
She only had the pride a noble-born lady should have. For someone of Luo Ning’s background not to kneel to Fourth Miss Zheng was what seemed coarse and rude.
Luo Ning understood.
In the future, when the great houses toppled, Madam Cui and Madam Zheng would also be greatly weakened.
However, Madam Zheng would become part of a new Imperial In-law Clan.
So, Zheng Jia’er might be able to act this arrogant for her whole life.
Luo Ning muttered: “Her life is really not bad.”
[Maybe I really should not fight with her.]
If she offended Zheng Jia’er too badly, she would also offend Empress Zheng, which would do Luo Ning no good.
Empress Zheng was destined to be a true daughter of heaven, with no one above her. She would enjoy wealth and honor for her whole life, and Xiao Huai Feng would also be a subject at her feet.
Luo Ning’s title of Commandery Princess depended entirely on Xiao Huai Feng.
She thought: [A wise person goes along with the times. I need to keep my Commandery Princess title,] but at the same time she also thought: [If she does not provoke me, I will not provoke her. If she acts shameless, I will definitely hit her.]
So she sat there lost in thought for quite a while.