Jiang Wanhua and Jiang Yuehua were both displeased.
In terms of birth, Jiang Shaohua was not on par with the two of them. Jiang Shaohua took her mother’s surna and inherited her maternal grandfather’s title and family business. They were the legitimate daughters of the Jiang family, the Daliang County Princesses.
In the past, she was far away and it was tolerable. Now that she’s near, she has imdiately beco a favorite by the Empress Dowager’s side, surpassing the two of them. How could they accept it?
Kneeling in the spirit hall right now was not the place for conversation, but once they had a free mont, they would certainly discuss it.
The two exchanged a subtle glance, a mutual understanding forming between them.
Jiang Shaohua did not turn around and was untroubled by the sour expressions of Jiang Wanhua and Jiang Yuehua.
Her adversaries never included the two of them. The harem’s contests for favor had long fallen out of her interest.
The cries inside the Inner Spirit Hall differed from those in the Zhaohai Palace spirit hall. The concubines who lost their husbands were crying so sorrowfully and heartbroken. With Emperor Taikang’s death, their world had collapsed. The new emperor’s ascension brought glory to Consort Li, but had nothing to do with them.
From now on, they would be left to languish slowly in the deep confines of the palace.
The young and charming Consort Fan’s eyes were swollen like peaches from crying.
"Mother! Mother!" Suddenly, the voice of a young boy cried out from outside the spirit hall. Hearing the familiar voice, Consort Fan turned quickly and embraced the boy dressed in white who rushed into the hall.
Jiang Shaohua looked up without betraying any emotion.
This boy, about five years old, was quite handso with red lips and white teeth. Unfortunately, his gaze was a bit dull, making him appear not particularly clever. He was exactly Da Liang’s Second Prince, Jiang Hao.
In the previous life, the new emperor unexpectedly died within two years of ascension. The seven-year-old Second Prince was enthroned. What could a seven-year-old child understand about governance? Moreover, Jiang Hao was much slower than children of his age, barely surpassing a simpleton.
But with the Da Liang royal family left with only this single heir, there was no other choice. Empress Dowager Zheng, for the sake of political stability, had to swallow her pride, ordering her to marry into the Wang family, thus stabilizing Pri Minister Wang and securing the court. Zheng Chen beca a pawn in marrying into the Fan family.
In the following years, Jiang Hao sat foolishly on the Dragon Throne, surrounded by people who fought endlessly for the power closest to the throne.
As the Nanyang County Princess married into the Wang family, I found myself in the most awkward of situations.
Later, when Wang Jin unexpectedly died and Pri Minister Wang passed away, the Wang family quickly declined. Supported by Empress Dowager Zheng, Duke An’s Mansion, and his wife’s Fan family, Zheng Chen climbed step by step to beco Pri Minister. The emperor was rely a figurehead, while the Da Liang Chancellor was the true authority.
Zheng Chen was brilliant for several years, naturally attracting envy and obstructing others’ paths. Empress Dowager Zheng would one day die of old age, and his political enemies, taking advantage of divisions, continuously whispered in Consort Fan’s ear, planting seeds of murder against her, leveraging the emperor’s decrees. As a result, the poisoned wine bestowed by the emperor claid her life...
Currently, Consort Fan was just a pitiable young woman in her twenties, already widowed.
Jiang Hao was even more an ignorant child, unable to stay put in the Zhaohai Palace’s spirit hall, seeking his mother every half-day in the Jiaofang Palace.
"Hao’er dear, go kneel in the Zhaohai Palace." Consort Fan, tears in her eyes, softly coaxed her son.
The Second Prince did not heed, instead burrowing his head into Consort Fan’s arms, showing only a stubborn back.
Consort Li frowned slightly: "Sister Fan, though the Second Prince is young, do not indulge him excessively. Quickly send him to the Zhaohai Palace!"
At five years old, he was considered a male and should be in the Zhaohai Palace keeping vigil at this mont.
Consort Fan, uneasy, quietly responded: "Yes, I will have soone take him to the Zhaohai Palace now."
Though small, the Second Prince had a considerable temper. As soon as the eunuchs and palace attendants touched his clothes, he squird with his plump little body, crying loudly: "I won’t go, don’t touch , I want my mother."
In the silent, weeping spirit hall, the sharp cries of a child suddenly rang out.
Consort Li showed a hint of displeasure.
The titled ladies all raised their eyes to look.
Consort Fan, eyes reddening with anxiety, tried to comfort the Second Prince, but he wouldn’t listen, his cries growing more piercing.
The noises gave Empress Dowager Zheng a headache, and she turned her head to say, "The Second Prince is still young and ignorant, let Consort Fan take him away first for a rest."
Consort Fan answered with tearful eyes, picked up the plump Second Prince, and hastily withdrew.
Jiang Shaohua’s eyes flickered slightly, then she withdrew her gaze.
...
Consort Fan, holding her son, entered the side room and placed him heavily on the floor, sternly saying: "I have repeatedly told you to stay properly at the Zhaohai Palace. Why won’t you listen and co back each day causing trouble?"
The Second Prince, feeling extrely wronged by being scolded, reached out to tug at his mother’s sleeve.
Consort Fan angrily pushed his hand away: "Why are you so disobedient and lacking ambition? Do you know that your father is gone, and your elder brother is about to ascend to the throne? From now on, the harem will listen to the Imperial Concubine... No one will protect us..."
As she spoke, her grief overwheld her, and she broke down.
Consort Fan suddenly cried, unable to catch her breath.
The Second Prince, frightened, clutched his mother’s sleeve tightly: "Mother, I’m scared."
He had no understanding of what his mother was saying.
Zhaohai Palace was too large, filled with too many people. Everyone focused on the Crown Prince, and no one paid attention to him, the Second Prince. Kneeling there alone, fear filled his heart.
The spirit hall also contained an eerie coffin. As the body lay for a long ti, despite using ice, an unpleasant odor lingered. He did not want to stay there, just wanted to be with his mother.
Looking at her foolish son, Consort Fan felt a pang in her heart, hugging him as her tears poured down.
With Emperor Taikang dead, what good days were left for their mother and son in the palace? The Second Prince was born naive and dim-witted; on whom could she rely in the future?
Consort Fan cried earnestly and extensively. The Second Prince, alard by his mother’s tears, also began to cry.
...
At noon, the Imperial Kitchen delivered lunch.
Finally, everyone could rise and use the excuse of lunch to take a brief rest. Those with close relations gathered to chat.
Empress Dowager Zheng, exhausted, was helped to the side chamber for a nap. Consort Li and Princess Bao Hua supported the Empress Dowager on both sides.
Jiang Shaohua of course did not compete. At such a ti, there was no room for her to fawn.
Empress Dowager Zheng lay on the bed weakly instructing, "I will sleep a while. You should each go and rest too."
Everyone agreed and withdrew together.
Princess Bao Hua softly said to Jiang Shaohua, "Sister Shao Hua, it’s your first ti at Jiaofang Palace, co to my room today and we can chat."
Jiang Shaohua nodded in agreent.
Jiaofang Palace was the Empress Ji’s palace in her lifeti. Princess Bao Hua had lived there as a child, only moving out at ten, and the room was kept tidy year-round.
Jiang Shaohua followed Princess Bao Hua into the bedroom, accompanied by Jiang Wanhua, Jiang Yuehua, and a lovely and naive young girl, none other than Princess Bao Hua’s reading companion Fan Jaining.
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