Chapter 298: Chapter 298

"To report to the Empress Dowager, the Princess has come to pay her respects to you," Mr. Zhao announced respectfully.

Empress Dowager Zheng lay ill on the bed, her temper becoming increasingly volatile and very difficult to serve. Even the shrewd and smooth Mr. Zhao was overwhelmed, his face, more beautiful than a woman’s by three degrees, showing signs of weariness.

Jiang Shaohua noticed this and felt no sympathy for Mr. Zhao.

The Imperial Palace is a swamp that devours humanity. Despite Mr. Zhao’s pitiable appearance, he would turn around and oppress the palace attendants and eunuchs with arrogance. She had secretly spent a large amount of silver to bribe Mr. Zhao, and they were merely in a cooperative relationship. There was no talk of true feelings.

Empress Dowager Zheng coughed twice, "Let them come in!"

Mr. Zhao responded and retreated. After a moment, Princess Bao Hua and her entourage entered the chamber.

Princess Bao Hua was dressed in plain attire, her figure thin and frail, with an inescapable sorrow between her brows. Behind her, Jiang Wan Hua and Jiang Yuehua were also in plain attire, with bare faces. The beautiful Fan Jaining also appeared slightly emaciated.

Jiang Shaohua stood up and saluted Princess Bao Hua.

Today, she wore the luxurious and heavy Commandery Princess’s ceremonial dress, forming a stark contrast with the plain white clothes of Princess Bao Hua and the others.

Princess Bao Hua felt somewhat complicated and softly said, "Please rise, cousin Shaohua."

"A few days ago, cousin Shaohua carried the coffin to the Imperial Mausoleum and had to take care of the second brother along the way. Thank you for your hard work!"

Jiang Shaohua responded softly, "This is my duty."

"Fulfilling one’s duty is already a commendable thing," Empress Dowager Zheng chimed in, her satisfaction and praise for Jiang Shaohua evident, "Some ill-bred fools whispered slanders at Shaohua, but fortunately, Shaohua’s strong character stood up to them."

"This is the demeanor of a Princess Jiang."

Jiang Wan Hua and Jiang Yuehua exchanged a quick glance before lowering their eyes to hide their jealousy.

Both of them were County Princesses, ranked lower than Jiang Shaohua, and only had nominal titles. They received yearly stipends, but no fiefdom, and naturally, no troops or provisions.

In the past, separated by vast distances, they occasionally mentioned Jiang Shaohua, with only a hint of envy at most. Now, Jiang Shaohua appeared in the palace with thundering momentum and quickly became the Empress Dowager Zheng’s favorite, the Crown Prince’s most cherished cousin, and the ambitious Jiang Family girl in the eyes of officials...

Under Jiang Shaohua’s dazzling light, didn’t the two Jiang family girls appear dull and lackluster?

Even Princess Bao Hua, with her gentle and quiet nature, wasn’t she a little sour inside watching Jiang Shaohua, who attracted everyone’s attention?

She was supposed to be the Da Liang Princess, the only daughter of Emperor Taikang. Carrying the coffin was her duty, yet she didn’t show up, while Jiang Shaohua seized the limelight and even used the opportunity to enter the court.

"The Commandery Princess is truly remarkable," said Fan Jaining, not a part of the Jiang family and with fewer complicated thoughts, enviously exclaiming, "I heard the Commandery Princess even attended the grand court meeting today. A woman entering the court, this is unprecedented."

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept over the troubled faces of Jiang Wan Hua and Jiang Yuehua, silently smiling, "It’s under the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince’s protection and support that I, the Nanyang County Princess, could stand in the court. If it were Miss Fan or someone else, they would surely do better than I."

Jiang Wan Hua and Jiang Yuehua nodded inwardly. As Fan Jaining said, "How could that be? If it were me, I’d shiver from just a glance from the Prime Minister, let alone argue logically. And Prince Wu’an, an elder of the imperial family, the Commandery Princess faced him fearlessly without showing weakness. Not everyone can do this."

"Sister Wan Hua, Sister Yuehua, don’t you think so?"

Jiang Wan Hua and Jiang Yuehua: "..."

Poked at their sore spot, Jiang Wan Hua awkwardly twitched her lips, "Fan Sister is right. Cousin Shaohua is strong-willed and swift, far beyond my reach."

Jiang Yuehua could only laugh softly, "Though cousin Shaohua is young, she is more decisive and bold than a man. How could I compare to cousin Shaohua?"

The sourness in their words was nearly palpable.

Only then did Fan Jaining, realizing she spoke too frankly and hurt the dignity of the two County Princesses, attempted to remedy the situation with a smile, "I didn’t mean to underestimate you, Sisters, please don’t get upset. Both sisters have fathers and brothers to rely on, so you needn’t worry about anything and can live comfortably in your chambers. You don’t need to exert yourselves managing a vassal territory like the Commandery Princess does. Naturally, your temperaments are different."

Jiang Wan Hua thought, if you can’t speak properly, it’s better to stay silent—no one would mistake you for a mute.

Jiang Yuehua rolled her eyes internally. Yes, yes, Jiang Shaohua is a Commandery Princess with a fiefdom, esteemed and valued by the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince. The two of us are just useless women kept in the palace.

Jiang Shaohua smiled silently.

In truth, she also had a father and a younger brother. However, her father was a son-in-law, and her brother bore the surname Lu. In the eyes of the Imperial Family, they were unworthy of attention and naturally overlooked.

Speaking in a way that offended three people without realizing it, only Fan Jaining could do that.

Princess Bao Hua, somewhat helpless, spoke up to mediate, "As family, there’s no need to compare and compete; getting closer is the right path."

Jiang Shaohua, without showing any emotions, responded, "Cousin is right. I rarely come to the Capital City, and once the Crown Prince’s enthronement ceremony is over, I must return to Nanyang County. In the future, with mountains and rivers between us, gathering with my cousins will be very difficult. We should take advantage of this opportunity to get closer." Thıs text ıs hosted at novel•fire.net

Jiang Wan Hua and Jiang Yuehua’s expressions improved slightly.

Jiang Wan Hua smiled, "You’re attending the court; how could you have time for idle chat with us?"

"The grand court meeting is once every half month; though the regular court meeting is daily, it only takes half a day," Jiang Shaohua smiled casually, "The afternoon is then free."

"Then we have a deal, coming at this time every day to pay respects to the Empress Dowager," Jiang Yuehua said happily, "Just in time to enjoy a lunch at Jingyang Palace."

The young ladies chatted and laughed, and it was all very pleasing to the Empress Dowager Zheng, "This is how it should be. You are all daughters of the Jiang Family, so you should become closer to each other."

Then, she ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a meal.

Empress Dowager Zheng was too weak to leave her bed. Princess Bao Hua attended to her while she dined and then led her cousins and their study companion to the lunch.

Jiang Shaohua, having grown up in the palace in her previous life, was fully aware of the four girls’ personalities and quickly became acquainted and jovial with them over lunch.

In private, Jiang Wan Hua whispered to Jiang Yuehua, "It’s strange, I used to dislike her greatly. Now I find her actually quite pleasant."

"She is well-versed, and her words are quite amusing," Jiang Yuehua replied softly, "Talking with her is truly interesting. Perhaps we should interact with her now and then, to avoid becoming the subject of gossip for others."

"Very well, since we are both so broad-minded and generous," said they.