The Promotion Record of a Crown Princess

69-72: There Is No Future If You Are Dead

The last time I was grounded was after the Lantern Festival banquet the year before. Now two years had passed, and a vulnerable baby was all I got after the departure of Lv Li, who would pray for me under the moon.

I had since lost all appetite for beautiful women and instead spent the better part of days teasing the baby.

Soon, the Zhangs asked for an audience with me.

Qi Sheng quickly agreed and sent people to pick up Madam Zhang and Fan shi, the mother of Zhang shi.

I thought that the whole Xing Sheng Palace would likely be compromised by Qi Sheng's other spies and so I invited both of them into my chamber, claiming that I was indisposed to receive guests publicly since I was still in a weak state.

Compared to two years ago, Madam Zhang seemed as energetic as always, except that she had lost yet another one tooth. Fan shi, on the other hand, seemed quite haggard even with makeup on, and even her eyes looked swollen.

Xie Yi had the maids sent over two round chairs for them to sit on and helped Madam Zhang to her seat. Then, she smiled, "Please wait while I bring over the Princess."

Seeing that Xie Yi was so considerate, Madam Zhang nodded her head, her face beaming with smile, "Go ahead. I have always wanted to see the little Princess."

Xie Yi smiled and backed down with the other maids.

Afterwards, Madam Zhang turned around, the smile on her face gone. Disappointment was all over her wrinkled face as she said, "Girl, last time you gave such a resolute speech and I thought you have really grown up. I didn't expect that you would stoop so low as to fight the Emperor over an out-of-favor woman."

I was baffled, and before I could react, the nearby Fan shi stole a timid glance over her mother-in-law and whispered, "Mother, she must have her aggrievances."

As she said that, her eyes reddened and she took out her handkerchief to wipe off her tears.

Madam Zhang looked at her in disappointment and turned back to reprimand me, "What did you say to me before? And look at you now! Girl, don't just talk the big talk. You have to walk the walk!"

I was even more confused, and so I cut in, "Grandma, before you scold me, could you tell me what out-of-favor woman were you talking about?

Fan shi asked in curiosity, "That wicked woman Jiang Yingyue, isn't it?"

Madam Zhang slowly nodded, "We've got words that the Emperor has sneaked Yingyue into Da Ming Palace. Are you saying that you are not making a fuss over this issue?"

I suddenly realized what Qi Sheng was planning to do.

He knew he couldn't hide our feud from the Zhang clan and so as always, he once again used Jiang shi as a pretense. After all, the Zhangs had gotten used to the constant fighting between Zhang shi and the Emperor over this Jiang shi. Besides, The Zhangs couldn't care less about whether the Emperor loved Zhang shi, so long as she got to keep her position as the Empress and gave birth to a prince, they usually looked the other way.

But I wouldn't tell them the real reason for my estrangement with Qi Sheng and Qi Sheng knew that. That's why he felt safe enough to invite the Zhangs to the palace.

Madam Zhang looked at me with disbelief.

I shook my head with feigned sorrow and whispered, "It's not just Jiang shi."

Fan shi was shocked by this statement and asked, "What? There is someone else?"

Soon as Fan shi opened her mouth, Madam Zhang gave her a stern look and scolded, "Shut up!"