Consort Qiu rested at the Cheng Wang's residence and didn't go back until the evening. Jing Shao gave his mother-in-law all the gifts that women could use to take back.
"Wang Ye, these things are made for those of higher status. I can't use them," Consort Qiu said helplessly as she looked at the gold phoenix hairpin on the tray. This kind of hairpin could only be used by a lady who was second rank and higher. She was only a third rank consort.
"Even if you can't use them, take them and see, or give them away as gifts. There are no female dependents in the Cheng Wang's residence, so it's a waste to keep them." Jing Shao didn't accept that objection; in fact, even if she used them, no one would dare say anything. After all, they were gifts bestowed by the emperor, and it was acceptable for the Cheng Wang to gift them to others.
Consort Qiu got into the carriage with a smile on her face. Mu Hanzhang turned back to Jing Shao and said, "I want to talk with my father. You have dinner by yourself."
Jing Shao lifted his hand and tugged him closer, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear for him as he said in dissatisfaction, "I'll go too."
Mu Hanzhang chuckled. "I can't speak frankly with my father if you're there." After all, this was a family scandal. If the truth was exposed in front of the Wang Ye, the North Marquis might be shamed into anger.
"All right," said Jing Shao, helping his Wang Fei into the carriage. "Then I'll go to my brother's place and freeload a meal off him. I'll pick you up later in the evening."
* * * * *
According to custom, he shouldn't stay for dinner at someone else's place. Although Jing Chen was very happy for his brother to come and freeload a meal off him, he still had to reprimand him. "It's not proper to run around at night."
"My wife has gone back to his mother's house. No one cares about me," Jing Shao sat down at the dinner table and said self-righteously.
Jing Chen was helpless, and ordered for another bowl and pair of chopsticks to be brought over.
Rui Wang Fei still hadn't finished her post-birth confinement period, and concubines weren't supposed to come to the table, so Jing Chen was also eating by himself; with his little brother accompanying him, it was a lot more lively.
"Today, the Countess of Yongchang went to Yongning Palace." Jing Chen had someone bring a pot of wine to have a drink with his younger brother.
"Yongning Palace?" Jing Shao gnawed on a chicken leg and looked up doubtfully. "The empress dowager doesn't manage anything. What is she doing there?"
"Crying and being noisy about how the Cheng Wang struck the Count of Yongchang, and beating around the bush to say that the Jing family treats loyal subjects badly." Jing Chen drank the cup of wine slowly.
"Let her make a scene; when word gets back to Imperial Father's ears, the Count of Yongchang will have to bear the consequences." Jing Shao chuckled. Had the empress's people been kicked in the head by donkeys recently? They were doing such stupid things.
"Of course she won't say that directly." Jing Chen shook his head. Although the empress dowager of Yongning Palace didn't manage anything, she still had the status. The Countess of Yongchang went there to complain and cry, and it would soon spread all over the capital. She kept harping on about how in the early days, the Count of Yongchang helped □□ conquer the empire but only received the title of count. Now that Cheng Wang had hit such a loyal subject, his Wang Fei was even going to be conferred as a marquis; how could such a concept exist in the world?
"Hmph, in the end, they just can't stand the idea of conferring a marquis title on Jun Qing," Jing Shao said angrily, thinking of Jun Qing's gentle and pure smile from yesterday. No matter what some countess said, he would fight for this title for his Wang Fei.
