Chapter 346: Threat
Xingnong didn’t care what she was thinking. She looked at Madam Vice Minister of Personnel. This person’s face had extremely high cheekbones; at a glance, she wasn’t someone easy to get along with. She smiled and said in a faint voice, “So, Madam is the wife of the Vice Minister of Personnel. I’ve long admired your name.”
Xingqing also glanced at Madam Vice Minister of Personnel. Last night, she had already heard from Xingnong that Shen Ruolan wanted to marry her off to the Vice Minister of Personnelโs son, who had a penchant for men, and warned her to be careful of this person.
Xingqing’s thoughts raced. How could she dissuade this Madam?
She was just about to say something when Xingnong seemingly unintentionally nudged her.
Seeing this, Xingqing didn’t say anything.
Madam Vice Minister of Personnel felt that Xingnong’s tone was a bit strange, but she couldn’t pinpoint what was strange about it. She smiled and said, “Does the Crown Princess know this humble official’s wife?”
Hearing this, Xingnong smiled. She raised her hand and took out the pair of pure gold ruby bracelets that Madam Vice Minister of Personnel had gifted her.
The gemstones on the bracelets were crystal clear, without a single impurity. They were top-grade gemstones. She played with them in her hand and said with a smile, “Previously, when I was passing by Yangzi Street, I saw a young master. The Crown Prince told me that it was your esteemed residence’s young master. Madam’s young master is truly handsome, indistinguishable between male and female!”
After saying this, Xingnong put the bracelets back into the box and set it aside.
Hearing “Yangzi Street,” Madam Vice Minister of Personnel’s face changed slightly.
There was a residence on Yangzi Street, which was the place where her son and that man met privately.
Did the Crown Princess know something?
She looked at Xingnong.
Xingnong looked at her with a faint smile. She took Xingqing’s hand, picked up one of the pure gold ruby bracelets, and put it on Xingqing’s wrist, smiling. “I forgot to introduce you, Madam. This is my younger sister, Princess Xingqing. Princess Xingqing and I have a very good relationship. She is me, and I am her! We are inseparable! When we were young, if anyone dared to bully her, I would smash their head open with a rock!”
Madam Vice Minister of Justice’s heart trembled when she heard these words!
A threat, a blatant threat!
The Crown Princess knew!
She must have known!
Did the Crown Prince know?
If the Crown Prince knew, would her son’s future be ruined?
Seeing her ugly expression, Xingnong knew that she understood her implication. She then picked up the other ruby bracelet and put it on her own hand, admiring it. She smiled and said, “Did I frighten you, Madam? I grew up in the countryside, so I am a bit uncivilized, but I am not unreasonable. Don’t be afraid, Madam.”
Madam Vice Minister of Personnel smiled stiffly. “The Crown Princess is a good elder sister, fiercely protective of her younger sister.”
After Xingnong had finished admiring the bracelet on her hand, she smiled and raised Xingqing’s wrist. “Madam, look how beautiful my younger sister looks wearing this bracelet. Would you mind if I gave one of these bracelets to my younger sister as a gift from you?”
As for what kind of gift?
Of course, it was an apology!
Madam Vice Minister of Personnel was already breaking out in a cold sweat on her back. She smiled and said, “Of course, I don’t mind! It was my fault. I actually forgot to prepare a gift for Princess Xingqing. When Princess Xingqing gets married, I will add a generous dowry gift!”
Xingnong smiled and nodded. Then she picked up the teacup from the table, offered tea to her guest, and saw her out. “You are too kind, Madam. This is enough.”
Madam Vice Minister of Personnel smiled. “Of course, of course! I won’t disturb the Crown Princess any longer. I will take my leave now.”
Xingnong smiled and nodded. “Yaohuang, please see her out.”
Yaohuang immediately said, “This way, Madam!”
Madam Vice Minister of Personnel then withdrew.
Shen Ruolan glanced at Madam Vice Minister of Personnel, then at Xingnong. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Crown Princess, I will go see her out as well.”
After all, she was Xingqing’s future mother-in-law, so she should still treat her well.
Xingnong turned her head to talk to the Village Chief’s Wife and the others, pretending not to hear Shen Ruolan’s words.
Shen Ruolan bowed and hurried out.
~
In front of the carriage
โฟโฟโฟ
Shen Ruolan stopped Madam Vice Minister of Personnel. “Madam Zhang, when do you think we can arrange for the two children to meet?”
Madam Vice Minister of Personnel pulled back her sleeve and glanced at Yaohuang, who was walking towards the gate of the residence. She said with a pale face, “What meeting? I don’t understand what you mean. I came here today to give the Crown Princess a congratulatory gift. I have something to do, so I will take my leave now!”
After saying this, she urged the coachman to drive away quickly.
Shen Ruolan looked at the departing carriage with a puzzled expression. What did Madam Vice Minister of Personnel mean?
Didn’t she come today to see Xingqing?
It’s better to wait until after Xingnong’s wedding to make another appointment!
There’s no hurry now. She would have to wait until after Xingnong’s wedding to have time.
~
Shen Ruolan was just about to walk back when three carriages stopped outside the residence gate.
Shen Ruolan recognized them as the carriages of the General of the Agile Cavalry and the Yongchang Marquis Residence.
Ren Zilin and Ren Zishan got down from the General of the Agile Cavalry’s carriage.
Wei Feng carefully helped Eldest Princess Chu Zijun down from the Yongchang Marquis Residence’s carriage. The two had held their wedding ceremony a month ago.
Chu Tiankuo had rushed to Jin Kingdom to welcome his bride immediately after attending their wedding.
At this moment, both of their eyes were filled with smiles, and it was clear that they were very happy.
When Shen Ruolan saw the Eldest Princess, her heart skipped a beat. She stepped forward respectfully and bowed. “This humble official’s wife greets the Eldest Princess and the้ฉธ้ฉฌ๏ผImperial Son-in-Law๏ผ!”
The Eldest Princess knew that Shen Ruolan was the stepmother of her aunt’s former husband. Of course, she also knew that she was the Crown Princess’s aunt. She nodded slightly. “You may rise.”
After saying that, she didn’t even glance at her and entered Hanyuan Garden with Wei Feng under the respectful welcome of the gatekeeper.
Ren Zilin knew that Shen Ruolan was Xingqing’s mother and Xingnong’s aunt. He politely performed a junior’s bow. “This junior greets Madam.”
Shen Ruolan was flattered. She had never seen these young masters from prominent families bow to her before. She hurriedly returned the courtesy. “This humble official’s wife greets Master Ren!”
Ren Zilin stepped aside to avoid her bow.
“Humph!!” Ren Zishan scoffed unceremoniously.
She had heard about Shen Ruolan’s deeds, and because of her, Elder Sister Xingqing had suffered a lot since she was a child! Hmph, she didn’t take care of her own children but treated other people’s children like her own. She couldn’t stand this kind of woman. She couldn’t help but say, “Second Brother, let’s go in and give the Crown Princess a congratulatory gift!”
Ren Zishan knew that her Second Brother was eagerly urging her to come and give a congratulatory gift to his Junior Sister just to see Elder Sister Xingqing.
Ren Zishan now admired Xingnong immensely. Xingnong had become her idol. She had broken through the Four Great Ancient Formations as if it were nothing! It was simply too amazing!
As for her feelings for Chu Tiankuo, she now realized that she was just trying to compete with Zhang Ruohua!
She had once overheard Zhang Ruohua and her maid secretly mocking her, laughing at how Chu Tiankuo would never look at someone as useless as her. She felt indignant and decided to conquer the Crown Prince, making Zhang Ruohua eat her words!
At that time, Brother Tiankuo was close to her brother and was naturally gentler to her than to other women. She felt that her chances were high. Until Xingnong appeared, crushing Zhang Ruohua with her exceptional talent and strength, she suddenly felt a sense of satisfaction!
Hmph, Brother Tiankuo indeed didn’t look at her, but he looked down on Zhang Ruohua even more!
