"Autumn dew can only deceive for a day."
The palace is full of people flattering the high and belittling the low. When the Princess Consort requests something, those in the treasure house must act quickly, immediately beginning a list of items related to shawls.
By the earliest tomorrow morning, someone will come with a book, asking the Princess Consort to take a look and see if there are any cloaks she desires.
In normal circumstances, the Princess Consort is the younger generation, and those under her would not need to curry favor with Su Juan.
Su Jun has no right to interfere with the emperor's harem. If we count, the virtuous consort is still the stepmother of the Princess Consort. Even if Su Jun is left out, it should not matter...
Well!
Specifically, the Princess Consort has the Empress Dowager above her.
If the Empress Dowager finds out that the virtuous consort dare to neglect her own granddaughter-in-law?
In that case, there's no doubt that the Empress Dowager will cause trouble for the virtuous consort.
The virtuous consort is currently planning the throne for the fifth prince. Slowing down the east palace at this time will raise suspicion from the Empress Dowager, who will wonder if the virtuous consort has grand ambitions and is testing the status of the crown prince.
By then, the fifth prince may not even be able to secure a kingdom with a fief, let alone choose one.
The virtuous consort thinks about this and feels restless.
She sighed to her servants, "When the emperor first ascended the throne at a young age, the empress suffered greatly from the troubles of the imperial family, especially the rebellion of Zhao Wang... Ah, this made the empress particularly wary of concubine-born children. In fact, it has harmed us."
During the reign of Emperor Shizong, the Empress Dowager had never tasted the bitterness of being a concubine's child. In those days, she had repeatedly advised Emperor Shizong not to be too harsh on the princes born of concubines.
Only when Emperor Shizong passed away did the previously respectful concubine's children show their true colors... Although those people had already been to the underworld, the Empress Dowager never forgot those days of suffering.
*
Dong Shuang first tended to the matter and then began preparations with Qiulu.
First, obtain the snow fox cloak from Zhang's side and gradually reveal it to the miss. By that time, the object will be in front of her, and even if the miss is sad, she will have some comfort.
In any case, we must not provoke the miss, and we must not let the miss return to the state of utter despair from two days ago.
The miss treasures the unscented plum lipid ointment sent by the King of Qi as much, and even more so the snow fox cloak.
Qiulu sighed, "Why does it have to be Zhang's side?"
This is poking at the miss's heart.
Su Jun didn't doubt Dong Shuang's words. She stared at the words on the paper in front of her, wrote two strokes, pondered for a long time, and then drew a cross.
This is only just after the Lantern Festival, and there is still plenty of time. Affairs can be dealt with gradually and made to go smoothly.
This method is ruthless, and a slight mistake may harm oneself as well. She should use dignified means, and one Zhang's side is not worth dirtying her own hands.
Just at that moment, Zhang's lady arrived with people to see Su Jun.
Upon hearing that Zhang's lady was coming, Su Jun showed no particular reaction, while Qiulu was frightened. Only when she saw that Zhang's lady was not wearing a snow fox cloak did she breathe a sigh of relief.
Heaven be kind, just in the short distance of a few steps, she had already thought of how to help the miss cover up her tracks.
After relaxing, she felt a sense of regret. It would have been better for the miss to vent her anger directly.
If not for the fear of the Crown Prince settling scores in the future, why be so cautious and careful?
Zhang's lady held a handkerchief, saying, "Your Majesty, the prince has ordered that the palace maids at my side be demoted and appointed as concubines. After much thought, I feel I must say something to Your Majesty."
Su Jun replied with a "So what," indicating that it made no difference to her.
Zhang's lady feigned guilt and said, "I tried to advise the prince, but each time he refuses to visit other courtyards. I said too much and was even scolded by the prince."
She said it with a tone of regret, but her eyes were filled with sarcasm.
At first, Su Jun didn't react immediately. Was what Zhang's lady just say something significant?
Why are you so proud now?
Zhang's lady sat down on a chair by herself, resting her hand on her waist, and said, "I served the prince last night, and I can't stand for long now. Please forgive me, Your Majesty. Actually, I have no intention of vying for Your Majesty's favor. It's just that every time I advise the Crown Prince to come to Your Majesty's quarters, he doesn't want to leave. So I have to arrange for someone to serve the prince."
"If the Crown Prince has any interest in the future, I will definitely persuade him well."
The implication is that the Crown Prince would rather favor my maids than the Princess Consort.
This time, Su Jin finally understood, and then her face broke into a smile.
Oh my God, what is she saying?
What?
She's implying that after the Crown Prince goes to her quarters, he comes here to sleep with me.
Who knows what the Crown Prince has done with Zhang's lady?
Isn't it dirty?
Did I give the Crown Prince face?!!
Zhang's lady saw Su Jin's outburst and inwardly sneered. Such a prestigious young lady always puts on a air of composure, but who knows how she cries in her heart.
They are all pitiful creatures who are not favored by their husbands.
Su Jin opened her mouth, but for a moment, she couldn't respond to Zhang's lady's words.
It's better to be straightforward and say that you don't care, but if you say that you do care, then let the Crown Prince go away.
Su Jin was in shock and could only vaguely return to the original topic: "You mean you gave the prince your most trusted maids?"
Zhang's lady smiled with satisfaction and spoke in a seemingly modest tone, "I didn't want to, but the prince insisted on doing so against my will."
Look at it, the Crown Prince values me so much that even the maids in his entourage have been promoted.
Su Jin subconsciously replied, "Oh, won't it also take two years of favor to be promoted to a concubine?"
Zhang's lady's face froze, and she said, "No."
Zhang's lady had never thought of comparing herself with those palace maids. She and the Crown Prince have a true love!
Those people are just things for the Crown Prince to amuse himself with!
In fact, Zhang's lady has always regarded herself as the wife of the Crown Prince in her heart.
Zhang's lady had actually met the Crown Prince first. She was a third party who had inserted herself between me and the Crown Prince.
This time, Zhang's lady came to Su Jin's place to boast, firstly to show off the luxurious attire on her body, and secondly to boast about the Crown Prince's favor towards her.
The Crown Prince stays with Zhang's lady all year round, and she can still arrange concubines for the Crown Prince's harem - this was originally the power of the Princess Consort.
However, it backfires, just like a well-prepared killing move, only to become a toy for scratching in front of others, completely failing to stir up any waves.
As for the former, Su Jin is accustomed to fine things.
As for the latter, Su Jin neither likes the Crown Prince nor has a clear understanding of matters of the heart. It's better not to expect anything from the enlightenment books of this era.
Therefore, when Zhang's lady mentioned the Crown Prince coming over, what Su Jin was more concerned about was the prince getting dirty.
It's like using someone else's belongings, not cleaning them, and then putting them back in their jewelry box.
Zhang's lady was angered, and before she left, Su Jin scolded her for not following the rules and implied that Zhang's lady should learn the rules again.
When can the Princess Consort die already?
Zhang's lady walked along the road, thinking about the haughty attitude of Su Jin just now, her heart was filled with hatred. Why isn't it me who is the Princess Consort?
She has spent the past two years trying to drive a wedge between the Crown Prince and Su Jin, while also making the Crown Prince feel hostile and suspicious towards the Su family.
If it weren't for the powerful influence of the Su family, and if the Crown Prince had to rely on them, he would have sent the Su family to their death long ago.
After spending so much effort, only a little progress was made, and last night, the Crown Prince almost came to see Su Jin.
A fox wench who pretends to be generous and large-minded, but behind her back, she must be trying to seduce the Crown Prince!
Afterwards, after the Crown Prince ascends the throne, she will make sure that the slut will kneel like a dog and beg her. She is kind-hearted and won't take Su Jin's life, but she will just have her serve close by.
Zhang's lady's heart was filled with anger, but she had to endure it.
But it doesn't have to last too long because the Crown Prince has a grudge against the emperor.
*
After Dong Shuang learned about the news of the snow fox cloak, she was terrified. Her three souls were scared away, and even without seven spirits, she didn't even have the thought of anger.
"Qiulu, you have served the miss since you were young. Do you think the miss can still, can still…"
Qiulu's hands were very cold, and the words of the palace maid just now kept echoing in her mind.
"Last night, the prince pleased with the Secondary Concubine and had a fancy for it, so he did it in the snow. The cloak's material is light and thin, so it was spread on the snow."
The words were implied and the meaning between the lines was obvious.
