PFC Chapter 213 Moving Out of the Eastern Palace (Part 2)
Chapter 213 Moving Out of the Eastern Palace (Part 2)
Jiang Ruoyi felt a chill run down her spine.
Why is my brother, the Crown Prince, so protective of that woman?
Her face was slightly pale, and she was clutching her clothes tightly to her chest, teetering on the verge of falling.
In the past, even if he disliked her, he would have asked her a few questions out of consideration for her being a member of the Jiang family. But now, he was filled with disgust and wished he could have her dragged out of there. To prevent future trouble from involving the Jiang and Xie families, he patiently explained to her.
"I did not mention your temporary stay at the East Palace to A Yuan, and A Yuan was unaware of your existence. Her mind is not on these matters, so don't judge her by your own standards. It was I who asked you to leave, and it has nothing to do with A Yuan."
The Empress Dowager closed the trunk behind her.
"I am about to be married and do not wish for any unworthy people to be in the Eastern Palace. Do you understand what I am saying? If I hear any further speculation or words that are detrimental to A-Yuan, you will lose your position as the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family!"
Jiang Ruoyi felt a sudden white light before her eyes and her body swayed.
She wasn't a legitimate daughter of the Jiang family's eldest branch, but rather an adopted daughter from a concubine's side. There were many in the family her age, more intelligent, and more beautiful than her. If the Crown Prince informed the Empress, and the Empress informed the Jiang family, she, the legitimate daughter, could be relegated to the status of an illegitimate daughter at any moment.
Although both the legitimate daughter and the illegitimate daughter belonged to the Jiang family, their treatment was vastly different. To put it bluntly, given her status as the legitimate daughter, even if she couldn't marry the crown prince, she could still become the principal wife of a marquis. Once she became an illegitimate daughter, let alone a marquis's family, even the principal wife of an ordinary family would have to think twice.
To put it bluntly, those from well-off families looked down on the Jiang family's concubine daughters, while those from poor families dared not marry them; most of them ended up as concubines.
Her birth mother was a concubine in the Jiang family's side room, and she didn't even want to think about that kind of life.
She took a deep breath and looked into the Crown Prince's eyes: "Crown Prince, is it really true that you can't tolerate Ruoyi? Even if Ruoyi has no improper thoughts?"
"No ulterior motives?" The Crown Prince looked at her. "If you had no ulterior motives, how would you have found this place? Jiang Ruoyi, I am the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace. I am well aware of your and the Jiang family's little schemes."
"If that's the case, why did you still bring Ruoyi into the Eastern Palace, Crown Prince? Do you really have no feelings for me?" Jiang Ruoyi's eyes reddened, and she blurted out, "If it weren't for the pressure from the Xie family, if it weren't for Lu Zhiyuan, that petty and narrow-minded Lu Zhiyuan, the illegitimate daughter of a fallen marquis's family, how could you treat me like this? I've seen how good you are to me."
"Jiang Ruoyi!" the Crown Prince said with a headache, "With such a vivid imagination, why don't you go and write storybooks?"
"It was my maternal grandfather's idea to let you live in the East Palace. My mother refused, and I also refused. However, my maternal grandfather threatened to kill himself, so my mother and I had no choice but to compromise."
"When you entered the Eastern Palace, did the Empress Dowager intervene? Did I intervene? You lived in the most remote backyard of the Eastern Palace. You're quite clever, haven't you ever thought about the reasons behind this?"
“I was personally taught by my father from a young age, and I have only visited my maternal grandfather’s house a handful of times. You, on the other hand, are the legitimate daughter of the eldest son’s family and can only enter the palace when you are thirteen. Before you moved into the East Palace, you had met me no more than three times. Where did this so-called childhood sweetheart come from?”
The Crown Prince took a deep breath and pointed to the object on the ground. If they were to talk about childhood sweethearts, it should be him and A-Yuan. From the age of eight to fifteen, he had been by A-Yuan's side for seven whole years. He had watched her grow from a lively and adorable little girl into a graceful and exceptionally qualified Crown Princess who was about to marry him.
Jiang Ruoyi was still struggling, deceiving herself, saying, "Ruoyi doesn't believe that Crown Prince Brother doesn't care about Ruoyi. If Crown Prince Brother really doesn't care, why did he open the treasury on Ruoyi's birthday to choose a birthday gift for Ruoyi? All the things Crown Prince Brother gave Ruoyi are very valuable."
The Crown Prince frowned and asked Zuo Yi, who was standing to the side, "Have I given her anything?"
The man on the left said expressionlessly, "Miss Jiang and the Crown Princess share the same birthday. When His Highness selects birthday gifts for the Crown Princess, he picks out some that he doesn't like. The steward collects them and uses them as gifts according to the records of the manor. The birthday gift that Miss Jiang mentioned should have been arranged by the steward."
Jiang Ruoyi's face turned ashen: "Wasn't it a gift from the Crown Prince?"
“I’m not that free to find you a gift,” the Crown Prince said. “I’ve explained everything that needed to be explained. Whether you can understand it or not is up to you. Please tell the Jiang family that there will be no more women with the surname Jiang in either the Eastern Palace or the Inner Palace. As long as the Jiang family behaves itself, they can maintain their current wealth and status without producing another concubine.”
Jiang Ruoyi staggered slightly, raised her chin, and asked, "What does this say about the Jiang family? Don't forget, Your Highness, that the Jiang family has been supporting you and the Empress in your current positions."
"The Jiang family has also gotten what they wanted." The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes, his expression changing. "Jiang Ruoyi, the Jiang family's affairs are for your uncle to handle. It's not your place, as an adopted daughter, to question them. You are to move out of the East Palace before sunset. I neither want to nor wish to hear those words just now. Bixi, take your young lady back to pack her things."
The maidservant stepped forward and helped Jiang Ruoyi down. After they had gone some distance, the Crown Prince said to Zuo Yidao, "I used to think she was a sensible person, but seeing her today, I am truly disappointed. Instruct the steward that, apart from the Crown Princess, no one else is allowed to enter the Eastern Palace at will, especially not someone from the Jiang family."
Zuo Yi looked down at his toes and asked, "Does the Crown Prince find Miss Jiang annoying?"
"It's more than just annoying, it's downright troublesome." The Crown Prince shook his head. "I can't imagine how Father and the late Emperor managed to get around among these women. One is crying, two are wailing, and a few are acting like they're going to die. Just thinking about it makes me feel like my head is going to explode."
"Your Highness, rest assured, these matters in the harem are handled by the Crown Princess or the Empress. Those around Your Highness are all charming, sensible, gentle, and considerate."
"Forget it. Given A-Yuan's temper, if she cries, give her a medicine to make her mute; if she howls, lock her in the dungeon; if she's so dramatic, just let her die. A-Yuan is even more annoyed by these things than I am." The Crown Prince shook his head, rubbing his arm as he did so.
He had only heard of the power struggles within the imperial harem before, but had never been involved himself. It wasn't until Jiang Ruoyi made a scene that he realized how troublesome such scheming women could be. A Yuan was also calculating, but her calculations were all for the benefit of the court and the people, unlike these women who were only interested in jealousy and rivalry.
She sighed to Zuo Yi, "Now I finally understand why A Yuan didn't want to be the Crown Princess or enter the harem. If the palace were full of people like Jiang Ruoyi, it would be so annoying, how could anyone have the mood to do anything else? Today it's this one, tomorrow it'll be someone else. If the person next to you is full of treacherous people, you probably wouldn't even be able to sleep peacefully. No wonder Father Emperor and the late Emperor never allowed the concubines to spend the night on the bed. Who could sleep soundly in that situation? One life, one love, one partner is not only about the loyalty of two people in love, but also about a stable family and peace and quiet."
Leftmost: "Does Your Highness intend to favor the Crown Princess exclusively?"
Crown Prince: "Wrong, I want the Crown Princess to dote on me exclusively!"