novelaction Chapter 395 Sharing a Room but Not a Bed?
Chapter 395 Sharing a Room but Not a Bed?
After finishing the bird's nest soup, Aunt Fang didn't leave. She instructed a maid to take the food away and then asked in a low voice, "I wonder if Your Highness would like to use some lip rouge?"
"No need. Thank you, Aunt Fang." Mu Xinnuan's red veil was still on, and according to custom, she couldn't speak. Rong Yue, who was serving her, saw her shake her head slightly and answered for her.
"Very well, this servant will wait outside with my men. If Your Highness has any orders, you only need to call out."
"Thank you for your trouble, Aunt Fang." Granny Yu and the others quickly curtsied.
Seeing that Aunt Fang and the others had all left, Granny Jin's expression relaxed a bit. She quietly moved closer to Granny Liu, then gave her a wink. Granny Liu seemed helpless, but had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to the outer room.
Mu Hua raised an eyebrow, glanced at Granny Yu, and followed after her with a smirk. As a martial artist, she made no sound, and the two old women couldn't possibly notice.
"What's going on? What are our statuses? We're both high-ranking female officials in the palace! Why do you show such respect to a mere aunt from a prince's mansion? Have you forgotten your origins after being away for so long?"
Granny Jin curled her lips, "We are sixth-rank female officials from Kunning Palace, more respectable than the head of the Consort's palace. Why are you being so humble today? You've even embarrassed the Empress!"
Granny Liu wasn't in a hurry. She shook her head slightly, indicating that she shouldn't raise her voice too much.
“Sister Jin, you’ve misunderstood me. We are indeed sixth-rank female officials from Kunning Palace, but compared to this Aunt Fang, we are far inferior. If it weren’t for the fact that it’s the Prince’s wedding day, she would have found it easier to reprimand us than to step on an ant!”
"What are you saying?" Granny Jin was taken aback. "She's just a steward in the backyard of a prince's mansion. How respectable can she be?"
“Sister Jin, you’ve only been in Kunning Palace for a short time, just two or three years. But I’ve been serving the Empress for over a decade. This Aunt Fang is not just some steward of a prince’s residence! Do you know what her status was before she left the palace?”
Granny Jin looked displeased, not because Granny Liu had praised Aunt Fang, but because Granny Liu kept emphasizing that she hadn't been in Kunning Palace for long, which clearly showed that Granny Jin looked down on her!
"What is your status? Could it be that you served the late Empress Dowager?" Granny Jin asked with disdain and contempt.
Granny Liu looked slightly surprised. "You're absolutely right! She was indeed a Lady-in-Waiting by the Empress Dowager's side, a fourth-rank official. Later, the Emperor was unwell for a while, and the Empress Dowager, worried about her, transferred her there. The Emperor valued her, and since then, she's served as a third-rank Imperial Lady-in-Waiting by his side. In terms of rank, she's much higher than the two of us!"
Upon hearing this, Granny Jin's expression changed. She had actually served the Empress Dowager? Not only that, but she was also the Imperial Attendant by the Emperor's side?
"Then, how did she end up leaving the palace?" Even Jin Mama herself didn't realize that her voice was already trembling.
"One year, Prince Chang Le suddenly fell seriously ill. It was later discovered that someone around him had been dishonest, which nearly cost the young prince, who was only a teenager at the time, his life. The emperor was furious and had many palace servants beaten to death. Later, he also demoted a concubine to the cold palace. That incident also frightened the empress so much that she fell ill."
Granny Liu seemed to be thinking of the Emperor's rage and the Empress's heartbreak.
"The Emperor trusted Aunt Fang the most, and given her background as an official, she was highly regarded by the Empress Dowager. Later, fearing that someone might harm the Fourth Prince again, the Emperor transferred Aunt Fang to him, keeping her rank, position, and salary unchanged. She was the only female official in the palace to receive this honor."
"So that's how it is! I had no idea such a thing existed?"
"After Aunt Fang came to the Fourth Prince's side, she really put in a lot of effort. She personally took care of all his food and daily life. Later, she personally selected several young palace maids to train by his side. Gradually, things became easier. I heard that in the first few months, Aunt Fang lost more than ten pounds."
"Seeing how meticulous she was in taking care of the Fourth Prince, the Empress bestowed upon her several more titles and honors. As a result, despite her young age, Aunt Fang held a very high position in the palace. Even the concubines in the palace treated her with utmost respect."
Granny Jin felt a cold sweat on her forehead. Had she just completely offended Aunt Fang with her behavior?
Considering Aunt Fang's impressive status, one might have thought that the inner court of the Chang Le Prince's Mansion would eventually be under her control as a sixth-rank female official. But now, with a third-rank Imperial Attendant here, where is there any chance for her to rise to prominence?
Previously, he felt confident because he had the Empress behind him, but now...?
Granny Jin instinctively shrank back. She had always thought that this young princess was easy to manipulate, after all, she was young and didn't understand some things. Making her obey her every word would be a piece of cake. But now?
Mu Hua's lips curled up slightly, and she immediately reported the news she had heard to her mistress.
Mu Xin Nuan chuckled upon hearing this. It seemed that this Aunt Fang was truly a wonderful person! Her future days were sure to be filled with plenty of fun.
This Aunt Fang alone is enough to keep those two old women in line. That way, I can finally have a few days of peace and quiet. When I have the chance, I'll definitely ask Duanmu Chuze if this Aunt Fang has any other identity.
"Greetings to the prince."
The sound came from outside the door, and Mu Xin Nuan's hands tightened for no reason. Her eyes were filled with anticipation, shyness, and fear, and her hands began to twist gently back and forth.
The door was pushed open, followed by hurried footsteps and the tinkling of the beaded curtain. Mu Xin Nuan could even feel his familiar, cool scent rushing towards her.
"Your Highness, it's time to choose a wedding veil." Aunt Fang came in and handed over a golden scale bar.
With the bridal veil lifted, Mu Xin Nuan finally had a chance to look up and examine the furnishings in the room.
Aunt Fang's eyes shone with amazement as she smiled and said, "I've long heard that the Princess is beautiful, but seeing her today, I know what a beauty is, what a celestial being is!"
These words pleased Duanmu Chuze greatly. "Aunt Fang, I told you long ago that my judgment is absolutely the best. See? I didn't lie to you, did I?"