The Concubine's Daughter Travels Through Time and Space and Takes the Road of Confrontation

Several thoughts flashed through Zhang's mind. Thinking of Lingjie'er's age, she suddenly felt that she was thinking too much. So she handed the handkerchief in her hand over and said with a smile, "This was embroidered by my niece Lingjie'er." After that, she waved to Lingjie'er. Lu Ling walked over and bowed to the prince's wife.

Minghui looked at the little girl in front of her who had not yet reached marriage age with a look of disappointment on her face.

Mrs. Ma smiled and said, "Mingyuan's wife, this is the eldest daughter of the Ping'an Marquis's mansion. She is outstanding in appearance and manners. Look at this handkerchief. The colors are well matched. I believe she has studied painting for a few years."

Zhang sensed that Ma had something else in mind and was about to take over the conversation when she heard Mrs. Hu cover her mouth and laugh, "What young lady these days hasn't learned a few years of painting and reading? Mrs. Ma really knows how to joke."

"Mrs. Hu is right, but—" Ma smiled and pointed at the handkerchief. "Look at the colors. I bet I couldn't do that at my age."

Mrs. Hu fell silent after hearing this. Mrs. Si looked at her for a moment and nodded in agreement, "Mrs. Ma is right on this point. My family is good at poetry, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but we can forget about needlework."

Zhang took the handkerchief back and said with a smile, "Ladies, please stop being so modest. It's just a handkerchief. How can you tell so many things about it? My sister Ling is really good at redemption, but I've never seen her paint. If the Crown Prince's wife likes this little handkerchief, just take it." After that, she handed the handkerchief forward.

Minghui nodded when she heard this, but did not take the handkerchief. She looked at Zhang and said, "Mrs. Zhang, what you said makes sense, cough cough cough." After that, she slowly walked out with the help of her maid.

Finally returning to the courtyard, Minghui was already exhausted and out of breath. Qiuju, the head maid beside her, with tears in her eyes, whispered to her, "Madam, please lie down on the bed."

Minghui smiled, looked at the lush garden, and murmured, "After all this walk today, ahem, I feel so happy."

Chuntao walked in from outside with a letter in her hand, and Qiuju winked at her.

"It's okay, give it to me." Minghui took a heavy breath, took the envelope from Chuntao's hand and put it on the table. "I have no strength in my body, cough cough, help me." After saying that, she coughed a few more times.

Qiuju opened the envelope with tears in her eyes, spread the paper flat on the table, and then stepped aside.

Before she finished reading, Minghui spat out a mouthful of blood, her face turned pale, and tears flowed from the corners of her eyes.

"Miss," Qiuju immediately supported her and cried bitterly, "please don't worry about it. Take care of yourself. I beg you."

After lying down on the bed, Minghui stared blankly at the endless tent of melons and radishes above her head. "I—I have lived a muddled life, misjudging people. I have exhausted myself and also dragged Mingyuan down. This time, I must choose a wife who satisfies him and will accompany him for the rest of his life."

The news that the Crown Prince's wife went to the banquet of the Second Chamber reached the ears of Lady Cui, who was sitting in the corridor cracking melon seeds and watching the little girls playing. Upon hearing this, she said calmly, "If she wants to go, let her go. Let's see what kind of clever person she can choose." After all, it was all for her son, so she was happy to be relieved.

After the wife of the prince left, the atmosphere in Lanxia Pavilion suddenly became subtle. Mrs. Hu was talking quietly with the other ladies. Mrs. Si was still sitting next to Zhang. She whispered, "Mrs. Zhang, did you see the person who just came? Alas, he is also a poor man." Zhang was puzzled when she heard this and asked, "Why do you say that, Mrs. Si?"

Mrs. Si looked around and saw that there was no one nearby before continuing, "The current mistress of the Cheng'en Mansion is not the Crown Prince's wife's biological mother, but her aunt. When her mother died, the Crown Prince's wife was only two years old. Her family took pity on her young age and often sent her aunt to take care of her. Little Wang was young and beautiful. As a result, she became close to Cheng'en, and it was less than a year after Wang passed away."

The brother-in-law and sister-in-law are in mourning for their wives - Zhang has an absurd feeling as if she is listening to a script.

Mrs. Si said disdainfully, "Little Wang gave birth to a daughter seven months after entering the mansion. People said it was a premature birth due to an accidental fall. I also went to the 100-day banquet. Wow, she was plump and even healthier than a full-term baby. Later, rumors began to spread that the Crown Prince's wife, who was still a girl, was in poor health. Until the marriage proposal with the Earl of Yanning, these rumors were spread everywhere. As a result, the Earl of Yanning's wife had the idea of changing the man several times, and finally, somehow, the matter was brought to the attention of the Queen Mother."

At this point, Mrs. Si lowered her already low voice even more. "The Empress Dowager summoned the old Duke Cheng'en into the palace, reprimanded him, and dismissed him from his post. A year or two later, the daughter born to Xiao Wang died before she even got married, and Xiao Wang never came out again. Seven or eight years have passed, and we still don't even have a son."

At this point, Mrs. Si spat, "They say God sees what you do. This is really retribution."

Zhang pondered. According to what Mrs. Si said, it was true that little Wang was vicious, but Lord Cheng'en was not innocent either. They were just the same.

It was almost time, and the maids filed in, bringing wine and dishes. The ladies of each household toasted each other with a lively atmosphere. The girls on the other side occasionally chatted and joked, most notably about Lu Ling's needlework. Even the usually taciturn Miss Ma San said a few words.

Suddenly, Lu Ling felt a severe stomachache. She whispered to Sister Qingbo, "Please, sister, send a little girl to take me to change clothes." The girl from the Cui family beside her gently pulled her arm, her face pale, "Sister Lu, me too, I'll go with you."

Zhao Qingbo saw that the two looked unhappy and thought they might have upset their stomachs. Thinking of the lawsuit behind the dress at the outing, he put down his chopsticks and said, "But if you feel uncomfortable in your stomach, I'll take you there."

After that, he led the two of them to an empty courtyard, pointed to one of the rooms and said, "Go in, I'll wait for you outside."

Lu Ling and Cui Lanxi entered the room with their respective maids. The sound of clothes being undressed could be heard from behind the screen. No one noticed that a hand had quietly taken away a purple purse hanging on the screen.

After Lu Ling finished, she found that Sister Cui from next door had not come out yet. She stood there waiting for a while and heard a voice from inside, "Sister Lu, I have severe abdominal pain. It may be my period. You and Sister Zhao should go back first."

Zhao Qingbo gave a few instructions through the door, left a little maid behind, and took Lu Ling back to Lanxia Pavilion.

At the same time, a little maid ran to Wangyuexuan and whispered a few words to the servant at the door. A moment later, Zhao Qingyu and his men appeared in the vacant courtyard. The two hid outside the courtyard gate. Just then, they saw Cui Lanxi handing a purse to Cui Erlang. Cui Erlang took the purse and put it to his nose and sniffed it gently. "It smells really good. She is worthy of being a beauty who can board the boat to seek love."