“Lord Ming.” Seeing Ming Jingzhou stepping out, Qi Wang bowed, “Lord Ming, the words and actions of Pingyuan residence’s servants were improper and offended your family. Requesting the Lord for forgiveness.”

Ming Jingzhou turned sideways to evade Qi Wang’s curtsy, and asked in confusion: “What does Your Highness mean by those words? Could it be that the servants of Marquis… Count Pingyuan’s residence made some inappropriate remarks about xiaguan?”

Qi Wang keenly observed the bewildered expression on Ming Jingzhou’s face. It made him feel that the other party was truly unaware of what had happened.

“It is a trivial misunderstanding not worth mentioning.” Qi Wang forced a smile, “But I hope Lord Ming will not hold a grudge after hearing the rumors about the comments of those ignorant people.”

“Your Highness speaks too seriously.” Ming Jingzhou smiled brightly and curtsied once again: “Your Highness is benevolent. How can xiaguan bear ill will against His Highness because of some wicked people?”

“Xiaguan has yet to announce His Majesty’s decree so I dare not delay. Please forgive me for leaving first, Your Highness.” Of course, Ming Jingzhou knew what Qi Wang wanted to hear. But why should he let him get something he wished for?

It was indeed true that the servants who spread the rumors were from the Zheng family, but it was unknown who the person pulling the strings was.

The news of Qi Wang waiting outside the Taiyang Palace for a long time but not getting called inside by the emperor and that of the Zheng family’s demotion soon reached the ears of every concubine in the harem.

Ning Fei was still unwilling to believe that Emperor Longfeng would be so unfeeling.

“My son’s marriage is near at hand. Even if His Majesty is determined to demote the Zheng family, why didn’t he wait any longer? He could have done this after Yanze’s wedding was over ah.” Ning Fei almost choked with sobs as tears flowed down her cheeks incessantly.

“Niangniang, too much anger is detrimental to health. You must pay attention to your health.” Bai Shao supported Ning Fei and gently patted her on the back to soothe her: “You are His Highness’s Mother Consort. If something happens to you, others will probably mock His Highness more…”

“How dare they!” Ning Fei said sharply, “My son is gifted, handsome, and elegant. Which prince can possibly compare with Yanze?”

“Hongmei.” Thinking of something, Ning Fei walked to Hongmei and slapped her hard: “How did you handle the task? Ben Gong asked you to arrange for someone to spread rumors about the Ming family and you actually had two servants from the Marquis residence do it. Did you even use your mind before thinking of doing this?”

“Niangniang.” Hongmei covered her face in grievance and knelt down in front of Ning Fei. She pleaded, “Please quell your anger, niangniang! This slave arranged for refugees without household registration to do the job but they are yet to set about. This slave also doesn’t understand why the servants of the Marquis residence decided to execute it. Please look into it, niangniang.”

Even if she was a fool, she knew that things like this must be handled prudently. How could she arrange for people from the Marquis residence to do such of thing?

“Could it be that the Marquis residence dislikes the Ming family this much?” Ning Fei believed Hongmei’s words, and spoke with resentment: “Did they ever think of the consequences in case their plan fell through?!”

“Niangniang, this matter has already moved too far. This slave believes that our previous scheme can no longer be used.” Bai Shao lightly massaged Ning Fei’s shoulder: “Fortunately, you and His Majesty have many years of mutual affection and he did not take his anger out on you because of the Marquis residence’s foolish actions. This slave is worried that if such rumors spread again, His Majesty will think of the Marquis residence again, and associate them with you and His Highness…”

Hearing the five words ‘many years of mutual affection’, Ning Fei cast a glance at the flower vase on the table: “Yanze stood outside the Taiyang Palace for an entire shichen, but His Majesty still didn’t summon him. Because of the Zheng family, he did take out his anger on us mother and son.”

“Niangniang.” Bai Shao said softly, “You must not think too much. His Majesty’s anger will not last long. As long as our Lanxu Palace has less contact with the Zheng family for now, His Majesty will surely come to believe you.”

“You are correct.” Ning Fei was subconsciously resistant to the idea of the emperor being angry with her due to the Zheng family. After listening to Bai Shao’s words, she felt more at ease: “Hongmei, immediately withdraw those people you arranged for. They must not be allowed to speak malicious words about the Ming family.”

In the past, whenever she arranged for people to spread rumors about Chen Wang, there was not one time she failed so tragically. It seemed that the little guniang of the Ming family was born to be her nemesis.

What was even more sickening was that not only could she not ruin her reputation now but she also had to think up every possible method to defend it.

Too unfortunate!

After the news of the Zheng family’s demotion spread, the whole capital knew that the servants of the Zheng family had the audacity to utter humiliating words about the Imperial family in a teahouse.

On the contrary, no one cared about the remarks related to the Ming family.

After everyone lost interest in discussing the matter of the Zheng family again and again, Qi Wang’s wedding with the Sun family’s Young Miss became the focus of interest of the entire capital.

“Back when His Highness Huai Wang got married, Huai Wangfei’s dowry took up the street when lined up. How much would Qi Wangfei’s dowry be?”

“It definitely won’t be less. Sun family is quite powerful.”

“Will it be Chen Wang’s turn after Qi Wang gets married?”

“You all… Have you heard of the overbearing prince?”

“Heard heard. Some people say that this overbearing prince is actually Chen Wang.”

“No wonder His Majesty is so fond of this son. If I had a son who goes to the mountains to suppress bandits and becomes a zhuangyuan after concealing his identity and taking the Imperial examinations, I will wake up laughing.”

Jiuzhu walked past these chatty people, trying her utmost to keep her expression look less guilty.

“The story of the overbearing prince is becoming more and more outrageous.” Zhou Xiao still remembered a certain day a few years ago when her father came home and talked about how Chen Wang had made his teacher faint from anger.

Such a prince would pretend to be a commoner to take the Imperial examinations? She feared that even Chen Wang himself would find it embarrassing to have such a dream.

“Cough.” Jiuzhu turned her head and looked forward: “Zhou jiejie, doesn’t the woman in the Xiangliao1Xiangliao [香料] – It means spice / perfume. It sounds a little weird when translated into English as a name so I chose to keep it in pinyin. Cuz…. Why not? Out of sight, out of mind lol. Pavilion seem to be the Sun family’s Young Miss?”

“Her wedding day is in two days. How come she is still in the mood to purchase spices?” Zhou Xiao asked doubtfully. Looking at Sun Caiyao in the Xiangliao Pavilion and thinking that there was no harm in getting acquainted with each other since Jiuzhu and Sun Caiyao would become zhouli2Zhouli [妯娌] – It means wives of brothers or what we call in English as ‘sisters-in-law’. in the future, she pulled Jiuzhu’s hand, “Let’s go and take a look.”

“Zhou guniang.” Sun Caiyao picked up a small box of spices and turned around to see Zhou Xiao and Jiuzhu. She greeted them: “Ming Xianzhu.”

“Sun guniang.” Perceiving Sun Caiyao looking at her, Jiuzhu smiled back and greeted her. But soon after, she sneezed several times.

Sun Caiyao closed the small box in her hand and put it back on the table: “Some people are not used to the smell of spices. Xianzhu should try not to use incense in the future.”

“Many thanks for your reminder, Sun guniang.” Jiuzhu covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief but sneezed another few times. Only after she hurried out of the Xiangliao Pavilion did she feel better.

It turns out Ming Jiuzhu is not used to the smell of a myriad of spices…

Sun Caiyao looked at the exquisite small boxes of various colored spices in confusion.

How did the Ming Jiuzhu in her dream endure the discomfort in her body and light that deadly incense burner?

With the wind blowing, the pungent smell of spices struck Jiuzhu’s nostrils again.

“A-choo! A-choo!”

“Ming Xiaozhu.” A cloak was draped over her body: “Why didn’t you wear a cloak when you left?”

“Your Highness.” Jiuzhu sneezed twice again, forcing tears to come out: “Why are you here?”

“Ben Wang was planning to go to the Ministry of Works. Didn’t expect you to be here.” He looked up at the sky with a smile that was yet not a smile, “It looks like tomorrow will be a sunny day.”

“Why?” Jiuzhu looked at him with tears gleaming in her eyes.

Chen Wang really couldn’t hold himself back any longer. He stretched out his hand and pinched her hair bun; the feel was still as good as last time. Beaming, he withdrew his hand: “I won’t tell you.”

“Ha-choo!” At this time, a little child by the road sneezed and his elder stroked his head: “The sky will be clear if a dog sneezes. The sun will definitely come out tomorrow.”

“Your Highness.” Jiuzhu slowly raised her head to look at Chen Wang who was sitting astride his horse: “You cursed me to be a dog?”

Sun Caiyao heard this sentence just as she walked to the door.

She frowned and looked at Chen Wang on horseback. In the dream, Ming family’s guniang did not let Qi Wang get away for Chen Wang’s sake. But the Chen Wang outside the dream actually cursed her to be a dog?

Upon seeing this, Zhou Xiao turned her head and forced a laugh: “Maybe, this is… how the overbearing prince likes to show his affection for his fiancée?”

Sun Caiyao’s frown deepened. What happened to this Young Miss from the Zhou family? She usually looked so intelligent, so how come she began talking nonsense too?

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