Chapter 11: Your Highness, Miss Tang Is Looking At You

Princess Ruihua spoke sharply and decisively and put an end to the matter. After scolding her nephew she turned to Tang Wanning and asked, “So it’s settled. Do you have any objections?”

Tang Wanning naturally had no objection. She drew in her skirts and bowed, “Her Highness the Princess’s words are reasonable and justified, I dare not oppose.”

Princess Ruihua nodded in satisfaction and turned to Madam Zhou and Tang Wanlan.

Madam Zhou was even less likely to object. She performed the formalities correctly and said, “I, on behalf of the entire House of the Earl, thanks Her Highness for her grace.”

Tang Wanlan got what she wanted and breathed a huge sigh of relief. Obedient and timid, she made a curtsey, “We will all follow Her Highness the Princess’s decision.”

Princess Ruihua quickly appraised her and looked rather displeased. “Tang Wanlan, right? I’m not being picky, but this won’t do. Since you fancy our Second Prince and are determined to be with him, and by chance became his principal wife, you must carry yourself with grace and confidence, you have to be presentable. In today’s matter, did anyone bully you? It seems the one at fault from start to finish was always you. Others hardly did anything, yet you act like a little rabbit, delicate and pitiable. Who are you putting up an act for? In ordinary families it’s the concubines and chambermaids who act seductive and scheming to vie for affection. Which family’s principal wife looks like this?”

Tang Wanlan was lectured so thoroughly that she was utterly humiliated. Her eyes reddened and she was about to burst into tears, but knowing that if she truly cried no one would pity her and they’d only scold her more harshly, she forced herself to hold it in, her face flushing bright red.

Princess Ruihua tapped her palm with the handle of her whip. “Don’t be resentful and blame me for speaking harshly. Although in the end you benefited and became the principal wife, your previous faults won’t just be forgiven. Punishment is still due, and for whatever difficulties come after, you’ll have to bear them yourself. If the road is hard you’ll have to endure it yourself. Showing that delicate, weak demeanor all the time… Who will pity you or take notice besides the men and your mother?”

Tang Wanlan could not hold back any longer and burst into tears, crying fiercely and pitifully.

The Second Prince was upset and full of regrets. He himself felt wronged and had no mind to comfort anyone. He simply stood to the side, watching Tang Wanlan cry like an uninterested bystander.

It was Madam Zhou who pinched her daughter once more, reminding her to show some sense and to toe the line.

So Tang Wanlan, thoroughly shamed and scolded into tears with no one to comfort her, stopped crying on her own.

Zhao Yan showed no gentleness at all. “Finished crying? Then let’s go.” He immediately turned and walked off in large strides, showing no concern for the one behind him.

Tang Wanlan wanted to complain but couldn’t.

She could only bite her lip pale and lift her skirt to follow.

Why was this different from how she had imagined? The plan was complete, every detail precise. She had done very well and was deeply aggrieved, without saying a word against others, so she should have won handsomely, as always. Despite getting what she wanted and seeming to have won this game, why did she feel so stifled? Tang Wanning wasn’t enraged or hurt by her at all. Instead she seemed indifferent, not fighting for the favorable position and even handing the opportunity away. Princess Ruihua suddenly appeared and scolded only her, not the others. Was the Princess truly helping her, or simply looking down on her?

Clearly she had obtained the position she’d dreamed of, the husband she desired, and even boundless possibilities in the future, yet she felt no joy. Rather she felt like she had picked up trash, and that trash was something others had been eager to discard…

Tang Wanlan felt unsettled and secretly glanced back at Tang Wanning.

That only made her feel even more unsettled.

What was that look on Tang Wanning’s face? Schadenfreude, waiting for her to stumble and fall with anticipation? Did this woman know something, or was she scheming something?

A chill ran through Tang Wanlan’s heart. She reminded herself to straighten her back and not be weak. She was already the principal consort of Prince Ping with a bright future. What had she to fear from Tang Wanning? Her future would surely be limitless. How could she possibly stumble? Tang Wanning was only envious, merely sulking and trying to bluff and intimidate her!

Madam Zhou felt uneasy. She frowned for a moment, said to Tang Wanning, “Wait a moment,” then hurried over to ask the Second Prince for a bit of time and pulled her daughter aside to whisper instructions. What exactly she was telling her, no one knew.

Princess Ruihua was straightforward. Once she resolved the matter she left, brisk and decisive. She spoke to no one else, and no one dared to criticize anything. They respectfully watched her depart.

Tang Wanning solemnly bowed to the Princess’s departing figure.

She had not idled her time at the estate. Her behavior that night had not been in vain. At least the people at the estate trusted her, so it was easy for her to ask and inquire. She quickly learned where this place was, the surrounding terrain, what kind of subsidiary villas existed, their architectural styles, and who the landlords were by rumor… Princess Ruihua’s villa was not here, but this riverside road was a necessary route. Earlier, the estate’s purchasing party had encountered people from the Princess’s villa. Merely by overhearing them recount the scene and their conversation, she could guess the Princess would leave today, perhaps a little later in the day. That was why she got the idea to ride on this momentum. Knowing the Princess’s temperament, if she ran into this matter the Princess would not ignore it.

But why… did the Princess come so quickly?

People of this time were not like in the modern era, able to set off on a whim. The more people who accompanied you, the more rigid and fixed the itinerary became, difficult to change. Barring a major incident, the time difference wouldn’t vary much. So why was it so timely…

If she weren’t immediately plunged into this hellish mode after taking over this body, encountering difficulty after difficulty, she would suspect her luck was too good, as though she were blessed by a talisman and favored by heaven.

With no more spectacle to watch, the crowd around slowly dispersed, and one figure stood out particularly.

A young man sat in a wheelchair, his back especially straight, refusing to lean against the chair. He emanated an extremely proud, stubborn aura, like a raging sea or roaring forest. Give it a gust of wind and it could engulf the world.

But he was unmistakably so lonely and distant, as if he alone existed between heaven and earth, drifting with nowhere to rest…

Tang Wanning only saw his profile. Sunlight danced across it, and from the lines and silhouette she could draw one conclusion: this man was handsome. Pity she couldn’t see his face head-on. Perhaps she might never know how handsome he truly was.

A little regrettable.

Eunuch Tian pushed the wheelchair and spoke quietly, “This old servant ran as fast as he could just now. I didn’t expect the Princess would be faster, she nearly caught us red-handed… Why does His Highness do good deeds without claiming credit?” he said, then answered himself, “Well, His Highness is always like that… But Miss Tang is so clever. This time she didn’t show off or make a scene. She remained dignified and kind, she spoke with lofty righteousness, appearing to have done nothing while generously yielding a place, yet she successfully made everyone understand: in this story there’s a scumbag man who wants to have it both ways, hoping to marry both women, which is disgusting; there’s a younger sister of poor character, scheming to the end, caring only for herself and not others, betraying even such a good elder sister. With such wicked intent, how could she ever make true friends in the future? Her path will likely be difficult. And there’s an aunt who is biased, helping kin over justice, thinking that if she acts well enough, others won’t see through it. In a big family, such unjust behavior is a grave taboo. Even Miss Tang knows well that a fractured household means a hard road ahead, so how could a mistress of a household not understand this? If no clear-headed person emerges from the House of Earl Xuanning, the road ahead of them will likely end.”

Zhao Cong merely responded, “You’re very noisy.”

Eunuch Tian had followed his lord for years and knew best when his master truly wished to be left alone and when he was merely scolding someone offhandedly. Unafraid, he continued to prattle, “This will not do. This old servant grows more fond of Miss Tang every day! That night when torches surrounded the estate, she knew danger had come and that the chance to escape was slim, so she chose not to run, laid in wait, revealed her name to test Magistrate Fang, and used the opportunity to help us resolve the matter. She gained merit and suffered no harm. Her reputation remained intact, she slept well and ate well. Add this time, with her younger sister, Madam Zhou and the Second Prince teaming up to make things difficult, she wasn’t afraid and had already planned to ride on Princess Ruihua’s influence…”

Eunuch Tian looked at his lord’s expression and hissed, “Those with a dangerous mind, people who stir trouble everywhere are to be watched and guarded against. Miss Tang is the type who’s hard to guard against. Whatever the predicament, at any moment she’ll think of a way to resolve it. Whether by negotiation or by borrowing influence, she always achieves her aims. You never know when, silently, she has already done you a favor. She’s not some pampered young mistress, she’s a rose with thorns!”

Zhao Cong tapped the chair lightly with his long fingers. “Like I said, she’s the daughter of Tang Minglie. How could she be afraid of trouble?”

Eunuch Tian beamed. “If I dare say, His Highness understands Miss Tang best.”

Zhao Cong gave him a faint glance. “Busybody.”

Eunuch Tian glanced around. “Oh? Your Highness, Miss Tang is looking at you. Don’t you want to turn and greet her?”

Zhao Cong snapped, “Shut up.”

Eunuch Tian pressed on, “This old servant does not lie. Miss Tang really is looking at you, she seems quite curious about you…”

Zhao Cong closed his eyes. “Let’s go.”

“Does Your Highness really not consider turning your head just once? If you keep acting like this the poor girl will get hurt, you know…”

“If the tongue is superfluous, it can be given to someone who needs it.”

Both master and servant slowly disappeared into the distance.

Madam Zhou finally finished speaking with Tang Wanlan and returned, giving Tang Wanning a cool glance. “Come back with me.”

This time she was generous enough to allow Tang Wanning to ride in the same carriage with her.

Tang Wanning could see that Madam Zhou was actually unwilling. Two people who disliked each other would hardly want to share a room. But this was a case of circumstances outweighing preference. Even if unwilling, she had to accept. Tang Wanning had helped greatly in securing her sister’s position as Prince Ping’s consort, so in that aspect, Madam Zhou owed her a measure of respect. Otherwise… Would she sacrifice her reputation just because she didn’t like this niece? Call her niece ungrateful and heartless? That would only cause her downfall.

In public the two performed a casual warmth and familial affection, but once in the carriage and the curtains lowered, neither spoke. Madam Zhou closed her eyes and leaned against the carriage wall. Whether truly asleep or merely feigning, she assumed a full “don’t bother me” posture. Tang Wanning wasn’t anxious, since she wasn’t her former self anymore. She found a comfortable spot to sit and watched the scenery through the window.

Rounding a bend, in the distance she saw the Second Prince’s procession.

Because the male lead’s behavior was too disgusting, she never read this book to the end and didn’t know the conclusion. She only knew the deposed crown prince eventually died of illness and the Second Prince became the unquestioned heir, his future secure. A man like that, so indecisive and weak-willed, how did he manage to win so many battles? He even managed to emerge victorious at the end, to the point where the deposed crown prince died? Was the deposed crown prince truly a useless fool?

Tang Wanning felt it was such a pity. The Crown Prince had been so marvelous in battle, wise and valiant, never defeated, and no one ever questioned his intelligence or ability.