After returning that day, Xu Linchuan remained silent for two consecutive days.
With nothing to do, Jiang Ning'an went to the lakeside.
There was a lake in the backyard of the Princess Mansion, named Mirror Lake. There were groups of colorful carps in the lake. When a small handful of fish food was scattered, the carps would gather together, surging with bright and rich light.
Jiang Ning'an slapped the broken fish food in her hand into the water and couldn't help sighing, "There's been no movement these days. I'm really not used to it."
Meng Chun smiled and said, "It's good to have some peace. Your Highness the Princess can just take good care of your health, right?"
Back then, when Jiang Jia was pregnant, she was secretly attacked in order to protect the emperor. So Jiang Ning'an had been in poor health since she was born. She almost died several times when she was a child.
The emperor invited all the famous doctors in the world for her and finally came up with a miraculous medicine for her to take all the time.
The medicine was indeed effective, but it was extremely bitter. Even the emperor couldn't stand the smell. Naturally, Jiang Ning'an, who had been brought up in luxury since childhood, was even more resistant to it. Every time they tried to feed her the medicine, the emperor, the empress and the crown prince would take turns using every possible method.
After so many years of careful nurturing, she finally grew up. Then she met Xu Linchuan.
The emperor didn't approve of Jiang Ning'an's relationship with Xu Linchuan. Jiang Ning'an cried and made a fuss, which took a great toll on her. She even stopped taking the medicine. Her health got worse day by day. It was really heart - wrenching to watch.
But now it was better. Jiang Ning'an had seen things clearly and could slowly recuperate.
"By the way, what is Chu Yu busy with?"
"That girl is busy tidying up the yard," Meng Chun replied. "I heard that she wants to renovate the whole yard inside and out. She's been at it for several days."
"Is she using the people and silver of the Princess Mansion?"
Meng Chun nodded. "It's the intention of the consort."
Jiang Ning'an sneered. "Then convey my order. The Princess Mansion will have nothing to do with that matter."
Her relationship with Chu Yu was far from good. So why should she spend money and effort on Chu Yu?
Wasn't that being a fool?
Just then, a smell of dragon - spittle incense wafted over.
Meng Chun looked up and saw the emperor and the empress quietly walking towards them.
Jiang Ning'an also turned her head and saw the somewhat furtive figures of the emperor and the empress. "Uncle and Aunt, you're still so childlike."
The empress immediately stood up straight and complained, "I've told you to use less incense. You're so saturated with it that Ning'er can't fail to recognize the smell."
The emperor looked a bit embarrassed.
Jiang Ning'an didn't move. The two of them had no airs at all and sat directly beside her.
The empress looked at her carefully and said with a smile, "Not bad. You finally look a bit more energetic."
The emperor also said, "I heard from Nanny Deng that Xu Linchuan came to look for you again?"
"Yes," Jiang Ning'an didn't hide it. "He's like a piece of dog - skin plaster. I can't get rid of him."
The emperor and the empress exchanged a look and couldn't help laughing.
"If you can't get rid of him, we might as well give him an official post and send him far away. That way, he won't bother you all the time," the emperor said.
"That won't do. I chased after him so hard before. Now the situation has reversed. I haven't had enough fun yet."
The emperor said helplessly, "Don't go too far. Don't get involved again!"
Jiang Ning'an blinked. "Uncle, do you think I look like a fool?"
"… It's hard to say," the emperor looked at her deeply. "I don't know who it was who chased after that person every day before. Not even nine donkeys could pull her back."
Jiang Ning'an was not to be outdone. "It's all thanks to your excellent guidance, Uncle."
The emperor immediately raised his fist. Jiang Ning'an tilted her body and hid in the empress's arms.
The three of them were laughing and joking. Deshan was also happily watching from the side. But just then, a young eunuch walked over quickly. "Your Majesty, the consort is here."
When they turned their heads, sure enough, they saw Chu Ming's figure.
Chu Ming didn't want to see the emperor and the empress when he knew they were here. But it wasn't a good idea to keep hiding. Besides, with the eunuch coming to inform him, he had no choice but to come.
Chu Ming walked up, first bowed to the emperor and the empress, and then said with a smile, "Ning'er, you've made your uncle angry again, haven't you? Why are you so naughty?"
Hearing this, the emperor immediately got unhappy. "What do you mean by naughty? Children should be lively. You're supposed to be a father. Don't you even understand this simple truth?"
Being scolded by the emperor, Chu Ming didn't dare to show the slightest bit of temper. He still had to try his best to maintain a proper smile.
The emperor snorted. "I heard that there's a guest in the Princess Mansion?"
"Your Majesty, she's not a guest. She's the child of my elder brother's family. It's almost time for her to get engaged, so she came to stay in the mansion temporarily, hoping to find a good family in the capital."
The emperor snorted again. "As soon as she came, she occupied Ning'er's residence. Is that how your elder brother raises his children?"
Chu Ming's smile became even more forced. "This... It's just a misunderstanding. Now Wutong Residence is still Ning'er's living place. On the contrary, Yu'er is now living in the servant's room. It's not very decent, to be honest."
"Do you think this Princess Mansion is just any place? Even the servant's room is not for just anyone to live in," the emperor said. "If she behaves herself, it's okay. If she doesn't, she won't even be able to live in the servant's room!"
Everything in the Princess Mansion belonged to Jiang Ning'an. The fact that that person had offended Jiang Ning'an but was still allowed to stay in the Princess Mansion was already a sign of Jiang Ning'an's magnanimity.
But if she tried to overstep, that was out of the question.
"Yes..."
After giving the warning, the emperor told Chu Ming to step back.
Chu Ming walked a short distance and then turned his head to look at the pavilion.
The three of them seemed to be chatting happily. The sound of their laughter faintly came over. From afar, they looked like a family.
Chu Ming clenched his fists tightly.
Jiang Ning'an was so close to those so - called uncle and aunt that she even allowed them to scold her own father. She was really disappointing!
If it were Chu Yu, she would never do this!
—
Here, Jiang Ning'an was chatting happily with the emperor and the empress. But over there, Chu Yu was in a complete mess.
She didn't know what was going on. The craftsmen had been working well, but after receiving an order, they actually packed up their things and left directly!
They couldn't even stop them and could only watch the craftsmen leave together.
Xiaocui's face looked ugly. "Miss, it was the Princess who instructed them! This Princess is really too much. She's already driven us here. Now, does she want to wipe us out completely?"
Doukou and Peilan exchanged a look and didn't dare to say a word.
Chu Yu's face also looked bad. "If she won't let the craftsmen work, we'll do it ourselves!"
Xiaocui was stunned. "Ah? Miss, these jobs are dirty and tiring. Are we... really going to do them ourselves?"
"Of course. We have to let her know that we're not easy to deal with!" Chu Yu was firm in her attitude. "You've been watching in the yard just now. You know what to do. You start first. I still have a drawing to finish. I'll come out and work with you after I'm done!"
After saying that, Chu Yu turned around and went into the house.
The three people in the yard looked at each other.
Peilan took the lead to start working. Then Xiaocui followed. Doukou looked around, heaved a long sigh, and found the lightest job.