Chapter 151: Public Display of Affection
Chapter 151: Public Display of Affection
Meng Qianqian had heard of this Princess Wanping. She was the beloved daughter of the Grand Emperor and the twin sister of the late Crown Prince.
Despite her age, being a few years older than the Empress, she had yet to marry.
Rumors circulated that she and the son of the Grand Preceptor were childhood sweethearts, and the Grand Emperor had arranged their marriage. However, on the night before the wedding, the Grand Preceptor's son suddenly died in a horseback riding accident.
Since then, she had never shown interest in anyone else.
Princess Wanping had a proud and haughty disposition and was notorious for her contempt for others. Even the esteemed Li Guifei had once fallen victim to her schemes.
Meng Qianqian couldn't help but take the other woman's hostility seriously.
She responded calmly and collectedly, "Indeed, I am Meng Qianqian."
"Lady Lu entered the palace to pay her respects to Her Majesty," the Empress spoke up, intending to ease the tension for Meng Qianqian.
Princess Wanping replied arrogantly, "I am aware that she came to pay her respects to you. However, I merely wished to ask her a few questions. Surely, Your Majesty wouldn't mind that?"
The Empress's position in the harem was difficult. The Li Guifei held the real power, and Princess Wanping overshadowed her in every way. On top of that, she couldn't afford to offend Princess Wanping, lest she lose the dignity befitting her status as a senior member of the harem.
Noticing Wang Furen's displeased expression, Princess Wanping fearlessly said, "Wang Furen, if you disapprove, feel free to ask your husband to file a complaint about me in the court!"
Being a princess and not a prince, the worst that could happen if she were reported was a reprimand.
Wang Furen smiled. "Princess, you jest."
What a joke! As if just anyone was worthy of having Wang Da Niu submit an official complaint about them!
But she dared not say such things aloud. How infuriating!
Princess Wanping sized up Meng Qianqian from head to toe. "She's just so-so. Nothing special, just young."
Everyone present was stunned. "Just so-so"? How was that even possible? Was the princess implying that the rest of the women in the world didn't matter?
Meng Qianqian detected a hint of sourness in Princess Wanping's tone. Was the princess jealous?
Outside the palace, Cen Guanshi found a large tree that cast a wide shadow and sat down to wait for Meng Qianqian and Baoshi.
The Grand Empress Dowager was detached from worldly affairs, and the Empress was Wang Furen's cousin. As long as they avoided Li Guifei, today's visit would be uneventful.
To prevent Li Guifei from causing trouble, the Grand Preceptor had summoned her to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, ostensibly to discuss the Emperor and Empress's wedding plans, but in reality, he was keeping her occupied.
Naturally, the officials from the Ministry of Rites were also present.
However, despite their meticulous planning, they had overlooked Princess Wanping!
When Cen Guanshi saw Princess Wanping's carriage entering the palace, he struck his thigh hard. How did this troublemaker get into the palace?
"This won't do. I must inform the Grand Preceptor immediately!" Cen Guanshi said as he took out his token and entered the palace.
Just as Shangguan Ling was about to leave the palace to carry out his task, he noticed Cen Guanshi's flustered expression and asked, "Cen Guanshi, what's wrong?"
Cen Guanshi looked around and lowered his voice. "Princess Wanping has entered the palace!"
Shangguan Ling didn't seem too concerned. "So what if she's in the palace?"
"Lady Lu is also in the harem," Cen Guanshi explained.
Shangguan Ling's body tensed. "Are you serious? She's there too? They didn't happen to meet, did they? With Princess Wanping's feelings for the Grand Preceptor, she might just devour Lady Lu alive!"
Princess Wanping had a secret that no one knew about—she admired Lu Yuan.
The reason she had refused to remarry was that she hoped Lu Yuan would become her husband.
If it had been anyone else, her wish might have come true, but who was Lu Yuan?
Lu Yuan would not agree, and Princess Wanping couldn't force the issue.
Princess Wanping had once confessed her feelings to Lu Yuan, expressing her willingness to marry him as an ordinary woman rather than as a princess marrying him as her royal consort.
Queen Wang's brows furrowed.
The Empress spoke up, "Wanping."
Princess Wanping scoffed, "Did I say something wrong? Isn't it true that she went to the borderlands to seduce a man? If she hadn't, how could a recently divorced woman marry into the Grand Marshal's household? The army camps are full of men, and I wouldn't be surprised if she's already tarnished her virtue!"
Tan Er, hands on her hips, retorted, "Who are you calling unchaste?"
Princess Wanping shouted, "How dare a lowly maid interrupt while I'm speaking? You know no respect! Someone, give this maid a slap for me!"
The Empress stood up, "Wanping!"
Princess Wanping: "Slap her!"
One of the maids behind her raised her hand to slap Tan Er, but Meng Qianqian was quicker, grabbing the maid's wrist.
Princess Wanping frowned, "Meng Qianqian, how dare you obstruct someone from my palace?"
Meng Qianqian's expression turned serious, "This is the Cunning Palace, and your people have no right to be insolent here."
Princess Wanping replied coldly, "Don't you dare use the Empress to intimidate me! I am not that feeble-minded Li Feipi!"
Princess Wanping had already investigated how the Empress had intervened when Meng Qianqian was previously troubled by Li Feipi in the Changchun Palace.
The Empress's expression turned ugly. Princess Wanping's words were not only offensive to Meng Qianqian but also a slap in her face.
Meng Qianqian said, "I never intended to be disrespectful to Princess Wanping, but if she continues to make things difficult, I won't endure it silently. Your Highness, your words not only insult me but also insult the Grand Marshal and the soldiers at the border. Those soldiers fight valiantly, devoting their lives and risking death. It is because of their efforts that you can enjoy peace in the capital. Instead of being grateful, you slander them. If word of this gets out, won't it chill the hearts of the soldiers and the people of Zhou?"
Princess Wanping could be a haughty and domineering princess, but she couldn't afford to become a villain despised by everyone.
Especially since she enjoyed a relatively high reputation among the common folk. Her boldness towards the powerful and her kindness towards the common people made her arrogance seem like a display of true character to the masses.
She couldn't afford to let their adoration for her crumble.
She composed herself and tried to shift the focus, "Did I say something wrong? Can you swear that you were chaste at the border with Lu Yuan?"
Meng Qianqian replied calmly, "Whether I'm chaste or not is none of Princess Wanping's business."
Princess Wanping was so angry that her face turned pale. "A woman should only have one husband in her life. You've disgraced all the women in the world!"
If Meng Qianqian couldn't see that Princess Wanping had feelings for Lu Yuan, she would be blind. Who would have thought that the first trouble after marrying Lu Yuan would come from this princess?
Meng Qianqian remained calm and collected.
Now that she had married Lu Yuan, cutting off his romantic entanglements was part of her duty.
Meng Qianqian held onto the maid's wrist, stepping closer to Princess Wanping with a smile, "What the world thinks of me is none of my concern. I only care about my husband's love, and that is enough for me."
Qianqian: A lesson in self-improvement for bootlickers.
(End of Chapter)
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