The Hidden Beauty

Chapter 20: Mrs.

"If there is a suitable person to be the first wife of the Governor's Mansion in the future, you don't have to worry."

Hearing this, Meng Tingzhou's originally patient face suddenly turned cold, and he stared at her with his sharp eyes, not missing any change on her face.

"Don't you understand what I'm saying or are you deliberately trying to annoy me?"

Jiang Shiwan lowered his head: "I am just thinking about the governor's future."

"I have my own plans for my future."

"Yes."

Yunshang and Xueying's voices came from outside the door: "Miss Jiang, it's time to take the medicine."

Jiang Shiwan glanced at Meng Tingzhou, who had already stood up, and ordered, "Come in."

The two of them came in and felt the silent air filling the room. They lowered their heads and helped Jiang Shiwan get up and take his medicine.

She drank the whole bowl of medicine, and Xueying handed her a handkerchief: "Miss Jiang."

Meng Tingzhou, who was standing quietly beside him, said, "From now on, call me Madam."

Yun Shang and Xue Ying were slightly startled, then they bowed and said, "Yes."

Jiang Shiwan wanted to correct it and said it was Madam Ru, but thinking of Meng Tingzhou's unhappy attitude just now, he held back.

What he meant by being open and frank was everything within his control. If things did not go according to his wishes, he would turn his back on him.

Hey, man...

Three days later, the Emperor reprimanded the Duke's Mansion and the Minister of Guanglu Temple for their lax discipline, saying that their son's involvement in brothels had disgraced the imperial order. He ordered the Duke's Mansion's old man Shen Bian and the Minister of Dali Temple Fang Lushan to kneel outside the Chongzheng Hall for two hours as a warning to others.

Shen Yunqi and Fang Yiming were ordered to reflect on their mistakes behind closed doors, and their official ranks were demoted two levels.

Shen Bian and Fang Lushan were senior figures in the court. They were so glorious in their daily lives. It was a rare occasion that they encountered such a punishment. They felt ashamed and angry.

When Meng Tingzhou returned to the Governor's Mansion to tell Jiang Shiwan the news, he also brought back another piece of news: "The Dragon Boat Festival is in half a month. The Queen has invited all the ladies to the palace for a banquet, and she has also invited you."

"Me?" Jiang Shiwan was slightly stunned. "Do I, a Madam Ru, need to go?"

"There are no other ladies in the Governor's Mansion, so naturally you will go." Meng Tingzhou looked around and said solemnly, "On the day she enters the palace, you must take good care of her and make sure that no one is left by her side."

At the Dragon Boat Festival palace banquet, the Emperor and the Empress entertained all the officials and their families separately.

There was a long queue outside the palace gate early in the morning. The weather was hot, and some women from official families couldn't help but complain in low voices.

A sedan chair went straight in from the Xihua Gate.

Some people sighed: "Who can receive such an honor from His Majesty?"

"The Left Commander-in-Chief has won battles one after another, so His Majesty has granted this permission."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone with sharp eyes saw the Left Commander-in-Chief, who was second only to the emperor, riding his horse leisurely and leading the troops.

"The Left Commander is here. The person on the sedan chair just now is..."

Everyone looked at each other.

Could it be the legendary Madam Ru from the Governor’s Mansion?

A bunch of wives of nobles were queuing up, but a wife of a governor's mansion received special treatment. People who knew about it couldn't help but gossip about her.

Jiang Shiwan was the second person to arrive after the eldest princess.

The nanny beside the queen led her all the way inside.

Inside Yanqing Palace, after the palace maid passed the message, Jiang Shiwan walked in with her head lowered, and knelt before the person in the upper seat, saying, "Your humble servant pays respects to Her Majesty the Queen, and to the Princess."

The Queen and the eldest princess looked at each other. No wonder the Left Commander looked down on everyone. He was indeed a wonderful person.

"I heard that the Left Commander had specifically asked the emperor for grace to allow you to ride in the sedan chair into the palace. Now it seems that Madam Ru is pregnant. No wonder. Come on, please take a seat." Jiang Shiwan did not stand up immediately: "Today, I would like to take the opportunity to enter the palace to thank the queen for the snacks she gave me."

“Have you tasted it?”

"I have tasted it. The imperial kitchen in the palace is indeed exquisite. I can't bear to eat this honey-floating pastry."

The queen nodded with a smile: "You are not feeling well, please sit down for a while. The Left Commander has made great contributions and you must take good care of him."

The princess scraped the lid of her teacup and said, "The Queen is so kind and considerate. I have a few words to say to her."

Jiang Shiwan bowed his head to the princess and said, "Please give me your instructions, Princess."

"You are the daughter of a guilty minister. It is a great honor for the governor to treat you like his wife regardless of your status."

"The emperor thinks highly of the Left Commander-in-Chief. As the only wife in the Commander-in-Chief's Office, you must pay attention to everything the Commander-in-Chief does and must not let trivial matters distract him from his main business."

Jiang Shiwan nodded slightly: "I'll remember this."

The queen and the eldest princess nodded to each other, and the problem was solved.

According to status, Jiang Shiwan, as the only wife of Ru, is at the very end.

She didn't mind these things at all. She didn't have much appetite anyway, so sitting in the corner was quite suitable for her.

During this time, people looked at her from time to time. She understood those scrutinizing and contemptuous looks and pretended to ignore them.

A little cutie appeared out of nowhere and looked at her eagerly: "Whose wife are you? Why are you so beautiful?"

Jiang Shiwan was startled, then came to her senses and found that it was a little princess in palace clothes. She couldn't help but smile: "I am the wife of the Governor's Mansion, which princess are you?"

"I'm Chongning."

Chongning was the Queen's third princess and was very much loved by the Emperor and Empress.

Jiang Shiwan nodded slightly: "Your Highness greets the princess."

Chongning tilted his head and asked, "What kind of lady is Madam Ru? A lady as beautiful as a flower?"

Jiang Shiwan pursed his lips and couldn't help laughing: "Princess, you are so cute."

"My father and mother always praise me like this." Chongning seemed to have a good impression of her. His chubby little hands climbed up Jiang Shiwan's knees and wanted to sit on them.

"Princess, you can't..."

Yunchang and Xueying wanted to stop it.

Seeing this, Shen Yunxiang of the Duke's Mansion immediately sneered, "Why, Princess Chongning wants your Madam Ru to hold her in her arms because she thinks highly of her. Could it be that Madam Ru of the Governor's Mansion is so precious that she is outshined by the golden branches and jade leaves?"

Her voice was not loud, but everyone around her could hear it.

Several ladies from aristocratic families were already very dissatisfied because Madam Ru had entered the palace on a sedan chair today, and they were whispering to each other.

"Those who know her think she is Madam Ru, while those who don't know her think she is even more extraordinary than the real Governor's wife."

"The daughter of a guilty minister is still qualified to enter the palace. It's unlucky to sit with her."

"..."

Jiang Shiwan raised his head slightly and smiled: "Miss Shen misunderstood. The maid said this because she was worried that I didn't hold the princess firmly. Miss Shen is so imaginative that it is easy for people to misunderstand."

Shen Yunxiang rolled his eyes at her with disdain: "You use your beauty to please others. Let's see how long you can be so arrogant."

"My governor has been on many expeditions all year round, and has been toiling away. The Empress has shown sympathy for me, and has been accompanying me and taking care of me. She has granted me special permission to attend the banquet in the palace."

Jiang Shiwan looked at Shen Yunxiang calmly and indifferently, "How come in the eyes of Miss Shen, an unmarried girl, it's like using your beauty to serve someone? With your words, where do you put the Empress? And where do you put the governor of my family?"

(End of this chapter)