The first part of today’s sponsored chapters is Ch. 91 Part 1.
Qingfu Junzhu and Ruan-shi totally lost their face, and now we’re very embarrassed. At the same time, they felt despair. The fantasies they had about Cheng Yujin these past two days were too naive. Cheng Yujin wouldn’t support her younger brothers, let alone selflessly offer her blood to be sucked by her natal family.
Whether Cheng Enbao, Cheng Enci, or Cheng Enbei, they were just younger brothers, not sons. Cheng Yujin didn’t feel that she had any responsibility to take care of their future.
Want to suck Cheng Yujin’s blood for nothing? They were very courageous indeed, not knowing that it was already good enough that Cheng Yujin didn’t suck their blood in return.
Ruan-shi had never met such embarrassment before, and suddenly could not sit still anymore. She took Cheng Enbei and hurriedly slipped away. Cheng Yujin thought that Qingfu Junzhu was also about to leave, but after Qingfu stood up, she suddenly had another thought. After ordering the wetnurse to carry Cheng Enbao out, Qingfu Junzhu sat opposite Cheng Yujin again.
Cheng Yujin raised her eyebrows and smiled: “Mother, do you have something else to say?”
“Since it’s useless to talk about familial affection with you, let’s talk about a deal.” Qingfu Junzhu put back the posture of an aloof noble madam, showing an arrogance of someone of her position: “I am born in the imperial clan after all, and I know a lot more about imperial clan than outsiders. Since you are ambitious enough to become the Crown Princess, you should know that the first impression is the most important. The imperial clan has many unwritten rules. If you don’t know these, it is hard to guarantee that you won’t suffer after entering the palace for the first time, losing everyone’s favorable first impression. I will give you insider teaching. In exchange, you will guarantee Bao’er’s future. Look, how about this deal?”
“Disregarding familial affection and ties, and just talking about interests. Very frank and simple.” Cheng Yujin smiled. Seeing this, Qingfu Junzhu also smiled triumphantly. She knew that Cheng Yujin would not be able to resist this temptation and would come to beg for her cooperation.
However, Cheng Yujin didn’t rush. She slowly finished the remaining half of her sentence: “However, I only talk with people who put on bargaining chips of equal value. I have no interest in mother’s offer.”
Qingfu Junzhu was taken aback. For a short moment, she thought that she had misheard: “What did you say?”
“Mother has always been proud of being a Junzhu. But your so-called imperial clan’s unwritten rules, I will know sooner or later. You want to exchange something that is going to be expired quickly with my promise to take care of Cheng Enbao for his whole life. Mother calculates very well.”
Qingfu Junzhu was stabbed in the heart and couldn’t help being angry. Cheng Yujin was right. Those unwritten rules Qingfu knew, Cheng Yujin would soon know too. What Qingfu Junzhu wanted to do was to take advantage of this time difference to deceive Cheng Yujin. Regardless of success or failure, Qingfu Junzhu lost nothing. This transaction was basically free. Of course Qingfu Junzhu would be happy. In contrast, Cheng Yujin actually gained no benefit.
However, did Cheng Yujin dare to take the risk? Both Empress Dowager and Empress Yang were already hostile of her from the beginning. If Cheng Yujin did something wrong because of her ignorance of the rule when she just got married, it would be a bad situation for both the Crown Prince and Cheng Yujin. Qingfu Junzhu calculated well. Knowing that Cheng Yujin wouldn’t dare to take such a risk, she dared to sit down and open a high price.
But Cheng Yujin’s refusal totally surprised Qingfu Junzhu.
Qingfu Junzhu thought that Cheng Yujin was having it high after being appointed as the Crown Princess and couldn’t see her situation clearly. Qingfu Junzhu sneered and said: “Eldest girl, although you are going to get married as Crown Princess, do you really think that you can use that position to stand in the high place? You are just the Crown Princess. There are Empress and Empress Dowager above you. You are still far away to really have any authority. Also, the Crown Prince will eventually have favorite concubines. Just because you are the main wife, it doesn’t mean that you can just sit back and relax.”
Qingfu Junzhu saw that Cheng Yujin didn’t speak. Thinking that she had successfully frightened the girl, she deliberately continued: “Eldest girl, you have been raised under my name for fifteen years. I treat you as my daughter, so I kindly give you this advice. Don’t be haughty just because you are appointed as the Crown Princess. The Crown Prince has been missing for fourteen years. Now he comes back suddenly; how can it be so easy to convince the public? Moreover, the second prince is diligent and smart, very filial to both Empress Yang and Empress Dowager Yang. Both Empress Dowager Yang and Senior Grand Secretary Yang naturally favor the second prince. The second prince is also born from an empress, only different from the Crown Prince by the word ‘eldest’ and ‘second.’ How many monarchs in the past were an eldest di son? This thought is taboo to be spoken, but eldest girl should know what I mean.”
Cheng Yujin nodded. Qingfu Junzhu’s argument was not wrong. Unless Li Chengjing’s crown princess was a Yang family’s daughter, no matter who she was, the position would only bring her hardship and danger, not blessings.
Seeing Cheng Yujin nodded, Qingfu Junzhu thought the girl had listened to her, so she smiled complacently: “I know that eldest girl is smart. You always see things clearly. After all, the imperial court is the men’s world. We women can only talk about the inner palace. There are many ways to deal with mothers-in-law. No need to search for, just look at our family’s married ladies. The second girl married into Jingyong Marquis Manor. Our family is also a marquis family, so second girl married equally. Yet after marriage, she is forced to learn rules every day by her mother-in-law. She doesn’t dare to show any temper, and her life is like walking on thin ice. Then there is also your aunt. she married from a marquis family into a ducal family, which is considered to marry high. She is just a second daughter-in-law. Her branch has no title to inherit, and she has no right to manage the manor. The pressure she receives cannot be compared to her eldest sister-in-law, who is the wife of the future duke. Yet, have you heard her saying that she has an easy life in Xu family?”
Qingfu Junzhu finished the long speech, picked up the teacup to moisturize her throat, and then slowly came to her main point: “This is the case in the homes of noble families. Then how about the imperial palace with its countless rules and regulations? When you get married into the palace, you have to serve your mothers-in-law. It’s far less glamorous than you think. Being the Crown Princess is very difficult.”
Cheng Yujin lowered her head and said nothing. When she heard the last sentence, she whispered: “Yes, it is very difficult being the Crown Princess.”
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