This Life, I'm Raising the Right Man

”Mrs. Zhou, our Commandery Princess invites you over to talk, and she’s only invited you. Come along!”

A maid stopped Su Yaoguang, speaking condescendingly.

”What does the Commandery Princess want that she insists on seeing Yaoguang alone? We are Yaoguang’s family; we’d also like to meet such a noble person.”

Zhang Zhaodi stood in front of Su Yaoguang.

”How noble the Commandery Princess is, not someone you country women can see at your whim. The Commandery Princess only wants to see the Champion Scholar’s wife. Are you the Champion Scholar’s wife?”

”Mother, Aunt, I’ll go. You can sit nearby; I’ll be back shortly,” Su Yaoguang said.

”Yaoguang, I’ll find my son-in-law to accompany you.”

”No need. This is the Imperial Palace, and this young lady is inviting me right in front of you; if anything happens to me, they can’t escape responsibility. They are smart people and wouldn’t trouble themselves like that.”

Su Yaoguang followed the maid away.

Watching her silhouette, Zhang Zhaodi said to Zhang Yingdi, ”I’ll go back and find Wang Shu. You keep an eye here, and if they try anything with Yaoguang, shout and bring people over. I don’t believe these noble women of the Imperial Family can cover the sky with one hand.”

”Alright. Hurry back,” Zhang Yingdi urged.

In the pavilion, Princess Qinglan was resplendent and elegant, attended by several maids. Looking at this array, the aura itself was quite intimidating.

”Greetings to the Commandery Princess,” Su Yaoguang bowed.

Princess Qinglan ate grapes, seeming not to hear Su Yaoguang’s salutation, showing no intent to respond.

Su Yaoguang stood up.

”Bold! The Commandery Princess hasn’t spoken, yet you dare stand up yourself.”

”Hasn’t the Commandery Princess spoken? As a humble woman, I thought she had. After all, when I greeted the Emperor, he immediately allowed everyone to rise. I salute the Commandery Princess; her airs shouldn’t be larger than the Emperor’s, so how could she stop me from standing?” Su Yaoguang looked surprised.

Princess Qinglan scrutinized Su Yaoguang, eyes filled with disdain: ”Sharp tongue, indeed good eloquence. I hear you do business in cosmetics; indeed you are a person with finesse, truly adept at speaking. Come over, this Commandery Princess wants a good look at you.”

Su Yaoguang stepped forward, stopping in front of Princess Qinglan.

”This Commandery Princess’s tea is good; I shall reward you with a taste,” Princess Qinglan said, pouring the tea herself.

”Bold! How dare you let the Commandery Princess pour tea for you.” A maid spoke again.

”Commandery Princess, you should replace your maid; this one is so jumpy, she has less insight than I, a village woman. The tea is voluntarily poured by the Commandery Princess; I haven’t spoken, so this crime can’t be pinned on me.” Su Yaoguang said, ”Commandery Princess, you invited me today to vent your anger, right?”

Su Yaoguang rolled up her sleeves, extended her palm, and said to Princess Qinglan, ”No need to find excuses, Commandery Princess. If you want to hit, just hit! Once the anger is released, our grievances will be cleared, and Commandery Princess won’t make things difficult for a humble woman.”

”Do you know what this Commandery Princess wants to do?” Princess Qinglan studied Su Yaoguang.

”No. But you wouldn’t kindly pour tea for me personally; there must be more plans afterwards. I don’t know, nor do I take the bait. I just want to talk openly with you.” Su Yaoguang said, ”You are heaven’s favored girl; my husband is somewhat handsome, but there are many handsome men in the world. You wouldn’t be so stuck for just one man. Surely you feel your face is lost and want to vent your anger.”

”Let it out, once it’s out, I would feel at ease. But you are a noble woman of the Imperial Family, prestigious; if word spreads, others might think you truly want to snatch a husband from a village woman. That would be truly losing face. Although the Emperor once wished to arrange a marriage for my husband with a noble woman, I don’t think he designated you as the Commandery Princess, did he? Who knows who’s been gossiping outside, implicating the Commandery Princess; you should investigate.”

Princess Qinglan finally took a closer look at Su Yaoguang: ”You are truly bold. Earlier, dare to talk nonsense in front of the Emperor; I thought you truly brainless, but now I see I underestimated you. Alright, this Commandery Princess isn’t that narrow-minded; you may go!”

”Commandery Princess, the corner of your eye is a bit unmade, care for a touch-up?” Su Yaoguang pointed to the corner of her eye, ”I excel in these, can serve the Commandery Princess.”

”At this moment you don’t rush to leave, instead stay to make trouble for yourself.” Princess Qinglan’s face lost a lot of anger. ”Bring the rouge to her, let her fix my makeup.”

Zhang Zhaodi brought Zhou Wangshu quickly, and saw Princess Qinglan holding a mirror, looking left and right, quite satisfied.

”Your craftsmanship is indeed good, seems those outside rumors aren’t all false.” Princess Qinglan said, ”This Commandery Princess usually uses Imperial Family’s products, made by special masters, never used things from outside. Someday I’ll try your Taoyao Square’s dressing items.”

”Greetings to the Commandery Princess,” Zhou Wangshu bowed to Princess Qinglan.

Princess Qinglan looked Zhou Wangshu over, eyes full of disdain: ”Yaoguang was right, you just happen to look somewhat good, many good-looking men outside; this Commandery Princess surely will find someone better. Yaoguang also said you are fragile, marrying should be to a sturdy man. The more this Commandery Princess thinks, the more it seems she makes sense. Yaoguang, if you’re dissatisfied with him, someday I’ll introduce you to a military general, surely you’d be satisfied.”

Su Yaoguang: ”...”

She dared not look at Zhou Wangshu’s eyes, afraid to be killed by his gaze.

To comfort Princess Qinglan, she exaggerated the benefits of marrying a military general; knowing full well the Commandery Princess understood her, still dug pits for her.

Princess Qinglan leaned close to Su Yaoguang’s ear: ”Didn’t you say once the anger was released it’d be forgotten; this Commandery Princess thinks you make sense.”

”As long as the Commandery Princess is happy.” Su Yaoguang sulked.

Princess Qinglan left with the maids.

Zhang Zhaodi shocked said: ”Ended just like that? I thought she’d do something to you.”

”This Princess Qinglan had a bit of temper, but her nature is not bad; she didn’t make things hard for me just now.” Maybe intended to trouble me, but I sincerely advised her, letting her vent; she shouldn’t make it hard for an innocent woman unless her heart is very dark.

After all, Princess Qinglan wasn’t resenting me for unrequited love; just felt she lost face, thus wanted to vent.

”Miss, did Princess Qinglan just let her go like that?” In the corner, a maid asked the cold-faced Wang Ruyan.

”She was lucky this time; next time we settle accounts.” Wang Ruyan said coldly, ”Brother Xiao said this woman failed to seduce Brother Xiao, tried every way to bully him, even caused him to fall off a cliff. Though time has passed and evidence is scarce, this revenge must be served.”