CHAPTER 357: CHAPTER 351: I AM THE MARQUIS MANSION DOWAGER 40

Tang Rong and Tang Qin have been preoccupied with taking care of Ms. Zhang these few days, completely unaware of many things happening in the mansion.

Anning went to the palace again, abandoning her care for Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion.

Meanwhile, Tang Yi did know quite a bit about the affairs within the mansion, but she never liked meddling in others’ business. Therefore, when Jiang Baoshu and Song Jingman’s competition started, surprisingly, not a single person stepped in to stop it.

Xu Wan was perceptive and saw many things clearly.

However, she merely thought that Song Jingman was targeting Jiang Baoshu and did not realize that she herself had been implicated as well.

One day, as Jiang Baoshu was passing by a rockery in the small garden, she overheard two maids talking behind it.

"Have you heard? Miss Jiang fancies our Mr. Rong."

"I’ve heard too. Apparently, Miss Jiang has a golden lock that matches our Mr. Rong’s jade—a perfect pair."

"It would indeed be a match blessed by wealth and honor. It’s a pity the Second Mrs. is locked up; otherwise, Miss Jiang and Mr. Rong might actually become a couple."

"Let me tell you, these past few days Miss Jiang has been visiting Mr. Rong’s courtyard even more diligently. It’s probably because she thinks that by comforting Mr. Rong in his sorrow, she can make him more grateful to her."

Jiang Baoshu went pale upon hearing this, her hand grasping a nearby tree for support, breathing heavily.

In this lifetime, she never wanted anything to do with Tang Rong. She’d been avoiding him, so why did such rumors arise?

If this got out, it wouldn’t be good for her reputation at all. She was hoping to enter Prince Kang Mansion as a concubine or a lesser wife, and the royal family would never take a woman with a tarnished reputation.

Jiang Baoshu took several deep breaths and hurried back home.

As soon as she entered, she asked Mrs. Xiao Zhang, "Mother, are these rumors in the mansion your doing?"

Mrs. Xiao Zhang was taken aback, "What rumors?"

Jiang Baoshu, feeling a tightness in her chest and very uncomfortable, quickly gulped down some cold tea, "The whole mansion, from top to bottom, is talking about me and Rong. They’re saying we’re a match blessed by wealth and honor."

Mrs. Xiao Zhang’s face also changed upon hearing this: "I’ve told no one to spread such rumors. My child, didn’t you tell me before that you didn’t want any entanglement with Rong? Why would I still link you two together?"

Jiang Baoshu sat down, "I must thoroughly investigate who’s behind this."

"Do investigate. Those despicable people are probably emboldened by your aunt’s confinement, thinking we have no support, and now painstakingly slandering us."

Mrs. Xiao Zhang clenched her fists, visibly very angry.

Indeed, if Ms. Zhang were well, Song Jingman would not dare to make such moves.

But now that Ms. Zhang was confined, what could Jiang Baoshu do? Song Jingman would have no qualms about dragging her down.

Besides, Song Jingman was, after all, Mrs. Song’s grandniece. Even if she caused trouble, Mrs. Song would protect her.

That was Song Jingman’s backing.

Jiang Baoshu and Mrs. Xiao Zhang put effort into investigating and surprisingly found the source of the rumors to be Xu Wan.

After returning home, Jiang Baoshu was stifled with anger once again.

Mrs. Xiao Zhang was also quite angry, complaining incessantly to Jiang Baoshu, "Miss Xu seemed so reasonable; how could she do such a senseless thing? What benefit does spreading these rumors bring her? Perhaps it’s still because your aunt hurt her mother, so she..."

Jiang Baoshu bit her lip, a glint of malevolence in her eyes, "Mother, this is not the doing of Miss Xu."

Eh?

Mrs. Xiao Zhang was stunned.

Jiang Baoshu understood Xu Wan very well.

Even though in this life she was set on stealing Xu Wan’s position, from their years of association in her previous life, how could she not know what kind of person Xu Wan was?

"Miss Xu is not one to gossip senselessly, nor would she vent her frustration on us over the aunt’s matter. This act is likely the work of someone else, who is probably jealous of Miss Xu and wants to teach her a lesson through me, or to say, make us both suffer losses."

Mrs. Xiao Zhang considered carefully and felt it made sense.

She tapped the table and whispered, "It’s the one surnamed Song."

She didn’t ask but stated with certainty.

Jiang Baoshu nodded, "It’s probably her."

Subsequently, Jiang Baoshu sneered coldly in a soft yet sinister tone: "She really likes to play matchmaker, enjoying these brother-sister, gold, and jade affairs. Perhaps it’s time to lend her a hand."

Let’s not discuss how Jiang Baoshu and Song Jingman were fighting in Duke Zhongyong’s Mansion.

Just say that once Anning entered the palace, the Emperor truly couldn’t contain his joy.

With his status, nobody dared to tease him during his wedding night.

After worshipping the heavens and ancestors, the Emperor brought Anning into Ning’an Palace.

Anning found that the interior of Ning’an Palace was decorated quite simply and elegantly, with many red items in the bridal chamber but the colors used elsewhere were gentle and refined. The entire Ning’an Palace also seemed exceptionally quiet.

She quite liked this environment.

Upon entering the bridal chamber, Anning immediately found her wedding dress unbearably heavy and uncomfortable, so she had someone fetch her casual clothes to change into, and also took off her phoenix crown, letting her soft black hair cascade down.

As she was using her comb, the Emperor entered.

Holding the comb, Anning turned and gave him a smile: "You’re back."

The Emperor felt so sweet inside it was as if honey were about to overflow; he waved off the attendants and walked over to take the comb and personally brush Anning’s hair.

"If you don’t like living in the palace, in a few days we can move to live in the private garden, just the two of us, without bringing along any of those Imperial Concubines - how does that sound?"

The Emperor carefully asked as he brushed Anning’s hair.

He was still a bit scared.

Afraid that Anning would be upset upon finding out about the other women in the palace.

Anning, meanwhile, was quite open-minded.

She smiled: "Sure, it’s quite stifling to live in the palace. Moving to the private garden would be nice – but when I have nothing to do, can I invite my children to stay?"

"Of course, that’s perfectly fine."

The Emperor quickly agreed.

Taking the comb from his hands, Anning quickly finished combing her hair and stood up to sniff the Emperor: "You’ve been drinking, go freshen up."

The Emperor actually felt amused.

No one had ever dared to boss him around like this.

But he quite enjoyed the feeling.

Anning handed him his clothes, and he scurried off to bathe, clutching his clothes.

Anning walked over to the nuptial bed and saw the dates, peanuts, and other such items scattered on the big red quilt, leaving her somewhere between laughter and tears.

At this age, receiving such blessings for an early childbirth was really...

She shook the quilt, and all the dry fruits scattered onto the floor, creating a rustling noise throughout the room.

The Emperor hurriedly finished freshening up and upon returning, heard the noise and saw Anning shaking the quilt.

He walked over with a smile and embraced her from behind: "What’s this, you’re getting impatient waiting for me?"

That night, Anning and the Emperor were both quite vigorous.

But neither had any concerns, after all, the Emperor was supreme within the palace. Even if they woke up late, no one would say anything.

Unlike young brides who had to get up early to serve tea to their parents-in-law, Anning had no such worries; she could really do as she pleased.

The Emperor too thought it was pretty great.

Having Anning, he felt that the years before had been lived in vain, and now, this was what life should be – genuinely delightful.

The two of them slept in until noon the next day.

After getting up, they went straight to having lunch.

The Emperor was in a fantastic mood and took out many of his private treasures to show Anning.

After seeing them, Anning really didn’t know what to say.

She discovered that the Emperor’s aesthetic sensibilities were quite speechless.

He was the former ruler of the nation, the Emperor, the wealthy owner of all the world – yet his taste was nearly indistinguishable from that of a country rich man.