RWNEFE -Chapter 429 Bai Qingling and Shen Yuantang Have a Fierce Quarrel!

The next day, Emperor Renxiao issued an imperial decree summoning the Eldest Prince.

Zhou Rulin’s body had mostly recovered. From the outside, it was impossible to tell that he had once been seriously injured.

“Father Emperor.”

Emperor Renxiao spoke kindly, “Your investiture banquet has been postponed again and again. Soon it will be my birthday, and it would not be appropriate for the dates to clash. I plan to formally confer upon you the title of Prince Chen on the day of your wedding.”

Zhou Rulin was overjoyed. “Thank you, Father Emperor.”

Looking at this son who resembled the late Empress by sixty percent, Emperor Renxiao’s eyes were filled with longing.

“My son has suffered. Many times officials have submitted memorials urging me to establish a Crown Prince, but I suppressed them all.”

Zhou Rulin felt somewhat uneasy. “Father Emperor, if your son had achievements of his own, you would not be placed in such a difficult position.”

Emperor Renxiao nodded. “It’s good that you understand. Military power has now slipped away, and you have no prestige in the army. If you wish to command troops, you must proceed step by step.”

Zhou Rulin had an idea. “Father Emperor, if I want others to be convinced, I must not only have achievements but also win the people’s hearts. Previously, Second Brother gained much popular support through disaster relief. I was thinking of using the same method.”

At the mention of Zhou Ruan, Emperor Renxiao showed displeasure.

“Even if he once gathered the people’s support, he has already squandered it.”

Fortunately, Zhou Ruan had obediently sent the successor of Ghost Valley to the capital this time; otherwise, he would already have punished him.

Emperor Renxiao then recalled something. “Every summer, the Han River floods, and the people suffer greatly. If you can go to comfort the disaster victims and manage the flooding, it will certainly be a great merit.” It would also allow him to win the people’s hearts for himself.

Zhou Rulin’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Father Emperor, for arranging this.”

Emperor Renxiao immediately issued an edict. The decree announcing Zhou Rulin’s wedding to the daughter of the Vice Minister of War, along with the decree conferring his princely title, were both sent to the Eldest Prince’s residence.

In the palace, events changed in an instant, and every change quickly reached the ears of those paying attention.

Shen Lanxi said, “Send word to Zhang Xinsui. Arrange for Zhou Xinsui to be sent to Zhou Rulin’s side.”

“Yes!”

Zhen’nan Prince’s Residence

After receiving news from Jiang Wuya, Bai Qingling hurried to the council hall.

By coincidence, she ran into Shen Yuantang.

“What are you doing here?” Bai Qingling immediately scolded her in displeasure.

Shen Yuantang sneered. “Naturally, I came to care about the Prince’s health and to bring him nourishing soup.”

Bai Qingling said coldly, “The Prince is in good health and has no need for tonic soup. All medicines have some toxicity—don’t do something unnecessary.”

Shen Yuantang stiffened, then angrily retorted, “You don’t care about the Prince and won’t allow others to care either. Bai Qingling, who do you think you are, daring to question the supplements I brought? Ignorant woman! The supplements I bring are no less valuable than those in the palace. Talking about ‘medicine being toxic’—aren’t you afraid people will laugh at your shallow knowledge?”

Bai Qingling’s face darkened, and she immediately called for attendants.

“Consort Shen has been disrespectful to the Princess Consort. From today onward, she is confined to her quarters. Without my permission, she is not to step outside her room!”

Shen Yuantang was fearless and arrogant. “Let’s see who dares touch me! His Majesty is my uncle, the Duke Protector of the Nation is my elder sister, and my mother is the Dowager Empress’s most beloved Princess Minrou. If you dare touch me, watch your heads!”

Once again, Shen Yuantang brought up her background. Every time she did so, Bai Qingling seemed to have her weakness exposed.

Thinking of how the Prince had hurried back to the residence today to consult Mr. Caolu, Bai Qingling’s eyes flickered, and she suddenly raised a scornful smile.

“You make it sound nice, but His Majesty only acknowledges Shen Lanxi and has never summoned you to the palace. Yes, Shen Lanxi is the Duke Protector of the Nation, but after you married into the Prince’s residence, what has she ever done to help you?”

“If His Majesty and Shen Lanxi were truly backing you, would I still be sitting in the position of Princess Consort?”

“Shen Yuantang, it’s fine to bluff outsiders, but don’t make a fool of yourself in front of people who know the truth.”

Shen Yuantang’s face immediately darkened.

Bai Qingling had found her weak point and pressed it hard.

“My birth may not be as noble as yours, but my marriage was bestowed by His Majesty, and I was even appointed a deputy general. When war comes, I can fight alongside the Prince on the battlefield.”

“And you? You may have a good background, but what of it? You can’t help the Prince at all. What use is a good background then?”

After saying this, Bai Qingling smiled with the satisfaction of revenge.

Shen Yuantang was filled with humiliation and anger, yet could not think of a single retort.

“Bai Qingling, you’ve disgraced the Prince—you’re a shameless jinx!”

Bai Qingling’s smile froze; she hated most when others brought up past events.

“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even have been able to marry into the Prince’s residence. You should be thanking me instead!” Bai Qingling and Shen Yuantang had long since torn all pretense apart; when they cursed each other, they held nothing back, saying the harshest words imaginable.

Shen Yuantang thought of Shen Lanxi, and her eyes darkened again. If Shen Lanxi had been willing to help her, the position of principal wife would have been hers.

Shen Lanxi was selfish, cold, and heartless—unworthy of being her sister!

If she truly regarded her as a younger sister, she would not bear to see her suppressed by such a lowly woman!

“Someone, escort Consort Shen back to her courtyard!” Bai Qingling ordered coldly.

Shen Yuantang immediately shouted, “Let’s see who dares!”

Their quarrel had already disturbed Zhou Ruyuan.

“What are you arguing about now?” Zhou Ruyuan walked over with a dark expression.

“Your Highness!”

Both Bai Qingling and Shen Yuantang bowed to him.

“A perfectly good Prince Zhen’nan Residence has been turned into a marketplace by your quarrels. Since you enjoy arguing so much, find a room and shut the door to quarrel inside—so it doesn’t spread outside and disgrace the residence!”

Zhou Ruyuan was already irritated; the council meeting had been interrupted, and his mood was even worse. All his anger was vented on the two of them.

“Your Highness…”

Shen Yuantang was full of grievances.

Bai Qingling, however, knew how to behave. She quickly left with her maidservants.

Soon after, Zhou Ruyuan also left with a dark face, flicking his sleeve.

“Your Ladyship, the Princess Consort only dares to act like this because she knows you aren’t close to the Duke Protector’s household,” a maid said.

Shen Yuantang felt both wronged and furious.

“If Shen Lanxi won’t help me, what can I do?”

A trace of disdain flashed in the maid’s eyes, but she said, “If you spoke to her kindly, would she really refuse you face?”

“Don’t you still have your parents and elders? If they spoke on your behalf, would Shen Lanxi refuse to help?”

Shen Yuantang stubbornly replied, “I’ve already fallen out with her.”

The maid said, “What sisters hold grudges overnight? If you don’t soften your attitude, you’ll always be suppressed by the Princess Consort.” Foolish woman—think it over yourself!

Consort Shu, taking advantage of Emperor Renxiao’s birthday celebration, summoned Bai Qingling and Shen Yuantang to the palace.

“I hear the two of you are at odds, and it has affected my son’s important affairs?”

Neither Bai Qingling nor Shen Yuantang dared admit it.

“Your Ladyship, we have not.”

Consort Shu said coldly, “Then go kneel outside the door for one hour before coming in to speak with me.”

Shen Yuantang inwardly cried in misery, and Bai Qingling’s face also fell.

The news that Zhou Rulin had been granted the title of Prince Chen caused a great uproar throughout the court and the capital.