A Good Country Wife
Chapter 429 - 423_1

Chapter 429: 423_1

Princess Yongle, being of distinguished status and favored by both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, had always moved freely within the palace. She could hardly bear Lin Yue’s cautious words and immediately said, "What is there to be afraid of entering? Regardless of your status, you are a guest of mine, Princess Yongle. I’d like to see who would dare to trouble you once you’re inside, so don’t worry about all that nonsense!"

"This..." Lin Yue still hesitated.

"What ’this’? Let’s settle it then. Since you’ve come to the Capital City, of course, you should see the Imperial Palace. It’s the perfect opportunity to invite you to my palace to sit for a while and see what my living quarters are like." Princess Yongle grew even more convinced that her idea was splendid. She knew she wouldn’t be able to leave the palace for some time, so inviting Lin Yue to the palace would give her company.

"Yes, yes, not just Sister Three, but me as well. I’ll take good care of you too. You should visit Sister Three’s palace first, and then mine. It’s really boring inside the palace; come and keep us company." The Fifth Princess had always enjoyed following Princess Yongle’s lead. Feng Susu, the Empress Dowager’s niece, on the other hand, had remained mostly silent. She was neither close nor hostile towards Lin Yue, always keeping some distance. It seemed she was reserved due to her unfamiliarity with Lin Yue.

After Princess Yongle had spoken, Lin Yue found it difficult to refuse. Moreover, she was curious to see what the Imperial Palace was actually like. Protected by Princess Yongle and as long as she was careful, she believed there shouldn’t be any hindrance. "Then I must thank both princesses for your kind regards. I, too, would like to witness the splendor of the Imperial Palace."

As the group entered the hall, everyone bowed down in homage. Among the four who arrived, three held noble ranks and titles. Even the only one without such status was the niece of the Empress Dowager, which was in itself far more prestigious than any of them. These were the kind of people they seldom encountered in their regular social circles, which had their own hierarchies. They were usually accustomed to only mingling with other young ladies occasionally, nowhere near the elite circle of the most privileged daughters of heaven.

Among them, Princess Yongle held the highest rank, and she initiated a more relaxed tone by waiving the formalities. "Rise, everyone. Today, my visit is for a banquet seeking enjoyment and leisure. There’s no need to be so formal; act as usual, and only then will it be fun."

At Princess Yongle’s command, the banquet began, and servants entered in line, bringing fine wines and delicacies. Lin Yue’s organized games, the most common and simple of which was musical chairs, along with other activities like pitching arrows, turned out to be much livelier and enjoyable than poetry gatherings, filled with laughter and joy.

With the princesses and commandery princess present, clearly there to support Lin Yue, not even Zhang Peilan dared to provoke or scheme against Lin Yue, let alone speak out of turn, only fuming silently with anger in her heart. Other than those two, the rest were having a great time, enjoying the food and games and gradually loosening up, becoming less reserved.

"Commandery Princess Roujia did not deceive me; Yueyue, your dishes are delicious and creative, far tastier than those from the Imperial Kitchen," praised Princess Yongle while eating, feeling that her visit was truly worthwhile and not in vain after all her efforts in pleading with the Emperor to leave the palace.

"Thank you for your praise, Princess. However, it’s not that my cooking surpasses the Imperial Kitchen; rather, you are used to their food, and a change in flavor naturally seems delicious to you. My skills are limited, and I wouldn’t dare compare myself to the Imperial Chef," Lin Yue replied, her words modest, yet with a hint of sincerity. She had witnessed Wang Dachuan’s culinary skills; except for some unique and cunning dishes, she knew she was nowhere near his level, and he was merely a chef at the Royal Residence, not to mention the far more formidable chefs of the Imperial Kitchen.

After enjoying the food and games, someone suggested exploring the residence. As the host, Lin Yue had no reason to refuse, especially since everyone liked the idea. Thus, Princess Yongle took them around the large garden in the residence to help digest the meal, with Chen Ruyu and Zhang Peilan trailing behind.

"Sister Zhang, you have no idea how angry I am. I don’t understand what the princesses and commandery princess are thinking, being so kind to a peasant woman and even supporting her to this extent," Chen Ruyu’s eyes brimmed with resentment.

"Ruyu, don’t be upset. We can’t guess the thoughts of princesses and commandery princesses, nor dare we defy them. However, there’s an opportunity right now which could lead to Lin Yue’s downfall," at the banquet in the great hall, Zhang Peilan wanted to push the foolhardy Chen Ruyu to the front but had no chance. Now that they were outside, it was much easier to put a plan into action.

Chen Ruyu’s eyes lit up with anticipation as she heard Zhang Peilan speak, "Sister Zhang, you have always been smarter than me. Do you have a good plan? Please teach me."

"Not yet, but have you considered that today several individuals of high status are present, and now that we aren’t in the house, anything could happen in the garden. If an accident were to occur by chance, it would be in that peasant woman’s residence. How could those above not seek accountability? When the time comes, we won’t need to do anything—the peasant woman will naturally face misfortune."

Chen Ruyu had only thought of publicly embarrassing Lin Yue to humiliate her, clearly Zhang Peilan was playing on another level. Unlike Chen Ruyu, who only engaged in trivial shenanigans, Zhang Peilan aimed to bring serious charges against Lin Yue. Whether a princess or commandery princess were implicated, a mere peasant woman couldn’t shoulder such blame.

"You’re right, Sister Zhang; that makes sense. Why didn’t I think of that? Right now, we’re heading to the yard; accidents are normal occurrences. Since that peasant woman was so adept at cozying up to and inviting both princess and commandery princess into her home, I’d like to see if she can take responsibility when something goes awry. It would be best if the Empress Dowager or the Emperor personally rebuked her. That way, let’s see who would dare to plead for her."

"Princess, Commandery Princess, not far ahead is a man-made lake. Since we are numerous and haven’t prepared in advance, perhaps we shouldn’t go any further to avoid accidents," Lin Yue, leading the group with the princess at the forefront, was already more than halfway through the garden tour. Approaching the man-made lake, she addressed the princess and everyone else.

Her intention had been to hold the banquet in the hall without guests wandering around the residence. However, unable to decline their request, she took them for a walk in the garden. The residence was actually well-kept only in the area where she and Zhao Erhu lived, as well as in the main hall for hosting guests. Thankfully, when her property had been confiscated, only houses were seized, and the garden’s landscape remained undamaged. The scenery was still beautiful enough to take everyone on a decent stroll.