A Good Country Wife
Chapter 431 - 425_1

Chapter 431: Chapter 425_1

"Guests? I’m just worried that my imperial sister is too simple-minded and has been deceived by some villain. She’s merely a peasant woman from a rural village, and in such a short time, she has ingratiated herself with the Jiang Family Head, and then made the acquaintance of Commandery Princess Roujia. Now even the imperial sister has been charmed by her, showing how deep and cunning her thoughts are. Such a person should not be allowed to stay with the imperial sister. What if she harbors ill intentions towards her? Who can bear such a responsibility? I think it’s better to deal with her sooner rather than later." The Fourth Princess looked at Lin Yue, not bothering to hide her contempt and hatred.

Lin Yue felt somewhat baffled. She had never had any interactions with the Fourth Princess and couldn’t understand why, upon her first arrival at the palace, she had been so despised by the Fourth Princess. To face such malicious speculations and be accused of plotting her own death was truly startling. Her status was already lowly; if she were to be dealt with, what good could come of it? The harem was indeed a place where murder occurred without a trace of blood.

Even if she wanted to avoid offending a noble person like the Fourth Princess, the princess had pushed her to such an extent that if she didn’t fight back, she would only be oppressed by her to the end, ignorant even of how she might die. Lin Yue straightened her back, kneeling on the ground with neither servility nor arrogance, "Your Highness, this humble woman does not dare to accept such accusations. Both Princess Yongle and Commandery Princess Roujia are wise and would not be easily misled. This humble woman has never dared to harbor any ill intentions. Could it be that Your Highness has been misled by some rumors and has misunderstood me?"

All love and hatred must have their reasons. The Fourth Princess’s attitude today made Lin Yue suspect the most likely culprit was that Miss from the Zhang Family. After all, she came from a Medicine Aristocrat Family, and it was not impossible that she had connections with a princess from the palace. As for Chen Ruyu, although she also harbored malice towards her, she did not have the capability.

"Fourth Princess, no matter what, today Lin Madam is a guest invited by the Third Princess. If Your Highness truly has any concerns, you may speak with the Third Princess. This servant is only following the Third Princess’s orders to ensure that Lin Madam arrives safely. I beseech Your Highness not to make things difficult for this servant," said Eunuch Wang with apparent courtesy, yet his words carried an undertone of firmness, suggesting a hint of disrespect for the Fourth Princess.

Though all are princesses, there are differences in rank and favor, much like the children in a prominent family, with distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate offspring. The Third Princess is a legitimate sister of the Emperor, a titled Princess Gulun of the Great Zhou Dynasty, while the Fourth Princess is the neglected and unhonored Princess Heshuo. Furthermore, since her mother feuded with the Empress Dowager during the previous emperor’s reign, she is now out of favor with both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Anyone in the palace of some status who knows the situation has little regard for the Fourth Princess. In the Imperial Palace, where one survives on favor, a person whom neither the Emperor nor the Empress Dowager cares for is indeed deserving of contempt.

The Fourth Princess had only come to probe the situation. Seeing that the Third Princess had sent her capable eunuch to fetch the peasant woman, she knew that she would not gain any advantage now. Her gaze cold and disdainful, she looked at Lin Yue and sneered, "Hmph, you have the Third Princess’s protection today, so I can’t do anything to you. But let’s wait and see what happens; we’ll ride the donkey and read the book – time will tell."

Lin Yue, watching the Fourth Princess’s departing figure, was truly frustrated. The little mood of excitement she had from her fresh experience at the palace had utterly vanished. Who would want to make such a powerful enemy without reason?

In the eyes of everyone in the palace, the Fourth Princess was just an unfavored princess, not worth their attention. But for a woman of no status like her, even an unfavored princess had the power to crush her in an instant. It seemed she really had to cling to the powerful legs of Princess Yongle and Commandery Princess Roujia. Although Jiang Ziqi had been helping her, there were some matters between women that he could not intervene in.

As Lin Yue thought this to herself, she did not forget Eunuch Wang, who had confronted the Fourth Princess on her behalf. She gave him a bow, "Thank you, Eunuch, if not for your protection, I’m afraid I would have been at the mercy of the Fourth Princess today."

Eunuch Wang, having received his orders from Princess Yongle and been bribed by Zhao Erhu with silver coins, had every intention of taking good care of Lin Yue. Seeing her gratitude, he quickly dodged her bow, "Madam Lin must not do this! It’s this old servant’s duty. Her Highness entrusted me to escort you safely into the palace, and I wouldn’t dare let any harm come to you. Madam Lin is a distinguished guest of Her Highness; you really are putting this old servant in a difficult position with such formality."

Over at Yongle Palace, Princess Yongle waited for Lin Yue in her quarters after visiting Cining Palace to pay her respects. She didn’t wander elsewhere but stayed in anticipation of Lin Yue’s arrival. Princess Five also knew Lin Yue was coming to the palace and waited alongside Princess Yongle. Growing impatient at Lin Yue’s delay, she sent someone to inquire about the situation.

"Eunuch Wang, why are you still delaying here? Her Highness couldn’t wait any longer and sent me especially to welcome Madam Lin."

Lin Yue followed Eunuch Wang and the palace maid all the way to Yongle Palace, pondering how to explain the Fourth Princess’s actions to the Third Princess and seek her aid in fending off the trouble the Fourth Princess might cause. However, Eunuch Wang took the initiative to report everything that had happened along the way to the princess, thereby absolving himself of future blame if any incident arose from the Fourth Princess’s doings. This action aligned perfectly with Lin Yue’s intentions.

"This Fourth Sister of mine is truly thoughtless. Knowing that both our mother and imperial brother dislike her, she still dares to be so arrogant, even bullying the guest you invited. She’s utterly nonsensical," said Princess Yongle after learning of the incident, addressing Lin Yue with an apologetic look. "Yueyue, I’m sorry to have alarmed you today. The Fourth Princess is just thoughtless, never learning from her mistakes and always provoking me. Tomorrow, I will report this to our mother to have her disciplined—let her taste some hardship to avenge you."

"Thank you, Third Princess. As a humble woman, I understand my place and dare not conflict with the Fourth Princess. Honestly, I too am puzzled by today’s events and wonder if there might be some misunderstanding. I only hope the Fourth Princess will refrain from troubling me in the future. After all, being a princess, she is somebody who I, with my humble status, cannot afford to offend."

Princess Yongle understood Lin Yue’s meaning. "Don’t worry, I will take care of the matter with the Fourth Princess. I won’t let her have the chance to trouble you. Now, let’s not dwell on these unpleasant topics. It’s rare for you to visit the palace, so let’s do something enjoyable. Didn’t you say last time that you were going to teach me how to play card games and mahjong? I have prepared everything you’ll need, and you must teach me properly. Once I’ve learned, I won’t be bored in the palace again."

"Yes, indeed! Those games sound so fun! I came here specially to wait with the Third Princess for the chance to learn."