12dz Chapter 72 The Arrival of the Wang Family
Chapter 72 The Arrival of the Wang Family
Song Nian felt a chill run down his spine and immediately became alert.
Although Cheng Yan always had a cold face, Song Nian knew that he was cold on the outside but not on the inside, so she dared to tease him with a playful smile.
But everything has its limits, and Cheng Yan absolutely did not want anyone to overhear him and the princess being so intimate.
Song Nian gritted his teeth and dared not utter a sound the whole way, wondering if the Marquis would get angry and beat him up.
When the carriage returned to the Marquis of Pingxi's residence, it was late afternoon.
When Qin Yizhen was helped off the carriage by Cheng Yan, her face was still a little flushed. She looked down at her skirt and embroidered shoes, not wanting to look up at people.
Butler Zhou came to greet them, but then brought up another matter.
"After noon, the Wang family came to visit Aunt Wang. I had Granny Jin invite them to Cuiwei Courtyard. I don't know what they said, but Aunt Wang vomited blood again."
"He's vomiting blood again?" Qin Yizhen frowned. "Have you called the royal physician to examine him?"
"Mr. Hu examined me, prescribed medicine, and said that I should not experience great joy or sorrow and that I need to rest quietly."
Butler Zhou hesitated to speak, but Mr. Hu was speechless. He said, "You people are all just bored and have nothing better to do. You're all mentally ill, not physically."
Qin Yizhen frowned, feeling that Wang Xianrong couldn't continue like this; she was afraid that Wang Xianrong would lose her life. After thinking for a moment, she looked at Cheng Yan.
When Cheng Yan met her gaze, his expression changed slightly, turning somewhat dark: "Try speaking."
Seeing his unpleasant expression, Qin Yizhen realized he was extremely unwilling, so she had no choice but to give up after thinking about it.
She felt sorry for Wang Xianrong.
She was too stubborn about marrying Cheng Yan as a concubine. She had some ulterior motives over the past two years, but she never harmed anyone or did anything evil.
It would be truly heartbreaking to watch her die in agony.
However, it was her business whether she could bear to do it or not. Since Cheng Yan loathed Wang Xianrong and was unwilling to see her, she couldn't force him.
In many things in this world, everyone has their own perspective, and she cannot expect others to forgive or pardon her based on her own perspective.
It is inappropriate to use one's own resources to benefit others.
"Then I'll go and see for myself when I have some free time..." Qin Yizhen hesitated, afraid that if she went, Wang Xianrong would probably be so angry that she would vomit blood again.
"Lord Marquis, Princess, the Wang family has been waiting for you at the manor since they arrived. They said they have some things to discuss with you."
"They haven't left yet?" Cheng Yan frowned. "Who came?"
"Madam Wang, along with Concubine Wang's younger brother, Young Master Wang, and a daughter born out of wedlock, Fifth Sister Wang."
"Let them go back." Cheng Yan didn't want to argue with the Wang family. All this arguing would just be about Wang Xianrong, and he didn't want to hear it.
"This... the Wang family insists on seeing the Marquis and the Princess before they leave."
Butler Zhou knew that Cheng Yan didn't want to see them and had asked them to leave, but the Wang family just wouldn't leave and wanted to wait for Cheng Yan to come back, so Butler Zhou couldn't do anything about it.
After all, they are from the prestigious Wang family, and one of them is the matriarch of the family. They should be given some face; they can't just be kicked out of the house.
If it were really rushed, who knows how many officials would impeach Cheng Yan if the court were to be held on another day, and how many scholars in the world would feel indignant on behalf of the royal family and insult Cheng Yan and Qin Yizhen.
That's a problem too.
After thinking it over carefully, Cheng Yan hesitated for a moment, and finally said to Qin Yizhen, "You go back to Chunxie Courtyard first, I'll go see her."
"No, I want to go with you." Qin Yizhen shook her head. "I've already said I want to stand with you."
She no longer wanted to be his kept bird in the inner quarters; she wanted to stand with him and face all hardships together.
Cheng Yan frowned: "The Wang family is not easy to deal with, especially Madam Wang..."
Few of the matriarchs of powerful clans are foolish, nor are they easy to mess with. He worried that Qin Yizhen, having been protected too much over the years, might not be a match for Madam Wang.
Qin Yizhen smiled and said, "What are you afraid of? I am a princess. If I don't like what she says and don't know how to deal with it, I can just pretend I don't understand."
Cheng Yan thought about it and agreed: "Then come with me."
Although he really didn't want her to face these things, he couldn't be by her side all the time. It was better if she could handle it on her own, at least she wouldn't suffer.
That's fine too.
So Steward Zhou led the way and invited the two to the main hall of the outer courtyard.
At that time, the Wang family members were waiting in the main hall. Madam Wang, dressed in a light blue brocade dress with gold embroidery, sat calmly drinking tea on the lower right side of the main seat.
Two maids on each side of her were fanning her with round fans, and opposite her sat a man and a woman.
The man was about seventeen or eighteen years old and was Wang Xianrong's younger brother, Wang Cong. The woman was about fifteen or sixteen years old and was Wang Xianrong's half-sister, Wang Jiaorong, the fifth daughter of the Wang family.
Wang Jiaorong wore a peach-pink waist-length ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her skin was as white as snow, her face was peach-colored and her eyebrows were willow-leaf-shaped. Her eyes were as gentle as a lake in spring, and she truly deserved the name 'Jiaorong' (meaning 'beautiful face').
Hearing footsteps outside, everyone turned to look and saw Cheng Yan helping Qin Yizhen into the house.
The man was dressed in a blue robe and wore a golden crown. He was tall and slender with cold features, and walked with a steady and composed gait.
The woman wore a crimson robe with wide sleeves and a matching pleated skirt embroidered with gold peonies. As she walked, she moved gracefully, her jade pendants jingling, as if the wind were blowing through the branches, causing the crabapple blossoms to sway gently.
Although her face was still somewhat immature, her beauty, like that of a lotus and peony, was already breathtaking, just like the poem describes: "Bright as the rising sun in the morning glow, dazzling as a lotus emerging from green waves."
The man was tall and handsome, and the woman was beautiful and graceful; they looked very well-matched...
Wang Cong stood there stunned, and for a moment, he felt as if his heart was about to jump out of his chest.
He was previously angry that Cheng Yan only had eyes for this princess and ignored his sister's true feelings.
But now that I see this princess is so beautiful, it seems... it seems that the idea of favoring a beauty alone makes a lot of sense.
Cheng Yan and Qin Yizhen took their seats at the head of the table. Wang Cong was tugged at the sleeve by Wang Jiaorong next to him, which brought him back to his senses.
Lady Wang, along with her two children, bowed and said, "This humble woman greets the princess. May the princess be blessed and may the marquis pay his respects."
Yes, greetings.
The distinction between ruler and subject is like an insurmountable chasm.
If it were only Cheng Yan present, and the head of the Wang family were an official in the court, Cheng Yan would be his colleague. Although Cheng Yan held a higher position and power, they would only need to perform the etiquette of equals and offer a slight bow.
But since Qin Yizhen was present, he had to perform the etiquette between a ruler and his subject, saying "paying respects" and referring to himself as "your subject".
"Madam Wang, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat." Qin Yizhen nodded slightly, a smile on her face. "I went to the palace to see the Empress Dowager today and was unaware of Madam Wang's arrival. I apologize for keeping you waiting."
"Your Highness is too kind. It is my bad timing that I have come, and I did not present my visiting card in advance." Madam Wang sat down and said with a smile, "Please forgive me if I have disturbed you."