The meeting between Huang Zhiting, as the "chief foreign wife", and the Empress Dowager Cisheng could be said to have ended on bad terms. This can be seen from the gloomy look on the Empress Dowager Cisheng's face when Huang Zhiting said goodbye.
Of course, Huang Zhiting's face didn't look much better either. Although he looks quite calm, being so expressionless in the harem speaks volumes in itself.
When Huang Zhiting was leaving, Princess Yongning came out in person to see her off. Her Royal Highness the Eldest Princess was obviously very remorseful for what happened today. Regardless of her identity, she repeatedly apologized to Huang Zhiting, saying that although she knew about this arrangement, she really did not know that her mother would speak like this. If she had known so, she would definitely not have acted in the first place. I will agree to this arrangement.
Unlike when she faced the Cisheng Empress Dowager, Huang Zhiting's behavior at this time was quite magnanimous. After hearing the explanation and apology from the eldest princess, she smiled slightly and said: "Your Highness, you don't have to be like this. Speaking of which, you can't blame the Queen Mother for this. On the contrary, you blame me for coming from a barbaric background and not knowing etiquette. My behavior today may bring trouble to my husband.
As for what His Highness said... In fact, what the Empress just said was absolutely correct. Since Gao Luo is the son of my husband and has never changed his surname, then I am his aunt, and I should naturally consider his future. It is his blessing to be the crown prince's companion like his father. I am only happy about this and have no other intentions. Your Highness can rest assured about this. "
The eldest princess hesitated to speak, hesitated for a moment, and finally sighed: "Mrs. Hou, I know that our mother and son owe you a lot. I have wanted to apologize to you personally a long time ago, but... I just never knew how to say it. But please believe that I will always be grateful to Mrs. Hou for her generosity and will never do anything intentionally harmful.
As for what Mrs. Hou just said about 'bringing trouble to her husband', this is absolutely impossible. As long as I can speak in front of my mother, I will never allow such a situation to happen. "
Huang Zhiting listened to her quietly, looked at her seriously, seemed to recall something, and suddenly said with emotion: "Your Highness, there is no need to feel guilty, you don't owe me anything. Speaking of which, for the misfortunes you encountered back then, My husband once told me in great detail, and I felt very sorry and even angry after listening to it.
As for your husband, he always felt that he was responsible for that incident at the beginning, so later... in short, he felt indebted to you. And since I entered the Gao family as the main wife, my husband's loss is my own. Therefore, since my husband wanted me to cover up the matter of Gao Luo's identity last time, I immediately agreed.
The reason why I was angry just now was not because I couldn't bear the incident, but because it happened suddenly and no one mentioned anything to me beforehand, so I felt that this was a bit too much..."
When Huang Zhiting said this, her eyes unconsciously showed a bit of coldness, which reminded people that she was a general who had held heavy troops for a long time. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of troops had been wiped out in front of her.
How could such a person be an ordinary woman, and how could he treat her and judge her behavior in the same manner as an ordinary woman?
The eldest princess apologized again: "Thousands of mistakes are all my fault. If sister is really angry, I will go back to the Marquis Mansion with her and let her punish me."
Huang Zhiting was stunned, especially when she called herself "sister". Huang Zhiting even suspected that she had heard wrongly. However, seeing the serious look on the face of the eldest princess, it was obvious that she had not heard wrongly. She really said that.
This time it was Huang Zhiting's turn to hesitate, not because of anything else but because the words "sister" made it difficult for her to respond.
Because of her family background, Huang Zhiting has always wanted to behave more in line with Han Li's requirements for a head wife, so she has always hoped to be pragmatic and have more concubines, so as to show that she is not "jealous". However, Gao Pragmatic has no interest in this. So far, no one has actually been persuaded by her to take a concubine, not even Liu Xin should be counted among them.
As for Meng Guzhe and Narita Kai, the reason why the two girls were able to enter the Gao family was more because they met Gao Jingshi's political needs at the time. They became Gao Jingshi's concubines for the purpose of marriage, and they had nothing to do with her. . Regarding this situation, Huang Zhiting often had a headache.
However, Huang Zhiting has always been somewhat conflicted about the issue of Princess Yongning. This is not because she is "jealous", nor does she have any objections to the eldest princess herself, but she feels that the identity of the eldest princess is a huge hidden danger for her husband.
Especially, the eldest princess Yongning is not an ordinary eldest princess. She is not only the emperor's sister, but also an eldest princess who is at least nominally a widow.
With the status of Princess Yongning, if it is revealed that Gao Jingshi has a long-term affair with her, or even that they have children, it will inevitably cause huge waves in the political circles of the court and among the people.
If not, the prestige that your husband has built up over the years will be greatly affected. As for his official career... If such a big scandal occurs, even the emperor may not be able to protect it, right? At least that's what Huang Zhiting thinks.
Therefore, she has always been opposed to the relationship between her husband and the eldest princess. Although she did not express it clearly to her husband due to her identity and position, she believed that her husband's intelligence would never fail to notice it.
However, even so, the husband still did not make any changes. If there is anything that Huang Zhiting is gratified about, it is that her husband is still rational after all - at least he does not often go to the princess mansion to meet the eldest princess. However, that's all.
In short, she did feel sorry for what happened to the eldest princess, and she was quite sympathetic, but she would not forget the danger because of it. But now, Her Royal Highness the Princess has lowered her face and apologized repeatedly, calling herself "sister" regardless of her status - which means she puts herself in the concubine status - which makes Huang Zhiting very embarrassed.
Because of the regulations set by Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, although the princesses of the Ming Dynasty had no real power and could not even interfere in politics at will like the princesses of the Tang Dynasty, their status was very high.
Compared with ministers, any minister is a "minister" in front of the princess, and there is a clear distinction between monarch and minister. In the ancestral system established by Zhu Yuanzhang, any minister was never allowed to be disrespectful to a princess.
However, now, as the emperor's sister, Her Royal Highness Princess Yongning is willing to do this, it is difficult for Huang Zhiting to find a reason to reject her, both emotionally and logically.
Huang Zhiting has not met the eldest princess a few times in the past, and has never had close communication with her during the occasional ceremonies. Therefore, she is actually relatively unfamiliar with the eldest princess. At this moment, Huang Zhiting couldn't help but stare at the eldest princess seriously. She saw that the noble highness lowered his head slightly and even trembled slightly.
"Alas..." Huang Zhiting sighed, stretched out her hand to support the eldest princess, and said with a wry smile: "Your Highness, why do you do this? I have said before that your Highness is not at fault for this matter."
Princess Yongning was unmoved, but insisted: "It started from Luo'er, and it started from me. How can I have no fault? Since I have made a mistake, I will naturally be punished by my sister."
Having said that, Huang Zhiting knew that what the eldest princess insisted on was not "punishment", but the title "sister". In other words, what she wants is for herself to acknowledge her.
Huang Zhiting was also a little moved for a moment. The eldest princess was so condescending and wanted to acknowledge her. Naturally, it was not because she could really do anything to her, but only because she really cared about getting the approval of the Gao family.
She didn't have to, but she wanted to. Huang Zhiting sighed secretly in her heart, thinking as if she was trying to convince herself: At least her feelings for the master were not fake.
"Sister, there is no need to take responsibility. Since the matter was a misunderstanding, it will be over." Huang Zhiting finally admitted the eldest princess's identity as "sister", but she didn't want to talk more. She just pretended to look at the sky and continued: " It's getting late, and I'm afraid the palace gates will be closed soon... Besides, the Queen Mother also wants you to bother with things, so if you have anything to do, we'll talk about it later."
Hearing Huang Zhiting call out "sister", Princess Yongning was really relieved. She felt that although today's events had some twists and turns, at least the final result was good, and she finally lived up to her low profile.
Thinking of this, she sincerely appreciated Huang Zhiting's generosity and bowed sincerely: "Sister, don't worry, my mother has a sister on her side to make peace with her. She will definitely not involve Gao Lang...Sister, my sister will send you to leave the palace."
Huang Zhiting waved her hand slightly and said: "There is no need to send me away. The road to the palace is also far. You will waste time by sending me back and forth. It is better to persuade the Queen Mother to calm down first."
Seeing Huang Zhiting's insistence, the eldest princess had no choice but to agree, but she still sent her out of Cining Palace politely, and waited until she was far away before turning back, suppressing the excitement in her heart to "persuade the Queen Mother to calm down".
Huang Zhiting was not in such a good mood as she was. She just left the palace without saying a word and got on the carriage of Nanning Marquis Mansion. When she returned to the Hou Mansion, she ignored the servants who greeted her and returned to her backyard in silence.
When Gao Jingshi heard that Huang Zhiting was back, he breathed a sigh of relief and ordered the meal to be served. But after waiting for a while, he didn't see his wife coming to the restaurant. He couldn't help but be a little surprised. He sent someone to check and found out that Huang Zhiting went directly back to the bedroom.
This is quite rude among Ming Dynasty families, especially among upper-class families. However, Gao Pingshi knew Huang Zhiting's character. She had always demanded strict Han etiquette from herself. How could she be rude in such a matter? So there must be something wrong, or something must have happened in the palace just now.
At this moment, only Meng Guzhezhe was waiting for the meal with him in the restaurant, and the children had all eaten in advance because of his order. Therefore, Gao Pragmatic nodded to Meng Guzhezhe and said, "I'll go see what's going on."
Meng Guzhezhe bowed obediently and said, "Yes, sir."
She has always been known for her submissiveness in the Gao family. Unless Gao Pragmatic or Huang Zhiting asks for it, she will not take the initiative to express her opinions. She will never ask more about things she shouldn't ask. Therefore, Gao Pragmatic doesn't say much, only slightly. Nodding, he got up and went to find Huang Zhiting.
However, after Gao Pingshi left, Meng Guzhezhe still rarely showed a trace of doubt. It seems that she is not really not curious at all.
——
Thanks to book friend "Cao Mianzi" for your reward and support, thank you!
Thanks to book friends "The Old West of Altay", "Robert Guilliman", and "The Wind Does Not Envy the Immortal" for their monthly support, thank you!
Thank you to the book friend "The Boy Next Door 1" for your support of 18 monthly tickets, thank you!
PS: Is there anyone who hates the word "adjusted leave" as much as I do?
(End of chapter)
