Chapter 119: Confirmation

  Just as Murong heard the words, Le Jiaojiao's expression turned serious and was about to respond when Murong's personal maid, Zhu Yun, walked in from outside. She curtsied to Murong and Le Jiaojiao, saying: "Your Highness, Le Jiaojiao, Song Jiaojiao has arrived, saying she has something to report to Your Highness and Le Jiaojiao."

  Upon hearing Zhu Yun's words, Murong Shi glanced at Le Jiajia, who nodded in response. Murong Shi then turned to Zhu Yun and said, "Go call Song Jiajia over, you stand guard outside the door."

  "Yes, ma'am!" Hearing Mrs. Murong's words, Zhu Yun stepped back and withdrew.

  After a while, a middle-aged woman walked in from outside with her head bowed and saluted the room's Mu Rong: "The old slave pays respects to the princess, may the princess be blessed with good health!"

  Murong looked seriously at the account book on the table, as if he hadn't noticed anyone coming in.

  The woman beside her saw that Murong was seriously looking at the account book, and immediately stood up in tacit understanding, facing the kneeling Song Ayi and said: "Song Ayi, get up!"

  "Thank you, Princess!" Song Niangniang bowed her head and knocked on the ground, but when she heard that it was not Murong's voice, but Le Niangniang's voice, she didn't show any surprise. After hearing Le Niangniang's words and thanking her, Song Niangniang stood up, but wisely did not look at Princess Murong, instead standing there with her head bowed and eyes cast down in respect.

  Seeing Song's proper demeanor, Le's eyes flashed with satisfaction, and she looked at Murong beside her. Seeing that Murong didn't raise his head to ask questions personally, Le understood the meaning behind Murong's actions and continued to stand up and ask Song, who was lowering her eyebrows and being obedient: "Did you come today because there are developments in the matters I previously told you to pay attention to?"

  "Yes." Song Ayi heard Le Ayi's words and replied respectfully.

  "Well, then tell me what you've noticed," said Mrs. Leroux seriously.

  "Let me tell you in detail..." Song Niangniang carefully reported to Le Niangniang and Mu Rongshi, who was seriously checking the account book, about the specific events that had occurred in Liuyunyuan since the big wedding day.

  After Song's report, La Yini praised her and asked her to continue paying attention to the affairs of Liuyun Institute before dismissing her.

  After sending Song's nurse away, Le's nurse turned back and happened to see Mu Rong's frowning face.

  "Your Highness, is something wrong?" asked Le Jiaojiao, addressing Murong.

  "The princess is thinking about what Song nurse said, the day when Gu Ce Fei entered the mansion. There were quarreling voices in the new house." Murong Shi replied to Le Nurse.

  "This is quite strange, after entering the new house, he sent everyone away. I didn't think there was anything wrong with it when I heard it before, but today after hearing Song's report, Your Highness, could it be that Concubine Guo was arguing with him that night?" Lai Yini was somewhat incredulous. The cold aura of the master, she usually couldn't even bear to look at him twice without feeling a chill, yet unexpectedly Concubine Guo dared to argue with him.

  Murong heard Le's words, and there was some doubt in her eyebrows, but a strange feeling made her think that what Song said might be true. So Murong turned to Le and said: "I think Song didn't lie, and wasn't it reported earlier that the master's personal guard was standing outside that night?"

  "Gu Ce Fei really dares to quarrel with Master?" La Jiao Jiao still couldn't quite believe it.

  "Mother, do you think grandfather is the kind of person who would quarrel with women?" Murong asked her mother.

  "Of course not, how would I argue with someone, let alone a woman." Lao Lao immediately denied.

  "What you said is right, I've been married to the Emperor for so many years, and he has never spoken an extra word to me. Even when I gave birth to Qianyuan, the Emperor didn't show any obvious joy...” Murong's words were like a murmur to herself, yet also seemed to be directed at Le Concubine.

  The old lady heard Mu Rong's words and looked at her expression, feeling a sour heart, so she comforted Mu Rong: "Princess, don't think too much, the master himself is not a talkative person, how could he quarrel with others? Even if they did argue, it must be that person from Liu Yunyuan who was being unreasonable."

  Upon hearing Lao Tai Tai's words, Mu Rong's expression eased a bit as she turned to Lao Tai Tai and said: "Tai Tai is right, but what did you say they quarreled about? And also, Master hasn't gone to the Flowing Clouds Pavilion these past few days, isn't it...

  "The princess shouldn't think too much, didn't the master leave in the end? Not even a wedding chamber was prepared, and he left on official business. If the master really valued her, why didn't he go back to see her again in the following days?" Lai Tai Tai said as she analyzed the situation for Mu Rong Shi.

  "It's just that, but in my heart, I always feel a little uneasy, fearing that you really put her in your heart and can't bear to go, but can't let go." Murong said thoughtfully.

  Ler's mother heard Murong's words and sank into thought for a moment, wanting to say something to Murong, but hesitated.

  Murong raised her head and happened to see Le's hesitant expression, with something flashing in her eyes. Then she looked at Le and said: "Le, if you have anything to say, just tell me directly. Do you also want to be polite to me?"

  Ler Jiaojiao heard what Murong said and looked at her, "How could I be rude to the princess? It's just that I'm afraid the princess will be sad..."

  "Mother is saying that Father might really have feelings for Gu Qingjin..." Upon hearing Mother's words, what more didn't Mu Rong understand?

  "All of this is just a speculation by a humble servant..."

  "There's no need to say more, actually I had suspicions a long time ago, but I didn't want to admit it. The fact that you came to propose in person, held the wedding ceremony, welcomed me at the door, and arranged for my living quarters... even if I didn't understand you well, I knew this series of actions was abnormal. I've been deceiving myself all along..."

  "Your Highness..." Lai Ya called out with a hint of concern as she looked at Murong's expression.

  "Don't worry, I've long since seen through it. It's just that my heart feels a bit unjust. I am his rightful wife, and he's doing this to put me and my child in what position? Is he trying to drive us mother and son to death so as to give way to that woman?" Mu Rongshi couldn't help but feel indignant.

  "Your Highness... Your Highness, please don't say such things. The ancestral rules and regulations, the imperial son cannot abandon his legitimate wife at will. Master has always been a man who values propriety, he definitely won't do something like that. Besides, even if Master had feelings for that other person, what could be done? That person's temperament is not suitable after all." Lai Ya spoke persuasively to Mu Rong Shi.

  Murong heard Le's words and also calmed down, saying to Le: "What you said is right, I was too careless. As long as I am alive, I will always be the master's main wife and the mistress of the Jing Wang Fu. That woman will always be under me."

  "The princess is absolutely right!" Seeing Murong's mood lift, Le Jiejie hastily agreed.

  "It's good that you're by Benfei's side to accompany her, otherwise Benfei really wouldn't know what to do. Ah, right, Ayah, didn't your words just now have another meaning?" Murongshi looked at Le Ayah.

  When Mu Rong heard this, Le Jie smiled and nodded at Mu Rong: "The princess hasn't forgotten, has she? The one from Liuyun Temple had another engagement before entering our palace."

  "What does 'mother' mean?"

  "The servant girl said something overstepping, this man's liking and loving is the most unreliable thing. A man likes a woman at first because she is in her prime and beautiful, but as the saying goes, 'flowers do not stay red for a hundred days.' And what this world lacks least are young and beautiful women. Even if there is some true feeling, it can't withstand setbacks and misunderstandings..."

  Murong heard Le's words and thought for a moment before speaking to Le: "Le, the princess understands."

  "I knew the princess was clever, quarreling on their wedding night, and that person was previously engaged. Some girls from aristocratic families are taught differently at home, such as 'it's better to be a poor man's wife than a rich man's concubine', with a proud bone, or having a fiancé who is a good match, it's not impossible for them to fall in love." La Yini said cautiously.

  Murong heard Le Jiaojiao's words and was stunned, "Le Jiaojiao is saying that the one who might be thinking of..." Murong didn't continue speaking.

  "This is just a guess by the slave girl. The slave girl had previously inquired about some things regarding that previous fiancé, and it's said that they got along well!"

  "Isn't that fiancé of yours a fake?" Murong asked aloud.

  "It's false, but I heard he's a remarkable person. And, well, through some channels, I found out his true identity, which isn't inferior to yours at all..." She said this and then leaned in close to Murong's ear, telling her what she had discovered before pulling back.

  Murong heard Le's words and didn't react for a long time. After reacting, he opened his mouth in disbelief to Le: "Is what you said true?"

  "It's absolutely true, I heard it from someone who knows people in the palace," said Le Jiaojiao to Mu Rongshi with a guarantee.

  Murong heard Le's guarantee and couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect it to be like this." Half a moment later, he furrowed his brow and spoke to Le again, "No wonder Master would personally propose marriage. However, doesn't this also mean that she holds an extraordinary place in Master's heart?"

  When Mu Rong heard this, Le Jiaojiao couldn't help but nod her head. After nodding, she quickly looked at Mu Rong and said: "Your Highness, you..."

  "Don't worry, I was just startled when I first heard the news. Now that it's confirmed, even if I know more about it, there's nothing I can't handle. As a concubine, I'm already in this position, and I know what to do. Even if not for myself, I should think of my child, and I know how to act accordingly. It's just that things are a bit different now."