BXBX NOVEL Chapter 530 - 530: Unrewarding
After the ceremony, everyone returned to their homes, but Yu Niaoniao still had to enter the palace to see Empress Dowager Deng.
Xiao Juan was worried about her entering the palace alone and decided to accompany her.
The two of them walked along the long palace path.
Xiao Juan saw that Yu Niaoniao still had a straight face and asked in a low voice, “Are you still angry?
Yu Niaoniao asked, “How can I not be angry? It’s clearly all your credit. Why should you give it to others? What’s the difference between them and bandits?
Shameless! Too shameless!”
Xiao Juan raised his index finger and reminded her to keep her voice down.
Although there was no one in sight, this was the palace after all. What if the walls had ears?
Yu Niaoniao could only shut up, her eyes still burning.
Xiao Juan said, “Forget it, don’t be angry.”
Yu Niaoniao could not take this lying down. She questioned, “Did you already know about this?”
Xiao Juan admitted frankly, ‘Yes, the emperor told me about this before leaving the palace.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “Did you agree?” Xiao Juan asked, “Can I not agree?”
Yu Niaoniao was speechless.
The other party was the emperor. If Xiao Juan did not agree, he would be defying the decree.
Xiao Juan raised his hand and gently placed it on the top of her head to comfort her.
“At this point, it’s useless no matter how angry you are.”
“Its just an empty title. I didn’t care about it.”
“Didn’t you tell me that? No matter what others do, we don’t need to mind as long as we have a clear conscience.”
Yu Niaoniao said hatefully, “The thing I regret most in my life is telling you this.”
His conscience was clear!
She was only angry and aggrieved.
Xiao Juan smiled helplessly. “Let me tell you something that would make you happy. The emperor promised me that he won’t send anyone to take over the Eastern Expedition Army for the time being, which means that Tang Guixi can continue to be in charge of the Eastern Expedition Army.”
Yu Niaoniao immediately reacted.
“Is this an exchange for stealing your credit?”
Xiao Juan did not deny it.
Yu Niaoniao was even angrier. “He let Guixi manage the Eastern Expedition Army to protect the safety of Liaodong County. He actually used this as a bargaining chip?!”
Xiao Juan said, “No matter what, at least there won’t be any changes in the Eastern Expedition Army in the next few years. This is a good thing for the citizens of Liaodong County.”
Yu Niaoniao said angrily, “This is his territory and his people. What has it got to do with us? Why are we so idle? It’s strenuous and unrewarding!” Xiao Juan said, “Dont say such angry words.”
Yu Niaoniao wanted to say something else, but she was interrupted by Xiao
Juan.
“Someone’s coming.”
Yu Niaoniao immediately shut up.
A team of patrolling imperial guards walked out from the corner ahead. When they saw Duke Lang and his wife, they stopped and greeted them.
After they were far away, Yu Niaoniao spoke again. “I’m not going to stop here.”
Xiao Juan asked, “What do you want to do?”
Yu Niaoniao said, “You’ll know tomorrow.”
Tomorrow was the opening day of Qirui Garden, and it was also the official opening day of Duke Lang in Liaodong.
The Emperor thought that Liaodong County was far from Mount Yujing. The commoners of Liaodong County would not know what had happened in the capital, and the commoners in the capital would not know the real situation in Liaodong County. It did not matter if he took all the credit for Duke Lang.
Anyway, he had the final say.
The old thing’s plan was really good!
Tomorrow, Yu Niaoniao would let everyone in the Imperial Capital know the truth.
When they arrived at the Crystal Spring Palace,
Xiao Juan was stopped outside the door.
The nanny said respectfully, “The Empress Dowager only wants to see the
County Princess. Please wait outside, Your Highness.”
Xiao Juan could only stand on the spot and watch her walk in. Not long after, the eunuch’s shout sounded outside.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!”
Shen Zhuo, who had just been conferred the title of Crown Prince, crossed the threshold and walked into the Crystal Spring Palace.
The palace servants went forward and bowed.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
Xiao Juan had no choice but to cup his fists and bow.
Shen Zhuo gestured for everyone to dispense with courtesy.
He smiled and said, “I heard that my grandmother was sick, so I specially came to visit. I didn’t expect to meet Duke Lang here. Are you also here to visit my grandmother?”
Xiao Juan said calmly, “I’m waiting for the Princess Consort here.”
Shen Zhuo looked surprised. “Niaoniao is also in the palace?”
“Yeah.”
Shen Zhuo said, “It’s been a long time since we last met. I have a lot to tell her.
It’s a coincidence today.”
Xiao Juan replied indifferently.
At this moment, in the bedroom, Yu Niaoniao had already composed herself. She hid all her dissatisfaction and resentment.
She bowed to Empress Dowager Deng.
“Greetings, Empress Dowager.”
Empress Dowager Deng leaned against the soft blanket. Her legs were covered with a blanket, and the hairpin on her head had been removed. She frowned slightly and her face was pale, looking a little depressed and weak.
She looked at Yu Niaoniao and asked, “Where did you get the bracelet on your wrist?”
Yu Niaoniao raised her right hand, revealing the emerald jade bracelet. “Are you talking about this? I bought this from a peddler on the way back to the Imperial Capital from Liangzhou.”
Empress Dowager Deng asked, “What peddler?”
Yu Niaoniao said, “He’s just an ordinary peddler walking the streets. I once asked him where he got such a good bracelet. He said that an old scholar in his fifties sold it to him. He said that old scholar didn’t look too well and was coughing and limping.”
After hearing her description, Empress Dowager Deng was stunned for a long time before speaking.
“Is that all?”
Yu Niaoniao nodded. “Yes, that’s all I know. After that, I never saw that peddler again.”
Empress Dowager Deng seemed to have thought of something. Her fingers involuntarily retracted and her lips pursed tightly.
Yu Niaoniao pretended to be ignorant.
“Do you like this bracelet?”
Empress Dowager Deng forced a smile. “I just think this bracelet looks familiar.
I seem to have seen it before. Bring it here for me to take a closer look.”
Yu Niaoniao obediently took off the bracelet and offered it with both hands.
Empress Dowager Deng took the bracelet and looked at it carefully under the sunlight outside the window.
Yu Niaoniao said, “Have you seen this bracelet before?”
Empress Dowager Deng put down the bracelet. “Yes, this belongs to Consort Meng. I didn’t expect it to fall outside the palace. It must have been stolen by some little thief.”
Yu Niaoniao understood. “I see.”
Empress Dowager Deng said, “I remember that there’s a pair of this bracelet. Why did I only see one? Where’s the other?”
Yu Niaoniao shook her head.
“I don’t know either. This is the only bracelet that the peddler sold to me.”
Empress Dowager Deng muttered, “If we can find another…” Yu Niaoniao looked at her curiously.
“Is there anything special about the other bracelet?”
Empress Dowager Deng shook her head. “It’s nothing. Since this bracelet was left behind by Consort Meng, I’ll keep it for her. As compensation, I’ll give you another pair of high-quality suet jade bracelets.” Yu Niaoniao looked happy. “Thank you, Empress Dowager.”
“You can leave. Don’t tell outsiders about what happened today.”
“Aye. ”
After Yu Niaoniao turned to leave, the bedroom door was closed.
Empress Dowager Deng’s expression suddenly darkened.
She instructed the nanny beside her, “Send a message back to the Deng family and ask them to send someone to check if the Princess Consort of Lang County is telling the truth.”
‘Yes!”