The second floor being closed to the public means that those without status cannot go up.
The shop assistant left some leeway in their words.
If Zhen Rou were someone of status, she wouldn’t want to offend her.
Zhen Rou: "..."
What kind of status does she have?
Zhen Rou took a deep breath: "Is the Third Princess Consort upstairs?"
Shop assistant: "Yes, do you know the Third Princess Consort?"
The Third Princess Consort arrived with great fanfare, and many people downstairs saw it, so the shop assistant didn’t hide it.
"I know her, please tell the Third Princess Consort that I am Zhen Rou."
"Alright, please wait a moment."
The conversation between the two caught the attention of some people, and their gazes fell on Zhen Rou.
"Who is she?"
"Never seen her before..."
Zhen Rou refused to believe that Chuzheng would really dare to undermine her in public.
Zhen Rou evaluated using past standards, but she forgot that the person had changed from before.
So...
The shop assistant quickly returned: "Sorry, the Third Princess Consort says she doesn’t know you..." and asked me to throw you out.
They are in business, and would of course not offend customers unless necessary. Chuzheng said it very casually, not as an order, so the shop assistant left out the latter part.
Zhen Rou: "..."
"Pfft..."
Someone behind her burst into laughter.
Following that, Zhen Rou felt the gazes upon her became unbearable.
Dare Zhen Rou make a fuss?
She dared not.
She was the one without rank, and these people didn’t know her.
Being praised often in the mansion, Zhen Rou just now understood the power of a title.
-
Chuzheng sat in a compartment on the second floor, sipping tea while picking out jade items.
Ying Xiang beside her was on edge, afraid that Chuzheng would break something.
She felt the lady was holding not jade but stones.
"Miss, be gentle, be gentle..." Ying Xiang kept reminding Chuzheng.
"It’s not that fragile."
The servers nearby were also tense, hearing this couldn’t help but softly say, "Princess Consort, jade is rather fragile..."
Chuzheng: "..."
If it breaks, I’ll pay for it, why be so tense.
Chuzheng picked out her items: "These will do."
"Miss!" Ying Xiang glanced at the person opposite, lowered her voice: "Miss, we don’t have that much money."
She thought Chuzheng was coming out just to browse casually, not to buy much.
Who knew she would head straight to Cuiyu Tower and buy so many things!
Chuzheng took out a silver note and slapped it on the table.
Ying Xiang: "..."
When did the lady start carrying money around?
"Miss, buying so much isn’t useful... such wasteful spending." Ying Xiang still couldn’t help but advise.
"If it’s not wasteful, I won’t buy."
Ying Xiang hadn’t heard clearly: "What did you say?"
Chuzheng immediately sat upright, serious face: "Nothing, just do as I say."
Ying Xiang: "..."
With a pained expression, Ying Xiang handed over the silver note, looking miserably at the items on the table.
Not very attractive either...
Chuzheng got up and walked to the bamboo blinds, peering through the gaps below.
Zhen Rou stood with a ghastly face downstairs, and finally couldn’t stand the gazes, she turned and left.
"Miss, Madam Zuo and Madam Lin request to meet you."
"Who?"
"The wives of Minister Zuo of the Ministry of Revenue and Inspector Lin."
"Why do they want to meet me?"
Ying Xiang showed an innocent expression; how could she know such things as a servant.
Moreover, it’s normal for them to come over, knowing the Princess Consort is here.
Chuzheng sat back down: "Let them in then."
Ying Xiang received the order and immediately went to the door to greet the two ladies.
"Greetings, Third Princess Consort."
"No need for formality." Chuzheng raised her hand slightly: "What is it?"
"Er..."
The two ladies didn’t expect something like this from Chuzheng.
"Princess Consort, my sister and I are just here to pay respects." Madam Lin spoke first: "Did we disturb you?"
"..." If you know that, why come!
Madam Lin seemingly read these words on Chuzheng’s face.
She hadn’t interacted much with the Princess Consort before, only seen her a few times at palace feasts.
Chuzheng didn’t drive them away: "Sit down."
"Thank you, Princess Consort."
Madam Lin quickly pulled Madam Zuo to sit down.
Madam Zuo seemed quieter, younger too, sitting reservedly, not daring to take a sip of tea.
Madam Lin was much more talkative; even if Chuzheng didn’t speak, it wouldn’t be a cold scene.
"By the way, there seemed to be a girl downstairs looking for the Princess Consort earlier." Madam Lin was curious: "Does the Princess Consort know her?"
"Just a plaything Changsun Hang keeps." Chuzheng wouldn’t cover for Changsun Hang; if he dared to keep her, he should dare to let others know.
A proper girl, what’s the point in hiding her?
Today, trying to be a kind person!
Madam Lin’s eyes slightly widened upon hearing this.
To think she was the Third Prince’s woman...
But judging by the Princess Consort’s tone, she didn’t take it to heart, a true sovereign.
Beside her, Madam Zuo raised her head to look at Chuzheng, her eyes complex, then lowered them again.
Madam Lin, fearing the topic was too sensitive, wisely shifted the conversation.
"We won’t chatter too much today..."
Madam Lin rose to take her leave, the somewhat quiet Madam Zuo following suit, politely and modestly bidding farewell to Chuzheng.
"Hold on."
Madam Zuo was startled by this, nervously turned around.
Chuzheng: "..."
Am I that intimidating?
Madam Lin was naturally composed: "Is there anything else, Princess Consort?"
Chuzheng picked two boxes from the ones packed on the table: "These are for you." Help relieve some sweet burden of mine, gratitude is best left unspoken.
Madam Lin was flattered: "Princess Consort, this isn’t appropriate."
"Take it, if I say so."
Madam Lin: "Yes."
Madam Lin quickly accepted: "Thank you for the gift, Princess Consort."
But Madam Zuo hesitated, Madam Lin nudged her discreetly, lowered her voice: "Sister, quickly thank the Princess Consort."
Only then did Madam Zuo accept, softly saying: "Thank you, Princess Consort."
Chuzheng waved a dismissal gesture, indicating they could leave.
Madam Lin led Madam Zuo out of the compartment, after walking some distance, opened the box to glance, finding it valuable, she carefully put it away.
"Sister Lin, is it okay for us to accept things from the Princess Consort?" Madam Zuo was worried.
"Silly sister, isn’t this better than offending her?" Madam Lin sighed: "Consider who stands behind her, we can’t afford to offend them."
"The Third Prince..."
"No, not the Third Prince, but Minister Yann of the Appointments." Madam Lin lowered her voice.
The Third Prince is currently just a prince, and among many princes, he’s relatively inconspicuous.
Minister Yann of the Appointments is different though...
He holds real power.
Who dares to offend him?
"But my husband said Minister of Appointments..."
"Shh!" Madam Lin signaled Madam Zuo to stop speaking carelessly: "Refrain from saying more."
"Oh..."
Madam Lin continued advising in a low voice: "Consider the Princess Consort’s attitude, men will indulge outside; don’t overthink, maintain your dignified position as the main wife. The more you fuss, the less they care, and they’ll perceive it as unreasonable and grow tired of you, leaving you with nothing."
Madam Zuo pursed her lips, staying silent.