Chapter 137
"It's because this old woman is useless, making you look down on me." After saying this, The Old Princess turned her face away, deliberately not looking at Xu Heming, clearly angry.
"Aunt, cousin is busy with official duties; he didn't deliberately avoid coming back to accompany you. See, he has returned now, hasn't he? Besides, once my future cousin-in-law enters the household, she will surely be by your side every day," Zheng Qiaoshu said with a well-behaved expression as she tried to soothe the Old Princess by her side.
In her heart, Zheng Qiaoshu was thinking, that so-called Miss Li, who didn't even come on a day like The Old Princess's birthday, shouldn't blame her for seizing the opportunity.
After hearing Zheng Qiaoshu's words, The Old Princess felt even more displeased.
Li Zhiwei was not yet married into the family, so she couldn't have her attending to her daily needs. However, since she wasn't married yet, it was one thing for her not to come, but she had also taken her dear grandson away.
This couldn't help but make The Old Princess feel somewhat unhappy.
"Hmph, I think he has forgotten he still has a mother!" The Old Princess said discontentedly.
Originally, The Old Princess didn't think much of it. After all, her son being busy was not a new thing; she had actually grown accustomed to him being constantly occupied with official matters.
It was just that before, Xu Qingshi would occasionally come to keep her company, so she wasn't too lonely.
However, Li Zhiwei had taken Xu Qingshi away. Although she was saddened, she didn't think it was a big deal.
But ever since Zheng Qiaoshu arrived at the manor, attending to everything personally, she had started to feel a bit strange.
These matters shouldn't have been Zheng Qiaoshu's responsibility.
"Mother, it is your child's fault!" Xu Heming sighed lightly, knowing in his heart that his mother held a grudge against him.
It was just that the old lady was usually the most reasonable person; why had she suddenly started making trouble again?
He also wanted to spare more time to accompany The Old Princess, but currently, the court situation was tense, and he couldn't free himself for a moment.
Having Xu Qingshi and Li Zhiwei leave the capital was also to prevent them from getting hurt.
"Cousin, I must trouble you to give us some privacy. I have a few words I wish to speak with Mother alone," Xu Heming said, looking at Zheng Qiaoshu beside him.
"What words cannot be said in front of Qiaoshu?" Upon hearing this, The Old Princess was unwilling.
These past few days, Zheng Qiaoshu had grown much closer to her, and The Old Princess regarded Zheng Qiaoshu as one of her own.
Moreover, Xu Heming's recent behavior had displeased her, making her even more inclined to oppose him.
"Mother!" Xu Heming, having dealt with official duties all day, was somewhat fatigued. Faced with The Old Princess's unreasonable behavior, he simply felt weary. It's said that when people grow old, they become like children, prone to being unreasonable and making trouble—this saying was indeed true.
"Aunt, perhaps cousin has something important to discuss with you. Qiaoshu will first go check if your evening meal is ready," Zheng Qiaoshu first comforted The Old Princess with a few words, then obediently performed a slight bow and withdrew.
Standing at the doorway, Zheng Qiaoshu glanced into the room, thinking to herself that one day she would make them let down their guard against her.
"Miss, are you still going to the kitchen?" Zheng Qiaoshu's personal maid, Chu'er, looked at her young mistress somewhat puzzled.
When her young mistress was at the Zheng family home, she was a pampered and cherished young lady. Why, upon arriving at the An Wang Manor, was she personally attending to everything?
Besides, with so many servants and cooks in the An Wang Manor, why did the young lady need to do things herself?
"Enough, Chu'er, say less. This is not the Zheng family home," Zheng Qiaoshu lightly scolded.
She sneered inwardly; naturally, she wasn't born fond of labor. The reason she worked so hard was, of course, because there were benefits to be gained.
The An Wang would be hers; she naturally had to win him back bit by bit.
Winning The Old Princess's approval was only the first step.
"Hmph!" The Old Princess looked at her son before her and gave a light snort, expressing the dissatisfaction in her heart.
“Mother, I know you blame me for making Qingshi leave the capital. It's just that the court situation is tense now, and I fear that if I am momentarily negligent, people with ill intentions might harm Qingshi,” Xu Heming said helplessly, looking at The Old Princess.
"He is the An Wang heir; who would dare harm him? I think it's just that you can't stand to see this old woman happy!" Although The Old Princess knew her son spoke the truth, she was still unwilling to relent verbally.
She also thought to herself that Xu Heming was currently a favorite of the Emperor and had many matters to handle.
Hadn't she long been accustomed to this?
How could she have forgotten just because someone was now by her side?
"Mother, if someone wants to target you, would they let you be prepared?" Xu Heming sighed helplessly.
"You can make him leave if you want, but can't you even allow your cousin to come keep me company?" The Old Princess thought for a moment and didn't persist further, only bringing up her desire to have Zheng Qiaoshu accompany her.
"Your child never said cousin couldn't accompany you," Xu Heming was puzzled. Why did The Old Princess suddenly act as if he didn't want Zheng Qiaoshu to accompany her?
"Qiaoshu is a young lady; it's unseemly for her to stay in the manor every day. I know the Emperor has decreed your marriage to that Li family girl. After the Li family girl enters the household, you should take Qiaoshu as your secondary consort!" The Old Princess said with a serious expression.
"Impossible!" Xu Heming refused without a second thought.
He had witnessed too many instances of discord between wives and concubines, and unrest in the inner household. Moreover, his father had only married his mother.
He had already married Madam Zhou, and now he was to marry Li Zhiwei. How could he possibly marry Zheng Qiaoshu as well?
"Wretch! This matter is not for you to decide! Parents' orders and matchmakers' words—my words stand here. If you don't agree to marry Qiaoshu, I will die and show you! Then see if you can bear the charge of forcing your mother to death!" The Old Princess actually didn't know why she insisted on saying this.
But, truthfully, she didn't want to force her son either.
After all, all these years her son had been unwilling to remarry. Now that he was finally going to marry Li Zhiwei, she had originally been happy.
"Mother!" Xu Heming frowned, not understanding why his mother suddenly had such an idea.
"This matter is not up to you!" The Old Princess said domineeringly.
“Mother, let's discuss this matter later!” Xu Heming had a headache and didn't want to argue with the Old Princess. Anyway, before the principal consort entered the household, he had grounds to refuse taking a secondary consort.
As for later, he would find another way to refuse.
His mother just wanted him to marry Zheng Qiaoshu. Later, he could marry Zheng Qiaoshu off to someone else, and wouldn't that solve the problem?
Thinking of this, Xu Heming relaxed.
De Yue Pavilion.
"Master, we have already arranged Qingying to enter the An Wang Manor. Now, she has also won The Old Princess's trust there," a man dressed as a servant said respectfully to a man wearing a black cloak.
“Very good. Having just The Old Princess's trust is not enough; what we want is to win over the An Wang,” the man in the black cloak said indifferently, turning the thumb ring on his hand.
However, the servant dared not be the slightest bit negligent.
After all, last time the An Wang had ruined their plans. This time, if they couldn't win him over, then other methods would have to be used.
