Chapter 121 - Xie Family's Internal Strife
Chapter 121 – Xie Family’s Internal Strife
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Telling the truth would definitely offend Princess Jinghua, and even Emperor Huilin.
Princess Jinghua deliberately framed Qin Miaomiao. If this news was spread, it would be a disgrace to the royal family.
But if the truth wasn’t exposed, Qin Miaomiao’s life would be ruined. Why should she suffer such humiliation if she was innocent?
Just like her mother, she would live in grievances for the rest of her life.
Qiao Ruoyun said, “Jinniang, if you don’t testify about this matter in person, I am afraid that no one will believe Miaomiao is innocent.”
Struggling internally, Qiao Jinniang thought of Lu Chen and said, “Just tell people that Lu Chen saw it.”
Qiao Ruoyun looked at Qiao Jinniang even more in shock. “But Princess Jinghua is His Royal Highness’s sister. How could His Royal Highness possibly help an outsider against her own sister?”
Qiao Jinniang thought for a while and said, “But I can’t just sit by and watch Qin Miaomiao kill herself for this, right?”
The news about Qiao Miaomiao making Princess Jinghua fall off her horse was widespread.
Everyone said that Qin Miaomiao was jealous that Princess Jinghua and Lin Mo were close, so she did it on purpose.
Until someone from the Qin family said that His Royal Highness witnessed that Qin Miaomiao was wronged.
The ball didn’t hit the princess at all, and rumors were spread even more widely.
But this involved a princess, so no one dared to gossip about it openly, which made commoners even more curious.
After this was known to an imperial censor, he handed over a memorial in the levee.
“Your Majesty, Princess Jinghua deliberately framed the daughter of a high-ranking official, and used power to oppress others. She is not worthy of being a princess. Please punish her!”
Emperor Huilin had been used to receiving memorials impeaching princesses, but he didn’t expect that Jinghua, who had never caused trouble for him, would be impeached!
And for such an outrageous matter.
Emperor Huilin angrily summoned everyone on the polo field that day, but many noble girls shied away, saying that they didn’t see it clearly.
However, when they heard that the Crown Prince had already testified for Qin Miaomiao, they all told the truth
“Miss Qin’s ball didn’t hit the princess. The princess deliberately fell off the horse herself.”
“We thought we saw it wrongly.”
Emperor Huilin was extremely annoyed. In the past, the princesses were usually impeached for keeping gigolos or what, but this was the first time a princess did something that could be considered a disgrace to the royal family.
Emperor Huilin directly forfeited Princess Jinghua half a year of wages and demoted her one notch in honorary title.
Since he didn’t have many daughters, he doted on princesses a lot.
Although Princess Jinghua didn’t seem to lose anything, she kinda fell out of favor with the Emperor.
Once Qiao Jinniang heard from Yuyan that Qin Miaomiao was cleared of her grievances, she breathed a sigh of relief.
She began to be busy with the opening of Myriad Taste. She wanted to transport the old sign of Myriad Taste from Lin’an to Chang’an, but it would be too troublesome.
She wanted to write the sign herself, but she was not good at drawing or calligraphy.
The old sign of Myriad Taste was written by Lu Chen, which was very beautiful and impressive.
Qiao Jinniang went to ask Lu Chen to write the words “Myriad Taste” for her. This was the first time she walked through the tunnel and it was really dark.
‘When she was about to reach the exit, she heard two people discussing outside.
“Your sister was too anxious, wasn’t she? His Majesty has not agreed yet. Even if he agrees to marry her to the Second Young Master of the Xie family, she doesn’t have to ruin her reputation, right?”
Lu Chen said, “My sister has already been married to a faraway place once, so she doesn’t want to experience it again. Even if her reputation is damaged, it’s better than being married off far away to the South.”
Another male voice said, “Jin’er’s temper has never changed.
“Fortunately, this time, the result was exactly what Princess Jinghua wanted.
“Otherwise, Jin‘er might be in trouble.
“Alas… Chang’an is not suitable for Jin’er!”
Lu Chen was annoyed. “Xie Yun, do you think it’s proper for you to still call her ‘Jin’er’?”
“But I’ve been calling her this since we were children. Even if you don’t like it, this is a fact!” Xie Yun said, “She is too chivalrous, so she doesn’t fit in a place like Chang’an where it is full of snobs.”
Lu Chen looked straight into Xie Yun’s eyes and said, “Whether she fits in here or not, she is my wife and will only stay in Chang’an.”
Xie Yun lowered his eyes. “Then please take good care of her, Your Royal Highness.”
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“I don’t need you to tell me that.”
Qiao Jinniang didn’t go out of the tunnel. She pursed her lips. Why didn’t Lu Chen explain to her about Princess Jinghua’s plan in advance?
Did he feel that she didn’t deserve to know these affairs?
If she hadn’t made him her scapegoat, wouldn’t she have caused His Majesty’s dislike and Princess’s grudge?
Myriad Taste would be opened in early October. Qiao Jinniang wrote the sign herself and had someone carve it.
However, before Myriad Taste opened, the shopkeeper of Guest Welcoming Building was acquitted because he claimed that he didn’t know the fruit he used was Minanghua Fruit.
Thus, the Guest Welcoming Building was still open, but not many people dared to patronize it again.
Qiao Jinniang was in Myriad Taste, checking the layout inside.
Huixiang said indignantly, “The shopkeeper of the Guest Welcoming Building victimized so many people. How could he be acquitted?”
Qiao Jinniang had already known the reason from Old Madam Qiao, so she was not surprised.
Your Majesty was filial. If he severely punished the shopkeeper of the Guest Welcoming Building, it would be known to commoners that the Empress Dowager had been consuming Minanghua Fruits, by then it would be hard to determine the punishment on the shopkeeper.
“Alas, this is Chang‘an. He has a backstage.” Qiao Jinniang sighed.
Huixiang said to Qiao Jinniang, “But Miss, your husband is the Crown Prince.”
Qiao Jinniang said, “He is not my husband. He is now the dignified Crown Prince and looks down on stupid people like us…”
Lu Chen happened to come. Hearing Qiao Jinniang’s words, he said, “How dare I look down on you? Besides, you’re not stupid at all.
“You are smart enough to make me your scapegoat. ”
Qiao Jinniang snorted. “Come with me.”
Myriad Taste was not only a restaurant but also an inn, and there were rooms for accommodation upstairs.
Lu Chen followed Qiao Jinniang into a room and said, “Why are you angry again?”
Qiao Jinniang asked bluntly,
“Twalked through the tunnel you dug the day before yesterday, and I heard what you said to Xie Yun.
“You knew it was Princess Jinghua’s scheme, so why didn’t you tell me about it earlier?
“You just watched me self-righteously expose this matter like a fool.
“Thad been struggling internally whether I should help Qiao Miaomiao, but it turned out it was a trap from the beginning!”
Lu Chen said, “The matter was too complicated, so I didn’t explain it to you.
“I thought you wouldn’t get involved, so I didn’t tell you. If you want to know, I can explain it to you.”
Qiao Jinniang poured herself a cup of water.
Lu Chen reached out to pick it up, but Qiao Jinniang emptied the cup herself.
Lu Chen chuckled and said, “T’ll make this long story short, Xie Yun’s father and his second uncle have been fighting for control of the Xie family. His father only has one son and after his father died, Xie Yun disguised as a woman to protect himself.
“And with the excuse of poor health, he went to the manor in Lin‘an alone to recuperate.
“The head of the Xie family is more inclined to Xie Yun, but his second uncle has a lot of sons, and many hands provide great strength. Although the old distinguished families are declining, the Xie family is still quite prestigious among the civil officials, and it is very powerful in the South.
“My father always wanted to take down the Xie family. He originally wanted to choose Xie Yun. After all, Xie Yun is just a ‘woman’. If Xie Yun became the crown princess, the Xie family would be controlled by the royal family.
“But after Xie Yun’s second uncle learned about my father’s plan, he promised my father that he would be loyal to the royal family, as long as he could seize power in the Xie family, and to show his loyalty, he asked my father to marry my sister Jinghua to his son.
“Thus, my father is still considering whether to choose Xie Yun or his second uncle.
“If he chooses the latter, he will have to marry a princess off to the Xie family. And somehow my sister learned about this plan, so she came up with another plan. Anyway, the Xie family will definitely not marry a princess who has lost her reputation.”
“You are close to Xie Yun, Can’t you convince your father to help Xie Yun?” Qiao Jinniang asked.
Lu Chen smiled. “Xie Yun is useful to me, so is his cousin.
“Moreover, his cousin is more stupid and more easily manipulated than him. If he is really willing to submit to the royal family, why should I help Xie Yun?”
Xie Yun thought that he had hidden his feelings for Qiao Jinniang very well.
But back when Lu Chen was in Lin’an, he had found out about Xie Yun’s crush on Qiao Jinniang when he first met Xie Yun! As aman, he could tell it.
Lu Chen wasn’t so broad-minded as to help his rival-in-love win the control of the Xie family..