My sister became the empress, but I'm still growing vegetables and raising chickens

Chapter 373 You're so stupid

The Crown Prince released Gui Shan's hand, slowly stepped forward, looked down at Zhu Qing Tang, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

What does Miss Zhu think?

Zhu Qingtang trembled all over. So, getting rid of her cousin wasn't Guishan's idea, but the Crown Prince's? But why?

She didn't understand, nor dared to think about it too deeply. She also knew that if she said such a thing, no one would believe her.

Everyone knew that the Crown Prince and Zuo Xiangwan would be husband and wife. No matter the occasion, the Crown Prince was always very gentle with Zuo Xiangwan.

Even this time, after Zuo Xiangwan eloped with someone, the Crown Prince rejected other women from the Zuo family and other noble ladies, choosing Gui Shan instead.

Everyone believed that the Crown Prince was heartbroken by Zuo Xiangwan.

Zhu Qingtang didn't even know how she left the pavilion in the middle of the lake. She didn't go home; instead, she stood on the long corridor by the Mi River, staring blankly at the water.

The maid was a little worried because her mistress had come out today to see His Highness the Crown Prince, and had deliberately dressed lightly to show off her graceful figure. It was the dead of winter, and they were by the river, where it was chillingly cold.

"Girl, let's go back quickly, it's too cold."

Zhu Qingtang ignored him and remained lost in thought.

After some time, the maid saw the Crown Prince leave the pavilion in the middle of the lake and depart in his carriage. She quickly said, "Miss, His Highness the Crown Prince has left."

Zhu Qingtang finally reacted and looked up. The Crown Prince's carriage had already driven far away. She saw Gui Shan with her maid walking across the long bridge leading from the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

She grabbed her skirt and rushed forward to stop Gui Shan.

Gui Shan looked at her with a puzzled expression: "Is there anything else, Miss Zhu?"

"Why?" Zhu Qingtang asked, her eyes red. "I want to know why."

Gui Shan waved her hand, signaling the maid to leave, and Zhu Qingtang's maid followed suit. Only then did she speak: "Miss Zhu, it's not good to know too much about some things."

Zhu Qingtang choked up: "But I'm not reconciled. Why should she be treated like this? My cousin is a privileged woman. She shouldn't be treated like this."

“Miss Zhu, your cousin did it voluntarily.”

Zhu Qingtang was stunned.

Gui Shan sighed: "Your cousin wants to live, and I don't want to take her life, which is why I'm willing to help her."

"You're helping her?" Zhu Qingtang was greatly shocked.

Gui Shan did not continue to explain, but only said, "Miss Zhu, your thoughts are obvious, I know, and His Highness the Crown Prince knows too. Perhaps if you insist, the Crown Prince will take you into the Eastern Palace as a concubine or a secondary consort."

If it were before, Zhu Qingtang would have been overjoyed to hear these words. She did feel sorry for her cousin, but she also hoped that she could enter the palace, enjoy continuous favor, be made a Noble Consort, and have all the noblewomen submit to her.

But now...

Gui Shan said, "A person who is too foolish will only face death if he enters the palace."

Zhu Qingtang returned home dejectedly. As soon as she entered the courtyard, Madam Zhu came over.

When her daughter left, she made a solemn vow that she would definitely be favored by the Crown Prince and selected to enter the Eastern Palace as a concubine.

Although Madam Zhu did not know why, she was very excited, so she quickly came to ask.

"Qingtang, how is it?"

Zhu Qingtang just stared blankly.

Madam Zhu frowned: "You didn't succeed? Didn't you say that having something on Gui Shan would definitely sway His Highness the Crown Prince? Why didn't you succeed?"

Zhu Qingtang felt utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally. After being exposed to the cold wind for so long, she had a terrible headache and all she wanted was a bowl of hot soup and a good night's sleep.

Her mother's nagging only made her more agitated.

"Mother, His Highness the Crown Prince is not someone to be trifled with. I do not wish to enter the Eastern Palace."

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhu exploded: "What did you say? Zhu Qingtang, how can you be so spineless! What is that Guishan? With your family background and looks, even without your cousin ahead of you, once you enter the Eastern Palace, how could Guishan be a match for you?"

Zhu Qingtang said impatiently, "Stop talking, I need to rest."

Madam Zhu, oblivious to her daughter's discomfort, grabbed her wrist and said, "Qingtang, listen to your mother. Marriage isn't really about the man. The Crown Prince will be busy with official duties and has many concubines in the Eastern Palace. He'll only stay with you a few days a month. Whether he's good or bad isn't important; what matters is your status!"

"Qingtang, your mother often regrets that she herself didn't want to enter the palace. Otherwise, she might not have been the Empress. And I'm not like that short-lived woman! I was foolish enough to hold a grudge and choose that useless man, your father..."

Madam Zhu disliked her husband and, relying on her status as a member of the Zuo family, she never failed to embarrass him in public or in private.

At home, in front of the children, she would say, without reservation, that her husband was not good enough for her and that she was wronged by marrying down.

Zhu Qingtang had long been tired of hearing this, and could no longer help but retort.

"If Mother is not happy, she can just divorce Father and go back to the Zuo family to be the Zuo family's daughter."

"You...you...how can you talk to your mother like that? She's only doing this for your own good..."

Zhu Qingtang smirked, "You know you can't go back to the Zuo family, and you know how the Zuo family treats their daughter. They hate your cousin so much, they wish they could erase her completely, even before they've found her!"

"That was her fault to begin with..."

"So interests come first!" Zhu Qingtang looked at her coldly. "The Zuo family treated you like this, and you had no choice but to marry down. When you were going through all sorts of hardships, did the Zuo family ever offer you any help? No, in their eyes, you were just a useless daughter!"

Madam Zhu was hit where it hurt, and she raised her hand and slapped Zhu Qingtang hard.

Solid and solid.

This is the first time Zhu Qingtang has been pampered and spoiled since childhood.

Both of them were stunned.

Madam Zhu regained her senses and quickly went to help her.

Zhu Qingtang pushed her away: "Mother, please leave!"

"Qingtang, Mother didn't mean it, Qingtang..."

Zhu Qingtang looked at her: "What difference is there between you and those people from the Zuo family? I was out for a day, and even my maid knew I wasn't dressed warmly enough. She was worried I'd get sick and rushed to have ginseng soup made when I got back. And you, my mother? Did you ever say a word of concern? You only cared about whether I had managed to get close to His Highness the Crown Prince and whether I had achieved your goals!"

Madam Zhu was dumbfounded.

Zhu Qingtang continued, "You don't need to persuade me anymore. In terms of family background, the daughter of the Left Prime Minister Hu, the young lady of the Marquis's Si family, the young lady of the Duke's Zuo family, and... they are all of higher status than my daughter. In terms of appearance, there are millions of beautiful women in the world, so what is my daughter compared to them? In terms of ability, His Highness the Crown Prince is of high rank and position, and he doesn't need to rely on others. Even if he did, our Zhu family doesn't have the ability. And my daughter has been raised to be stupid and ignorant by you. Not to mention others, if she really enters the Eastern Palace, she probably won't even know how she died!"

"I just want my daughter to marry an ordinary man and live a peaceful life."