OBS Chapter 156 Explanation
Chapter 156 Explanation
The farce didn't end until dinner time.
During meals.
Having been in the manor for a day without seeing the mother and child, Prince Jin finally couldn't sit still any longer. "Your Highness, where are the mother and child?"
Zhao Jihua didn't even look up, continuing to serve food to his mother: "Which mother and son?"
Princess Jin said, "The person was arranged to stay in the Cornelian Cherry Courtyard yesterday."
"I will go and see them."
Seeing the Prince of Jin rushing out to search for the mother and child,
Zhao Jihua sneered.
Go on, go on! Your good silver pearl has already been punished by kneeling for a whole day!
But after he left, Princess Jin lost her appetite.
Zhao Jihua took her arm and said considerately, "Mother, if you want a divorce, I support you."
"Silly child, what nonsense are you talking about! What will you do if I leave? Children of the current dynasty are awarded to their husband's family."
"I can take care of myself. Mother, please don't let me cause you any hardship. I would feel guilty for the rest of my life if you did that..."
Princess Jin gently pinched her nose and said with a smile, "What nonsense are you talking about? She's just a concubine. Your mother wouldn't be so intolerant of a concubine and a son born out of wedlock."
Zhao Jihua wanted to persuade her further, but she was afraid the other party was just saying it lip service, "Mother..."
"Alright!" Princess Jin interrupted her, "You should go visit your maternal grandparents in a few days; your uncle is back."
Just then, the Prince of Jin entered with his mistress and her son.
Gu Yinzhu had already cleaned up, but she was seriously injured and had to be helped in by Prince Jin.
"Oh dear, Father, why are you supporting this person who cursed my mother and me to die young? Do you also think what they said is true?"
The King of Jin choked.
He went to the Cornelian Cherry Garden just now and only saw his youngest son. Only then did he realize that the madwoman was Gu Yinzhu! He finally managed to calm the mother and son down, but Gu Yinzhu then cried and insisted that Zhao Jihua apologize to them for being thrown into the lotus pond.
Thinking of this, Prince Jin vented his anger on his princess with a cold face: "Princess, how could you let people throw Fanyu and her daughter into the lotus pond? And even had people stop them from getting up?"
He thought the princess was dignified and composed, and would surely be able to properly settle Fan Yu and his mother.
I never imagined they suffered so much while I was away!
So when Gu Yinzhu insisted that he help her over to demand an explanation, he impulsively brought her over.
Seeing his self-righteous attitude after doing something wrong,
Zhao Jihua retorted sarcastically, "Why is Father starting to act indiscriminately?"
"Hua'er!" Princess Consort of Jin interrupted her, saying to Prince Jin, "Has Your Highness come to interrogate me?"
Upon meeting the gaze of the Princess Consort of Jin, his imposing manner diminished by three points, but he still forced himself to say, "This...this is ultimately against etiquette."
With a powerful backer, Gu Yinzhu's wings hardened again. "That's right! If word gets out, outsiders will only say that Your Highness is jealous and wanted to kill your concubine and illegitimate son."
13-year-old Zhao Fanyu also said, "You are not allowed to bully my mother!"
To everyone's surprise, the Princess Consort of Jin didn't take her seriously at all, and simply looked at the Prince of Jin and said:
"Is it against propriety? Then let's have a proper discussion."
First of all, when a concubine's son visits, he must serve tea and pay his respects to the mistress, and from then on, he must serve her with utmost care and deference. "You, this one, announced your status as mistress the moment you entered, arrogantly demanding that I, the princess, and Hua'er abdicate! I, the princess, was magnanimous and didn't argue with you, but she still took advantage and tried to harm me! If I hadn't been lucky, you would be seeing my and Hua'er's corpses right now! In these three days, forget about paying my respects; I've only just seen this illegitimate son, and the first thing he did was contradict the mistress..." Princess Jin continued her tirade, glancing sideways at Prince Jin...
"In every single instance, according to national law, family rules, and social etiquette, which one does she comply with? And what has this princess done wrong?"
"This..." Prince Jin hadn't expected that it was Gu Yinzhu who had spoken rudely and framed the Princess first. He was about to reprimand her immediately.
"Didn't I tell you to respect the Princess? How could you speak and behave so disrespectfully towards her? And even try to harm her..."
"Your Highness!"
Gu Yinzhu immediately interrupted Prince Jin, saying that he could not admit to this crime!
She said, "I didn't do it on purpose. I just happened to be passing by the lotus pond, and who knew she would be so careless as to twist her ankle and fall in!"
Before the Prince of Jin could speak further, Gu Yinzhu immediately showed him her injuries, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at him:
"Your Highness, look how miserable I've been these past few days while you were gone! I almost didn't see you again! And today, as soon as I returned, you gave me a beating, and I can't even stand up straight now..."
The Prince of Jin eventually softened and comforted the ancient silver bead in his arms.
He looked at Zhao Jihua: "Putting everything else aside, you shouldn't have thrown people into the pond! That's two lives at stake!"
Gu Yinzhu also gave her a provocative smile.
Zhao Jihua ignored the clown and looked directly at her father: "She can push my mother, but I can't stand up for her?"
The Prince of Jin, not one to back down, retorted, "They've already said it wasn't intentional, so why are you still..."
"I didn't do it on purpose. I just happened to be passing by the lotus pond, and who knew she would be so careless as to twist her ankle and fall in!"
Zhao Jihua returned his original words to him.
"..." The Prince of Jin was speechless for a moment.
Princess Consort of Jin stood up and said calmly, "The law of the country stipulates that the mistress has the right to buy, sell, beat, and kill her concubines, let alone her, who is just a wild thing whose identity has not been verified and from who-knows-where!"
"This!" The Prince of Jin's face darkened. "How come it hasn't been verified?"
"The prince is not here, so there is no way to verify."
"They are..."
Princess Jin dismissed everyone. "Everyone, leave. Hua'er, you go out first too. I need to speak with the Prince alone."
Zhao Jihua responded with a "yes" and started walking out. As she passed Prince Jin, she glanced at him.
You scumbag father, you'd better speak properly, or else this Prince Jin's mansion...
Ha ha!
Zhao Jihua thoughtfully closed the door and then eavesdropped by pressing his ear against it.
All that could be heard was the cold, distant voice of the Princess Consort of Jin: "Speak!"
The Prince of Jin comforted his wife for a while before explaining, "...When you were giving birth, you were attacked and your health was severely damaged. You've been weak all these years, but the Zhao family cannot be without an heir. So I thought I'd find someone to bear you a son..."
"If you want a son, just tell me, and do you think I won't allow it? I've suggested you take a concubine many times before, but you refused. But now the child is so grown up... Why do you pretend to be a loving husband and wife with me while acting like a kind father and dutiful son outside? And why do you let that mistress climb all over me and humiliate me?"
Princess Jin's voice remained calm and indifferent, yet tears welled up in her eyes, streaming down her cheeks and falling to the ground, striking Prince Jin's heart as well.
"It was my fault." The Prince of Jin was heartbroken and quickly hugged the person to comfort him.
Why do you hurt me and make me feel uncomfortable like this?