kvmb Chapter 92: I managed to snag a minor concubine.
Chapter 92: I managed to snag a minor concubine.
When the Empress spoke, all eyes turned to her, eager to hear how she planned to resolve the issue.
"Your Majesty, why don't we have Miss Jiang bring out her clothes? That way, everything will be clear."
The emperor nodded in deep agreement.
Jiang Qingyue did not refuse, but instead had someone go back to the mansion to get the clothes.
After waiting for a long time, finally, a palace maid stepped forward and handed Jiang Qingyue her clothes.
Jiang Qingyue stepped forward and took it. “Your Majesty, Your Highness, please look. Although the color of my dress is the same as Jiang Chuchu’s, the pattern and the texture are very different.”
The Empress reached out and touched it, then had it unfolded and carefully compared the two garments; indeed, it was so.
"The two garments are different sizes and have different patterns. What else do you have to say?"
"No, this is impossible!" Jiang Chuchu never expected that Jiang Qingyue had such a trick up her sleeve. "No, it really was Jiang Qingyue who framed me, I..."
"Yes, I framed you, sent my own fiancé to your bed, and even facilitated your marriage. How come I didn't know I was so noble!"
Jiang Qingyue's words were pointed and implied, seemingly without any defense, but in reality, every word she uttered left Jiang Chuchu with no way to refute them.
Jiang Qingyue seized this opportunity, which is why Jiang Chuchu was helpless.
"I..." Jiang Chuchu was speechless. No, were all her efforts going to be in vain?
Jiang Chuchu gritted her teeth, "Your Highness, please, Your Highness, do me justice!"
She could only cling to Qin Jinghao as her last lifeline.
Although Qin Jinghao was disappointed, he ultimately couldn't bear it.
He stepped forward and said, “Father, Mother, it was your son who could not control himself. Now that things have come to this, we also need to give an explanation to the court officials. Therefore, I am prepared to take Jiang Chuchu as my concubine. I hope that Father and Mother will grant my request.”
Now that things have come to this, he has no choice but to take Jiang Chuchu as his concubine; otherwise, even if he is the crown prince, he will be drowned in public scorn.
How could the emperor and empress not understand the stakes involved? Even if they were unwilling, they had to agree. At the same time, they were even more dissatisfied with Jiang Chuchu, feeling that Jiang Chuchu was truly a master of manipulation.
Qin Jinghao naturally knew that if he took Jiang Chuchu as a concubine, it would be difficult to explain to Jiang Qingyue. Her grandfather would be returning to court soon, and if he stood up for Jiang Qingyue then...
Thinking of this, Qin Jinghao could only look at Jiang Qingyue with pleading eyes, "Qingyue, this time, I was confused for a moment, but things have come to this point, you wouldn't want me to be an irresponsible person, would you? So, I think..."
Jiang Qingyue should understand what Qin Jinghao meant.
Indeed, Jiang Qingyue understood, and at the same time, a deep sense of irony rose in her heart.
How noble, how righteous, and how responsible! It's nothing but an excuse to absolve oneself.
Jiang Qingyue nodded, her face a mixture of sadness and disappointment. "Your Highness, I understand."
Jiang Qingyue turned to look at the emperor and knelt down with a thud. "Your Majesty, things have come to this point, and I cannot refuse. Since His Highness the Crown Prince and Jiang Chuchu are in love, I wish to grant them their wish."
Jiang Qingyue's words drew everyone's attention.
No matter how generous a woman is, she could never...
"You are a good girl. It was the Crown Prince who let you down. Don't worry, from now on, no one can ever replace you in your position." The Empress also stepped forward to assure Jiang Qingyue.
Whether this guarantee is meaningful or not, only Jiang Qingyue herself knows.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I haven't finished speaking."
Jiang Qingyue couldn't help but feel disgusted by their faces. "I can grant their wish, Your Majesty. So, why don't we call off the marriage between me and His Highness the Crown Prince? A daughter of the Jiang family will marry the Crown Prince, and Chu Chu will also be a daughter of the Jiang family. This will be a satisfactory explanation to the world."
"No!" The emperor was the first to object, but then realized he had become too emotional. "What I mean is, I only recognize you. If he dares to betray you, or dares to let Jiang Chuchu bully you, I will not let him off easily. So, don't say anything more like canceling the engagement in anger."
However, Consort Liang, I have wronged you. I will immediately issue an edict granting you the position of the Crown Prince's concubine.
How could the emperor possibly agree to cancel the marriage? This way, he could also appease the Gu family. As he spoke, the emperor winked at Qin Jinghao.
Although Qin Jinghao was unwilling, he still stepped forward with a smile, "Yes, don't worry, your status will never change. I will not let her climb over you."
Qin Jinghao understood the current situation, so he backed down.
Jiang Qingyue didn't intend to cancel her marriage with the Crown Prince just because of this, but she was still quite happy to trip them up and annoy Jiang Chuchu.
Especially Jiang Chuchu's eyes, which looked like she wanted to kill him but was powerless to do so. Wasn't that just like him in the past?
Jiang Qingyue lowered her head slightly, trying not to let anyone see her emotions. In the eyes of the emperor and others, however, she appeared to be heartbroken and sad.
Taking the opportunity, the emperor bestowed many gifts upon Jiang Qingyue, saying, "How about this, you decide how to arrange things for Jiang Chuchu. After all, once you enter the Eastern Palace, and the Crown Prince has no other concubines, naturally, apart from the Crown Prince, you will be the most respected person in the entire Eastern Palace."
Jiang Chuchu suddenly raised her head, her eyes widening.
No, letting Jiang Qingyue, whom she has always looked down upon, decide her fate by stepping on her head is more painful than killing her.
However, she dared not refute him again, but she made a deep grudge against Jiang Qingyue in her heart.
Jiang Qingyue knew she couldn't shake the emperor's power and knew when to stop, so she nodded. "Your Majesty, I thank you. In that case, how about bestowing upon her the title of Chenghui?"
Jiang Chuchu, Jiang Chuchu, haven't you always wanted to take my place as the Crown Prince's Consort? You schemed and plotted, but in the end, I'll make sure you can't even touch that position.
How could Jiang Chuchu not understand the humiliation Jiang Qingyue had inflicted upon her? Yet, she had no right to refute it.
"Hmph, she schemed against the Crown Prince and climbed into his bed herself. How shameless is she? What difference is there between her and the women in brothels? Since Cheng Hui has already given her such high regard, let's take her as a concubine."
The emperor was determined to appease Jiang Qingyue, so he gave Jiang Chuchu the lowest-ranking position, which was only slightly better than that of a palace maid. This was a huge blow to Jiang Chuchu.
“Father, isn’t that too low? Since Miss Jiang is a concubine, then Chu Chu can be a concubine of high rank. Her position won’t surpass Miss Jiang’s, after all, she is also…”
Qin Jinghao still wanted to try, but after a single look from His Majesty, he dared not say anything more.
Although Jiang An and Madam Lu felt very aggrieved, they had no say and could only accept this reality in humiliation.
Jiang Chuchu, on the other hand, fainted from anger.