Chapter 28 - Princess Royal’s Mind (1/2)

Seeing Shi Qingxue’s indifferent expression, Shi Baojin also knew that obviously she didn’t have such an important status in her heart.

She had to look to Shi Baoning for help: Baoning, if my virtue was ruined in front of Empress Dowager, did you think that you would get any benefits from this?

“Qingxue, wait a minute.” Shi Baoning called Shi Qingxue.

She frowned and whispered, “It’s the palace banquet right now. All the noble people are here. We should not mind others’ business.”

Shi Qingxue, “…”

She was going to be mad. Who was minding others’ business?

It wasn’t them who had stolen the paintings, and it wasn’t them who had started the irony first. How were they minding others’ business?

Shi Baoning’s attitude which showed that she just wanted to let go of this made Shi Qingxue angry and speechless. She simply didn’t want to take care of the matter anymore, and went aside to chat with Mo Yuzhen. She tried to calm herself down by not seeing them.

“First Lady, Sixth Lady was helping you just now. How could you say this to break her heart?” The servant Jing Zhuang who followed Shi Baoning also felt it unfair and could not help reminding Shi Baoning in a low voice.

Shi Baoning sighed helplessly, “Then what can I do? Right now, Empress Dowager is talking with the madams happily. Obviously she wants to let go of it. If I mention it again, wouldn’t I just ruin her mood?

Besides, Baojin is also my younger sister. Even if she did something wrong, she should be taught privately. There’s no need to talk about it in public and make our family lose face in front of others.”

Jing Zhuang didn’t agree with her, “Why wasn’t Third Lady reminded that you were also her sister?”

Since she dared to do such a shameless thing, she had to be mentally prepared to be caught.

“It was me being so careless that I lost my painting anyway. Besides, the painting I handed in was not my credit. I really feel ashamed, and what reason do I have to blame others?” Shi Baoning blamed herself instead.

Jing Zhuang, “…”

At this time, she finally understood Qingxue’s speechless feelings, but she couldn’t leave just like Qingxue did when she felt unfair.

She still had to be patient, “First Lady, you need to be more careful in the future. After all, not everyone is sincerely good to you like Sixth Lady. Like this time, she would rather have less chance to thrive for favor of Empress Dowager than making you lose face.

She has paved the way for you several times, and these are all her good intentions. If you still put her in the same position as other sisters’, I am afraid that it would break her heart!”

To be honest, when Jing Yi found that the painting was gone, Jing Zhuang thought that her master had to suffer a great loss this time, but she did not expect that Shi Qingxue could use only half an hour to create another painting for her master to hand in when it was impossible to find the original painting.

What was even rarer was that the painting won the first place, making Shi Baoning the most favored person at the entire palace banquet for Qiqiao Festival.

Shi Baoning remembered that she found a ghostwriter at last, and her face turned red again, with embarrassed whispering, “I, I see. I know it clearly in my heart!”

Jing Zhuang turned her head away thoughtfully, pretending not to see the embarrassment of Shi Baoning. She smiled and said something else, “Six Lady is really gifted. Not only does Empress Dowager like her, but even Princess Yuzhen who is the hardest to please is also in a good relationship with her.”

“Well, Qingxue has always been smart, and she is good at saying nice words. It is hard for anyone to dislike her!” So Shi Baoning would only ask Shi Qingxue before the banquet.

But she didn’t expect Shi Qingxue to do so much for her at first: First she thrived for favor for her in front of Empress Dowager, and then she gave up her contest in order to make her participate in the competition at ease when she was capable to win the first place.

How could Shi Baoning not know such deep relationship?

Thinking of Qingxue’s disappointed look when she intended to let go of Shi Baojin a few moments ago, she was a little anxious, and wished to go to Shi Qingxue and apologize immediately.

But before Shi Baoning put her idea into practice, the palace banquet had come to an end, and Mo Yuzhen could not wait to grab Shi Qingxue back to Yuzhen Palace.

Shi Baoning’s wish failed again, and she could only take the two servants back home with her families.

After the palace banquet, Ling Ruiyin returned to Ci’an Palace tiredly, and as soon as she took off her costume, the news came from Mammy Chang, saying that Princess Royal wanted to meet her.

Ling Ruiyin thought for a moment, wondering secretly: Although Mo Shujun was her sister-in-law, they did not communicate with each other very often. Mo Shujun even did not attend today’s palace banquet, but she came to meet her at this time. Did she fancy a prince and come for her beloved granddaughter’s marriage?

“By the way, Xue is fifteen years old this year. It’s time to consider her marriage!” Ling Ruiyin couldn’t help but smile.

As she asked someone to invite Mo Shujun in, she also said to Mammy Chang, “Xue is so smart and cute, and I like her very much. I don’t know which prince in capital city can match her. If he is not good enough, I won’t permit it.

There are also several grandsons of mine who are at proper ages, and I want to pick a good match for Xue from them!”

Mammy Chang smiled while listening to Ling Ruiyin’s words, but she became surprised in her heart.