mtlumby2d Chapter 252 Closeness
Chapter 252 Closeness
The Fourth Madam didn't expect Shen Tang to refute her so directly, and was stunned for a moment.
When she realized what was happening, the Fourth Wife's expression turned even uglier. She said to the Princess, "I am an elder after all. How can you let the Crown Prince's wife talk to me like this?"
The princess said, "There are differences between close relatives. The Crown Prince's Consort only married Mo'er, and the Jingyang Palace never raised her. Fourth Brother's wife asked her to put our Jingyang Palace first in everything. This request is too much. It's no wonder that the Crown Prince's Consort spoke harshly."
"Sister-in-law!"
The Fourth Wife had not expected the Princess to be so protective. She said, "Eldest Sister-in-law and I have been sisters-in-law for over ten years, and I have never asked her for anything. Shu'er will be coming of age in a few months, and when she reaches marriageable age, a promotion by Master would be more beneficial for her marriage. It's such a small favor, and Eldest Sister-in-law isn't willing to help?"
The princess's gentle expression revealed a hint of impatience for the first time. "The prince doesn't like me interfering in these matters. Fourth sister-in-law, please don't make things difficult for me."
Seeing that the princess was really unwilling, the fourth wife took a step back and said, "If the eldest sister-in-law doesn't want to ask the prince for help, she can ask Concubine Ye. You and Concubine Ye are cousins. As long as you help put in a word, Concubine Ye will definitely help."
The princess's face became even more impatient. There were some things that the princess was not convenient to say, but since it was difficult for the princess to say it, Shen Tang could speak for the princess, "Auntie Four is deliberately making things difficult for Mother. Concubine Ye asked Mother to ask Father for help in order to win the throne for the Second Prince. Father didn't help, and Mother was too embarrassed to go to the palace to see Concubine Ye. Auntie Four also asked Mother to ask Concubine Ye for help in seeking an official position for the Fourth Master. Obviously, the Fourth Master could ask Father to do it himself, so why make things difficult for Mother?"
Shen Tang's voice was clear and echoed in the room.
Under the sleeves of the slutty Fourth Madam, her neatly trimmed nails dug into her flesh.
She doesn't speak, and no one thinks she is mute!
The princess looked at Shen Tang, her eyes moved. "It's amazing that you've only been married for a few days, yet you can understand your mother's difficulties so well."
This was a compliment to Shen Tang, but also a warning to the Fourth Madam.
Shen Tang has only been married for a few days, but the Fourth Madam has been the princess's sister-in-law for more than ten years. How could she not know the princess's difficulties? She is just selfish and only cares about herself.
The princess didn't want to deal with the fourth wife anymore. For so many years, she, the old lady, and the second and fourth wives had maintained superficial harmony, but the contraceptive drug was too hurtful.
Shen Tang and Xie Guimo were forced to resort to self-torture in order to fight against the old lady who had the protection of marriage granted by the late emperor. If the princess wants to help the fourth master, she will be holding Shen Tang and Xie Guimo back. Can the princess do such a thing?
She didn't even give them an explanation about the infertility drug that appeared in Wutong Courtyard, and she even ran around to help the Fourth Master get a job. How foolish of her to be the Princess of Jingyang.
The princess said, "I still have things to take care of, so I won't keep my fourth brother's wife."
The fourth wife seldom came to the princess's place. The princess's housekeeper was always fair. Whenever there was any problem in the second and fourth rooms, the old lady would call the princess to Wutong Courtyard to talk. It was a rare visit for her, but she was driven away. The fourth wife had no place to vent her anger, so she could only leave with a lot of anger in her heart.
Wutong Courtyard.
The old lady sat on the Arhat couch, slowly counting the Buddhist beads in her hand.
The Second Madam sat below her. Seeing the Fourth Madam come in with a gloomy face, the Second Madam asked, "Didn't you go to see the princess? Why does she look so unhappy? Is the princess unwilling to help?"
The Fourth Wife sat down and said, "The Princess is unwilling to help find the Prince, nor is she willing to find Concubine Ye. What's even more infuriating is the Crown Prince's Concubine. She wants to fight for the position of Doctor of the Ministry of War on behalf of her Fourth Uncle, Fourth Master Shen, and our Master!"
It would take several months for the matter of the sterilization drug to be resolved, and it might still be possible to persuade the princess to help. However, only a few days had passed. Even if the princess had forgotten, she would have remembered it with a slight reminder. It was normal for the princess to be unwilling to help. Even a clay man has a temper. The sterilization drug would kill the princess's own grandson.
The Second Wife laughed, "Master Shen Si also wants to be promoted to the position of Doctor of the Ministry of War? This is too unrealistic."
"If the prince doesn't help the Fourth Master, he certainly won't help Fourth Master Shen either."
The Fourth Madam knew that Shen Tang said that just as an excuse to reject her, and she didn't really want to help Fourth Master Shen get promoted. It was difficult for Fourth Master Shen to be promoted from the fifth rank, let alone Fourth Master Shen who had to be promoted two levels in a row.
It was precisely because the reason for the refusal was perfunctory that the Fourth Wife became even angrier.
The fourth wife looked at the old lady and said, "Such a good opportunity, it's a pity to make such a mistake..."
As for the princess, after the Fourth Madam left, the princess looked at Shen Tang and asked, "Do you really want to help Fourth Master Shen get promoted?"
Shen Tang shook his head. "My fourth uncle is only at the fifth rank right now. It's almost impossible for him to get promoted. I just used my fourth uncle as an excuse to reject the fourth wife."
The princess also felt that Shen Tang probably said this just to stop the Fourth Madam's idea, but if Shen Tang really had this idea, she could help to mention it to the prince.
But Shen Tang didn't have this idea, so the princess didn't say anything.
Shen Tang sat for a while and then stood up to leave.
After leaving the Peony Courtyard, Ginkgo couldn't help but ask, "The Fourth Master and the Fourth Mistress have always loved the Crown Princess. Why didn't the Crown Princess ask the Princess for help?"
Can this matter be easily brought to the attention of the princess?
Shen Tang raised his hand and knocked on Ginkgo's forehead. "Do you think it's so easy to get promoted twice in a row? The princess loves me, so I should think more about her. As for Fourth Uncle, he is the person father trusts the most now. He will be promoted sooner or later if he takes steady steps. There is no need to rush."
She had just married into the family, and she was already asking the prince for an official position for her fourth uncle. She was too ignorant. If it was just a promotion of one level, it would be fine, but this was two levels.
The Fourth Master didn't dare to ask the Prince for help, so the Fourth Wife went around in a roundabout way to find the Princess. It was obvious that the Prince was not someone who would recommend anyone casually. Why should she make things difficult for the Princess?
She remembered the kindness that Fourth Aunt had shown to the eldest house. As long as Xie Guimo could help the eldest prince get to that position, she would not have to look for the prince, but only Xie Guimo.
Ginkgo touched her forehead which was hurt by the knock. She knew that it was not easy to get promoted, but she was not asking for help from ordinary people. The Fourth Master and the Fourth Mistress were good people and must be good officials. That was why she sincerely hoped that the Fourth Master would be promoted step by step.
Shen Tang didn't take this matter to heart, and Ginkgo didn't take it to heart either. The weather was nice, so the master and servant strolled in the garden for a while before going back.
As soon as they reached the gate of Chenxiang Courtyard, a maid came out and said, "The Crown Prince's Consort is finally back..."
Shen Tang asked, "What's wrong?"
The maid covered her mouth and laughed, "The Crown Prince's Concubine took too long to pay her respects to the Princess. The Crown Prince asked twice, so he sent me to find the Crown Prince's Concubine and bring her back..."
Shen Tang blushed at the maid's laughter, and thought Xie Guimo wanted to talk to her about something, so she went to the study to find him.
Seeing Shen Tang coming in, Xie Guimo said, "I went to pay my respects to Mother. What took you so long?"
Shen Tang said, "The military doctor died, and the fourth master wanted to be promoted. The fourth wife asked my mother for help on this matter, so I stayed with my mother for a while longer."
Xie Guimo frowned, "Father won't help."
"I helped in my previous life..."
Xie Guimo said, "..."
Xie Guimo said, "If he wants to help me again this time, I will ruin it for him."
Shen Tangxin and Xie Guimo both have this ability.
She asked, "What are you so anxious to find me for?"
"Grind ink for me."