CHAPTER 559: CHAPTER 559: SEEKING CRITICISM

With Mrs. Wang as a witness, this parrot insults anyone indiscriminately, spouting insults at will, entirely based on its mood.

Additionally, Su Jin claimed that the parrot belonged to the Ninth Prince.

No one could harm this parrot.

Citing the urgency of sending the parrot to the Ninth Prince, Su Jin apologized, bowed, and took her leave.

Throughout, the parrot didn’t compliment Su Jin, instead targeting Princess Nanzhang and the Old Madam with its insults:

"Ugly creature!"

"Old hag!"

One insult for each person, taking turns.

Princess Nanzhang’s lips turned purple with anger.

Princess Ning was holding back laughter, nearly causing herself internal injury.

When Xingxing took the parrot from the maid and followed behind Su Jin, the parrot then flattered Su Jin and Xingxing:

"The girl is the prettiest!"

"The girl is the kindest!"

"The girl is the best girl in the world!"

"Xingxing is the most diligent!"

"Xingxing hardly eats anything!"

Su Jin, "..."

The maids, "..."

The maids nearly laughed themselves into injury.

The heir’s wife’s maid was known throughout Prince Zhenbei Mansion for her large appetite.

Who didn’t know she ate enough in one meal to last others a whole day?

Su Jin felt that the parrot had completely become Xingxing’s mouthpiece.

She didn’t know when this maid taught the parrot to say these things, clearly showing her fear of others criticizing her for eating too much.

The master and servant duo left with a parrot that could both insult and flatter.

They left the Old Madam seething with anger internally while having to maintain an appearance of not stooping to a petty animal’s level.

Princess Nanzhang didn’t stay long before leaving with Princess Ning to her Peony Garden.

As she stepped out of Qihao Hall, the Second Madam arrived.

She had taken a nap and missed the spectacle.

She came from another route, not encountering Princess Nanzhang and Princess Ning, but she could hear Princess Ning speaking.

"The mother of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue is gravely ill, likely these few days," Princess Ning said.

"Once the Old Madam passes away, Assistant Minister Sun will have to observe mourning for three years, leaving the Vice Minister’s position vacant... ."

The Second Madam stopped, frowning.

She really didn’t know about the Vice Minister’s mother’s illness.

The Ministry of Revenue is a lucrative post, and the Second Master’s position hasn’t changed for years. If he could secure this post...

The Second Madam turned and headed towards Aunt Ding’s Liushuang Garden.

When she entered the room, a maid was telling Aunt Ding about the heir’s wife’s parrot calling the Old Madam an old hag.

Aunt Ding was all smiles, clearly in a good mood.

Obviously, the parrot’s words struck a chord with her.

The Second Madam walked in.

The maid bowed and greeted her.

"You may leave," the Second Madam gestured.

The maids turned and left.

Aunt Ding looked at the Second Madam and asked, "What’s wrong?"

"The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue’s mother is gravely ill. I came to ask if our master could secure that position," the Second Madam said.

Princess Ning came to see Princess Nanzhang certainly not for Prince Ning, but for her maternal family.

In the court, there are mainly two factions.

One is Duke Chong.

The other is Prince Zhenbei Mansion and Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

Princess Nanzhang is Duke Chong’s cousin and also Consort Zhenbei.

If she could mediate, then Princess Ning’s mother’s family would have a solid chance at that position.

The Old Madam and Princess Nanzhang are on the same side.

The Second Madam was sure that Aunt Ding must hold some leverage over the Old Madam.

Only when the Second Master’s position rises higher will there be more opportunities to maneuver.

This chance shouldn’t be missed.

Aunt Ding didn’t speak; she was considering whether it could be done.

She remained silent for a long time, making the Second Madam a little anxious.

Aunt Ding sipped her tea, gently stirring, "Why the rush?"

"Many who have been gravely ill have recovered."

"Even when the Young Master was critically ill, and the Imperial Physician prepared for the worst, didn’t he recover well, even having the poison neutralized?"

"Since Princess Ning has set her eyes on that position, others won’t dare covet it."

"Wait until the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue’s family reports the death; no son wishes for his mother to be wished dead sooner."

Especially since once the Old Madam dies, there’s not only the loss of a parent but also a three-year mourning period, delaying a career.

The Second Madam’s eyes lit up.

She knew what to do now—

Sow discord.

The Second Madam prepared to leave when Aunt Ding said, "The heir’s wife has exceptional medical skills; someone the Imperial Physician can’t save, the heir’s wife might be able to."

"Inform the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and ask him to seek medical help from the heir’s wife."

The Second Wife was a bit confused.

The Second Master was still waiting for the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue to vacate the position, so why should she still...

Aunt Ding didn’t like explaining and simply said, "Just do as I said."

The Second Wife didn’t like Aunt Ding’s attitude.

After all, Aunt Ding was just a concubine.

She was a proper young lady from a reputable family.

But all these years, with Aunt Ding suppressing her, the Second House could live comfortably, so she endured again and again.

Agarwood Pavilion.

After returning to the house, Xingxing brought food to feed the parrot.

Even though it still got Feihu Village wrong.

But considering the parrot’s unyielding spirit, cursing the Princess Nanzhang and the Old Madam, it greatly pleased Xingxing.

That little displeasure could be tolerated.

Xingxing looked at Su Jin, "Miss, do you really want to give the parrot to the Ninth Prince?"

She was reluctant.

Su Jin also quite liked this parrot.

But since she had promised, it couldn’t just be empty words.

"Go ahead and give it," Su Jin said.

Xingxing petted the parrot’s little head.

She wasn’t worried about it not being well-fed with the Ninth Prince.

"I’ll take it to the Ninth Prince," Xingxing said.

Xingxing carried the parrot out of the house.

Along the way, the parrot attracted a lot of attention.

After all, this parrot was audacious enough to curse Princess Nanzhang and the Old Madam, yet hadn’t been killed.

The Heir’s wife was indeed formidable, not only protecting Xingxing but also preventing the parrot from being killed.

Xingxing took the carriage to Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

She happened to encounter Young Master Su and the others preparing to leave the mansion.

To say the little ones put a lot of effort into going out to play.

If they weren’t allowed to leave the mansion, they could escort the Ninth Prince back to the palace.

Like taking their monthly salary, paying respects to the Emperor, playing in the palace for half a day, and then coming back.

No one could stop the Ninth Prince from returning to the palace to see the Emperor.

They walked over enthusiastically, seeing Xingxing carrying a parrot, and said happily, "You really bought a parrot."

"This one is for the Ninth Prince," Xingxing said.

The Ninth Prince froze for a moment, then was overjoyed, "Really?"

"Of course it’s true," Xingxing said.

She handed the parrot to the Ninth Prince.

The Ninth Prince took it with a face full of joy.

Young Master Shen earnestly looked at Xingxing, "I want one too."

Xingxing shook her head, "There’s only this one."

Worried Young Master Shen might be disappointed, Xingxing explained in detail why the parrot was given to the Ninth Prince.

Young Master Shen understood that giving the parrot to the Ninth Prince was to have him protect it.

He understood but couldn’t hide his disappointment.

Young Master Su said, "I’ll give you the turtle."

"But the turtle can’t talk," Young Master Shen said.

"But the turtle can crawl."

"..."

Young Master Shen thought about it and realized he did have a point.

Young Master Su asked the Ninth Prince to hang the parrot with his parrot.

The Ninth Prince had just received the parrot; it was precious to him. He said, "I’ll take it back and show it to Father."

Hmm.

This parrot went to the palace and cursed the Emperor.

The Ninth Prince proudly told the Emperor he had gotten a parrot.

This parrot not only called Princess Nanzhang ugly.

But also called the Old Madam of Zhenbei Royal Mansion an old witch.

The Emperor was surprised, "It really knows how to curse?"

The Ninth Prince felt slightly guilty.

After all, he hadn’t heard it firsthand.

But Xingxing wouldn’t lie to him, he just forgot to ask how she got the parrot to curse.

"Then let me hear it curse," the Emperor said, looking at the parrot.

The parrot looked around but didn’t respond.

The Emperor tapped the parrot’s head lightly with a folded fan and said, "I order you to curse, dare you not?"

The parrot glanced at the Emperor and started cursing, "I see you’re itching for a beating!"

The Emperor, "..."

Eunuch Fu, "..."

Eunuch Fu almost burst out laughing.

The Emperor slammed the table in anger.

"Did Marquis Dongxiang teach you that?!" the Emperor fumed.

"..."