CHAPTER 580: 580 CHAPTERS DELEGATION

Evening, dinnertime.

Princess Nanzhang was in a foul mood, with no appetite at all.

The maid had just brought the food, and she immediately ordered it to be taken away.

Knowing that Princess Nanzhang was not in a good mood.

Mrs. Zhao had the maid help her into the room.

Yesterday, Mrs. Zhao had knelt under the sun for a full hour.

Her knees were severely burned.

Using her legs hurt, so half her body rested on the maid.

The maid was in agony.

She didn’t want Mrs. Zhao to keep struggling at all.

Mrs. Zhao was in pain.

She was in pain too.

Her waist was about to break.

Hong Ying lit the candles in the room.

Seeing Mrs. Zhao come in, she quickly came over to support her and said, "Mrs. Zhao, your knees haven’t healed, why did you come over?"

Mrs. Zhao asked Hong Ying, "How much did the Commandery Princess eat tonight?"

"Not a bite," Hong Ying said sorrowfully.

"Go bring a bowl of bird’s nest soup," Mrs. Zhao ordered.

Hong Ying quickly went out.

The maid helped Mrs. Zhao to sit by Princess Nanzhang’s side.

Mrs. Zhao comforted Princess Nanzhang, advising her not to let her anger harm her health.

Hong Ying brought the bird’s nest soup.

Mrs. Zhao said, "Commandery Princess, eat a little, it’s not worth letting anger hurt your body."

Princess Nanzhang did not say a word.

She couldn’t eat a single bite.

Outside, a young maid came in with a painting in her hand.

Behind her was another young maid, also coming to report.

"Commandery Princess, the painting has arrived," the young maid handed the painting forward.

Princess Nanzhang suddenly got up.

She snatched the painting from the maid’s hand.

The Prince had destroyed the painting, but she still wanted to see what the Nanliang Hengyang Princess looked like!

Unable to suppress her curiosity, she had the maid go find Duke Chong.

Having waited all afternoon, she finally received the painting now.

She eagerly opened the painting.

However, the maid who delivered the painting lost her life.

After glancing at the painting, she looked at Princess Nanzhang’s appearance.

Just this small action angered Princess Nanzhang.

She thought the maid was comparing her with Princess Hengyang, knowing she couldn’t compete in looks, she vented her anger on the maid.

"Drag her out and beat her to death!"

In Princess Nanzhang’s rage, no one dared to plead for mercy.

The other young maid, terrified, turned to leave but was called back by Princess Nanzhang.

"Am I more beautiful, or is the person in the painting more beautiful?!" Princess Nanzhang asked through gritted teeth.

The young maid’s legs shook like sieve.

"You, you are more beautiful, Commandery Princess," the young maid’s voice trembled even more than her legs.

"The girl in the painting is merely fifteen, how could she compare to you at fifteen?"

By the end, the young maid’s voice was no longer trembling, and had risen by two decibels.

Mrs. Zhao looked at the maid a few more times.

She hadn’t realized there was such a clever maid in the Peony Garden.

She remembered this maid was called Xiuxiu?

"The maid is right, Commandery Princess, why compare yourself with Princess Hengyang from fifteen years ago and torment yourself?" Mrs. Zhao said.

"Men always long for what they can’t have, if Princess Hengyang were still alive, would the Prince still hold her in his heart?"

"How many couples vow eternal love when newlyweds, only to end up enemies in the end?"

These words of comfort, Princess Nanzhang had long grown tired of hearing.

Knowing full well that’s the case, so what?

She resides in the very heart of the Prince!

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake her place in the Prince’s heart!

Princess Nanzhang looked at the painting in her hand, "Bring a brazier."

Soon, a young maid brought a brazier.

In the scorching summer, even ice basins felt insufficient, yet she asked for a brazier.

Though curious at heart, she did not ask a word.

Princess Nanzhang threw the painting into the brazier.

The beautiful visage of the girl in the painting was devoured by the flames.

Princess Nanzhang looked at the maid and said, "What were you just about to report?"

"The, the Heir’s wife’s maid went to deliver fetus-preserving medicine to Lady Chi," the maid stuttered.

She almost wished for death.

Princess Nanzhang was already in a bad mood, and she reported such distressing news.

She secretly glanced up.

Princess Nanzhang’s face was icy cold.

The window was open.

A breeze blew in.

The painting burning in the brazier was blown out by the wind.

The painting flew onto the gauze canopy and instantly ignited.

The maid, quick on her feet, picked up the teacup on the table and splashed it over.

Mrs. Zhao was nearly scared out of her wits.

Last time, Peony Garden had already caught fire once, and the shadow still lingered.

Mrs. Zhao praised the maid a few times and promoted her to head maid.

Heaven-sent fortune, the young maid was overjoyed and repeatedly thanked her.

Princess Nanzhang looked at the still smoking gauze canopy.

A hint of murderous intent emerged in her eyes.

After the maid left, she whispered a few instructions to Mrs. Zhao.

Mrs. Zhao’s face turned pale, "Princess..."

"This time, I won’t allow any mistakes!" Princess Nanzhang’s voice was resolute.

"Lady Chi is pregnant. I don’t know if the Prince has assigned someone to watch over her," Mrs. Zhao hesitated.

"If you’re not confident, then go to Duke Chong’s Mansion to find a master!"

Xie Jingchuan walked to the bead curtain just in time to hear this line.

He could guess what Princess Nanzhang intended to do.

Bringing someone rashly would undoubtedly arouse Father King’s suspicion.

For such a trivial matter, he, as the son, could take over.

Xie Jingchuan turned and left.

Agarwood Pavilion, backyard.

Inside the bamboo house, Su Jin was grinding medicine.

Xingxing carried tea into the room and said, "Miss, the Master is drinking on the roof."

Su Jin furrowed her brows.

Is he drowning his sorrows in alcohol?

Setting aside her current work, Su Jin stepped out.

Xie Jingchen sat on the rooftop, pouring wine into his mouth from a wine pot.

Despite his bad mood, the sight of drinking under the moonlight was exquisite.

Su Jin climbed up the ladder, saying, "In a bad mood, I’ll drink with you."

"I’m not in a bad mood," Xie Jingchen replied.

Su Jin rolled her eyes at him.

What’s the point of pretending in front of her?

The Prince had already confessed that his birth mother was Princess Hengyang.

Now suspected by Duke Chong and brought before the court, the officials were shocked and opposed.

As the son, how could Xie Jingchen feel okay when his birth mother was so opposed?

Su Jin didn’t believe he hadn’t thought of vindicating his birth mother’s name and worshipping openly.

"Xingxing, bring a wine cup," Su Jin called out.

"Alright!" Xingxing transformed into a waiter.

Xie Jingchen looked at Su Jin, "You really want to drink?"

"Naturally," Su Jin said, lifting her chin.

Xie Jingchen extended his arm and pulled Su Jin into his embrace.

With a mouthful of wine, he leaned over to kiss Su Jin.

Su Jin, "...!!!"

Su Jin’s face turned red and her neck stiffened.

She wanted to drink wine.

But she didn’t intend to drink wine mixed with saliva amylase.

The Hidden Guard, hiding in the tree, fell down blushing at the sight.

It’s wrong to pry.

He lowered his head and went inside, dragging Xingxing, who was carrying a wine cup, back in.

"I need to deliver the wine cup to Miss!" Xingxing protested.

"It’s no longer needed," the Hidden Guard said.

The air was heavy with the smell of alcohol.

Su Jin felt she was drunk.

The two kissed on the rooftop.

No one noticed Qingqiu Garden was on fire.

Xie Jingchuan left Peony Garden, leaping from rooftop to rooftop as he passed by Qingqiu Garden.

He didn’t find any experts in Qingqiu Garden.

He crept to the window and saw Lady Chi sitting on a couch, staring blankly at the brocade box in her hands.

He couldn’t see what was inside the brocade box, but there were no maids attending inside the room.

The door was closed.

The room was so quiet that only the crackling sound of the burning lamp wick could be heard.

Xie Jingchuan flicked a pebble at the candlestick.

The lotus-shaped candlestick fell towards the bed.

Within moments, fire blazed up.

Outside, the maids were anxious and uneasy.

They didn’t know what was wrong; Madam had acted strangely after waking from her nap.

Now she locked them out, saying she wanted to be alone.

They could only stand guard outside the door.

Suddenly!

The sound of things collapsing came from inside the room.

They turned around and saw the flames roaring inside the room.

"Oh no!"

"Madam has set the fire to kill herself!"