They Wouldn't Stop Until They Had Angered the Empress Dowager to Death

Zhou Wanwan, dressed in tattered clothes, walked into the main hall of Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.

How could she possibly miss such a spectacular scene?

The Empress Dowager pointed at the object and said, "Ningyuan, what is this? Are you trying to kill me?"

Princess Ningyuan stared at the burial garment, her face turning pale with fright. "How could it be a burial garment? This is simply impossible!"

Grand Princess Mingzhao stood not far away, observing coldly. These two people are really interesting!

They wouldn't rest until they drove the Empress Dowager to her death.

The Empress Dowager took a deep breath, and Old Madam Zhou beside her said coldly:

"Your Majesty, I don't think the two princesses did this on purpose."

Someone deliberately set this up to anger you, so don't fall for it!

She looked at Zhou Wanwan and asked, "Zhou Wanwan, did you do this?"

Zhou Wanwan, dressed in tattered clothes and shivering, asked, "Huh? What did I do?"

The women around whispered, "Whose child is this? What brings him to the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet?"

"The key question is, why are you dressed in such tattered clothes?"

The Empress Dowager's expression softened somewhat, and she loudly rebuked, "Zhou Wanwan, how dare you come to my birthday banquet dressed like this? Aren't you being incredibly disrespectful?"

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said:

"Your two dear daughters sent you those gifts, and you didn't feel ashamed at all, so what's wrong with me dressed like this?"

Besides, didn't you choose these clothes for me?

I ate and slept in the palace using the palace's facilities; I had no money to buy my own clothes.

Someone said softly, "That's true! This child has always lived in the palace, and all his food and lodging are provided by the palace."

"Is this all the conditions are in the palace now? How can you wear such tattered clothes? Isn't that like a beggar?"

"She's currently living in the Cold Palace, where conditions are poor, so naturally she can only wear clothes like these."

"That child is quite pitiful. After leaving Dongshan Prefecture, he went straight to the Cold Palace in the capital. I wonder what kind of life he's living now!"

Hearing these people's words, Zhou Wanwan was heartbroken. "I wash clothes at the Laundry Bureau every day, so many clothes, more than 100 pieces. I can't eat until I finish washing them all."

Grand Princess Mingzhao was heartbroken to hear this. "Wanwan, you've suffered so much. There's nothing we can do about it; it's just that your grandmother is powerless!"

Zhou Wanwan shook her head and said:

"It's okay, Grandma, I can handle it."

They said that as long as I wash the clothes diligently, I'll definitely be able to eat.

Grand Princess Mingzhao burst into tears. She couldn't bear to mistreat her granddaughter, and now her granddaughter had become like this; how could she accept it?

She knelt down on the ground:

"Mother, what has the hostage done? Please, for the sake of my usual filial piety, spare her!"

She's only six years old; she doesn't understand anything.

The women nearby looked at the child and couldn't help but whisper among themselves, "She's only six years old. Sending her to the Laundry Bureau to wash clothes—that's not something an ordinary person could do!"

"What can be done? It's because the Empress Dowager doesn't think much of the Eldest Princess."

"After all, he's not their biological child..."

The Empress Dowager shouted:

"Mingzhao, what do you mean by this?"

Are you accusing me of hitting the child?

Then you also need to see what kind of child this is."

Old Madam Zhou was standing nearby, said:

"If this child hadn't been so naughty and disobedient, why would the Empress Dowager have punished her by sending her to the Laundry Bureau?"

Besides, it's just asking her to wash a few pieces of clothing.

Zhou Wanwan sighed and said, "Grandma, it's okay. I only wash about 200 pieces of clothing a day. If I wash them quickly, I can still have dinner."

Everyone was stunned. Over 200 pieces of clothing? What did that even mean?

Who could stand having a 6-year-old wash over 200 pieces of clothing a day?

The Empress Dowager sneered:

"That's utter nonsense! When did I ask you to wash over 200 pieces of clothing?"

It's already good if I can wash a few pieces of clothing a day.

Zhou Wanwan looked at Princess Jianing and said:

"It's alright. This wasn't an imperial decree issued by the Empress Dowager; it was just Princess Jianing being mischievous."

Princess Jianing had over 100 pieces of clothing to wash every day, so it was understandable that she changed her clothes frequently.

Princess Jianing's face stiffened as she said, "Zhou Wanwan, you're pushing this on me again. Do you want to die?"

Zhou Wanwan shook her head and said:

"Princess Jianing, I was wrong. From now on, no matter how many clothes you give me, I will wash them carefully."

Please, please let me eat every day, okay?

Noble Consort Ning nearby, scoffed coldly:

"So you're after my Jianing! My Jia Jianing doesn't make you do laundry every day."

Besides, you were made to do the laundry because you were too naughty, so let's not talk about that.

It would be a good thing if you learned how to do laundry.

In the future, even if she marries into her husband's family, she will still have a respectable skill.

Since we're not counting on you to learn the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, you should focus on learning more life skills.

After Noble Consort Ning uttered those words, no one present dared to speak.

Zhou Wanwan sighed. This Noble Consort Ning is really something!

According to her, she should thank them for teaching her the skill?

The Empress Dowager nodded and said:

"Yes, Noble Consort Ning is right. This is also my intention. For now, you will stay in the Laundry Bureau."

Once you've learned enough in the Laundry Bureau, you can go to the Imperial Kitchen.

Now that we've finished at the Imperial Kitchen, let's take a stroll around the various palaces.

It's always good to learn more; these things will be very useful when you go abroad!

This is a really good arrangement.

She said, "Go downstairs and change your clothes now. How can you possibly attend a banquet looking like this?"

Someone approached and said to Zhou Wanwan, "Young Master, this way please."

Zhou Wanwan followed the palace maid into the hall, only to see the maid leave and close the door behind her.

What kind of trouble are they planning this time?

It's definitely not a good thing; there's so much infighting in the palace every day.

Fortunately, she had read a lot of palace intrigue novels, and sure enough, a short while later, she saw Xie Cheng'en walk in, with Princess Jianing following behind him.

Princess Jianing looked at him and asked, "Are you sure this will work?"

Xie Cheng'en sneered:

"She's just a little girl, how much ability could she possibly have?"

"Of course it's feasible! She has so many resources at her disposal. If she really becomes my concubine, she can be of great help to me!"

Princess Jianing scoffed and said, "Then hurry up. I'll go and call for help in a bit. Make sure this matter is settled."

Xie Cheng'en nodded repeatedly and went straight into the house. Princess Jianing was about to leave when she felt a sudden heaviness in her head and fainted.

Xie Cheng'en looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "Today I'll see who can save you. Zhou Wanwan, you brought this all on yourself."

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Xie Cheng'en, you are still quite useful after all. I don't want to push things too far. If you let me go now, I can forgive and forget."