Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace-Chapter 104 Zhao Jiangning

Fengyang Pavilion is the residence of the princesses of the Great Song Dynasty.

Zhao Ji had three daughters in total.

The eldest daughter, Princess De Ning, and the second daughter, Princess Yuan Fu, had long been married.

Only the youngest daughter, Princess Fu Mao, was still unmarried.

Therefore, the entire Fengyang Pavilion was currently occupied by Zhao Fujin alone.

Exiting Weiyang Palace and turning right, passing the Imperial Garden, one would arrive at Fengyang Pavilion.

Thanks to his various statuses and having the emblems of Lin Su Ya and Xiao Yunxi, Chen Mo was able to go almost anywhere in the Imperial Palace.

Before long, Chen Mo arrived at Fengyang Pavilion, appearing outside Zhao Fujin’s bedchamber.

"Stop right there, this is Fengyang Pavilion. How did you get here?" Several palace maidens stopped Chen Mo.

Zhao Fujin did not like being served by eunuchs, so after her eldest and second sisters were married, Zhao Fujin had almost all the eunuchs driven out of Fengyang Pavilion.

"I am Chen Hong from Weiyang Palace, a person of the Empress’ status. I made some Peach Blossom Soup this noon and, following Her Majesty’s instructions, brought it here especially for Her Highness the Empress." Chen Mo straightened his posture and spoke with composure.

"Eunuch?" The leading palace maiden raised an eyebrow.

Chen Mo recognized her as Ling’Er, Zhao Fujin’s personal maid, but it seemed she did not recognize Chen Mo.

Chen Mo nodded his head and took out the Weiyang Palace badge.

Ling’Er looked at Chen Mo, sized him up for a moment, then took the lunchbox from his hand to inspect and test for poison.

Before getting married, one had to live in the Imperial Palace according to the rules of the Great Song Dynasty. Only after marriage or receiving the Emperor’s consent could one move out of the palace, and interaction with unfamiliar men was not allowed in daily life.

As a maid by Zhao Fujin’s side, naturally, she had to consider Zhao Fujin’s reputation and could not allow unfamiliar men to come into casual contact with her.

Of course, eunuchs were not included in this rule.

"But why are you dressed like this? Not wearing an eunuch’s uniform can easily cause misunderstandings." After the inspection, Ling’Er handed the lunchbox back to Chen Mo and glanced at him.

"Respected by the Empress, I also have tasks outside the palace. This attire is merely for better handling business outside." Chen Mo explained succinctly.

Upon hearing this, Ling’Er was slightly surprised, raising an eyebrow and once again sizing up Chen Mo, who was handsome and elegant, but unfortunately a eunuch.

Ling’Er sighed inwardly and said, "Come with me then."

Chen Mo followed behind.

...

Inside the bedchamber.

Soft sobbing sounds could be heard.

Zhao Fujin was comforting her eldest sister, Zhao Jiangning, who was Princess De Ning.

After Zhao Fujin softly comforted her, she immediately said, "How about I talk to Father, let you and Gao Fen separate, so you don’t have to be so upset."

Zhao Jiangning was born to Noble Consort Ye.

However, Noble Consort Ye died in childbirth when giving birth to Zhao Jiangning. Influenced by her mother, Zhao Jiangning was weak and sickly from a young age and was raised under the care of Xiao Yunxi, maintaining a good relationship with Xiao Yunxi and Zhao Fujin.

After reaching adulthood and holding the coming-of-age ceremony, Zhao Jiangning was married by the Emperor, who betrothed her to Gao Fen, the third son of the Commander of the Palace Guard Department, Gao Qiu.

The marriage initially seemed quite happy.

The couple got along harmoniously, but soon conflicts arose.

Firstly, Zhao Jiangning found herself unable to conceive.

Women who could not conceive were considered ominous in the Great Song Dynasty.

Moreover, the Great Song Dynasty had explicit regulations that if a wife could not conceive, the husband had the right to divorce her.

It was only because Zhao Jiangning was a princess that Gao Fen did not divorce her.

Because of this matter, Gao Fen’s true nature was exposed. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

He was inherently lustful, but it was only after marrying Zhao Jiangning that he restrained himself.

After discovering Zhao Jiangning could not conceive, Gao Fen almost went out every day seeking women.

Naturally, Zhao Jiangning was aware of this.

But because of her inability to conceive, she felt guilty and turned a blind eye, even allowing him to take concubines, preparing to gift him her two maidservants who served her.

However, Gao Fen became increasingly excessive.

One time, in a drunken stupor, he even brought a courtesan home and asked Zhao Jiangning to join him with the courtesan.

As a princess, she could tolerate her husband taking concubines but could not tolerate being with a courtesan along with her husband, as it was an insult to her.

That night, she slapped Gao Fen.

However, she did not realize that Gao Fen had a hidden violent streak.

This slap of hers incited Gao Fen’s anger.

Since childhood, she had been weak and ill, no match for Gao Fen, and thus was beaten by him.

Her face was swollen from the beating.

She subsequently suffered domestic abuse several more times.

Zhao Jiangning could no longer endure it and made a scene in court, but due to her father’s position as Gao Qiu’s superior, the Emperor did not truly punish Gao Fen, merely ordering him to correct his behavior and confining him for three months.

This punishment was indeed effective, and Gao Fen changed.

He no longer physically abused Zhao Jiangning.

Instead, he adopted a method more heartbreaking than hitting.

That was silent treatment.

He refused to speak to her.

Avoided any interaction with her.

He disgusted her with this approach.

He even told his gang of friends about her infertility.

It broke Zhao Jiangning’s heart.

"No... that won’t work. If I separate from him, I’ll be left with no support." Zhao Jiangning shook her head, refusing Zhao Fujin’s suggestion.

Because her mother died in childbirth, nothing was returned to the Ye Family, and the family blamed Zhao Jiangning for everything.

Adding to the fact of being weak and sickly since childhood, now nearing twenty, still a Ninth Grade Martial Artist with stagnant abilities, she was not favored by her father.

Once separated from Gao Fen.

Not only would she incur her father’s displeasure, but also the aversion from the Gao Family.

Although the Gao Family was not one of the seven prestigious families, they were still people of reputation.

Separating from Gao Fen would undoubtedly bring disgrace to the Gao Family.

Yet her life would become exceedingly miserable.

"Then, eldest sister, you and he live separately, minding your own business." Having never been married, Zhao Fujin was still a young girl and therefore could not offer any good suggestions to Zhao Jiangning about marital matters.

"That’s... that’s the only option. After that incident, he... he doesn’t want to touch me anymore, and I... fear him touching me." Zhao Jiangning stated.

"Then, eldest sister, you should move back to live in Fengyang Pavilion. After all, there are many rooms here, and your former palace is still vacant. Just tidy it up a bit, and you can move in." Zhao Fujin suggested.

Zhao Jiangning shook her head again, saying, "No, that’s... too obvious, it would cause people to gossip. I’ll go back to sleep at night, but during the day, I’ll come here to chat with you, Fujin."

"Alright." Zhao Fujin nodded.

While the sisters were chatting, maid Ling’Er lifted the beaded curtain of the inner chamber and said, "Your Highness, a eunuch named Chen Hong has brought some Peach Blossom Soup following the Empress’ orders."