Chapter 497: Chapter 494: Am I... Not Stunning Enough?

Seeing this, the Fifth Princess Consort prepared the draft she had ready to speak before others.

"As the royal heir, my husband naturally bears a heavier burden. I suppose you’ve heard, everyone outside wants him to go to the disaster area, but..."

"He also wants to go, but there’s really no way."

As she spoke, she wiped tears from the corner of her eye.

"The Holy Emperor’s health is weak, and the Court’s matters big and small cannot be fully taken care of. If we compare the disaster area to the front line, the court is the command camp; someone must always be there to strategize and plan."

"But unfortunately, the common people don’t understand this and talk nonsense outside. It feels like a knife to the heart hearing it, but my husband doesn’t care about these things; he just wants to do his duty with a clear conscience."

This explained why the Fifth Prince didn’t leave Shangjing.

Yu Tingwan remained expressionless.

The Fifth Princess Consort saw her demeanor and didn’t want to continue talking!

She showed no reaction at all.

Yet Yu Tingwan stood there without leaving, maintaining a posture as she looked at her.

Clearly waiting for her to continue.

The Fifth Princess Consort, baffled, had no choice but to continue her performance: "I only hope this disaster passes soon. Not to mention praying day and night, I would even sacrifice my own flesh."

Yu Tingwan finally reacted.

Her lips moved slightly.

"Oh."

Fifth Princess Consort: ???

I’ve talked until my mouth is dry, and all you say is ’oh’?

Does she take me for a fool?

"Yu Tingwan!"

A voice came from behind, belonging to Shen Zhiyi.

She was here on behalf of the Marquis Zhongyong Mansion.

She walked briskly towards them, fanning herself: "I’ve heard you chatting with the Fifth Princess Consort from afar. Do you have so much to talk about?"

The Fifth Princess Consort frowned slightly.

She found Shen Zhiyi impudent.

Previously she would have retorted a few words, but times have changed; behind Shen Zhiyi was not only Imperial Concubine Shen but also the Marquis Zhongyong Mansion.

Yu Tingwan: "I was just curious."

Shen Zhiyi: "Curious about what?"

"She looks so haggard."

Didn’t even seem like an act!

Having watched for so long, she couldn’t spot any flaw.

Fifth Princess Consort: ??

So all her talking was in vain?

Shen Zhiyi: "It’s simple, just using rouge."

Yu Tingwan: "Her face even looks thinner."

"She claims she can’t eat."

Yu Tingwan, serious: "Very dishonest."

"This morning she clearly had a basket of dumplings and a bowl of tofu pudding."

Fifth Princess Consort: ????

How do you know!

Shen Zhiyi: ...

"Do you know what I had?"

Yu Tingwan: "Xiao Huaian fed you a bowl of lotus seed soup."

Shen Zhiyi: ...

Your raven is really busy.

Shen Zhiyi told her: "Faces can be made to look thinner with rouge. They aren’t small; it’s just that they look small to you."

Yu Tingwan: "Even her chin is pointed."

"Rouge."

"The corners of her eyes are all red."

"Rouge."

As someone who’s only capable of making her face ghostly white with rouge, Yu Tingwan: ...

If Wei Zhao knew how, he wouldn’t need to take medicine to appear gravely ill.

She showed a thumbs-up to the Fifth Princess Consort in admiration.

"Impressive!"

Fifth Princess Consort: ???

Yu Tingwan pondered again: "But why doesn’t she paint herself a bit prettier?"

Shen Zhiyi casually: "Perhaps it’s the foundation."

The Fifth Princess Consort was enraged.

Yu Tingwan was even more furious.

"Outrageous!"

"How can you be so disrespectful, speaking of the Fifth Princess Consort that way!"

The peace-making Yu Tingwan said to the Fifth Princess Consort: "Please don’t take her words to heart. She doesn’t have any ill intentions, she just speaks bluntly and can easily offend."

Oh, bluntly.

So she still called her ugly.

The Fifth Princess Consort felt a lump in her throat.

However, being protected warmed Shen Zhiyi’s heart!

She apologized to the Fifth Princess Consort.

"Sorry."

"I’m actually a nice person."

If not for the fear of ruining the celebratory banquet and causing trouble, the Fifth Princess Consort would have chased them off.

She was extremely aggrieved.

When her husband becomes Emperor and she becomes Empress, she will definitely not let them go!

"Young Madam Xiao is thoughtful."

"Someone, please escort the two ladies inside."

She didn’t want to say another word to them.

Shen Zhiyi didn’t mind, pulling Yu Tingwan along.

Remembering her interest, she didn’t forget to say, "Do you want to learn? I’ll teach you sometime."

Her makeup skills are simply exceptional.

"Even if you wanted to look like a corpse, I could make it happen. Just lie there, and I’m not exaggerating—everyone will think you’ve been dead for eight days."

"The effect of the Fifth Princess Consort’s makeup isn’t quite there. It only fools those who don’t know any better, like you."

Fifth Princess Consort: ????

You guys haven’t gone far; I can hear you!

Yu Tingwan gently said, "I haven’t learned the art of looking like the dead."

Shen Zhiyi said, "Every time I see you, you’re mostly barefaced, and applying a bit of lip balm is as fancy as it gets."

"Wait until I give you a makeover."

She gently touched the teardrop mole at the corner of Yu Tingwan’s eye.

Such a charming face.

She was very confident.

"I can turn you into a enchanting beauty that could bring down a country!"

"No, thank you."

"Don’t you want to amaze everyone with your looks?"

Yu Tingwan was stunned: "Am I...not already amazing enough?"

Shen Zhiyi: ...

Shen Zhiyi: "Then don’t you want to drive Wei Zhao crazy for you?"

Yu Tingwan shook her head.

There was a time she might have agreed.

After all, a bit of novelty is important between a couple.

But the situation now...

It’s not great anymore.

Once he’s done with this busy period, things should be better.

Yu Tingwan said, "Perhaps in the future."

She didn’t completely shut down the option.

"I’ll look for you when there’s a chance."

After finishing, she asked Shen Zhiyi.

"Why don’t you doll yourself up like an enchantress?"

Shen Zhiyi: "Please no, I can’t handle that."

Yu Tingwan understood.

Xiao Huaian is in better health than Wei Zhao.

She patted Shen Zhiyi on the shoulder.

"You should cherish him."

————

In the flower hall, beads curtains were partially drawn, with women gathering in twos and threes, surrounded by fragrant clothes and heady shadows.

Madams and mistresses wore fine brocades; there were older women who were dignified and solemn, as well as young married women and unmarried girls.

As soon as Yu Tingwan appeared, everyone stood up to pay their respects.

Half a stick of incense later.

A servant hurried off to find the Fifth Princess Consort.

"Madam, something’s wrong."

The Fifth Princess Consort hurried to the flower hall with a dark expression.

She was so disgruntled.

What on earth happened!

Why had all the women already started handing their donations over to Yu Tingwan?

Yu Tingwan gently said, "I know everyone is eager to do something for the victims of the disaster, but there’s no need to rush."

Yu Tingwan, taking control, was surrounded by everyone.

Seated beside her were Shen Zhiyi and Gu Wu, who were busy recording the gold and silver donated by each family, making sure everything was properly logged.

They were incredibly busy.

Yu Tingwan gestured and instructed on the side.

"Make sure you write everything clearly."

"These are the kind gestures from all the ladies, nothing should be missed."

Shen Zhiyi said, "Got it, stop talking."

Gu Wu was writing very seriously, very obediently: "Sister, I remember everything."

Yu Tingwan then turned her head and showered praise, saying to a lady who had donated three large boxes of gold and jewels: "Lady Chao is so generous. I heard you just had a new grandson? Such good fortune! With these deeds, your grandson is sure to be healthy and protected by Bodhisattva."

So you do know how to speak human language?

The Fifth Princess Consort was furious.

She couldn’t understand how it came to this.

Yu Tingwan spoke to them, "What? The Holy Emperor’s spitting blood has gotten worse?"

She said loudly and defiantly, "My husband can spit blood quite well too."

The Fifth Princess Consort approached briskly, only to hear Yu Tingwan’s warm and gentle voice say again.

"These days, there are so many disasters outside, my husband can’t eat or sleep well, and as a woman I also worry."

"Being able to come and help, I’m more than willing."

Fifth Princess Consort: ???

Such shamelessness.

Who asked for your help!

You’re just copying, aren’t you?

You didn’t even bother to change a single word!

She held back her temper, pretending not to know as she approached.

"What are you all discussing?"

She thought anyone with a shred of dignity should feel ashamed.

Not Yu Tingwan.

She smiled brightly at the Fifth Princess Consort.

"I just hope this disaster ends soon. I don’t just pray to the gods every day; even if I had to sacrifice my flesh, I’d do it willingly."

The other women, unaware, all praised her.

"She is truly a kind-hearted lady, the General’s wife."

"Oh dear, with your compassionate heart, you’ve made the rest of us feel ashamed."