The princess regretted it.

Chapter 326 Mother and Daughter Dispute

However, these actions of Concubine Zhang did not soothe the strong shock brought to Jiaoyu by her sudden mention of the word "grandfather".

The moment Jiaoyu heard her mother say the word "grandfather", she became like a powder keg that had been lit, and her emotions suddenly became excited.

She suddenly swung her hand away, pulling it back from Zhang Concubine's grasp. Her eyes instantly became gloomy and cold, and her voice was so sharp that it seemed to cut through the air: "I won't go! I absolutely don't want to go to my grandparents' house."

Jiaoyu's sudden reaction startled Concubine Zhang. Bewildered, she stared at her emotionally distraught daughter in disbelief. Her brows furrowed as she anxiously asked, "Jiaoyu, what's wrong? Why did you suddenly become like this?"

Jiaoyu looked at Concubine Zhang, her lips trembling slightly. She opened her mouth, but found that her throat seemed to be choked by something, and she didn't know where to start.

This was precisely why she hadn't dared to go to her mother's palace for so many days. She couldn't bring herself to say those words, fearing her mother wouldn't be able to bear it, yet also feeling certain she wouldn't believe them. She slowly lowered her head, a flicker of struggle in her eyes, her mind racing with thoughts.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her surging emotions. After a long while, she mustered the courage to speak, "I really don't want to go. Mother, the three of us are now in such a predicament, but what about my grandparents? Why have they never taken the initiative to care about us even once? They don't care about our situation, and they don't care if we live or die. I'm a princess, why should I condescend to go to them!"

"Shut up!" Zhang Fei was instantly enraged and shouted, "Have you forgotten all the love and devotion your maternal grandparents have shown you since you were a child? They've meticulously taken care of every aspect of your food, clothing, and daily expenses. How are you any worse than Princess Jin'an? If it weren't for your maternal grandparents fully supporting your mother behind the scenes, would we be able to live such a luxurious life? You must understand that as outsiders, your maternal grandparents are not allowed to interfere in the sensitive affairs of the harem. If they are not careful, it is very likely to arouse your father's suspicion, and then our entire family will be in dire straits. How can you harbor such deep resentment towards them just because of this one thing?"

"Grandfather and uncle are outsiders, so what about grandmother and aunt? As women, can't they come into the palace to visit us? Although my brother and I are grandchildren and there is a layer of relationship between us, you are grandmother's biological daughter. Doesn't she worry about your safety? I think they just want to draw a clear line and protect themselves when we are in trouble." Jiaoyu gritted her teeth. She couldn't tell the truth, so she could only start from these aspects, hoping to make her mother more alert.

She was stubborn and refused to admit her mistake. Her words were full of resentment and unwillingness, which completely annoyed Concubine Zhang.

"You!" Concubine Zhang was so angry at Jiaoyu's words that she was shaking all over, her chest heaving violently. She subconsciously raised her hand, wanting to teach this disobedient daughter a lesson.

However, Jiaoyu was not afraid at all. She stared coldly at Zhang Concubine with her eyes wide open, and asked calmly, "Mother, are you going to hit me again?"

Zhang Pin's hands were raised high in the air, but seemed to be restrained by an invisible force and could not be brought down.

She looked at her daughter, who had a stubborn look and a face full of grievance, with mixed feelings. On the one hand, she was angry and disappointed with Jiaoyu's rebellious attitude; on the other hand, she could vaguely sense the pain and helplessness deep in her daughter's heart from her words.

Thinking about how Jiaoyu had grown up under her protection and had never suffered such a great injustice, it was inevitable that she felt aggrieved. Concubine Zhang slowly lowered her hand, sighed, and said in a slightly tired voice: "Jiaoyu, why don't you understand? We are in this palace, and our every word and action is related to the prosperity and decline of our family. Even if your maternal grandparents have the intention, they have many difficulties. You also have the blood of the Zhang family in your body, you can't be so willful."

Jiaoyu lowered her head and remained silent, but her clenched teeth and slightly trembling shoulders showed that her inner struggle had not stopped.

Seeing her daughter like this, Concubine Zhang felt a pang of pain in her heart. She knew that it would take more than a moment to resolve Jiaoyu's resentment towards her maternal family. She didn't have much time, so she could only counsel her later.

At this moment, Vanilla's more rapid coughing sound was heard outside the house, obviously reminding them that time was running out and the situation might have changed.

Concubine Zhang's expression was stern. She knew that she could not delay any longer and had to rush back to Wuqiu Palace as soon as possible, otherwise if she was discovered, the consequences would be unimaginable.

She looked at Jiaoyu again, her eyes filled with helplessness and hope: "Jiaoyu, think about it again. This trip to your grandparents' house is a matter of great importance. Your mother will wait for you to figure it out. No matter what, you have to consider the overall situation." After saying that, Concubine Zhang turned around and walked quickly towards the door. Every step was carried with a heavy heart, and her figure looked increasingly lonely in the dim room.

Jiaoyu watched Concubine Zhang's retreating figure, tears welling in her eyes. The conflict and entanglement in her heart became more and more intense. On the one hand, she wanted to tell her mother about the incident with her maternal grandparents, so that she would not rely too much on and trust her grandparents. On the other hand, she knew that her mother's words did have some truth. Without the support of the Zhang family, their life in the palace would not be easy.

This night was destined to be a sleepless night. Jiaoyu faced her inner struggle alone in this silent palace, not knowing where to go.

As soon as Concubine Zhang walked out of the room, she glanced around and confirmed that there was nothing obviously unusual, then lowered her head.

When Xiangcao saw Concubine Zhang coming out, she immediately hurried over and handed the food box in her hand to Concubine Zhang steadily. Then she leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Your Majesty, when I was patrolling outside the palace earlier, I found that someone seemed to be secretly spying on me. The situation is a bit suspicious. So, Your Majesty, you can no longer leave through the main gate. You must find another way."

After saying that, Xiangcao deliberately raised her voice a little, with a respectful expression on her face, and said, "Aunt Qiuwen, please come this way." Zhang Pin said "hmm" softly, and lowered her voice very low, for fear of revealing her identity.

Led by Xiangcao, Concubine Zhang hurried in the opposite direction of the main gate, cleverly avoiding any possible spies. She looked around and found no one, so she quickly walked towards Wuqiu Palace.

The two of them followed a winding path, passed through a hidden corner gate, and exited the Jiaoyu Palace from another rarely visited location. As soon as Concubine Zhang stepped out of the palace, she looked around warily, her eyes searching the shadows around her. Only after confirming that no one was following her did she feel a little relieved.

Zhang Concubine straightened her back, quickened her pace, and ran like the wind towards Wuqiu Palace. Along the way, she was agile, avoiding crowded places as much as possible, and chose to walk along secluded paths.

When the outline of Wuqiu Palace gradually came into view, Concubine Zhang felt an indescribable sense of relief in her heart.