He Xi Courtyard.
Lin Ruochu followed the servant into the inner courtyard, keeping her head lowered throughout, her eyes fixed downward as if in deep contemplation.
Since the entire household wished to use this opportunity to punish her, very well—she would grant their wish.
Upon entering the room, before the matron beside Zheng Shi could speak, she knelt and prostrated on the ground, kowtowing as she declared:
"This guilty concubine, Lin, aware of her grave sins, has come to confess her offenses to the Marchioness."
Her words fell, and the room fell into a silence so profound one could hear a pin drop.
Zheng Shi rubbed the incense in her hand and lifted her eyes to look at her.
This was the first time she had truly looked upon Consort Lin, the woman who had thrown the Marquis' household into turmoil.
She wore a blue dress with a gray cotton cloak over it. Her exposed fingers and ears were red and purple from the cold, and upon closer inspection, one could see frost clinging to her hair.
The servant had reported that she had knelt outside the courtyard all night. Now, it appeared to be true.
Yet, in Zheng Shi's eyes, this pitiable appearance was nothing but an act—a performance to elicit sympathy.
Her foolish son might fall for such tricks.
But she, having grown up in the palace, would not!
Zheng Shi's expression tightened, and the head matron, Matron Song, understanding her intent, sternly demanded:
"Speak! What crimes have you committed?"
Lin Ruochu bowed once, then straightened her posture, keeping her eyes lowered as she replied:
"This guilty concubine has three major offenses."
"First, disregarding propriety and deviating from tradition, I entered the household with the Heir Apparent without waiting for the concubine appointment letter and have presumptuously acted as a concubine for two years."
"Second, after entering the household, I showed no respect for the Marchioness or the mistress, behaved recklessly, acted arrogantly and jealously, and disrupted the inner quarters."
Zheng Shi raised an eyebrow, surprised by her self-awareness.
Lin Ruochu continued:
"Third, I bewitched the Heir Apparent, causing him to suffer under household discipline and injuring his body."
The three offenses grew progressively shorter, yet each was more severe than the last.
As she spoke, each transgression flashed through Zheng Shi's mind, and her initially expressionless face grew as cold as frost.
Jinque, kneeling on the ground, was so terrified she dared not even breathe. She could not understand why her mistress had come to detail her own crimes to the Marchioness.
Was she seeking a quicker death?
Trying to provoke the Marchioness' memories to grant them a swift end?
Jinque trembled like a leaf.
After speaking, Lin Ruochu bowed once more, performing a solemn, deep kowtow.
"These three are my major offenses. Beyond these, there are countless minor transgressions too numerous to list. My crimes are too many to record. The Marchioness, in her benevolence, has always shown me forgiveness and never imposed punishment. I am filled with trepidation and have come specifically to confess my sins."
Her voice was humble, yet clear and firm.
Listening to her words, Zheng Shi began to feel that this Consort Lin was not as arrogant and rude as she had previously heard.
Her manner of bowing held no seductive or coquettish air; instead, it carried a hint of the dignified bearing of a military family.
Zheng Shi observed this, and the murderous intent in her eyes softened slightly, though her disgust remained unconcealed.
"Are you suggesting that by praising my benevolence and flattering me, you can erase all your past wrongs?"
Lin Ruochu replied:
"This guilty concubine would not dare. I am fully aware of the gravity of my sins and would never presume to ask for the Marchioness' forgiveness. I voluntarily request to enter the Three Purities Hall at Changqing Peak to pray for the Marquis' household and atone for my sins."
Zheng Shi frowned, while Matron Song and Jinque were both startled.
From the masters to the servants in the room, no one had expected Lin Ruochu to say such words, all showing astonishment on their faces…
The meaning of entering the Three Purities Hall to pray was—was she going to become a nun?!
By the time Zhang Jingwan arrived in the courtyard, these were the exact words she heard from Lin Ruochu.
And before her, Shao Mu had long been standing in the yard, separated by the wooden door, listening for who knows how long.
Zhang Jingwan looked up and saw Shao Mu's tall figure standing with his hands behind his back. Dressed in a brocade robe and a white fox fur cloak, his jade-like face appeared even more noble.
Her cheeks flushed, and her heart inexplicably raced a few times.
Unfortunately, Shao Mu's starry eyes had never lingered on her.
He was gazing intently through the window into the room, his fists clenched tightly at his sides, clearly disturbed by the words of the person inside.
Shao Mu was the Crown Prince's study companion, having entered the palace at a young age. Zhang Jingwan had known him since their childhood days in the palace and had never seen him show impatience or frown over anyone or anything.
She thought he had an indifferent temperament, always cool and detached toward everyone.
It wasn't until she met Lin Ruochu that she realized even someone like him could create such a sensational scandal that the whole city would know.
He could blush and lose his temper—just not for her.
Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Zhang Jingwan walked to Shao Mu's side and softly called out, "Heir Apparent."
Shao Mu started, and upon seeing it was her, replied indifferently with an "Mm," before striding purposefully into the room.
Zhang Jingwan bit her lip and followed him inside.
A servant announced, "The Heir Apparent and the Young Madam have arrived."
The two walked into the room together and paid their respects to Zheng Shi seated above.
Zheng Shi's eyes swept over Shao Mu's forehead. Though it wasn't bandaged, he deliberately wore a gold filigree headband inlaid with jade, clearly trying to cover up for Consort Lin kneeling below. Instantly, displeasure surfaced on her face.
Ignoring her son, she beckoned to her daughter-in-law, inviting her to sit beside her.
Zhang Jingwan responded properly with a "Yes" and went to sit next to Zheng Shi.
Shao Mu, not being acknowledged, paid it no mind.
He turned to look at Lin Ruochu kneeling on the ground and said coldly, "Who gave you permission to disturb Mother?"
Jinque, hearing his voice as cold as ice, thought to herself, "It's over. The only one we can rely on, the Heir Apparent, is still angry with the Concubine. Now there's truly no one who can save us."
Lin Ruochu's breath hitched for a moment.
She was afraid that the Female Ghost occupying her body would hear Shao Mu's voice and suddenly reappear to seize control.
If she had to be trapped again in that dark prison, watching her own body being defiled and her loved ones harmed, she would rather die.
She turned on her knees and bowed to Shao Mu, saying:
"This guilty concubine was bold enough to disturb the Marchioness's peace. I beg the Heir Apparent and the Young Madam to punish me."
Shao Mu's frown deepened, his eyes fixed intently on her as if trying to bore a hole through her.
She had never referred to herself as "concubine," nor had she ever spoken to him in such a tone.
Although since Lady Sun entered the mansion, her unreasonable behavior had given him headaches, and even the tenderness of the past had cooled considerably, he still remembered her radiant smile in red attire, riding angrily toward him.
He also remembered her sacrifice—giving up all status to be with him, willingly becoming a concubine.
In his heart, he couldn't help but feel reluctant.
But what was she saying now? And what was she doing?
She actually wanted to go to the Three Purities Hall?
Shao Mu clenched his fists tightly, feeling a stifling turbid energy in his chest that made his whole body uncomfortable.
Zheng Shi looked at her son's despondent state, frustrated by his failure to meet her expectations. The resentment in her heart tightened, and the slight improvement she had felt towards Lin Ruochu due to her dignified and unyielding attitude quickly vanished without a trace.
She wished she could beat this vixen to death on the spot!
Unfortunately, she could not.
As the sole legitimate son of the Marquis' household, Shao Mu was exceptionally gifted and had been indulged since childhood, getting whatever he desired. This smooth-sailing life had forged a stubborn character in him.
Once he set his mind on something, even the Marquis breaking three disciplinary rods could not sway him.
At present, although he had developed a rift with this Lin woman and was no longer as inseparable as they were two years ago, he still regarded her as the apple of his eye.
It was not yet the right time—she could not have her killed just yet.
Zheng Shi swallowed her anger with great difficulty.
Seeing this, Zhang Jingwan knew that today would not be the day to crush Lin Ruochu either. Though her expression remained unchanged, she could not help but feel a pang of regret inwardly.
Zheng Shi took her hand and patted it reassuringly before addressing the kneeling Lin Ruochu:
"Since you admit your guilt and wish to accept punishment, I shall not deny your request. You shall go to the Three Purities Temple and reflect deeply on your wrongdoings to atone for your sins. If you can accumulate even a sliver of merit for the Marquis' household, it will be considered repayment for the kindness the household has shown you!"