The news that the few members of the Jiang family had been beaten out of Jing Prince’s residence with sticks spread throughout the circle of influential nobles in Shengjing in less than half a day.
This completely humiliated Dowager Consort Meng.
Inside Shoukang Courtyard, the precious celadon teacup in Dowager Consort Meng’s hand was smashed onto the ground, and shattered porcelain pieces flew everywhere.
“Rebellious! This is truly rebellious!” Dowager Consort Meng’s face twisted with rage.
“A wild girl picked up from a charity burial ground actually dares to act so arrogantly in the prince’s residence! She even dared to drive the people I sent into madness. What else does she not dare to do?”
Nanny Sun, standing nearby, was so frightened that she did not dare to make a sound. She hurriedly handed over a handkerchief to help her calm down.
“Your Highness, please calm down. That little wretch is only acting this way because the prince’s mind is unclear right now, and he has indulged her for the moment. We will surely find a way to deal with her.”
“Deal with her? How?” Dowager Consort Meng gritted her teeth, a trace of malice flashing in her eyes. “She even dares to strike the Jiang family’s people. That little wretch is simply a stubborn piece of rotten wood who refuses to yield no matter what!”
She slammed her hand onto the table, making a thunderous sound.
“I want to see whether that princess consort dares to stop even me! Nanny Sun, bring people along. We are going to the main courtyard.”
Nanny Sun hesitated.
“Your Highness, the main courtyard is heavily guarded now. I’m afraid it will not be easy to enter…”
“I am the prince’s mother!” Dowager Consort Meng stood up abruptly. “I am going to visit my own son. Who dares to stop me?”
Inside the main courtyard, Jiang Zhaoxue was leaning against a soft couch, leisurely eating an apple.
“Princess Consort! Princess Consort, something bad has happened! Dowager Consort Meng is bringing people this way. She says she wants to visit the prince!”
Jiang Zhaoxue looked up and met Granny Cui’s anxious face. She patted the apple crumbs off her hands.
“I thought it was something serious. Let’s go! We’ll welcome her at the entrance.”
At the second gate, Dowager Consort Meng was accompanied by Nanny Sun and seven or eight sturdy old maidservants. They came with an intimidating presence.
The guards at the entrance were hesitant to use force because of the dowager consort’s status, so they could only step aside and let them pass.
Jiang Zhaoxue did not indulge her either. Smiling, she stood in front of the doorway and blocked the entrance.
“The prince’s health has not fully recovered yet. The imperial physician said he cannot be exposed to the wind. Dowager Consort, please come another day.”
“Me seeing my own son still requires the approval of an outsider like you?” Dowager Consort Meng sneered. “Move aside!”
“An outsider?” Jiang Zhaoxue tilted her head. “I am the princess consort whom the prince married properly, and my name has been recorded in the imperial genealogy. What exactly does Dowager Consort mean by this?”
Dowager Consort Meng’s expression darkened.
“You have quite a sharp tongue! I will not argue with you over words. Today, I must see the prince!”
Jiang Zhaoxue stepped directly in front of the doorway. The smile on her face disappeared.
“I already said it. The prince is recuperating and will not receive guests!”
“You dare stop me?” Dowager Consort Meng laughed out of anger. “Someone! Push her aside!”
The old maidservants behind her exchanged glances, but no one moved.
The miserable state of Bi Zhu, who had been beaten until her hands and feet were broken and thrown outside Shoukang Courtyard last time, was still vivid in their minds. Who would dare casually touch this living devil?
“Useless!” Dowager Consort Meng cursed.
She stepped forward herself, reaching out to push Jiang Zhaoxue aside.
“You still dare to block me? You are not worthy!”
A clear and gentle voice came from deep within the courtyard.
“Who said she is not worthy?”
Everyone turned to look.
Xiao Chenghuai, who had always claimed to be ill and never appeared in public, and who was rumored to be on the verge of death, was actually walking over at this moment with the support of a young servant.
Step by step, he crossed the threshold.
“P-Prince?” the old maidservants cried out in shock.
Dowager Consort Meng looked as if she had seen a ghost. Her eyes nearly popped out.
“Cheng\… Chenghuai? Why did you come out?”
Was he not supposed to be bedridden, so weak that he could barely even speak properly?
How could he still stand up and walk?
Xiao Chenghuai forcefully suppressed the bloody sweetness rising in his throat and walked straight to Jiang Zhaoxue’s side.
The moment Jiang Zhaoxue saw him, she immediately restrained her emotions.
Since her shield had arrived, she could finally take a break, right?
“Hubby, the dowager consort said that I am not worthy of being the princess consort. Hubby, you must stand up for me!”
Jiang Zhaoxue pinched her voice into a sweet tone and complained to him.
This was the first time Xiao Chenghuai had been called “husband” in front of everyone. He secretly glared at her, signaling for her not to be so reckless.
She bared her teeth in a grin and completely pretended not to notice.
Xiao Chenghuai held her hand, turned around, and protected Jiang Zhaoxue by keeping her at his side. His thin lips parted as he spoke with authority:
“Everything the princess consort did was under this prince’s orders.”
“Whoever is dissatisfied with her is dissatisfied with this prince.”
This was the first time Xiao Chenghuai had openly and so domineeringly defended her in front of others!
“Chenghuai, your mother was only worried about your health and came here specially to see you. Your princess consort is simply being unreasonable, blocking me and refusing to let me…”
Dowager Consort Meng’s heart skipped a beat. She forced out a smile as she tried to explain.
“It was me who told her to stop you.”
Xiao Chenghuai interrupted her.
“I said before that no one is allowed to enter the main courtyard without permission. There are no exceptions.”
“Chenghuai, your mother only had good intentions.”
“Good intentions?”
Xiao Chenghuai’s words were merciless, each sentence carrying a sharp edge.
“Since I fell ill until now, how many times has the dowager consort come to see me? When I was on the verge of death, the dowager consort was busy moving away the silver. Now that I have recovered a little, the dowager consort suddenly remembers to visit me?”
Dowager Consort Meng’s face completely collapsed. She gritted her teeth but did not dare to say anything else.
Xiao Chenghuai looked at Laifu and the guards.
“Send the dowager consort back.”
“Yes!”
Laifu straightened his chest and gestured toward Dowager Consort Meng.
“Dowager Consort, please.”
Dowager Consort Meng stood there, stomped her feet angrily, and left with a flick of her sleeve. The group of old maidservants behind her hurried away as well, scattering like a flock of ducks that had been driven away, looking utterly embarrassed.
The courtyard became quiet again.
Jiang Zhaoxue looked at Xiao Chenghuai.
“Next time she comes again, you don’t need to come out. I have plenty of ways to deal with her.”
Xiao Chenghuai became somewhat curious and asked:
“What ways?”
“For example…” Jiang Zhaoxue blinked her eyes. “Have someone dump a cart full of manure at the entrance of Dowager Consort’s Shoukang Courtyard and see if she still has the face to go outside!”
Xiao Chenghuai’s eyes widened. For a moment, he did not know whether he should be angry or laugh.
“You really are something.”
The two of them walked side by side toward the main room, while Laifu followed behind them tactfully.
The main courtyard was neither too big nor too small. The prince’s main room faced south from the north. It consisted of three guest rooms and two heated chambers, making it the heart of the entire courtyard.
To the east of the main room was a small side courtyard. It had originally been used for storing miscellaneous items, but after the princess consort arrived, it was cleared out and turned into her residence.
Laifu could not understand it no matter how much he thought about it. Why would a proper princess consort refuse to live in the newly prepared bridal chamber and instead choose to live in a room converted from a storage area?
To the west were the side rooms. Granny Cui occupied one room, while Yuzao and Qiuwen squeezed into another. Laifu himself lived in the back-facing servants’ quarters.
The courtyard was paved with bluestone paths, and the sunlight stretched the shadows of the two people into long silhouettes.
For once, Jiang Zhaoxue was quiet. She stared at their shadows on the ground, lost in thought.
“What are you thinking about?”
Xiao Chenghuai’s voice came from above her.
“I’m thinking that the dowager consort will probably use other methods to make trouble. It seems that completely falling out with her is only a matter of time.”
“So what? With me here, the dowager consort won’t dare act recklessly!”
As Xiao Chenghuai spoke, he nearly lost his balance.
Jiang Zhaoxue reacted quickly and caught him.
“You…”
Xiao Chenghuai patted her hand and forced out a smile.
“Don’t worry. I won’t die.”
“Then let go of me. You’re so heavy.”
As Jiang Zhaoxue said this, she tried to pull her hand back.
Xiao Chenghuai immediately grabbed her small hand.
“Don’t. Do you want your husband to fall down?”
“Fine, fine, I’ll help you. Why is a grown man acting so spoiled?”
Jiang Zhaoxue curled her lips and complained.