Slap, slap, slap.
Jiang Zhaoxue slapped him several times in succession. Third Great Uncle’s smile froze, and his face burned with pain.
Fifth Uncle and Seventh Uncle exchanged a glance and simultaneously shrank their necks.
The corner of Xiao Chenghuai’s lips curved slightly, and he couldn’t help but laugh. This girl was truly interesting!
“Let’s go.” Xiao Chenghuai said in a low voice.
“Where?”
“Back to the main courtyard.” Xiao Chenghuai glanced at her. “You haven’t eaten enough lunch yet, have you?”
Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned for a moment.
This man had even noticed whether she had eaten lunch or not?
She lowered her head to look at the plate of osmanthus cakes on the table, then looked back at Xiao Chenghuai.
“Consider yourself to have a little conscience.”
Behind them, the members of the imperial clan in the flower hall all stood up to respectfully see them off, each one wearing a flattering smile.
Xiao Chenghuai did not even turn his head.
“No need.”
Jiang Zhaoxue had already left with a smile.
After returning to the main courtyard, Jiang Zhaoxue collapsed into a chair and let out a long breath of relief.
“I’m exhausted. These old fellows are more shameless than the last.”
Yuzao hurriedly brought over tea and snacks, then began massaging her shoulders.
Xiao Chenghuai was pushed to the table by Laifu. He took the medicine bowl handed over by Qiuwen and drank it all in one go.
The two of them remained silent for a while.
“About today’s matter…” Xiao Chenghuai spoke first. “You handled it well.”
Jiang Zhaoxue raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? Aren’t you going to praise me?”
“Praise you for what?” Xiao Chenghuai looked at her.
“Praise me for staying calm in a crisis, debating against a whole group of scholars, and exposing the Dowager Consort’s scheme in front of everyone!” Jiang Zhaoxue’s face was full of pride.
Xiao Chenghuai lifted his teacup and said calmly, “You really don’t lack confidence. You must be tired today. Go rest first.”
“What about you?”
“This prince still has some matters to handle.”
Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t ask further. She stood up, stretched lazily, and walked toward her room.
“Laifu.”
“This servant is here.”
“Go to the accounting room and withdraw one thousand taels of silver. Deliver it to the Princess Consort’s room during dinner.”
Laifu was stunned.
“Your Highness, this is…”
“She was frightened today.” Xiao Chenghuai said calmly. “Let her recover.”
Laifu immediately understood and grinned.
“Got it! This servant will take care of it right away!”
After the imperial clan banquet ended, Granny Cui brought people to Shoukang Courtyard that afternoon.
Dowager Consort Meng seemed to have aged ten years. She sat on the edge of the bed, her hair disheveled, and most of the makeup on her face had faded, revealing the wrinkles underneath. The arrogance she had displayed earlier was completely gone, leaving only the overwhelming hatred in her eyes.
“Dowager Consort.” Granny Cui stood at the doorway. “His Highness said that your health is not good. From today onward, you should properly recuperate in Shoukang Courtyard. There is no need for you to concern yourself with matters outside anymore.”
“I am the Dowager Consort of the Jing Prince’s residence! I was personally appointed by the late emperor!”
Dowager Consort Meng’s expression twisted with rage as she screamed and lunged forward.
Granny Cui stepped aside, and Dowager Consort Meng stumbled forward, falling heavily onto the ground.
“It is precisely because you are the Dowager Consort that His Highness has spared your dignity. If it were anyone else, they would have already been sent to the Dali Temple!”
Dowager Consort Meng wailed a few times and sat there collapsed, as if she had no idea what she was thinking. She no longer had even the slightest trace of the imposing aura of a Dowager Consort.
Granny Cui no longer looked at her. She turned to the elderly maids behind her and instructed:
“From now on, without His Highness’s permission, no one is allowed to enter Shoukang Courtyard. The Dowager Consort’s food, clothing, and daily necessities will remain the same, but anyone who comes to visit must first report to the main courtyard.”
The maids answered in unison.
“What about Aunt Sun?” Dowager Consort Meng suddenly asked.
“Aunt Sun?” Granny Cui’s tone carried a hint of coldness. “Rest assured, Dowager Consort. She has already been sent out of the manor.”
Dowager Consort Meng’s expression completely collapsed. Aunt Sun had followed her for more than twenty years and was her most trusted confidante. Now that even Aunt Sun had been driven away, who else in this manor could she rely on?
Granny Cui gave a bow and turned to leave.
At the same time, a major purge was taking place throughout the manor.
Not a single person planted by the Meng family in the Jing Prince’s residence escaped. The accounting room, kitchen, medicine room, storage rooms—anyone connected to the Dowager Consort was all “invited” to leave politely.
When the news spread throughout the manor, everyone in the main courtyard cheered.
Jiang Zhaoxue slept all the way until sunset. When she pushed open her door, she found a row of unfamiliar faces standing in the courtyard.
Granny Cui stood at the front holding a thick roster. Seeing her come out, she quickly stepped forward.
“Princess Consort, everyone has been cleared out. These are the newly selected people. Would you like to look through them?”
Jiang Zhaoxue took it, flipped through it briefly, then casually handed it back.
“You can handle it. I only have one requirement.”
“Please tell me, Princess Consort.”
“Those who are loyal stay. Those who are disloyal leave.”
Granny Cui gave a bitter smile. “This old servant thinks the same.”
“Also…” Jiang Zhaoxue thought for a moment. “Yuzao should be promoted to a first-class maid! That girl may be a little simple-minded, but she handles matters steadily, and she knows how to keep secrets. I like her.”
“Understood.”
At this moment, Laifu ran over.
“Princess Consort, His Highness asked me to deliver silver to you.”
“Put it there first.” Jiang Zhaoxue pointed to a spot.
Granny Cui hesitated for a moment before saying, “Princess Consort, there is one more thing. His Highness said that from now on, the household affairs of the manor will be completely handed over to you. This old servant will only assist you. Whether it is major matters or minor ones, everything will follow your decisions.”
Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at her.
“Did His Highness really say that?”
“Absolutely true.”
“Alright. Then I’ll take over. However, Momo, there are some matters that still require you to keep an eye on. I won’t be able to handle everything alone.”
Granny Cui’s eyes turned slightly red.
“This old servant will definitely do her utmost.”
She had spent half her life in the manor, enduring Dowager Consort Meng’s humiliation and oppression for more than just a day or two. Now, she had finally waited for the clouds to clear, and her heart was filled with emotions that were difficult to describe.
All of this was because of the woman standing before her.
“Princess Consort,” Granny Cui said, “this old servant thanks you on behalf of His Highness.”
Jiang Zhaoxue waved her hand.
“Don’t thank me. I’m only doing this for myself too. Only when the manor is doing well can I be well.”
Winter days became dark early. Just after the hour of You passed, the sky had already grown dim. The lanterns in the courtyard had not yet been lit, and only the final trace of sunlight on the horizon dyed the roof eaves with a faint golden glow.
Jiang Zhaoxue leaned against the reclining chair in the main courtyard, holding a handful of pine nuts and peeling them one by one.
The pine nut kernels she peeled were not put into her own mouth. Instead, she placed them all into a small dish beside her, collecting nearly half a dish.
Yuzao squatted beside her, staring eagerly at the dish of pine nut kernels.
“Want to eat some?” Jiang Zhaoxue asked.
Yuzao nodded vigorously.
“Peel them yourself.”
Yuzao’s face immediately fell, but she still obediently picked up a pine nut and began peeling it clumsily.
Seeing her appearance, Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help but laugh.
The sound of wooden wheels rolling came from the courtyard entrance. Laifu pushed Xiao Chenghuai over.
Today, Xiao Chenghuai had changed into a moon-white robe, which made his complexion look better than it had in the previous few days. When he saw Jiang Zhaoxue lying on the chair peeling pine nuts, he smiled.
“You really know how to relax.”
“Otherwise?” Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t even raise her head. “I’ve been busy all day. Can’t I rest for a while?”
Xiao Chenghuai was pushed to her side, and Laifu tactfully stepped away.
The two of them remained silent for a while. The courtyard was very quiet, with only the faint sounds of pine nut shells being cracked open.
Xiao Chenghuai suddenly spoke.
“This manor has finally become peaceful.”
Jiang Zhaoxue’s hand paused as she peeled the pine nuts. She looked up at him.
In the dusk, the last trace of sunlight outlined the clear contours of his side profile.
His brow bones were high, his nose was straight, and although he had lost a lot of weight after being ill for more than half a year, his naturally noble aura remained.
“It’s not over yet.” Jiang Zhaoxue lowered her gaze and continued peeling the pine nuts. “The people outside haven’t been cleared out yet.”
Xiao Chenghuai turned to look at her.
“You’re even more anxious than this prince.”
“I’m just afraid you’ll die and I’ll become a widow.” Jiang Zhaoxue tossed a pine nut kernel into her mouth, chewed twice, and said unclearly, “Being a widow isn’t easy. You have no money and no power, and you’ll still get bullied. I’m not doing that.”
Xiao Chenghuai looked at her, a hint of something indescribable appearing in his eyes.
“Can’t you say something nicer?”
Jiang Zhaoxue was just about to tease Xiao Chenghuai when Granny Cui came over. Her expression looked somewhat strange.
“Princess Consort, the gatekeeper delivered a letter. It is addressed to you.”
Jiang Zhaoxue took the letter. For some reason, she felt a faint sense of familiarity.
There was no name on the envelope, only a few crookedly written characters: “To be personally opened by the Jing Prince’s Princess Consort.”
She opened the envelope. Inside was a piece of yellow paper with a symbol drawn on it. Three curved lines overlapped, with a dot in the center, resembling a half-open, half-closed eye.
This was the old blind man’s unique mark!