Gao Jian was drenched in cold sweat. “Seventh Princess Consort, how could you speak to His Majesty like that?”
What was wrong with the people from Chengxiangfu? Each one seemed to think they had three heads and six arms, more capable than anyone else?
A concubine-born daughter wanted to become the nation’s mother, and the legitimate daughter dared to question the Emperor.
It was as if they had eaten the hearts of bears and the gallbladders of leopards.
“It’s fine.”
Jing Ye looked at the son he had always despised and said, “I have neglected Mo Xuan. Now that he has a Wang Fei to care for him, I am quite pleased. Servants who look down on their master—what does it matter if they are killed or beaten? Huang Hou Niang Niang, why make such a fuss? In the future, you must strictly discipline the palace staff.”
It was said that the legitimate daughter of Chengxiangfu had been sent to a Manor Estate since childhood to fend for herself. He had thought she would be a weak and incompetent little girl, but instead, she turned out to be a fierce one.
She had immediately struck Huang Hou Niang Niang’s people, which showed how deeply she resented the Jiang family.
Having her occasionally bite at Huang Hou Niang Niang a few times might even provide some amusement.
But Luo Shumin was not about to let Jiang Qingran off so easily. “Your Majesty, I have heard that as soon as Seventh Princess Consort entered the mansion yesterday, she killed the steward and the head maid of Seventh Prince’s Mansion. This clearly shows she has no regard for Mo Xuan and disrespects the royal family. She should be severely punished.”
Before Jing Ye could even speak, Jiang Qingran continued, “Mother Empress, your information is outdated. Not only did I kill the steward and head maid of Seventh Prince’s Mansion, but I also dismissed all the hundreds of maids and servants and plan to recruit a new batch of servants. From now on, anytime and anywhere, if any servant dares to disrespect Seventh Prince, they will be executed without mercy!”
“You… you…” Luo Shumin trembled with rage. “Your Majesty, Seventh Princess Consort dares to act so arrogantly in your presence. She must harbor rebellious intentions!”
But Jiang Qingran’s husband was disabled, and she had been abandoned by her father.
Jing Ye harbored not a shred of suspicion toward her.
“Huang Hou Niang Niang, you exaggerate. Seventh Princess Consort is merely concerned for her husband. Besides, as a Wang Fei, isn’t it normal for her to kill a servant? She isn’t trying to kill me, so how does that relate to rebellion? Enough, I am tired and need to rest. All of you may leave.”
With that, Gao Jian helped him away.
When the tiger is away from the mountain, the monkey proclaims itself king.
As soon as Jing Ye left, Luo Shumin’s arrogance flared up.
She slammed the table and roared, “Jiang Qingran, how dare you! You actually killed my distant relative. Kneel before me!”
Instead of kneeling, Jiang Qingran straightened her clothes and sat down.
“I advise Huang Hou Niang Niang not to provoke me, or else you too can be killed.”
Luo Shumin widened her eyes in shock, disbelief filling her gaze. “Jiang Qingran, this is the imperial palace! How dare you say you would kill the nation’s mother? Isn’t this rebellion? Guards! Arrest Jiang Qingran and throw her into the dungeon!”
Jiang Qingran smoothed her hair and took out a gleaming golden token.
“Does Huang Hou Niang Niang recognize this?”
Luo Shumin sprang to her feet. “A Pardon Token! How do you have a Pardon Token?”
A Pardon Token not only spared its owner from death but also represented a status second only to the Emperor.
Throughout history, emperors had never lightly bestowed Pardon Tokens. The current Emperor had only awarded two, and to whom they were given, she had no way of knowing.
But no matter what, it should not be something a discarded daughter like Jiang Qingran could possess!
Jiang Qingyue’s face was even uglier than Luo Shumin’s. She had never seen a Pardon Token before, but she had heard of it.
No wonder that little bitch Jiang Qingran dared to be so arrogant—it turned out she was relying on having a Pardon Token.
Why should a Zaixing like her deserve it?
Jiang Qingran merely curled her lips into a mocking smile. “Huang Hou Niang Niang has no right to ask about that. Just now, His Majesty issued an oral decree ordering us all to leave. Huang Hou Niang Niang may dare to defy the imperial command, but I do not. Your Highness and I will take our leave now.”
With that, she turned and pushed Jing Moxuan away in large strides.
Luo Shumin clenched her fists, her face ashen.
“Jiang Qingyue, what exactly is going on with your legitimate sister? What happened to her all these years in the countryside?”