Hearing the sudden inner voice, Huimin Princess couldn’t help but tremble slightly, knowing immediately that Jiang Xianian was outside the courtyard.
After several thoughts raced through her mind, she quickly suppressed them. Let him watch the show if he wanted—without that child, she would have been kept in the dark much longer.
With that child around, she might uncover more unknown secrets.
When Hong Yumin began crying and begging, the second daughter-in-law immediately followed suit, putting on a pitiful act and accusing Hong Yumin of seducing her. Soon, the two who had been inseparable and deeply affectionate just moments ago turned into bitter enemies, hurling accusations and insults at each other, as if they wanted to devour one another.
Just as the commotion reached its peak, a few people squeezed through the crowd: “What’s happening? What’s happening?”
“Wow! They’re already fighting!”
Jiang Xianian strained to turn his head and saw his second and third brothers flanking their mother, while a voice from below chimed in: “The two of them are fighting so pathetically!”
Alright, so all three of them had come too, and even the Twelfth Prince had joined in to watch the excitement.
Soon, Huimin Princess had Hong Yumin and the second daughter-in-law separated and asked, “How long has this been going on between you two?”
Without hesitation, Hong Yumin lied: “This is the first time, the first time! I beg Gongzhu to spare me since it’s my first offense! I’ll never do it again! From now on, I’ll be your loyal dog, always by your side!”
Huimin Princess snorted coldly: “Do you think catching you red-handed this time was a coincidence?! How dare you lie! Confess the truth now!”
Hong Yumin indeed looked panicked, but just as Jiang Xianian thought he was about to tell the truth, he lied again: “Three months, this time it’s true, Gongzhu! It’s really only been three months! Please see the truth!”
Jiang Xianian rolled his eyes dramatically: [This guy probably has nothing but a tough mouth. It’s clearly been more than three years, and he still dares to say three months. Hmph! Since Huimin Princess already had her suspicions, she’ll definitely see through this lie! He’s just digging his own grave!]
Huimin Princess felt embarrassed—she truly hadn’t noticed anything before.
But she maintained a composed facade as if she had known all along, sternly declaring: “You’re at death’s door and still lying to me! Guards! Drag him away and give him twenty lashes! If he still refuses to tell the truth, keep beating him!”
“Yes!”
Soon, the dull sound of strikes echoed in the courtyard. Hong Yumin could scream at first, but eventually, he fell silent.
The second daughter-in-law, terrified by the sight of Hong Yumin beaten to a bloody pulp, forgot to wipe her tears and snot. Clutching the princess’s legs, she cried: “Mother, I was wrong! I beg you, please spare me for the sake of your grandchildren! I’ll never dare again, never again!”
Jiang Xianian watched from afar, unable to see Huimin Princess’s expression clearly. Thinking she might be softening, he couldn’t help but exclaim: [No way? Does the princess not know that the Longfengtai aren’t her biological grandchildren? She wouldn’t really forgive this daughter-in-law for those children, would she? Her son isn’t infertile—he just needs some time to recuperate and more intimacy! He can still give her real grandchildren!]
For a brief moment, Princess Huimin genuinely considered letting the misunderstanding stand and accepting the Longfengtai as her second son’s children. Her second son struggled to produce heirs, and it was uncertain if he could father more children in the future. Having two children would provide him some security.
But upon hearing Jiang Xianian’s voice, Princess Huimin suddenly came to her senses. Why should she accept that shameful pair of Longfengtai when her own son could still have children?
At that moment, her second son stumbled over and begged his mother: “Mother, for the children’s sake, please spare Yuxia for now!”
Princess Huimin looked at her drunken son and felt a headache coming on. She couldn’t resist slapping him on the head: “What children?! Those two little bastards aren’t yours! When the Imperial Physician examined you, he secretly informed me that you have difficulty producing heirs!”
Her second son spun dizzily from the slap, his words slurred: “Wh…what? Not mine?! How…how is that possible! How could I…how could I be infertile!”
Knowing he was too drunk to reason with, Princess Huimin had people drag him aside.
She then turned to her daughter-in-law who had collapsed on the ground: “Yuxia, back then, Second Son insisted on marrying you, a minor official’s daughter, because he was captivated by your beauty, rejecting all those noble ladies. Since you married into my Princess Manor, I believe everyone has treated you well. Why would you do this?!”
Her daughter-in-law remained silent, but Jiang Xianian answered mentally: [Of course, when you’re not getting fed at home, you’ll sneak food elsewhere!]
Qiao Shi: …
Jiang Qiaonian: …
Jiang Xunnian & Jiang Danian: …
Little sister, you know way too much! Who taught you these things?!
Xiao Bingxi remained confused: Is the Princess Manor that poor? Why would this aunt’s second daughter-in-law go hungry? I should tell Father Emperor after returning to the palace to grant more gold and treasures to aunt, so she doesn’t go hungry.
Soon, Hong Yumin was beaten until he barely clung to life, appearing ready to breathe his last at any moment. Although the daughter-in-law wasn’t beaten, she was imprisoned. Jiang Xianian could check their final outcomes later in the System.
With Princess Huimin handling this family matter, everyone had essentially finished watching the drama. Taking advantage of Princess Huimin still scolding her son, several people quickly left the courtyard entrance.
After satisfying her curiosity, Jiang Xianian grew drowsy again. Soon, Qiao Shi took the opportunity to bring her and the other children to bid farewell to Princess Huimin.
Princess Huimin personally saw them to the Princess Manor gate: “Your little daughter really appeals to me. You must bring her out to play often and visit the Princess Manor more.”
Qiao Shi felt both honored and startled. Despite her daughter wetting on the princess today, the princess still liked her so much. Princess Huimin was indeed as magnanimous as rumored.
However, recalling Princess Huimin’s thunderous methods in dealing with Mianshou Hong Yumin and her daughter-in-law, Qiao Shi knew the princess had another side and didn’t dare get too close.
Watching the Weiyuan Marquis Estate’s carriage disappear into the distance, Xiao Bingxi reluctantly withdrew his gaze and said, “Aunt, I should return to the palace now. Thank you for your hospitality today.”
Princess Huimin smiled and said, “Little Twelve, be careful on your way back. About what happened at your aunt’s residence today, please keep it secret for me, alright?”
Xiao Bingxi thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
However, while he couldn’t talk about the incident, he could still ask questions, right?
Upon returning to the palace, the twelfth prince’s first question upon seeing his Crown Prince brother was: “Third Brother, what is a Mianshou?”
The Crown Prince nearly choked: “Where did you hear that?”
“At our aunt’s manor, there was that Mianshou…”
The Crown Prince was rendered speechless, never expecting Little Twelve to bring back such knowledge from his trip outside the palace.
“A Mianshou is… is…” Even with his profound learning, the Crown Prince found himself at a loss for words. How could he explain the meaning of Mianshou to his naive younger brother?
After much contemplation, the Crown Prince vaguely and tactfully said: “They are a type of person who serves the Gongzhu in the Princess Manor.”
Xiao Bingxi didn’t doubt this at all, instead nodding vigorously: “That’s what I thought too!”
Just as the Crown Prince breathed a sigh of relief, Xiao Bingxi continued: “Third Brother, our aunt’s household seems to have food shortages. Could you ask Father Emperor to grant more provisions to our aunt?”
The Crown Prince was baffled again: The Gongzhu? Food shortages? What nonsense was this foolish child talking about?
But even after questioning the accompanying eunuchs, the Crown Prince couldn’t make sense of it.
When the Crown Prince tried to inquire further, Xiao Bingxi refused to elaborate, instead enthusiastically bringing up another matter: “Third Brother, I met the most adorable little sister at our aunt’s manor! I like her so much! Can we bring her to the palace to raise?”
If he could see this little sister every day and hear her inner thoughts, that would be so much fun! Xiao Bingxi was practically drooling at the thought.
The Crown Prince ruthlessly shattered his dream: “That’s another family’s thousand gold. Both her parents are alive and well – how could we take her into the palace? There are other sisters in the palace you can play with.”
Without hesitation, Xiao Bingxi refused: “I don’t want them! That sister is the best and most special!”
Because that sister’s inner thoughts are only for me to hear! Xiao Bingxi added loudly in his heart. The sister also said I’m pretty! So she must like me too!
However, he decided to keep the secret of hearing the sister’s inner thoughts to himself, telling no one.
Unable to bring the sister to the palace, Xiao Bingxi was filled with resentment and began rummaging through everything in the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace.
“Little Twelve, what are you doing?” the Crown Prince asked.
Xiao Bingxi picked up a white jade horse paperweight: “Third Brother, can I have this?”
“If you like it, take it. Are you planning to study writing seriously?” the Crown Prince asked hopefully.
Xiao Bingxi quickly shook his head: “Of course not! I want to give this to the sister. She’ll probably like it, right?”
The Crown Prince: …
Little Twelve couldn’t go three sentences without mentioning this sister, which made the Crown Prince somewhat curious about her too.
The Crown Prince had assumed his foolish younger brother would forget about this sister in a few days, but the boy couldn’t forget her for even a moment.
Meanwhile, the Jiang family riding home in their carriage was in high spirits, particularly Jiang Xunnian and Jiang Danian, who wished they could stay with Niannian every day – surely they’d get to witness more interesting dramas!
However, they didn’t dare speak much during the journey. Only after returning home and confirming Jiang Xianian was asleep did they dare discuss the matter in the outer room.
“Remember, not a word about what we saw today at the Princess Manor can be mentioned to anyone, understood?” Qiao Shi instructed the three children.
“We understand, Mother!” the three promptly replied obediently.
Although they had witnessed quite a spectacle, Huimin Princess was after all a royal Gongzhu, so matters concerning her residence couldn’t be casually gossiped about.
After the mother and three children exchanged a few sighs, Jiang Xunnian brought up another matter: “Mother, I suspect the Twelfth Prince might also be able to hear Niannian’s inner thoughts.”
“What?!” The others were all startled.