Zheng Shi’s roar startled Jiang Qiaonian. Qiao Shi pulled her behind herself and said calmly yet firmly, “Guogong Furen, it was me who did it. Do you want my life as compensation?”
Zheng Shi whipped her head around to glare at Qiao Shi, her eyes red like an angry bull, roaring, “You! How dare you!”
Qiao Shi looked at her coldly, her anger mixed with deep contempt. How dare this woman ask how she dared? Didn’t she know what filthy things her son had done?
“I originally didn’t dare! But I must protect my daughter! Your son could commit such despicable acts, and you still have the face to ask me how I dare? Your prestigious Anguo Duke Residence, with the Duke being a trusted minister serving before His Majesty the Emperor, yet your son actually schemes against another family’s daughter! Why don’t you ask yourselves how you produced such filth?!” Qiao Shi retorted without backing down.
Jiang Xianian felt thoroughly pleased hearing this: Well said! Rightly said! Let the onlookers outside hear clearly and understand how shameless this Anguo Duke Residence is! It would be best if this matter reached the Emperor’s ears, letting him see what kind of person his trusted minister really is!
Inspired, Qiao Shi realized that suppressing this matter would only harm their family. It would be better to make it bigger and see which side the Emperor and Empress would take!
Since they were prepared to raise their daughter for life anyway, what was there to fear? She was fearless!
Hearing Qiao Shi’s words, Zheng Shi flew into a rage, abruptly stood up, and lunged at Qiao Shi, intending to fight.
Qiao Shi remained perfectly calm, merely extending the blood-stained scissors. Seeing the blood, Zheng Shi immediately halted.
Qiao Shi looked down on her even more—apparently, she was afraid of death. Putting on that fierce appearance, but actually being strong on the outside but weak inside.
“You… Qiao Ruxin! Just you wait! I’ll report you to the Dali Temple! To the Xing Bu! I’ll have your whole family exiled, and you and your daughter turned into lowly prostitutes ridden by thousands and slept with by tens of thousands!” Zheng Shi screamed hysterically, completely losing control.
Jiang Xianian was furious and about to curse back when suddenly, a voice full of sarcasm remarked, “Oh! Guogong Furen is so imposing, able to have any family exiled or turned into government prostitutes as you wish?”
The crowd outside parted, revealing Huimin Princess standing at the back, looking at everyone with a mocking smile.
The ladies watching the spectacle hurriedly bowed in unison, saying, “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Qiao Shi, holding the somewhat flustered Jiang Qiaonian, also bowed to Huimin Princess.
Huimin Princess slowly walked to the doorway, glanced at the chaotic scene inside, and guessed how much effort Qiao Shi and her daughter had exerted to resist Wang Xingyun’s scheme. Her heart filled with more pity and admiration for the mother and daughter.
Previously, she had seen Qiao Shi as a gentle, graceful official’s wife, every move perfectly proper. She never expected her to be provoked to such an extent.
At this moment, Huimin Princess also felt some regret. Like Jiang Xianian, she had thought Jiang Qiaonian would be safe if she didn’t leave the courtyard. She never imagined someone could be so audacious as to use the filthy trick of drugging and breaking in to assault her.
As a woman, she found this method of tarnishing a woman’s reputation and virtue utterly disgusting.
Upon seeing Huimin Princess, Zheng Shi immediately began wailing: “Your Highness, you must uphold justice for me and my son! Look at what that venomous woman and her daughter have done to my poor child! My son, my poor son!”
Witnessing Zheng Shi’s dramatic display of misery, Qiao Shi and Jiang Qiaonian grew tense. Since Huimin Princess was more familiar with Zheng Shi, would she actually take her side?
Qiao Shi gritted her teeth, thinking that if the princess truly favored connections over reason, she would have to resort to making a scene herself!
Jiang Xianian was also surprised by Huimin Princess’s sudden appearance and quickly checked the System: 【Thank goodness, the princess already knows the whole story and clearly sides with my mother and sister. The princess is truly a reasonable and good person!】
Hearing Jiang Xianian’s inner thoughts, not only did Qiao Shi and Jiang Qiaonian breathe a sigh of relief, but Huimin Princess also felt that being praised by Little Niannian as a reasonable and good person was quite rare.
Motivated by Little Niannian’s praise, she decided she would thoroughly handle this matter today.
Ignoring Zheng Shi’s wails, Huimin Princess directly ordered: “Guards, seize these two monks!”
The two monks, who had been hiding in the corner hoping the noblewomen would overlook them, were startled when the princess targeted them first. They frantically begged for mercy, but the princess’s guards skillfully gagged them, silencing all noise.
Remembering something, Qiao Shi immediately added: “Your Highness, there is also a maid in the right wing. After interrogation, it was revealed she was an accomplice bribed by the Guogong residence. Please take her into custody as well!”
Huimin Princess nodded slightly and sent someone to fetch the already captured maid.
Seeing that Huimin Princess had not arrested the main culprits, Qiao Shi and her daughter, but instead seized the two monks first, Zheng Shi grew panicked and furious: “Your Highness, what… what are you doing?”
Huimin Princess remained composed and dignified: “No one involved in this matter will escape, Guogong Furen, you can rest assured. Moreover, your son’s injuries require immediate treatment from an Imperial Physician. Any delay might turn a curable condition into an incurable one.”
Jiang Xianian chuckled inwardly: 【The princess’s way with words is brilliant! Zheng Shi thinks she means she won’t let my mother and sister off, but she actually means she won’t let you and your son off! Hahaha… The princess is just too likable! Besides, Wang Xingyun’s manhood is beyond saving. I’d love to see Zheng Shi’s expression when she receives this thunderbolt of bad news!】
Huimin Princess couldn’t help but curl the corners of her lips. Little Niannian, only two months old, was already so clever, able to grasp the implied meaning in her words. This little one was quite endearing to her as well!
Hearing Jiang Xianian’s thoughts, Qiao Shi and Jiang Qiaonian felt even more at ease.
Recalling her son’s injuries, Zheng Shi grew anxious and immediately ordered Wang Xingyun to be taken to the carriage and rushed back to Fuking to seek an Imperial Physician.
Qiao Shi seized the opportunity to bow to Huimin Princess and declared firmly, “Your Highness, this subject’s wife wishes to accuse the sixth young master of Anguo Duke Residence, Wang Xingyun, of employing vile and despicable means such as drugging to scheme against my daughter. I accuse Anguo Duke’s Wife of assisting in such wicked actions, and I accuse Duke Anguo of failing to properly discipline his wife and excessively indulging his son! I beg Your Highness to assist this subject’s wife in entering the palace for an audience with the Emperor!”
Huimin Princess was momentarily stunned and asked, “Lady Jiang, are you certain you wish to proceed this way? Shouldn’t you discuss this with your family first?”
The onlookers were also taken aback and couldn’t help but murmur among themselves. Most felt that Qiao Shi’s actions would escalate the situation and potentially harm the officials in her family, deeming it unnecessary.
Qiao Shi shook her head. “My husband and father-in-law are unaware of this matter, but I cannot bear to endure it silently. I am not a minister from the previous dynasty—my jurisdiction is limited to the inner quarters, and all I wish to protect are my children. Since Anguo Duke Residence has bullied us to this extent, if I cannot seek justice for my children, how can I call myself a good mother? Therefore, even if my husband and father-in-law disapprove, I will still accuse Anguo Duke Residence!”
This resolute declaration not only earned Huimin Princess’s admiration but also helped the noble ladies understand her perspective. Indeed, children are a woman’s lifeline; if their own children faced such a situation, they too would be willing to fight desperately.
“Very well, since you have made up your mind, accompany me into the palace!”
Given how the situation had escalated, even if they didn’t seek the Emperor’s judgment, he would inevitably inquire about it.
Thus, everyone quickly prepared and followed the Princess’s Phoenix Carriage away from White Horse Temple.
After such an intense experience, Jiang Xianian fell into a deep sleep as soon as she was carried into the carriage.
Jiang Qiaonian gently pinched Jiang Xianian’s cheek and said, “Niannian is really carefree.”
Qiao Shi replied, “She’s exhausted, so she can’t help but sleep.”
Jiang Qiaonian didn’t dwell on this and instead grew more anxious about the impending palace visit. She couldn’t help asking, “Mother, are we really going to the palace to see the Emperor?”
Qiao Shi nodded. “Of course. Since I’ve already declared it before the Princess and the other ladies, we must go. Otherwise, it would be deceiving the sovereign.”
Jiang Qiaonian pursed her lips, her heart filled with unease. “I’m sorry, Mother. It’s all because of me…”
Qiao Shi immediately interrupted, “What does this have to do with you? The one at fault is Wang Xingyun. If he hadn’t schemed against you, today would have been an ordinary day.”
After Qiao Shi comforted her, Jiang Qiaonian gradually felt more at ease.
Just as they reached the city gate, they encountered Jiang Yucheng, who was riding swiftly out of the city.
Jiang Yucheng quickly dismounted and boarded the carriage, soothing his wife and daughter.
After shedding some tears, Qiao Shi recounted the events and explained her intention to escalate the matter by seeking an audience with the Emperor.
Jiang Yucheng agreed with her plan.
Qiao Shi hesitated and asked, “Is it appropriate for you men to get involved in this? Could it affect your affairs at court?”
Jiang Yucheng replied, “Since you’ve told Huimin Princess that you are acting out of a mother’s love to accuse Anguo Duke Residence, then go ahead and let the conflict unfold. As for court matters, Father will handle them at the forefront.”
Qiao Shi was momentarily surprised, then couldn’t help but smile. “You mustn’t let Father hear that, or he’ll scold you again.”
Jiang Yucheng said with shameless cheekiness, “Let him scold me. Trading a scolding for cleaning up this mess is still worth it. Besides, back in the former court, Father and Duke Anguo were already at odds. This matter is just adding another entry to their unresolved ledger of grievances.”
Qiao Shi’s smile gradually faded as she sighed, “Father had a hard time in the former court, and you’ve had a hard time there too.”
Jiang Yucheng shook his head, then couldn’t resist lowering his voice to a volume only the couple could hear: “Whether we have it easy or not in the former court isn’t determined by the sacrifices and concessions of women in the inner quarters, but by the attitude of that person.”
As he spoke, Jiang Yucheng pointed upward.