Chapter 149

Chapter 149 Dong'er still tried to salvage the situation: "I beg the Princess Consort to see clearly. My mistress certainly erred, but it was Concubine Lian who showed disrespect first. Everything she did was for the sake of the household and the Prince..." "Bah!" Zisu could no longer contain herself and spat at Dong'er. "Black-hearted, rotten-gutted wretch! You're just as shameless and thick-skinned as your mistress!" Having come this far, Zisu went ahead and exposed all the misdeeds Consort Jiang had committed some time ago. "My mistress had only just entered the household and held great respect and fear toward the Side Consorts and Concubine Consorts, not daring the slightest offense." Zisu's eyes brimmed with tears: "But then one day, Consort Jiang sent someone saying she wished to see my mistress, and had her brought to Songya Court." "First, she was inexplicably punished by copying Buddhist scriptures—copied until my mistress's hands were trembling, and for days afterward she couldn't even lift chopsticks." "Then she was made to peel lotus seeds by hand until her hands bled, made to kneel as punishment, struck on the palms... every single thing was meant to torment her. Truly vicious beyond measure." "My mistress cried every day during that time, but she was timid by nature—afraid of offending people, afraid of troubling the Princess Consort—so she bore all her grievances in silence!" "Now Consort Jiang accuses her of disrespect with a single word, bullying the dead and slandering the dead!" "Even a Side Consort cannot throw her weight around like this, can she?!" Dong'er retorted angrily: "Nonsense!" "It was clearly out of pity for your mistress's lowly origins that my mistress specially summoned her to learn proper conduct, kindly wishing to instruct her a little. Who would have thought she'd be so ungrateful..." Zisu: "The Princess Consort is present—why would the household need Consort Jiang to instruct a concubine?! Consort Jiang's actions were overstepping from the very start!" Dong'er shot back: "If you say my mistress overstepped, then why didn't you report it to the Princess Consort earlier?" "Your mistress was too timid to speak up, but you, her loyal servant—why did you not say a single word? Now you come to Songya Court spouting nonsense?" "Clearly none of this happened before—you're simply seizing this opportunity to make a fuss!" "Enough!" The Princess Consort spoke. She had no patience to watch two maids bicker. Dong'er and Zisu immediately fell silent. The Princess Consort then asked: "What about Xing'er? Do you think Dong'er is right, or is Zisu right?" "Naturally, this matter cannot be decided solely by the words of you two. But if it is later verified that someone has lied... hmph." That low hum of a snort made Xing'er tremble all over. Xing'er kept her head lowered, suppressing the fear in her heart. "In reply to the Princess Consort. My mistress had no intention of harming anyone; she merely wished to instruct Concubine Lian a little..." Dong'er suddenly widened her eyes at her. "You..." Nanny Li was furious: "The household has the Prince and the Princess Consort—why would Consort Jiang need to instruct a concubine?!" "This being the case, Consort Jiang overstepped from the very beginning, failed to recognize her own position, and used her status as Side Consort to bully and humiliate a concubine at will. So detestable is she that the Princess Consort absolutely must not let her off lightly!" Consort Jiang's cheeks were swollen, her speech slurred, yet she still forced herself to argue. "Who knows whose bastard seed she carried in her belly? A cheap whore ridden by ten thousand men in a brothel!" "The Princess Consort, as the principal wife, ought to manage this matter. Failing to do so now is dereliction of duty. As a Side Consort, I naturally cannot stand by and watch such filthy business occur in this household..." The Princess Consort's gaze was heavy as she looked down at Consort Jiang and spoke the crux of the matter. "Consort Jiang, regardless of whose child Concubine Lian carried, it is not your place as a Side Consort to dispose of it." "You fed her abortifacients without authorization, nearly causing the death of both mother and child. You then resorted to private punishment and disfigured her face. Your crimes are heinous and truly unforgivable!" As her words fell, the Princess Consort's presence rose steadily. It bore down upon Consort Jiang, who shouted in a muffled voice: "I was wed by imperial decree and am a Side Consort recorded on the Imperial Jade Tablet!" "Would you dare take my life?!" The Princess Consort said coolly: "Naturally, I would not dare." "This is Prince Jing's residence—not someone's private torture chamber, nor a place where everyone is as arrogant and vicious as Consort Jiang." Consort Jiang's eyes were filled with hatred, yet also with a fear she could not conceal. She was outwardly strong but inwardly weak—truly confronting the Princess Consort, she was deeply afraid. "What do you intend to do to me?!" The Princess Consort said calmly: "Nanny Li, seal Songya Court first and place Consort Jiang under House Arrest. When the Prince returns, she will be dealt with then." Consort Jiang suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. It was only House Arrest. When the Prince returned, he would surely understand her good intentions and would never permit the bastard in Concubine Lian's belly to live. In fact, he would likely severely punish the Princess Consort and uphold justice for her. The Princess Consort saw through all of Consort Jiang's little schemes, her gaze sweeping over the maids below. "Nanny Huang instigated her mistress to feed abortifacients to a concubine of the household—a crime unforgivable. She is to receive forty strokes of the rod and be delivered to the Prefect of the Capital." Nanny Huang's eyes flew wide. The Princess Consort was clearly demanding her life! Not to mention whether she could survive forty strokes—even if she entered the Prefect's office, how could a powerless old woman like her possibly walk out safely? Consort Jiang was also displeased: "Nanny Huang is my person. What right do you have to dispose of her?" The Princess Consort raised an eyebrow. "Your people? So Consort Jiang admits that everything that happened today was orchestrated by you?" "Good. You all heard that, sisters. So that when the Prince returns, Consort Jiang can't deny it and pretend I've wronged someone!" The Princess Consort ignored Consort Jiang and turned to Xing'er and Dong'er. "You two aided in evil deeds with wicked intentions! Death is too good for you, but you won't escape punishment..." Dong'er and Xing'er quickly knelt and begged for mercy. Just then, Wan Linlang suddenly bowed. "Princess Consort, this servant would like to plead for the maid Xing'er." "Why?" Wan Linlang: "Thanks to the maid Xing'er's soft heart, she let Zisu come find this servant, allowing me to save Sister Lian at the critical moment." "Please, Princess Consort, in light of Xing'er's actions, show her leniency." The Princess Consort nodded slightly. "Fine. But regardless, neither of you can continue serving by Consort Jiang's side." "Dong'er will receive twenty strokes of the cane and be sent to the estate to do manual labor, never to return to the manor. Xing'er will receive ten strokes and be sent to the laundry." Dong'er cried out, "Princess Consort, have mercy! Have mercy! This servant knows she was wrong. This servant doesn't want to go to the estate..." She had been sold into the Jiang family as a child to serve the young miss, pampered her whole life—how could she endure the harsh life at the estate? And being sent there for such a reason, she would surely be ground down to death! Xing'er silently prostrated herself. "This servant thanks the Princess Consort for her mercy." Only then did Consort Jiang realize something was wrong! The maids and matrons she had brought from home had all been dealt with. Now she was alone in this manor, isolated and surrounded by enemies—wasn't she at everyone's mercy?! Consort Jiang tried to argue, but the Princess Consort was already tired of hearing her speak. With a wave of her hand, she had Consort Jiang dragged away. Even then, there was little fear or regret in her eyes. She was probably still waiting for Prince Jing to return and seek justice for her?