"Absolutely true."
Ji Qingshu stared for a long time before she recognized these two as the ones who had spoken ill of her.
"Hahaha..."
Ji Qingshu couldn't help laughing. "Let's see if you dare to talk nonsense in the future!"
Two of their teeth had been knocked out, and they mumbled, "We dare not anymore..."
Only then was Ji Qingshu satisfied. She told them to stop and looked at their pig-like faces in disgust. "Send them home. Make sure nothing bad happens to them. Otherwise, they'll blame it on my elder brother again."
The two were finally released. They rolled their eyes and fainted, completely unaware that a harsher punishment awaited them at home.
...
On the other side, the noble consort had just finished listening to the maid's report while taking a break. Frowning tightly, she murmured, "A concubine daughter?"
Moli replied respectfully, "There's no mistake. I've made thorough inquiries. She's the concubine daughter of the vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Her name is Yin Zhi. She followed His Majesty to the backyard. The backyard is a place for changing clothes and taking a rest. And His Majesty stayed there for quite a while. I saw that Yin Zhi. Her hair was in a mess and her clothes were disheveled."
It was obvious that she had been bullied.
With each word Moli spoke, the noble consort's face turned uglier.
Although she didn't believe that His Majesty would be such an impatient man, what if?
"What does Yin Zhi look like?"
Moli curled her lips. "She has a coquettish look, the kind that knows how to win men's pity. Her birth mother was a woman from a brothel."
Yin Zhi took after her mother in appearance. She was indeed the type that men liked these days.
"Investigate!"
The noble consort slapped the table. "I will never allow a lowly concubine daughter to seduce His Majesty. You go and investigate quietly. When necessary..."
A hint of killing intent flashed in the noble consort's eyes. She had always believed in killing a thousand by mistake rather than letting one go. She was the only woman in the world who could get close to His Majesty!
His Majesty was hers alone!
Moli understood and bowed to carry out the order.
Anyway, it wasn't the first time her mistress had done such things. Many low-ranking concubines in the palace who had tried to seduce His Majesty and refused to obey had been dealt with in this way.
In a corner not far away, Yin Zhi, who had finally managed to escape, covered her mouth tightly, afraid that she might make the slightest sound.
The noble consort, the noble consort actually wanted to kill her!
Why?
She had never offended the noble consort. Was she going to be killed just because of the noble consort's unfounded suspicion?
While Yin Zhi was indignant, she also felt a great deal of fear. Her mother was just a woman from a brothel. If the noble consort really wanted to kill her, what could she do?
Why could those in high positions so casually decide the lives and deaths of people like them? Didn't the lowly people deserve to live?
No, she refused to accept it!
She wanted to live, and live well!
She wanted to live better than anyone else!
Yin Zhi stumbled out.
His Majesty... She had to find His Majesty. At this moment, only His Majesty could save her...
...
As the banquet went on, fewer and fewer people were interested in the games. The female guests gathered together to chat.
"The banquet is almost over today, Jingyang. Have you taken a fancy to any young men?" The grand princess was most concerned about Princess Jingyang's marriage.
Ji Qingshu wrinkled her face as soon as she heard this. "No."
"Not a single one? I think there were several young men on the field who were quite good. Especially the young marquis of the Pingyang Marquis Mansion and the young duke of the Sui State Duke Mansion. General Li is also a handsome young man. Didn't you take a fancy to any of them?"
"Oh, aunt. You can't force this. It's not like I can just marry whoever I like. I don't want to marry someone I don't like and who doesn't like me either. They are all very good, but they're not suitable for me."
The grand princess looked at Ji Junye. "What does Your Majesty think?"
"Let her decide for herself."
As soon as these words were spoken, many people below immediately agreed, saying that the princess was so noble that she should take her time to choose a good one.
After what happened today, no one dared to look down on Ji Qingshu, the Princess Jingyang, anymore.
Ji Qingshu rolled her eyes. "Aunt, you can't just focus on me today. See if there are any other young couples who might be a good match."
As soon as Ji Qingshu finished speaking, the wife of the Pingyang Marquis stood up and asked the grand princess to bestow a marriage on her son, Zhao Qi, and Yin He, the second daughter of the vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
The wife of the Pingyang Marquis was the daughter of the late emperor's uncle and was granted the title of Princess Jin'an. Later, she married Zhao Jun, the Pingyang Marquis, and they had a son. Their marriage was harmonious, and there were no messy things in the family. The young marquis, Zhao Qi, was considered an excellent marriage partner.
The two families had already communicated with each other and were just waiting for the grand princess to bestow the marriage after today.
Zhao Qi and Yin He were both pushed to the front.
The grand princess was very happy to see that the two were obviously in love. Clapping her hands, she said, "Since that's the case, I'll bestow the marriage on you now!"
The two couldn't hide their joy and thanked the grand princess in unison.
"Thank you, Grand Princess!"
After the banquet ended, Ji Qingshu couldn't wait to drag Shen Qing to meet her aunt.
"Aunt, this is Lady Guangping Marquis. She's the daughter of the Duke Protector's Mansion and also my new friend."
"Shen Qing pays respects to the Grand Princess."
"Get up." The grand princess sized up Shen Qing. "A child from the Duke Protector's Mansion must be a good one."
Ji Qingshu pulled Shen Qing up and rambled on about Shen Qing's things to the grand princess. The grand princess listened with a smile, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Since Jingyang can be friends with you, it means you should get along well. But remember, Jingyang is the master and you are the subject. Don't covet what you shouldn't covet."
Shen Qing felt a chill in her heart. It seemed that the grand princess was talking about the relationship between her and the princess, but why did she feel that it was more like talking about her and Ji Junye?
Indeed, that day in the grand princess's mansion, Ji Junye had someone send her back in a carriage. How could the grand princess not know?
Sure enough, the grand princess was so skillful at giving her a warning without showing it.
Shen Qing lowered her head. "I will surely remember my place. Thank you, Grand Princess, for your teachings."
"Aunt..." Ji Qingshu didn't understand the hidden meaning, but she could sense the warning. Immediately, she clung to the grand princess and coquettishly said, "Aunt, I've just made a true friend. What if you scare her away?"
Ji Junye happened to come out. Hearing this, he casually interjected, "If you scare her away, Jingyang might make a scene with you."
"Alright, alright," the grand princess laughed. "I haven't even said anything yet, but you two siblings are so united. You're both protecting her."
"Aunt..."
...
When Shen Qing finally got into the carriage to go back home, she let out a sigh of relief and gently rubbed her sore thighs.
Xu Yanchi and Jiang Chan's carriage was behind Shen Qing's. Jiang Chan could clearly feel that Xu Yanchi was in a very bad mood.
"Cousin, was your conversation with the other officials not going well?"
Xu Yanchi shook his head. "No. What do you think of Shen Qing..."
"Forget it."
Xu Yanchi leaned against the carriage wall, closed his eyes, looking like he didn't want to talk and was deeply troubled.
Jiang Chan was stunned. Did something happen between them when cousin went to the backyard to look for Shen Qing?
But looking at Xu Yanchi's expression, it didn't seem like he would tell her. So she didn't ask anymore and decided to send someone to investigate later.
But she couldn't help feeling a little aggrieved in her heart. Cousin hadn't taken care of her side all day and hadn't asked if she was happy today. Instead, as soon as he got in the carriage, he asked about Shen Qing. This made her can't help but think too much...
Another unhappy person today was the noble consort.
At this moment, on the carriage back to the palace, the noble consort's sharp gaze swept over Moli, and her tone was icy cold.
"How did you handle this matter? How could you let her escape?"