After listening to the General Marquis of Guangyi's heart - rending plea, Empress Dowager Kang flew into a towering rage.
In the past two years, the relationship between Empress Dowager Kang and the emperor had become increasingly tense. The bond between mother and son was as precarious as an egg on the verge of breaking. One wrong move could shatter it completely.
Thus, the string in her heart was always taut. She couldn't bear to hear children gossiping about their parents' faults, and she was even more afraid that someone would excuse a child's unfilial behavior.
When Lady Kang dug out the old affairs of the Huo Mansion this time, it happened to touch a raw nerve of Empress Dowager Kang, arousing her deepest fear.
Back then, although the late emperor didn't punish the General Marquis of Guangyi, he had personally allowed Huo Xiaoyan to move out and sever the father - son relationship with the marquis.
At that time, there was quite a stir in the court and among the people. A considerable number of people accused the General Marquis of Guangyi of being heartless and unworthy of being a father...
Didn't this imply that as long as there was a reason, disobeying parents could be forgiven?
If the world thought it was justifiable to disrespect parents, then one day, if the emperor no longer respected and honored her and dethroned her from the position of empress dowager, wouldn't the world also forgive him?
No!
She would never allow this to happen!
In her furious state, Empress Dowager Kang didn't even listen to Lady Kang's explanation. She immediately issued a reprimanding imperial edict:
It has been found that Lady Kang of the Xiao family is perverse in nature and prone to spreading rumors. On the occasion of the Dragon Boat Festival, instead of promoting family harmony, she, under the pretext of festival gifts, dug out old affairs and slandered the privacy of a meritorious official.
Her words are as poisonous as a venomous bird, and her heart is as vicious as a scorpion.
Now, she is punished to copy the *Admonitions for Women* and the *Inner Instructions* a hundred times to correct her mind!
...
When Li Wanming heard this imperial edict, she could hardly contain her laughter.
"Your subordinate also heard that the empress dowager didn't allow the Second Lady to attend the palace banquet. She was driven out before the banquet started. When the Second Lady left the palace, she was so weak that she had to be supported out."
Gao Yong stood at the side with his hands respectfully at his sides and reported in a low voice.
"I just wanted to fight back a bit. I didn't expect such a pleasant surprise." Li Wanming clutched her stomach and laughed non - stop. "Now that the Second Aunt has to copy the *Admonitions for Women* and the *Inner Instructions*, she should be too busy to pick on me!"
Chun Tao counted on her fingers and said blankly, "A hundred times! It'll take her two or three months to finish copying, won't it?"
...
When Lady Kang returned with her hair in disarray and heard Li Wanming recite the empress dowager's admonition to her word for word, she finally realized that this whole thing had been under Li Wanming's control from the start!
"You venomous woman!"
Lady Kang's eyes were like poisoned arrows, threatening to pierce two holes in Li Wanming. "You've humiliated me so much and tarnished the reputation of the Prince of Ning's Mansion... When the prince and the princess come back, they will surely not spare you!"
"Aunt, you're wrong."
Li Wanming calmly stroked the red coral hairpin by her temple. The beads glistened in the candlelight, making her complexion look even more radiant.
"Everyone in the capital knows that you prepared these Dragon Boat Festival gifts for me. I was just following your instructions. What's my fault?"
A faint smile flashed across her lips and in her eyes.
"Moreover, you don't need to worry too much. Even if you fall out with the General Marquis of Guangyi because of this, you did it to avenge our family's young lady. Our father - in - law and mother - in - law are reasonable people. I'm sure they won't blame you too much."
"However, niece still has to advise you on one thing," the coral beads by Li Wanming's temple swayed like a bright red moon.
"After today's incident, the relationship between our Prince of Ning's Mansion and the General Marquis of Guangyi's Mansion is completely severed. I'm afraid the marquis and his wife will hate you so much that they'll want to drink your blood and eat your flesh! So, you'd better stay away from them in the future and just stay on the same boat with us!"
Lady Kang gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with hatred. "Li Wanming, you've humiliated me so much. I won't let you go! You'll never be able to manage the mansion smoothly in the future..."
"Humph," Li Wanming sneered. "Even without this incident, could I have managed the mansion smoothly? I still remember how you've treated me these days."
Lady Kang's chest heaved a few times, and her eyes became even more venomous. "Fine... Fine! I underestimated you! In the future, I'll see how you can sit firmly in the position of the mistress of the mansion!"
With that, she flung her sleeves and turned around to leave.
Li Wanming called out leisurely behind her, "Aunt, don't forget about the hundred times of copying the *Admonitions for Women* and the *Inner Instructions*. You'd better hurry up. If the empress dowager gets angry, it might not be just copying books anymore!"
Lady Kang stumbled and almost fell. Then she angrily tugged at her skirt and stormed off.
After Lady Kang's figure completely disappeared outside the door, Qing Lan said worriedly,
"Princess of the heir apparent, why do you have to kick someone when they're down? You've torn your relationship with the Second Lady so openly. You might get a reputation as a shrew..."
"I've been patient with her and tried my best to be considerate these days. I even went out of my way to invite the number one scholar to be the teacher for Cousin Xiao Jingbai..."
Li Wanming looked out of the window, her expression calm. "But what's the result? My reputation may be good, but have I gained any real benefits? Instead, I've indulged her to be even more insatiable and pushy! If Fang Zhi hadn't reminded me, if I had really sent those festival gifts, do you think she would have made a big deal out of it?"
Without waiting for Qing Lan to answer, she sneered, "Sure she would. She would have spread the news all over the city and made the former subordinates of General Huo hate me to the core! By then, even if Aunt wanted to forgive me and try to smooth things over, it would have been impossible..."
"So," she slowly sat back on the soft couch, her eyes deep. "Rather than being hypocritical, it's more satisfying to tear the mask off. As for reputation? Humph, her reputation in the capital is probably worse than mine. What do I have to be afraid of?"
Qing Lan lowered her head and thought for a while. The worry on her face didn't fade. "Although you say so, the Second Lady will surely go to the prince and the princess to complain. If they really believe her slander and misunderstand you..."
Li Wanming half - lay on the soft couch and rubbed her temples tiredly. "If they insist on believing her, there's nothing I can do."
In the past month or so, she had become increasingly disheartened towards the Prince and Princess of Ning.
Originally, they went to the villa because the prince didn't want the princess to know that Xiao Jingnan had gone on a military expedition, so he pretended to be ill and went there to recuperate.
But the news that Xiao Jingnan had gone to the southern border couldn't be hidden. After the princess found out, she was so shocked and worried that she fell ill again and had to stay in the villa for further recuperation.
After Li Wanming heard about this, she immediately went to visit, but the princess refused to see her. Instead, she sent someone out to say something sarcastic:
"The princess is not feeling well and needs to rest. There's no need for the princess of the heir apparent to come in and attend to her. I just advise the princess of the heir apparent to focus more on the affairs of the mansion and learn the rules of the prince's mansion well."