Gao Yue didn't know whether the princess was telling the truth or just joking with her daughter.

Xin'er smiled again, went over and took her grandmother's arm, and began to act coquettishly, "How could that be? Grandmother loves Xin'er the most. Even if Xin'er makes a mistake, she will tell Xin'er and will not punish Xin'er."

Mo Yan looked at the little girl, who was actually quite cautious, and every word she uttered carried a hint of probing.

"Of course, Grandma won't blame you. She'll just tell you what to do. Xin'er, Grandma will be very strict with you from now on. Are you afraid?"

Mo Yan looked at her gently, just as she had always done, and spoke.

Xin'er understood at a glance that her grandmother truly loved her and could sense some of her tests.

"Xin'er, don't be afraid."

During those years of companionship, her grandmother truly loved her. Her test today was simply to find out if her grandmother was still the same grandmother she had been yesterday, the one who loved and taught her.

In the past two years, she has witnessed too much scheming, and her heart has become less innocent than before.

Back then, she was carefree, with her mother and grandmother by her side, able to do whatever she wanted and be a willful young lady. But these past two years have made her realize what reality is.

No matter how well-behaved a child is, it can't compare to a father's decision.

She knew then that if she wanted things to be alright, she had to change herself.

The only thing that can make a person grow up overnight is change.

Mo Yan knew the little girl was clever, so she patted her hand and said, "Then go ahead and do it boldly. Your grandmother is right behind you."

Xin'er curtsied and turned to look at Xiangyue.

"Xiangyue, why did you bribe the people at the other courtyard to abuse me?"

Xiangyue knelt on the ground, trembling. She dared not admit anything. "Young Miss, I'm innocent! I don't know them at all, and I don't know anything about abuse."

She couldn't admit it, nor could she know it, otherwise the eldest princess would definitely punish her.

"Oh, so the steward is talking nonsense? Steward Lin, did you see that Miss Xiangyue said you were lying? In that case, send him to the authorities and let them determine the crime."

What crime is it to withhold my monthly allowance and food allowance?

Gao Yue was terrified. How could this girl be so direct? This matter should be decided by the princess, how could she suggest sending it to the government?

Gao Yue was genuinely anxious, worried that Mo Yan would think Xin'er was going too far, and also worried that Xin'er couldn't win against them.

"Please spare me, young lady! I have a keepsake from Miss Xiangyue. I'm just a lowly steward, how dare I bully you? I was forced into it!"

Miss Xiangyue said that she would eventually become the young master's woman, and warned me to be aware of the future political climate. She gave me some gold and silver, and that's when I became blinded by greed.

The stewards took out the things Xiangyue had given them before, along with some gold and silver jewelry. Now Xiangyue was speechless.

"Xiangyue, what else do you have to say?"

Xiangyue turned pale and had no choice but to confess.

"Please spare me, young lady! Please spare me, young lady!"

Looking at Xiangyue begging for mercy, Xin'er felt only irony. She wasn't like this before. She thought that just because she was the young master's eldest maid, she was superior to others and never treated her mother well.

"Since there are witnesses and physical evidence, let's give each person thirty strokes of the cane and send them to the authorities."

She wouldn't let anyone die on her hands; she'd just hand them over to the authorities and make them pay the price.

Gao Yue quickly stepped forward, "Mother, don't listen to Xin'er. This is a family matter. There's no need to take it to the authorities. Besides, Xiangyue is the young master's woman, isn't she..."

Gao Yue's thoughts were not wrong. She was afraid that Mo Yan would care about the reputation of the Princess's Mansion, and she was even more afraid that Han Wen would settle scores later.

Gao Yue had always known that Han Wen didn't like her, but in fact, she didn't like Han Wen either.

It was just an imperial decree that led to their marriage. She was a pampered girl who was betrothed to Han Wen. Her family thought it was a great blessing, as he was the heir apparent, the future prince, and the son of the eldest princess, a man of noble status.

But who knew that she just wanted to marry an ordinary person and live a simple, loving life together?

“Mother, you are wrong. Just because she is Father’s eldest maid, we cannot let her live like this. If word gets out, what will people think of the Princess’s Mansion and Father? People who don’t know the situation might think that he wants to kill me, the eldest daughter, through his eldest maid.”

After all, we need to make way for his precious little darling, right?

That good father has said more than once that he wants to bestow the title of Princess upon Han Yinyin.

She, the eldest daughter of a legitimate wife, is not a princess, yet a daughter of a concubine wants to become a princess. How ridiculous!

Mo Yan was very satisfied with Xin'er's decision. She looked at the servants and said, "What? Didn't you hear what the young lady said? Do it immediately!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The steward quickly had his men drag the steward and his wife, along with Xiangyue, to the government office.

Xiangyue continued to plead for mercy along the way.

"Young Master, please save me! Young Master, please save me!"

Unfortunately, even her heir was in dire straits.

...

At this moment, Yin Yin and Xue'er are in the Heavenly Prison. Although no one is using torture, the environment in the Heavenly Prison is extremely bad. How can Yin Yin endure it?

She kept complaining and complaining.

"Mother, when will Father finally rescue us?"

Why hasn't he come to rescue us yet? How long are we going to have to stay in this dungeon?

Didn't the novel say that it's perfectly normal for the male protagonist to order the raid on the imperial prison?

Seeing her daughter's anxious expression, Yin Yin helplessly touched her forehead. It was all her fault for spoiling her daughter too much, which made her so innocent and naive.

"Don't be afraid, Yinyin. We'll be able to go back tomorrow. You must be obedient then, don't give your father a hard time, and be respectful to the Princess."

Today was also a test for her, to see if the eldest princess was actually in charge. It seems the eldest princess is doing well and hasn't spoiled Han Wen to the point of being irrational. As a result, she needs to think things through carefully, otherwise it will be troublesome.

"Why?" Yin Yin was very confused. She was the young master's daughter, and besides, wasn't that princess her grandmother? How could they be so unreasonable and disregard family ties by locking them up like that?

"Mother, since you and Father truly love each other, why can't she grant your wish and instead try to separate you, making you... Now Father is going to such lengths to marry you with a grand procession, just to tell everyone that he loves you!"

This is the kind of passionate love she wanted: I love you, I'm willing to defy the world for you, I'm willing to disregard all laws for you.

Father, you did a great job, but that princess grandma ruined it all. She's a witch; she can't have this kind of love herself, so she doesn't want anyone else to have it either. She's just jealous. Jealous of Mother!