Imperial Edict

Seeing that Ruan didn't say anything for a long time, Zhao Fanghua became a little impatient. She really wanted to know what tricks Ruan was up to at this time.

The front hall began to become lively, and people who looked like workers came in one after another, led by maids, carrying various things.

Zhao Fanghua asked doubtfully, "Is there anything in the mansion that needs repairing recently?"

Shuyu shook her head: "No."

After Shuyu finished speaking, she made a gesture to a maid behind her. The maid bowed, immediately took the order and turned away.

After a while, the little maid's face changed drastically and she even forgot to salute: "Your Highness, these people are heading for Fanghua Garden!"

"Fanghuayuan?" Zhao Fanghua was also shocked. She stared at Ruan in disbelief with her eyes wide open.

Ruan Shi, on the other hand, looked nonchalant. "Fanghua Garden has the largest courtyard and the best location in the entire mansion. Why should I give it to you? It should belong to me, the mistress of the house."

"Ha." Zhao Fanghua was as if he had just heard a huge joke. "This is simply ridiculous. Do you want to listen to what you are saying? Tell me loudly what the name of this mansion is and who I am."

Ruan didn't want to give Zhao Fanghua any face, and said to herself: "I have made up my mind. The name Fanghua Garden is really ugly. It should be changed to Rongshou Hall. Only someone as blessed and long-lived as me can control the feng shui of this place."

People may even laugh out loud when they are speechless. Zhao Fanghua laughed: "Oh, then where do I live?"

"As for you?" Ruan gave Zhao Fanghua a look of disdain. "Originally, I thought someone like you who disrespects elders, mother-in-law, filial piety, and husband deserved a divorce and told to get out! But my son is kind, and I am compassionate, so I'll reluctantly let you stay in the mansion and eat and sleep with the maids."

"Hahahahahahaha." Zhao Fanghua covered her stomach with one hand and clapped the table with the other hand and laughed out loud. She almost died of laughter. In her Princess Mansion, someone actually wanted to drive her out. It was really laughable. Who gave her the courage? Was it Fish Leong?

No, she is a little curious now, was the original author of this book written by a pseudonym?

Or maybe writing requires logic, but reality does not.

If he hadn't been engaged to her, how could Ruan Shi have lived happily and long? Shouldn't she have continued to live with many other families in their large compound in East Market?

Zhao Fanghua suppressed his laughter and asked, "What else do you want to do? You called so many people here, you can't just move a yard."

"Hmph!" Ruan snorted coldly, "I've figured out that the reason you're so unruly is simply because you have your own private vault. A woman about to get married actually dares to hide her own private money. Of course I'll smash your vault and take it from me. Without any money, I wonder if you dare challenge me!"

Looking at Ruan who looked as if it was her due, Zhao Fanghua wanted to applaud. Her logic was not wrong. As long as the woman had no one to rely on, wouldn't she be at Ruan's mercy?

It’s a pity that we shouldn’t have put this plan on her head.

Zhao Fanghua asked curiously, "Oh, by the way, why didn't we see Shen Xiujin on such a happy day? Shouldn't he jump out and play the red face right after the old woman finishes playing the white face?"

Speak of the devil and he will appear. Shen Xiujin, who couldn't find Zhao Fanghua in Fanghua Garden, felt so angry that he had no place to vent. He went to Ruan Jiaojiao's yard and vented his anger there before bringing Ruan Jiaojiao to the front hall.

Ruan Jiaojiao's cherry lips were bitten red. Although her clothes were neatly worn, a few strands of hair were messy and scattered randomly. She took small and hesitant steps, and supported her waist from time to time.

She looked at Zhao Fanghua weakly, but unfortunately Zhao Fanghua was blind and could not see her appearance after the pregnancy. Instead, she said to Shuyu Cricket: "Look at her. It's not even two months yet and she has to hold her waist to walk. She's afraid that others don't know she's pregnant."

The maid next to Zhao Fanghua noticed it. She was about to speak, but thinking that Zhao Fanghua and Shuyu were still virgins, she held back and did not interrupt. She just secretly cursed Ruan Jiaojiao for being shameless.

Zhao Fanghua looked at Shen Xiujin and asked curiously, "Do you know that your mother wants to turn my Fanghua Garden into her Rongshou Hall? Do you know that your mother wants to destroy my private vault?"

"So what?" Shen Xiujin said coldly, "As children, we should obey our parents' orders."

Shen Xiujin looked at the screen behind Zhao Fanghua, which was made of red sandalwood and decorated with gold and jade. This seat should be given to him.

He did so as he thought. Shen Xiujin stepped forward and grabbed Zhao Fanghua's arm, trying to pull her off her position. Zhao Fanghua struggled and her long-sleeved shirt slipped off, revealing a large area of ​​snow-white skin.

Shen Xiujin's eyes darkened. She would be his wife, and it was her duty to serve him and bear children for him.

But now, even though he was humble and begged for peace again and again, Zhao Fanghua still didn't give him a good look.

Mother was right. She had spoiled her too much. As long as she could taste the benefits of a man, she would become dependent on him. Perhaps the eldest princess who acted so arrogantly and domineeringly in public was actually more obedient than Ruan Jiaojiao in private.

The more Shen Xiujin thought about it, the more excited he became. His eyes were red and he used all his strength in his hands, almost wanting to tear Zhao Fanghua's clothes in front of everyone in the front hall.

For a moment, Shuyu and the maid beside Zhao Fanghua hurriedly pulled with Shen Xiujin, while Ruan stepped forward to help Shen Xiujin grab Zhao Fanghua's clothes, and the scene suddenly became chaotic.

"Someone come! Someone come quickly! Protect His Highness!"

The two groups were not separated until the guards entered the hall.

The guards looked at the two groups of people and were in a dilemma. On the one hand, they had orders to protect the eldest princess Zhao Fanghua, but Zhao Fanghua was engaged to Shen Xiujing after all. It is said that couples quarrel at the head of the bed and make up at the foot of the bed. If they really hurt the future prince consort today, what if the two reconciled in the future and he came to settle the score with them?

At this moment, a servant from the mansion came to report that someone had come from the palace.

Shen Xiujin was stunned for a moment, then ecstatic. Was this the imperial edict for his promotion? Since it was an imperial edict, it meant that his official position must be high.

The group knelt down together and waited for the eunuch to announce the decree, but what they got was not the decree of Shen Xiujin's promotion, but the decree of breaking off the engagement.

"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: I have heard that Princess Zhao Fanghua and Shen Xiujin have different personalities and have frequently quarreled. I hereby annul their marriage and return them to their respective clans. The mansion and land granted to them will all become the property of the Princess. From now on, their marriages will be separated."

"I hereby—" As the eunuch's sharp voice ended, Zhao Fanghua took the imperial edict from the eunuch's hands with both hands, "I thank you for your grace."

Zhao Fanghua slowly stood up with the imperial edict in his hand. Shen Xiujing, who was standing beside him, had already slumped to the ground with a pale face. Ruan, who was standing beside him, also had a pale face.

Ruan shook her head in disbelief. "No, no, my son is a top scholar in the imperial examination. He only appears once every three years. If a princess marries him, she's marrying a high-ranking official. How could he call off the engagement? The Emperor must have a better princess for him. Yes, that must be the case. My son could marry a fairy. It's that shrew Zhao Fanghua who's not worthy of my son. The Emperor must have other plans and will marry my son to a better princess."

Zhao Fanghua put on her wide-sleeved shirt, her eyes bloodshot. She would never let go of the humiliation she suffered today.

She glanced at the three of them and said, "Go to hell, all of you!"

Zhao Fanghua looked at Ruan who was talking to herself and sneered: "Shuyu, reintroduce my identity to them."

Shuyu smiled and said yes. She coughed twice and tilted her neck upwards and said, "This is the only princess in our dynasty, the elder sister of the current emperor. Her status is noble and invaluable."

Zhao Fanghua pointed at Ruan Jiaojiao and Ruan Shi, who had already stood up, and asked, "What should I do when they see me?"

Shuyu bowed and said, "Of course I should kneel down and kowtow to you, and shout 'Long Live Her Royal Highness the Princess.'"

Zhao Fanghua nodded: "They don't seem to know how to do it, teach them."

The guard at the side received the order and kicked Ruan in the knee. She could not bear the force and knelt down instantly.

Shen Xiujin and Ruan were grabbed by their hair by the guards and thrown to the ground. With a "bang", their foreheads turned red in an instant.

Zhao Fanghua nodded: "That's right. Remember, don't forget the etiquette when you see me next time."

"Oh, right." Zhao Fanghua seemed to remember something. "Just now, this Ruan family actually dared to call me by my name. What is her crime?"

Shuyu said: "This is disrespectful. According to the law, the punishment is either caning or exile at the very least, or death penalty at the worst."

"Ah——" Zhao Fanghua was a little surprised. She knew that the crime would be serious, but she didn't expect it to be so serious. In a feudal society, how dare Ruan dare to challenge the imperial power?

Ruan, who was standing beside her, was so frightened that she stood there in a daze, and a pungent smell of urine spread from under her skirt.

Zhao Fanghua admired her ugly appearance for a while, then changed the subject: "But God has a benevolent heart, and I don't want to kill any living beings. In this case, I will punish you thirty times."

"No!" Shen Xiujin and Ruan's voices sounded at the same time.

Shen Xiujin knelt down and walked to Zhao Fanghua: "Please, Princess, please let my mother go."

Zhao Fanghua sneered: "It's not your turn yet. Do you have the right to speak here?"

"What crime is there in bullying me?" Zhao Fanghua continued to ask.

Shuyu: "It is also a crime of disrespect, but the circumstances are more serious than Ruan's."

Zhao Fanghua nodded: "In that case, then I'll give you fifty punishments."

Zhao Fanghua half-knelt down, staring at Shen Xiujin with an expression of anticipation: "If you are truly filial, you can naturally help your mother endure these thirty beatings on her behalf. This concubine is kind-hearted and will help you."

Ruan Shiyan instantly felt hopeful and looked at Shen Xiujin expectantly: "My son..."

Shen Xiujin shook his head and fell to the ground, "No, no..."

If he fights fifty times, he can still survive. If he doesn't die after fighting eighty times, he will be disabled. Once disabled, he will never be able to enter the official career.