"You may be spared the death penalty, but you will not escape punishment! Today, I will spare your life for the sake of Madam Li. Guards, take you away and give you twenty lashes."
After saying that, she turned her face away and stopped looking at Cuiping and Li's mother.
Cuiping had been with her since she was a child, and Li Mama was her wet nurse who had watched them grow up. She knew that Li Mama felt sorry for Cuiping, but this beating was not enough to quell her anger.
"Madam..." Madam Li was about to say something when the First Madam interrupted her.
“When Aunt Li went to watch, she beat me hard, and even gagged me. I’m not young anymore, and I can’t stand the screams.”
After saying that, she waved her hand and closed her eyes.
Madam Li glanced at the maidservants beside her and gestured for them to take Cuiping out.
The First Madam ultimately showed mercy. She knew that Cuiping was someone she had watched over since childhood. By sending her to monitor her and telling her not to make a sound, she was essentially leaving the matter to her to decide.
After Li Mama left, the First Madam rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. She had been in a complete mess lately, otherwise she wouldn't have done something like this without thinking.
Sang Rui looked up at the First Madam: "Mother, what should we do now?"
Upon seeing her, the First Madam seemed to remember something and asked, "Rui'er, did you release this news or was it the Crown Prince Tianyi?"
Upon hearing the First Madam's words, Sang Rui immediately felt displeased. She wrinkled her little face and said, "It's me. I didn't see any of Prince Tianyi's people this time."
Upon hearing her words, the First Madam breathed a slight sigh of relief, but then frowned again: "Isn't Prince Tianyi at home?"
Sang Rui looked embarrassed and lowered her head, mumbling, "No, he had something to do."
The First Madam keenly sensed that something was amiss. She looked at Sang Rui, her brows furrowing even more deeply: "Rui'er, are you hiding something from me?"
"Ah?" Sang Rui was startled, her hand holding the handkerchief tightened slightly. "No, Mother, have you been too tired lately?"
Hearing her say that, the First Madam also felt that she might be too tired and had been thinking too much lately. She rubbed her temples and said, "Maybe I'm overthinking it. You and Prince Tianyi must take good care of yourselves. By the way, you should hurry up and do what Mother told you."
Sang Rui nodded haphazardly: "I understand, Mother. You rest now, I'll go back first."
"Yes." The First Madam nodded.
After Sang Rui left, her face immediately fell. It wasn't that Long Tianyi had something to do; it was that Long Tianyi hadn't even seen her.
Ever since he learned that Sang Jiang was a princess, Long Tianyi had become increasingly cold towards her, and he avoided seeing her whenever she went to see him.
Sang Rui clenched her hands tightly at her sides, veins bulging, and she gritted her teeth: Sang Jiang! It's Sang Jiang again! Why is it always Sang Jiang! She can't let Sang Jiang shatter the happiness she's finally achieved; she absolutely won't allow this to happen!
"Aya," Sang Rui called out as she stopped.
Aya stepped forward and asked, "What's wrong, Miss?"
Sang Rui glanced at her and said in a low voice, "Go and check on the recent whereabouts of Prince Tianyi."
“Okay, I’ll go right away.” Aya nodded, but after taking only two steps, she was stopped by Sang Rui.
Sang Rui looked slightly embarrassed: "Don't let anyone else know."
She was afraid that others would know she had lost Long Tianyi's favor, and she was afraid to see the disappointment in the First Madam's eyes and the mocking looks from others.
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