The sudden turn of events left everyone present stunned for a few seconds.
"Eunuch Cao, what are you doing? Are you sure you've made a mistake?" Song Yuxiu was naturally anxious when he saw his beloved about to have her clothes ripped off.
"Young Master, the earthquake in western Sichuan has caused countless deaths and injuries. The nobles in the palace are all chanting sutras and praying for blessings, and dare not be extravagant. However, your young lady and this Miss Lin are particularly ostentatious and wasteful."
"What? Is this treatment going to surpass that of the nobles in the palace?"
Having served the Empress Dowager for a long time, Eunuch Cao's cold snorts and angry rebukes exuded a sense of oppression!
"I...I'm not..." Lin Yaoyao was completely terrified.
“Father-in-law, she is ignorant. I will teach her a lesson later. Please forgive her this time.” Madam Chen pleaded. “After all, she is my savior.”
"Let her go if you want, then..."
Eunuch Cao's gaze shifted, "Punish Miss Song?"
Mr. Chen was speechless for a moment.
“Miss Song and Miss Lin are far too ostentatious. The Empress Dowager has ordered that this extravagant trend be curbed. Otherwise, when I return to the palace, I will be unable to report back to the Empress Dowager.”
Upon hearing this, Song Ruoying was stunned.
She didn't want her clothes to be stripped off in public.
Instinctively, I hid behind my mother.
Although Chen and Song Yuxiu favored Lin Yaoyao, Song Ruoying was still related to them by blood, so this time, Lin Yaoyao had no choice but to suffer the injustice.
Then……
In public, her outer clothes and jewelry were removed.
The Empress Dowager's move was intended to send a warning to others.
Since Song Ruoying wasn't targeted, Lin Yaoyao, who had no background, naturally became cannon fodder!
The palace maids showed her no mercy, and when they pulled out the hairpin, they tore off her hair, causing Lin Yaoyao to burst into tears from the pain. Song Yuxiu was heartbroken, but dared not step forward to comfort her.
I can only watch as the person I like is publicly humiliated!
“Zhiyi, you have a good relationship with the Empress Dowager. Why don’t you plead for her? After all, Miss Lin has been kind to the Marquis’s family,” Song Yuxiu said in a low voice.
Shen Zhiyi looked troubled: "The Empress Dowager must have her reasons for doing this. I'm afraid that pleading for mercy will backfire and implicate the Marquis's mansion."
Fearing being implicated, Song Yuxiu immediately fell silent.
Shen Zhiyi sneered inwardly:
Is this true love?
Lin Yaoyao had completely lost face today, ending up wearing only a thin undergarment and with her hair disheveled.
Shen Zhiyi gestured to Hongrui to quickly take a coat and put it on her.
“Eunuch Cao, Miss Lin is new here and doesn’t know the rules. I would appreciate it if you could put in a good word for her with the Empress Dowager.” Shen Zhiyi said, slipping him a silver ingot.
"Your Highness, you are too kind," Eunuch Cao said politely. "For the past two weeks, you have been distributing porridge outside the city, which the Empress Dowager has witnessed."
"I have come today to read the Empress Dowager's decree, praising your good deeds."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Young Master saved countless refugees in western Sichuan, and you also distributed porridge and did good deeds. The Emperor heard about this, and the Empress Dowager said that she hadn't seen you for quite some time."
"I will go to the palace tomorrow to pay my respects to her."
"It's getting late, and we still have matters to attend to at the palace."
"Hongrui, present this to Eunuch Cao."
After Eunuch Cao left, Song Yuxiu grabbed Shen Zhiyi's hand and said, "Zhiyi, thanks to you."
"Hypocrite! Why didn't you plead for Sister Lin earlier!" Song Ruoying jumped in at this moment. "What kind of good person are you to play afterward?"
Shen Zhiyi sneered, "Who is Eunuch Cao? He's a favorite of the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager is clearly going to punish someone today. You want me to plead for him? Are you trying to drag the entire Marquis's mansion down with you?"
"I……"
The mother-in-law snorted, "Anyway, you've gotten all the benefits and credit."
Shen Zhi laughed spiritedly and looked at Song Yuxiu, "I've been distributing porridge for so many days, when have I ever not called you? Have you ever come with me?"
Song Yuxiu was secretly annoyed.
He never expected that this matter would reach the Emperor's ears. Had he known, he would have gone along to distribute porridge.
But it's too late to regret it now.
Lin Yaoyao was crying and sobbing beside her, but Chen Shi had no interest in paying attention to her.
If she hadn't been constantly luring her son along to distribute porridge with Shen Zhiyi, he would have definitely been able to gain favor with the Emperor and perhaps even be promoted.
Such immense wealth, just like that, was missed!
She couldn't help but feel resentful towards Lin Yaoyao.
Shen Zhiyi looked aggrieved. "Furthermore, I warned you long ago that it was not advisable to be extravagant with the earthquake in western Sichuan, but you all ignored me. Ruoying even accompanied Miss Lin to Yu Cui Pavilion every day, making large purchases. With so many eyes in the capital watching, it was inevitable that the news would reach the Empress Dowager's ears."
After these words were spoken, no one said anything more.
After all, Shen Zhiyi did say those things back then, but no one listened.
That evening, Song Yuxiu came to her courtyard and said some sweet words, "...Zhiyi, when you go to the palace to express your gratitude, you should still say a few good words for the Marquis's family in front of the Empress Dowager."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
"Thank goodness you're here."
Song Yuxiu put his arm around her shoulder and leaned in to kiss her, but Shen Zhiyi dodged him. "By the way, you haven't taken your medicine today, have you? I'll go get it for you."
"My injury has healed."
"Have you forgotten what Physician Zhai said? The medicine cannot be stopped."
Song Yuxiu nodded immediately.
After taking their medicine, the two were about to rest when Song Yuxiu's personal servant came in and whispered in his ear, "Young Master, Miss Lin was humiliated today and is crying and wailing in her room, threatening to kill herself."
Song Yuxiu immediately shouted angrily, "You insolent fool, can't you see that the young mistress and I need to rest? Even if it's official business, can't it be done tomorrow?"
"Young Master, this..." the servant hesitated.
"Is there still business this late?" Shen Zhiyi frowned.
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