After a long silence, Princess Linhuang bit her lip and said in a low voice, "Mother, you can't be so biased. Changyin is your granddaughter, and so is Fende. Even if Fende said something inappropriate, Changyin, as her younger sister, shouldn't have talked back like that and even falsely accused her brother..."
"Disrespectful?" The Empress Dowager's face darkened completely, her voice sharp and stern.
"Linhuang, if you insist on using these words to bully Changyin, an orphan, then I must ask you: in our dynasty, the order of seniority is based on rank, while age is based on seniority. Changyin is a county princess, while Fende is merely a county lady. So, wouldn't today's events be considered an act of insubordination by Fende, offending the county princess?!"
"Mother, Empress Dowager, this, this..." Princess Linhuang had just shot herself in the foot, her face immediately filled with panic.
The Empress Dowager looked at her coldly, "What's wrong? Didn't you insist on distinguishing between seniority and rank? Now that I've granted your wish, what do you want to say? Does it mean that only your children can be distinguished by seniority, but other people's children can't be distinguished by whether they are legitimate or illegitimate?"
Princess Linhuang had not encountered any obstacles from the Empress Dowager for many years. For a moment, she felt resentful and did not even think that it was her fault, but rather that the Empress Dowager was too biased.
The Empress Dowager, seeing the look in Princess Linhuang's eyes, was also extremely disheartened.
After the Empress Dowager gave a cold laugh, her gaze became stern and sharp, completely abandoning any sympathy or pity she might have felt for her.
"Linhuang, Changyin's mother, Xinglin, grew up under my care. In my heart, she is my own daughter, and her only daughter, Changyin, is my own granddaughter! Remember this well!"
Princess Linhuang knew, of course, that the Empress Dowager meant to tell her that Changyin was different from her.
However, Princess Linhuang pretended not to understand, stubbornly insisting, "Mother, your words are biased. Xinglin is your daughter, but aren't we, the concubine's daughters, also your daughters?"
The Empress Dowager had become so obsessive that she felt heartbroken and powerless towards Princess Linhuang. Faced with such a stubborn princess, she put away her affection and only showed the majesty of the Empress Dowager as the legitimate mother.
"You are a concubine's daughter, while Xinglin is my legitimate daughter! Xinglin's marriage was also conducted according to the rites for a legitimate princess. Therefore, among all the princesses left by the late emperor, only Xinglin's daughter was born as a county princess, and after coming of age, she was granted the title of county princess, equivalent to the legitimate daughter of a prince. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Princess Linhuang's eyes were red, and this time they were truly moist. She clenched her hands tightly in resentment.
Over the years, the only legitimate princess married far away to a county, and Princess Linhuang has always relied on the Empress Dowager's favor to stand out among the other princesses.
Her daughter, Fende, was even more arrogant and self-satisfied, never taking her cousins seriously.
However, everything changed when Changyin returned to the capital.
At this moment, Princess Linhuang's hatred for Changyin reached its peak.
The Empress Dowager coldly stared at Princess Linhuang's sinister profile, utterly disappointed in her.
"Linhuang, I have spoiled you far too much these past years, letting you obsess over your love for the prince consort and forget everything else. Today, I will remind you:
Changyin's status as a county princess is due not only to her blood ties but also to the illustrious military achievements of her father, the Marquis of Changxing! Niannian's status as a princess is backed by the entire Hengchang Prince's Mansion!
And you, your honor as the eldest princess, your honor as the county magistrate's daughter, were only obtained by exchanging your blood ties and affection.
Therefore, you'd better cherish the affection I have for you! I can support you in the capital and in your husband's family, ensuring you are not bullied, but I will never tolerate your arrogance or domineering behavior!
Princess Linhuang looked up and met the Empress Dowager's furious gaze. Her heart trembled, and she slumped back down, her face pale.
Finally, seeing the distraught Princess Linhuang, the Empress Dowager softened her heart, put away her sternness, and said earnestly, "Linhuang, I hope you will listen to what I have to say today and remember it!"
"Alas, someone, escort the Princess and the County Lady out of the palace." The Empress Dowager sighed, and in front of Princess Linhuang, she instructed He Wan, "I do not wish to hear a single word about today's events outside."
"yes."
"Grandmother Empress Dowager! You can't just listen to their side of the story and wrongly accuse Fende! Fende's words were extreme and inappropriate at the time, but that was because she was angered by them!"
Suddenly, Fende stood up and knelt down in front of the Empress Dowager with a thud, crying out that he was wronged.
"Those three kids are really domineering. Rao Rao was bullied to tears, which is why Fende said those hurtful things! If they hadn't gone too far, why would Rao Rao have gotten into a conflict with those three children? Usually, the banquets are peaceful!"
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