The Empress Dowager summoned the old lady and the second son of the Yongding Marquis's Mansion to the palace for an audience.
Jiang Songyi and Jiang Yuyao were also brought into the palace by the old lady to meet the honorable empress dowager.
Jiang Songyi was confused and puzzled by this.
What does Jiang Baichuan’s actions have to do with her?
After getting off the car and arriving at the magnificent palace gate, Jiang Songyi and Jiang Yuyao followed the old lady respectfully, followed the eunuch's footsteps, and walked into the Cining Palace, the empress dowager's residence, to meet the honorable empress dowager.
Though over sixty years old, the Empress Dowager maintained herself with meticulous care, appearing even younger than the old lady. She sat upright on a high throne, her expression solemn, revealing no emotion, and exuding an undeniable majesty. Princess Zi Yan was also present, sitting beside the Empress Dowager, her demeanor graceful and exceptionally gentle and virtuous.
Xin Yiyan's eyes slightly raised when Jiang Baichuan limped into the hall, revealing a hint of surprise.
Jiang Baichuan's eyes were wide open with anger, he gritted his teeth, endured the severe pain caused by his father's beating, and saluted the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother's voice came from the throne, her tone calm but revealing a hint of unfathomable depth, "Everyone, stand up."
Jiang Baichuan stood up along with everyone else, but just as he was standing firm, he heard the Queen Mother say calmly, "Second Young Master Jiang, you still need to kneel."
Jiang Baichuan had no choice but to kneel down again, his legs trembling with pain.
Although Madam Jiang harbored resentment towards her unworthy grandson, she ultimately felt pity for him. "Your Majesty, regarding the cancellation of the engagement, Bai Chuan was indeed reckless and rude. We have already severely punished him. I beg Your Majesty to calm down."
The Queen Mother glanced at everyone in the hall, her tone still indifferent, "I see that Second Young Master Jiang looks dissatisfied. If you have any objections, please tell me directly."
Jiang Baichuan gritted his teeth and said with difficulty, "Your Majesty, I have not slandered Princess Zi Yan. I have witnessed her frequent visits to Xiaoxiang Tower and her friendships with others. The madam of Xiaoxiang Tower can also testify to this. The princess is of noble status, and I dare not marry above her station. Therefore, I have come here privately to cancel the engagement."
The Queen Mother asked, "Do you remember that this marriage was arranged by Ai?"
Jiang Baichuan replied: "I remember."
The Queen Mother's tone turned cold, and she said sternly, "Without my permission, without your parents' consent, how dare you publicly break off the engagement? This is an act of disloyalty and unfilial piety! Come, give me some wine!"
Jiang Songyi sighed inwardly: [Alas, this is poisoned wine! Second brother, rest in peace!]
Jiang Baichuan was horrified: This was not what his father said when he asked him to go to the Princess's Mansion to cancel the engagement!
He thought that the more ostentatious the event was, the easier it would be to resolve the marriage. Why did he have to pay the price with his life now?
Madam Jiang was also shocked and immediately knelt down to beg, "Empress Dowager, please calm down! The Yongding Marquisate will do its utmost to compensate Princess Zi Yan. Please forgive my useless grandson!"
However, no matter how the old lady begged, the empress dowager remained silent.
The eunuch quickly walked up to Jiang Baichuan with a wine bottle and a glass, and personally poured him a glass of wine. "Second Young Master, please drink."
A trace of fear flashed in Jiang Baichuan's eyes, and he looked at the old lady desperately for help.
The old lady knew very well that the Queen Mother doted on Princess Zi Yan, but she never expected that the Queen Mother would be so stubborn and self-willed. Fortunately, the old lady was always cautious and carried the golden medal of immunity from death with her when she entered the palace, just in case.
The old lady was about to offer the golden medal that could pardon the death penalty in an attempt to save Jiang Baichuan's name. However, at this critical moment, Jiang Songyi's voice suddenly rang in her ears.
I thought it was a deadly poison, but it turned out to be just a cup of home-cooked vinegar.
The old lady's hand, which had been reaching for the golden medal of immunity from death, suddenly retracted. She took a slow breath, closed her eyes, and said solemnly, "Baichuan, your father and I have taught you since childhood to be loyal to your country and to love it. Although you haven't achieved greatness yet, you should understand that the king's orders cannot be disobeyed. Since this cup of wine was given by the Queen Mother, please drink it."
If Jiang Bochuan hadn't accidentally heard Jiang Songyi's inner thoughts and mistakenly thought that the poisoned wine was actually just aged vinegar, he would have almost believed that his grandmother was really so cruel!
His grandmother let him drink the wine given by the empress dowager. Did she also know that it was not poison but seasoned vinegar?
But the grandmother couldn't hear Jiang Songyi's thoughts, so she gave him such a subtle hint, perhaps because she had a keen sense of smell and had already detected the sour taste of vinegar?
"As you command. Thank you, Her Majesty, for the wine. I will take responsibility for everything I have done. I hope Her Majesty will not blame my grandmother and my father."
Jiang Baichuan knelt down and took the wine glass from the Queen Mother, raised his head, and drank the wine in one gulp.
The Queen Mother, sitting in the high seat, saw this scene and could not help but look at Jiang Baichuan with new eyes. She had originally thought that this unruly young man would kneel down and beg for mercy, but she did not expect him to be so courageous and responsible.
Although Jiang Baichuan had already known from Jiang Songyi's inner voice that this was not poisoned wine, but just a cup of aged vinegar, the sour taste still made him cough uncontrollably. However, in the Queen Mother's palace, even though the vinegar taste was pungent, he could only grit his teeth and swallow the vinegar.
Then, he showed a surprised expression at the perfect moment, "Empress Dowager, this... is it jealousy?"
Jiang Yuyao, who had been silent at the side for fear of getting into trouble, couldn't help but show a look of surprise when she heard this.
The Queen Mother looked at Princess Zi Yan beside her with a loving look, "Yan'er, are you relieved?"
Xin Yiyan also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the Queen Mother did not really give Jiang Baichuan the poisoned wine, but only took the opportunity to warn the Yongding Marquis Mansion. Otherwise, she would be charged with killing an innocent person.
But she had grown up in the imperial palace and was well versed in reading people's expressions. Upon hearing the empress dowager's words, she immediately cooperated, taking her arm and saying with a smile as beautiful as a flower, "The Empress Dowager dotes on Yan'er the most. Jiang Baichuan's audacity to break off the engagement with Yan'er is a sign of his lack of fortune. But if he dares to disrespect the imperial family and despise this princess, a mere cup of aged vinegar will not suffice. In my opinion, he should be given a cup of poisoned wine that will rupture his intestines!"
Jiang Baichuan sighed inwardly: Women are truly cruel! Fortunately, he had broken off his engagement with Xin Yiyan, otherwise he would have become the tragic Wu Dalang in the opera!
The Queen Mother lightly rebuked Princess Zi Yan, "Never mind. You were ultimately at fault in this matter. What man could tolerate his fiancée setting foot in a brothel?"
Princess Zi Yan snorted contemptuously, "If Jiang Baichuan hadn't set foot in this land of romance, how could we have met? Why are the many rules of this mortal world so lenient for men, yet so restrictive for women? Ordinary women can tolerate being confined to their homes, but as a member of the royal family, shouldn't I enjoy more freedom? Grandmother, what do you think of this?"
Jiang Songyi sat quietly at the bottom, but her heart was surging.
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