A shout came from the courtyard: "Good! Today, without our boss's orders, no one can speak for the county magistrate!"
Liang Shuyan was somewhat incredulous. She quickly stepped forward and blocked the man's path.
The man looked at Liang Shuyan, his lips curling upwards, and said, "What's wrong? You, an old woman, are asking me to talk about something that even men can't handle? Don't you think that's a joke?"
"Get your boss out here!"
A single, resounding statement left the man before him somewhat incredulous. He rubbed his eyes with his rough hands, and only after confirming it did he murmur, "You... you're even more powerful than your county magistrate?"
Those around her glanced at her and began to discuss among themselves. They felt that Liang Shuyan shouldn't have gotten involved with these bandits. They thought that no matter how good Liang Shuyan was, she would never be able to explain things to the bandits.
A firm voice rang out from the crowd: "You bunch of fools, don't you even know who's standing in front of you? How dare you speak to a woman like that? Don't you want your heads? Or are you planning to wipe out your entire bandit den?"
Everyone looked over at the sound and saw that Li Zheng had arrived with Princess Sweetheart. His back was slightly hunched, and he followed closely behind Princess Sweetheart. Aunt Liu exclaimed in surprise, "Oh dear, you ignorant bandits, don't you know who this is? Princess Sweetheart is Ruren's mother!"
Aunt Liu's words brought trouble to Liang Shuyan. Unexpectedly, the Empress was also following behind Princess Sweetheart. Dressed in a crimson dress, she heard someone say such a thing and said with a stern face, "Who said that my Princess Sweetheart is the mother of some so-called Lady? Who is it?"
Everyone felt immense admiration and respect for Princess Sweetheart. But the person in front of them was the Empress, the head of the harem. Offending the Empress was tantamount to losing one's life.
Although Aunt Liu was an ignorant peasant woman, she was still very clear about this point. Her trembling hands couldn't help but shake inside her sleeves, and her old face turned pale.
"She, her aunt, I, I didn't mean it, what I mean is?"
How could Liang Shuyan not understand Aunt Liu's meaning? Aunt Liu wanted to warn these bandits, but in the end, it was still to protect her. If she couldn't stand up for Aunt Liu at this time, wouldn't it be a waste of Aunt Liu's sincere protection of her?
Liang Shuyan leaned close to Aunt Liu's ear and whispered, "Don't worry!"
Aunt Liu's tense mood was slightly relieved. Liang Shuyan glanced at the Empress in front of her and then knelt on the ground: "This humble woman greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand years!"
The Empress looked at Liang Shuyan before her, then at the people kneeling on the ground behind her, and couldn't help but sneer: "What, you still dare to call yourself a commoner? Do you think you're some kind of princess's mother?"
Liang Shuyan's body trembled slightly: "No, Your Majesty, I only said that in my haste when I saw the princess arrive. It was not my true meaning. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
The Empress winked at the guards beside her, as if she were about to take Liang Shuyan away. Princess Tianxin, who was standing to the side, immediately became anxious and hurriedly came to the Empress's side, tugging at the Empress's sleeve and pleading, "Mother, please calm down. Before you found Tianxin, wasn't she being taken care of by Madam Ru? She didn't do anything wrong."
The Empress was surprised that Princess Sweetheart had sided with Liang Shuyan. She then said, "You insolent fool! You are my princess. How dare you call a commoner 'mother'? Where do you think you are putting me?"
Liang Shuyan, along with her son and daughter-in-law, knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly to the Empress. Even the arrogant Li Zheng, who had been so haughty just moments before, obediently knelt to the side, quietly listening to the Empress's reprimand.
"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong, but this matter has nothing to do with anyone here, nor with the princess. I beg Your Majesty to calm your anger. Whatever punishment you are willing to give me, I will accept it!"
The Empress glanced at Liang Shuyan kneeling on the ground and said firmly, "Don't think that just because the Emperor has given you the title of Lady, you're something special. Don't forget, the Emperor won't always protect you. If you don't want to implicate your family, then behave yourself."
At this moment, Liang Shuyan dared not raise her head. Her heart was pounding. If she said another word, the Jin family would probably be doomed.
Sweetheart Princess took the Queen's arm and said, "Mother, please don't be angry. From now on, Sweetheart will listen to you in everything."
Suddenly, the Queen's mind drifted to the wedding she had been arranging for the princess these past two days. Although the princess was unwilling, the Queen showed no sign of giving up.
"You said you'd listen to me in everything from now on, right? So, you've agreed to marry your cousin Yuwen Yong?"
Liang Shuyan didn't dare to look up. It felt like something had grabbed her heart. Although Princess Sweetheart wasn't her biological daughter, she had been with her for so many years, and that kinship was something she could never sever. Now, in order to save her, Princess Sweetheart was going to marry someone she didn't like?
She wanted to speak, but dared not, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.
"What, does the princess need your approval and authorization to marry whomever she wants?"
The Empress's eyes turned to Liang Shuyan, filled with a hidden murderous intent.
Liang Shuyan raised her head slightly, a smile playing on her lips: "No, of course, it's Her Majesty the Empress who decides on this matter. I believe Her Majesty the Empress wouldn't ruin the princess's lifelong happiness because of this. What do you say, Your Majesty?"
How could the Empress not understand such words? She glared at Liang Shuyan and roared, "Liang Shuyan, how dare you! Do you really think I wouldn't dare to touch you? What are the consequences of disobeying me? Have you ever thought about your family?"
"Mother, Sweetheart has only one request: I hope you will spare Ruren's family. Your son is willing to leave this place with you right now!"
The Empress's eyes lingered on Liang Shuyan for about half an hour. Finally, she snorted coldly, "I will not bother with such vile people as you today, only for the sake of Sweetheart. Return to the palace!"
The maids and servants behind her also followed her out in a large group. Liang Shuyan knelt on the ground for more than two hours. Her whole body went limp on the ground, and large beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
"Mother, are you... are you alright?"
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