Upon hearing this, the old lady realized that both sides were attacking her family's upbringing and traditions, which meant they had completely broken off relations.
She said sarcastically, "Auntie, wouldn't it be better to just explain what happened today?"
“Very well,” Madam Xie readily agreed, “The old lady is right.”
“Princess Consort, there’s no one else here. Just tell the truth. So many people were injured because of you today; there needs to be an explanation.”
The old lady said bluntly, "Although the Marquis's mansion has not been established for long, it is still the Marquis of Pingyang, personally appointed by His Majesty. It is not a place for tantrums and unruly behavior."
Xie Xiangxiang has no way out. Although today's events haven't become common knowledge, everyone present knows that it can no longer be concealed.
“I saw my elder sister go to Moon Lake Garden in a carriage. Yin Jin’an and Li Yunmu followed her. After they went in, they kept the gate tightly closed and did not come out. Men and women are strictly separated. My elder sister’s actions are indeed suspicious.”
Xie Xiangxiang recounted what she had observed, as well as the conversation between Zhang Qing, Xia Hua, and Cheng Yu.
She turned to Xia Hua and asked, "But is it true?"
Xia Hua knelt down with a thud, pointed to the sky and swore, "This servant dares not lie, it is indeed so. I did not see when Madam Xie went to the garden."
Suppressing her anger, Madam Xie said coldly, "First of all, who gave you the audacity to follow your master? Secondly, you suspect the Grand Secretary's wife of having ulterior motives just because they entered the garden together?"
"Cheng Yu's presence at the scene proves that the adultery was successfully caught? What a joke."
Why was Cheng Yu so bold as to swindle you out of your bracelet? Because she was fearless and had nothing to hide! And having swindled your bracelet, she could use it as evidence against you for slandering the Grand Secretary's wife! It's laughable that you fools are still thinking of catching her in the act.
"Yin Er didn't kill you on the spot because of the Grand Secretary's wife, otherwise would he have let you and your servants go? Ha, who has Yin Er ever been afraid of?!"
Xia Hua and Xie Xiangxiang were both speechless.
Everything now proves that they did not meet in secret, but rather met openly and honestly to discuss business.
Although men and women are now strictly separated, there is no rule that forbids them from discussing matters.
Madam Xie continued, "The Marquis's wife led so many people to catch the adulterers based on just one sentence from this lowly maid?"
Madam Tu wished she could disappear into the ground, but she had to force herself to speak: "The Crown Prince's wife said that when the Third Madam was a young girl, she had dealings with Yin Er and Li Er, and that they contributed more than thirty loads of dowry to her. This is bound to arouse suspicion, after all, they are sisters."
Madam Xie was so angry that she wanted to chop Xie Xiangxiang in half with a knife. She had never seen anyone slander her own sister like this.
“Madam, your heart and eyes are tainted; everything you see is tainted. The Grand Secretary’s wife, Second Young Master Yin, and Second Young Master Li are childhood friends. The amount of money they contribute is just a matter of social obligation.”
Madam Xie wanted to berate Xie Xiangxiang, but after all, she was a girl from her own household. If she humiliated her or exposed her past, she feared that her life in her husband's family would be difficult.
Who knew Xie Xiangxiang wouldn't appreciate it at all, and instead tore off the mask, saying, "Since they are childhood friends, what can't they say in the mansion? Why did they have to go to such a secluded garden to say it? If Yin Er and Li Er had come to the mansion to talk openly, there wouldn't have been so many misunderstandings. As a result, someone in the mansion was injured by Yin Er. Who will take responsibility for this?"
Madam Xie was furious and was about to scold her when Xie Zhaozhao stopped her.
Xie Zhaozhao said to Xie Xiangxiang, and also to the old lady and Tu Shi: "Logically speaking, I don't need to explain to you what I do."
"But since you are so unrepentant, I will tell you this once."
"Although Young Master Yin and Young Master Li do not hold official positions, they have connections in the Imperial Guard and the Palace Guard. Arranging for my brother to enter the Palace Guard would not be a problem. Therefore, I will ask them for help for my brother's sake. Even if they are childhood friends, we should find a proper setting to discuss things when asking for help."
"Moon Lake Garden belongs to His Majesty. I chose to discuss matters there because I have a clear conscience."
"There may be no one there on the surface, but there are people everywhere, as you've seen today. This is a royal holy site; who would dare to act recklessly?"
She didn't say that the garden was a gift from His Majesty to Gu Shaoyu; she only said that it was the royal garden, and anyone who dared to do anything despicable there would probably have no reason to live.
"Last time you framed me with a witchcraft doll, and this time you're trying to smear me again. Xie Xiangxiang, are you vicious or stupid? Do you really think I won't teach you a lesson?"
"You want to talk to me about rules? You should first ask yourself, have you fulfilled your duties as a woman of virtue, speech, appearance, and work?"
“Xie Xiangxiang, now that you’ve married the heir apparent, your mother-in-law and husband will naturally be in charge of disciplining you. Your maternal family can’t punish you, and your elder sister can’t discipline you either. However, a first-rank imperial consort can discipline you.”
Xie Xiangxiang stared at her with wide eyes. What did Xie Zhaozhao mean by saying these words?
Xie Zhaozhao glanced down at her and shouted at the female soldier at the door, "Guards, the young master's wife has behaved inappropriately and has been disrespectful to her superiors. Slap her thirty times to teach her a lesson."
The female soldier waiting at the door shouted "Yes!" loudly and rushed in. Without saying a word, two of them held her down and one slapped her in the mouth.
Enraged, Xie Xiangxiang yelled at Xie Zhaozhao, "How dare you hit me? I'm your own sister, you were raised by my mother, how could you be so cruel?"
"Attack!" Xie Zhaozhao ordered calmly.
The female soldiers were all extremely fierce. Xie Zhaozhao told them that she would send them to the battlefield to kill the enemy and become female generals.
They trained every day, and their hands became calloused, like iron plates.
He slapped Xie Xiangxiang without even using a bamboo stick, and went straight for his hands.
He slapped her thirty times, each slap harder than the last.
After being slapped ten times, Xie Xiangxiang fainted.
These female soldiers are really ruthless. They'll beat someone even if they're unconscious. They'll hold them up and slap them 30 times.
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