Everyone was stunned for a moment, not knowing what this eunuch was talking about.
After seeing Eunuch Zhang off, Zhou covered her mouth and began to sob.
It turns out that the Emperor's rage that King Rui mentioned just now was exactly this consequence!
The third-rank imperial concubine title that she had worked so hard to earn was taken back just like that!
There was a slight stinging pain from the whip wound on her back. She remembered all the humiliation.
Si Jinxing glanced over and saw that Zhou had always cried loudly in the past. Why was she pretending to be weak in front of Mr. Si today?
But, now that she's plump, it feels... different, yue yue yue...
Si Junshan had little affection for Zhou. He just felt that he had been traveling all these years to numb the pain of losing his beloved wife, but she never complained and kept everything in the house in order.
Having just heard the imperial edict, the anger in his heart also dissipated half along with Zhou's crying. He just said with a cold face:
"The Emperor has shown us special grace this time. We should be cautious in our future actions."
Zhou knew that her husband's heart was not with her, but she had made great contributions to the mansion over the years. As long as he did not abolish the position of mistress, she could sit in her position safely.
"Yes, I will remember my husband's teachings."
As soon as she finished speaking, the servant outside the door hurried into the hall and reported:
"Someone has come to the palace again."
Si Junshan then understood what Eunuch Zhang had meant when he left, that someone else would come to the yard.
He hurriedly led everyone to welcome the old eunuch in yellow from the Imperial Household Department into the front hall.
The old eunuch held the yellow silk imperial edict in his hand, looked around, and said with a cold face, "I am not angry, but I am dignified."
"Where is the Zhou family from the General's Mansion?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou was startled, then stepped forward and said, "Your Highness is here."
The old eunuch glanced at her, rolled his eyes, held up the imperial edict in his hand, and said in a sarcastic tone:
"Since you are here, why don't you kneel down and accept my order!"
Mrs. Zhou shuddered with fear and immediately knelt on the ground. The wounds on her body seemed to be torn open, and the pain made her sweat all over her forehead.
When the eunuch in yellow saw her kneeling, he opened the yellow silk imperial edict and read:
"By the grace of Heaven and of filial piety, the Holy Mother Empress Dowager decrees:
Mrs. Zhou of General Zhenyuan's mansion has presumptuously speculated on the emperor's will, sought favor and wealth, and failed to educate her children properly. This has brought disgrace upon the reputation of a noblewoman of the Longyin Dynasty. I hereby grant her twenty slaps on the face as a warning to others!"
As soon as the old eunuch finished speaking, Zhou's body trembled like a firewood. She quickly turned her head to look at Si Junshan beside her.
Si Junshan didn't want the old empress dowager to know about this. She had many grandchildren, but the young master of Prince Heng's Mansion was her second great-grandson, but he was insulted by his own son.
He couldn't help but wonder how Zhou had managed the household and educated the children over the years.
Now, everything Zhou did was only lightly punished because of his military merits. The emperor must be disappointed with him.
He took a deep breath, shook his head at Zhou, and stopped looking at her.
The old eunuch waved his hand, and two young eunuchs stepped forward to hold Zhou's left and right. Then a stronger eunuch stepped forward and stood in front of Zhou, with a smile on his face, and said:
"Madam, we are sorry for the offense."
Before Zhou could react, the eunuch slapped her. A slap mark immediately appeared on Zhou's fat, round face, and blood oozed from the corner of her mouth. Then came the second, third, and fourth slaps...
The yard was completely silent, with only the sound of slapping hands mixed with Zhou's soft wails.
What is that place in the imperial palace?
This dynasty is the place with the strictest rules!
Every day, there are countless young eunuchs, palace maids, even concubines and empresses who make mistakes and are punished.
Those eunuchs have long figured out countless ways to torture people, making it impossible for them to live or die!
Even the simplest slap in the face can make people suffer excruciating pain if the angle is right!
Si Jinyue and Si Jinyun watched their mother being beaten until her mind was a little confused, staggering and being held down by others. They were secretly anxious, but they did not dare to openly disobey the order. They could only glare at Si Jinxing angrily.
It must be because she gossiped about her mother to the Ninth Prince behind her back that her mother suffered this disaster!
After twenty slaps, Zhou's big fat face had already become like a pig's head.
Si Jinxing glanced at Zhou and couldn't help laughing.
Because Zhou Shi at this moment really looked like Qiuxiang in the story of Tang Bohu Spotting Autumn Fragrance, after being hit by the "face-changing kick" of the deadly scholar...
She lowered her head, pressed her lips together tightly, and didn't laugh out loud, but suddenly she heard the old eunuch shout:
"I wonder where the Princess Anping is?"
Si Jinxing was still a little dazed when Si Jinheng, who was kneeling beside her, reminded her: "Second sister, I'm calling you!"
She has not yet adapted to her newly acquired status as a county lord.
She stood up and walked up to the old eunuch, only to find that he was no longer as cold as before, but was looking at her with a smile on his face.
Si Jinxing didn't know why, but she just raised her head and said, "Your servant is here."
The old eunuch nodded and said:
"The County Princess first treated His Highness the Ninth Prince, and then the Young Master. Her contributions were immense, yet the Emperor took precedence and bestowed upon her the title of County Princess.
The Empress Dowager also wanted to express her respect for the County Princess, so she rushed to arrange her marriage.
This will prevent some people with bad intentions from taking advantage of the chaos to steal things that don't belong to her!"
When Si Jinxing saw the old eunuch say this, he glanced at Zhou who was beaten and collapsed on the ground.
This white-faced eunuch is quite interesting. He doesn't give Si Junshan any face at all.
As the old eunuch spoke, he opened the yellow silk imperial edict in his hand.
Seeing this, Si Jinxing quickly knelt down, and heard the old eunuch clear his throat and solemnly read:
"By the grace of Heaven and of filial piety, the Holy Mother Empress Dowager decrees:
The legitimate daughter of General Zhenyuan, now the Princess of Anping County, Si Jinxing, has a virtuous character, a kind heart, and is virtuous and chaste. She is at the age of coming of age.
I hereby betroth you to Prince Mo Ying as his principal wife, and instruct the officials to select an auspicious day for the wedding!"
After the Empress Dowager finished reading the decree, Si Junshan took the lead in expressing his gratitude. Si Jinxing accepted the decree granting her marriage and then remembered what Qi Moli had said this morning: "Hurry back and claim your reward..."
Compared with Si Jinxing's cheerful face and rich harvest, Zhou was really miserable at this time.
There was no part of her face that didn't hurt or swell. Her eyelids felt so heavy that she could hardly open them. The wound on her back was both painful and itchy. The itchiness was so intense that she wanted to take a knife and cut off the piece of flesh to relieve her anger!
The more she thought about it, the more itchy the wound on her lower back became. She twisted her waist involuntarily, trying to relieve the itch with the friction of the clothes.
She and Si Jinxing were kneeling in the front row. The old eunuch immediately saw her with a pig's head, crawling on the ground, shaking her waist. How ugly and disgusting she looked!
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