Chapter 10 Imperial Edict Arrives!
Having received Zhou Ruyuan's accurate reply, Bai Qingling led her people into the main courtyard in a triumphant manner.
"His Highness has decreed that from this day forward, not only the Princess Consort may not step out of the inner courtyard!"
Shen Lanxi had already received the news from Nu Bai and had arrived at the courtyard ahead of time to wait.
"Some people are just born to be masochistic; they love to label themselves as 'bad people'!"
Bai Qingling looked at Shen Lanxi, who was sitting in the courtyard drinking tea with a carefree air, and her eyes flashed with resentment, which was quickly replaced by smugness.
Go ahead and be arrogant, let's see how long you can stay arrogant!
"History is always written by the victors. The more arrogant you are, Shen, the more the Prince will despise you. No matter what you say, I won't be angry, because the more you act like this, the more the Prince will hate you!" You'll die quickly too!
Bai Qingling, with a look of vindictive satisfaction, glanced contemptuously at Shen Lanxi and gave orders to the servants in the courtyard.
"From now on, you few will be specifically in charge of this courtyard. If anything goes wrong, you'll be beaten to death!"
Shen Lanxi's eyes were as cold as ice: "The imperial decree hasn't even been issued yet, how dare Zhou Ruyuan bypass His Majesty and imprison me? Could it be that Zhou Ruyuan's power is now so great that he can control everything?"
Bai Qingling's face immediately flashed with anxiety. If these words were to get out, it would be tantamount to treason.
"You're talking nonsense! Your Shen family committed a heinous crime that led to the confiscation of your property and the extermination of your clan. The Prince anticipated that you would implicate him, which is why he ordered your confinement!"
Shen Lanxi spoke slowly and deliberately, like a cat toying with a mouse: "This morning, Zhou Ruyuan openly defied the imperial decree for your sake. Who do you think you are? You're nobody, yet you've already implicated the prince in committing the heinous crime of defying the imperial decree. And you still have the nerve to accuse me of framing you? Even if I were a woman in the inner quarters, I would know that the blame should not fall on a married woman. The prince is supposed to be a general who leads troops into battle, yet he doesn't even understand such a basic principle. I really don't know how he won those battles!"
Bai Qingling couldn't bear to see Zhou Ruyuan being slandered like this, so she rushed over.
Shen Lanxi's cold, sharp gaze froze her in place.
“As long as the imperial edict hasn’t been issued, I will remain the Princess Consort of Zhennan. No matter how powerful he is, he can’t be more powerful than my uncle, His Majesty. My uncle hasn’t done anything to me yet, and you’re already here shouting at me? Do you think you’re more important than His Majesty?”
Bai Qingling's face turned pale. She hurriedly looked around and immediately accused her: "Are you crazy? Your Shen family is in trouble, and you still want to drag the entire Prince's Mansion down with you? How ruthless you are!"
Shen Lanxi laughed, looking at Bai Qingling with disdain.
"I never argue with scoundrels, but you've broken that rule!" She stood up and walked towards Bai Qingling.
Bai Qingling was shocked by Shen Lanxi's suddenly increased aura and subconsciously took two steps back.
Shen Lanxi appeared unhurried, but in reality, she pressed Bai Qingling step by step until she was forced to retreat to the backyard.
"See, you won't admit you're just a bunch of incompetent ragers. I'm practically offering myself up for you to beat up, and you don't even dare to lift a finger. You don't even dare to talk back when I insult you. With that kind of guts, you still dare to come up to me and act all high and mighty. Are you just born to be masochistic?"
Bai Qingling's expression changed instantly. With so many servants watching, this vile woman, Shen Lanxi, had humiliated her again!
"Go back and tell Zhou Ruyuan to provide me with the best food and drink these next few days, or don't blame me for reporting him falsely when His Majesty and the Empress Dowager summon me!"
Bai Qingling gritted her teeth, her body stiff, and glared fiercely at her.
"Yes, yes, that's the expression! I love it when people look at me with resentment, but can't do anything about it!"
Bai Qingling's teeth were practically grinding to powder: "Shen Lanxi, you just wait!"
"Some people just like to say the harshest things, do the most cowardly things, and even like to offer themselves up for humiliation!" Shen Lanxi turned around and walked back, her tone light.
"I'm a soft-hearted person and I love helping others. You jerk, if you ever act like a jerk again, you can come find me anytime. I love dealing with jerks!"
Bai Qingling was furious, but at the same time she was startled to realize that given the palace's favor towards Shen Lanxi, they might actually summon her to the palace.
Frustrated, she stomped her foot and turned to leave.
His Majesty has always been suspicious; the imperial edict hasn't even been issued yet, and we don't know what he's planning.
The quality of the food at dinner wasn't lowered, which meant her words of advice must have had an effect. She still had to stay at the Prince's residence for at least another eight or nine days, and she didn't want to deprive herself of comfort.
"Angry White, scan for viruses."
"Master, it's not poisonous, you can eat it without worry!"
Shen Lanxi didn't eat it; she simply put it into her spatial storage. Although those people didn't dare poison her, they were certainly capable of deliberately disgusting her by spitting into her food!
There's plenty of food in the space, so she doesn't need to worry about a few meals.
night
"Master, there are a total of seventy-six people lurking nearby, watching us from the shadows!"
"It's alright. These seventy-six people are keeping watch and protecting me. Rest assured!" The person who poisoned her has not appeared. This one-off deal is definitely not from the Prince's Mansion!
With these guards protecting her, she can't get out, and those who want to harm her can't get in either!
Six days passed in the blink of an eye, and the verdict for the Shen family was handed down: the whole family was exiled to Dongchuan, and they would set off in two days!
Another day passed, and Wang Bao arrived at the palace with his men to deliver the imperial edict!
Bai Qingling couldn't hide her joy; it was definitely an imperial decree to punish that bitch Shen Lanxi!
She hurriedly led her servants to receive the imperial decree, but as soon as she went to greet it, she was pushed aside by the guards brought by Wang Bao.
Wang Bao, head held high, held up the imperial edict and snorted coldly. He didn't even glance at Bai Qingling before entering the palace with an air of superiority.
Bai Qingling's face was contorted with rage, and she cursed inwardly, "Damn eunuch, you dog eunuch!"
"Imperial decree has arrived! Princess Consort of Zhennan, receive the decree!"
Bai Qingling's expression changed, and she sent someone to fetch Shen Lanxi.
"How can there be no manners at all? Where is the incense table? Are you suggesting that I, a mere servant, simply proclaim the imperial decree like this?" Wang Bao's gaze swept over the people in the Wang Mansion with a stern look.
"Who's in charge? If word gets out, the Zhennan Prince's Mansion will be laughed at!"
Bai Qingling had never received an imperial decree before and was unaware that there were so many rules involved. She quickly looked at the steward and asked him to step forward.
The steward quickly sent someone to make arrangements and also withdrew five thousand taels of silver from the Prince's mansion's accounts.
"Sir, this is a small token of our Prince's appreciation. Please have a cup of tea to soothe your throat!"
Wang Bao glanced down at it but didn't take it.
The manager understood and felt it wasn't enough. He quickly went to the accounts and withdrew another five thousand taels.
This time, Wang Bao accepted it when it was handed over again!
"This humble servant must return to the palace to attend to His Majesty's needs for writing and calligraphy, and has no time to wait for the Princess. Where is the Princess's courtyard? Please lead this humble servant there immediately!"
The manager quickly led the way.
Bai Qingling was already displeased when she saw the steward slip money to Wang Bao, but she didn't expect the damned eunuch to complain that it wasn't enough. Those thick stacks of silver notes must have amounted to several thousand taels of silver. She thought to herself that once Wang Bao left, she would definitely punish the steward severely.
Now that Wang Bao said he was serving His Majesty, I had no more thoughts about it, and even vaguely felt that the steward was being paid too little.
(End of this chapter)
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