Chapter 296 Punishing the Xue Family
As Dou Wenyi left the bridal chamber and passed through the corridor, she heard faint whispers coming from behind the bamboo grove.
"...The people outside are saying really nasty things. Many people are saying that my brother married into the family and wants to take advantage of the Princess's childless line. I think my brother is also obsessed."
The one speaking was Xie Mengyao.
Mentioning this incident made Madam Xue furious, and her anger surged even more fiercely.
Even though the eldest princess has lost power, she still doesn't take the Xie family seriously. They can't even decide where the wedding banquet was originally to be held, so there's no way to expect Princess Fu'an to be filial to her parents-in-law.
"It's getting late. When shall we return? Will my brother bring his new bride to serve tea tomorrow?"
Madam Xue looked extremely unpleasant and replied perfunctorily, "Your brother said that tomorrow he has to accompany Princess Fu'an to the palace to express her gratitude, so he may not have time to serve tea. We don't need to bother him."
"What? What kind of talk is this!" Xie Mengyao exclaimed in disbelief.
Whichever bride wants to serve tea can do so, or if she doesn't want to, she can simply skip the tea ceremony altogether?
Xie Guidu didn't just marry a wife, he clearly married an ancestor!
Madam Xue didn't want to talk about this upsetting matter anymore, so she changed the subject and said, "Yao'er, did you see that slut at the banquet? Other noble ladies would rather hide in their rooms than break off their engagements, but she came all the way here. I think she's shameless and just wants to cause trouble on purpose."
Xie Mengyao frowned slightly. "Mother, Princess Fu'an has a good relationship with her. Besides, Fu'an is the Crown Prince's sister. It must have been Fu'an who sent out the invitation."
Madam Xue snorted coldly, "She's just a slut who got a good deal by marrying into a family to ward off bad luck. She really thinks she's so capable? Besides, which emperor in history didn't have three palaces and six courtyards with three thousand beauties in his harem? Didn't you see how arrogant she was just now? It was disgusting."
"No one is lucky forever, and no flower blooms forever. Just wait and see, that wretched slut will suffer a lot later!"
Xie Mengyao's brows furrowed with impatience, but she still subconsciously reminded her, "Mother, today is my brother's big day. Please don't say such things anymore. After all, she is the Crown Princess. If you continue to speak so carelessly, you might bring trouble upon yourself..."
Madam Xue was completely unconcerned, her tone disdainful. "Hmph, do you think I'm afraid of her? The Crown Prince doesn't seem to favor her much either. He didn't even come today. I bet she'll be all alone for a long time to come!"
Since Xie Mengyao was imprisoned in Dali Temple by Xie Guidu and suffered, she has developed a deep sense of awe for power and would never dare to be as arrogant as before.
"Mother, she is no longer the unpopular fourth young lady of the Dou family. She is the Crown Princess and will be the Empress of the Great Zhou in the future. She is not someone we can afford to offend. You should watch your words!"
Upon hearing this, Cuizhi's expression changed instantly, and her hands clenched into fists.
Even today, do they still dare to insult their master so recklessly? Have they eaten the gall of a bear and the heart of a leopard?
She was about to yell at them when she heard a shrill male voice from the other side, "How dare you!"
Dou Wenyi looked in the direction of the sound and saw a group of imperial guards from the Eastern Palace quickly surround Xue Shi and Xie Mengyao.
Eunuch Anxi jogged over, angrily shouting, "You audacious shrew, how dare you speak ill of the Crown Princess? Do you have a death wish? How many heads do you have?"
"Father-in-law, it's a misunderstanding. We...we were just talking about the new bride, not the Crown Princess. You must have misheard." Madam Xue was startled when several fierce-looking guards suddenly appeared around her and quickly tried to explain.
"Yes, yes, we were just discussing the tea ceremony tomorrow."
Xie Mengyao looked horrified, gripping the fan in her hand tightly to cover her lips as if to hide her shock. She didn't want to go to jail again because of her words.
Anxi's father-in-law sneered, "I heard everything clearly. Now you want to deny it? No way!"
At this moment, Dou Wenyi slowly walked out from behind the bamboo grove. "If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place. Does Madam Xue want the Dali Temple to investigate this matter? The upbringing of your Xie family is truly an eye-opener!"
The air around us seemed to freeze.
Madam Xue's pupils suddenly contracted, and a look of horror gradually appeared on her face. Could it be that she heard everything?
Xie Mengyao was even more flustered, after all, she had clashed with Dou Wenyi several times, and each time she had suffered a great loss!
Moreover, she is no longer the same person she used to be.
"You keep calling me a vixen and a womanizer, it seems you have a lot of grievances against me?"
Her voice was calm, yet carried a chilling edge: "I remember you just said you weren't afraid of me? That I was all alone... Do I need to repeat myself?"
Madam Xue knelt on the ground with a thud, her face drained of color and covered in cold sweat: "This humble woman deserves to die! This humble woman was blinded by greed, Your Highness, please be magnanimous. This humble woman was foolish and ignorant, and spoke without restraint. Please punish me, Your Highness!"
"I beg you, I beg you not to disturb Princess Fu'an, after all, today is their joyous day..."
When Princess Fu'an was mentioned, Dou Wenyi's eyes flickered slightly.
It is indeed inappropriate to make things too ugly on the wedding day.
Her gaze slowly swept over the anxious Xie Mengyao, finally settling on Eunuch Anxi.
"Anxi."
"Your servant is here."
"Xue has uttered wild words and slandered the imperial family. What should be done according to the law?"
Eunuch Anxi bowed and said in a loud voice, "Your Majesty, according to the law, the punishment is light: slapping or kneeling. The punishment is more serious: ... the case can be handed over to the Imperial Clan Court or the Court of Judicial Review for handling."
The three words "Dali Temple" struck Xie Mengyao's heart like a heavy hammer, reminding her of her dark and hopeless imprisonment, which nearly made her faint.
Slap him!
At her command, someone immediately stepped forward and restrained Xue Shi, slapping her face repeatedly.
Xie Mengyao burst into tears, repeatedly begging for mercy, "Please, Your Highness, have mercy! Please, Your Highness, have mercy!"
Xue's cheeks were quickly swollen and red, blood was still hanging from the corners of her lips, and her eyes were seeing stars.
"That's enough!"
Dou Wenyi pondered for a moment, then said calmly, "For the sake of Fu'an, I will spare you this time. But gossip and slander are the source of chaos and must be punished."
"Madam Xue is getting old, and it is likely that her energy is failing, which is why she is confused and talking nonsense. Starting today, she should stay in the mansion for three months to calm her mind and cultivate her character, copying 'Admonitions for Women' and 'Inner Instructions' one hundred times each, so as to calm her mind."
"At that time, I will send the head steward to personally supervise the inspection."
"Xue, do you have any objections?"
Madam Xue was stunned by the slaps and dared not object. She kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you for your mercy, Your Highness! I will obey your command and will copy the slaps carefully, correct my mistakes, and sincerely repent."
Dou Wenyi then looked indifferently at Xie Mengyao: "Just now, you did advise your mother to 'watch her words'."
Xie Mengyao trembled and prostrated herself, replying, "Yes."
Her tone was calm, "It seems your imprisonment at the Dali Temple has taught you a lesson. I hope you will behave yourself in the future, be careful with your words and actions, and always remember your place, as well as my place. I hope you will remind Madam Xue that if there is a next time, I will not let her off lightly!"
Xie Mengyao touched her forehead to the ground, her voice trembling: "Your Majesty's teachings will be remembered! I will definitely keep a close eye on Mother."
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