Chapter 91 Pei Siyan sees through the true colors of her benefactor?
The Crown Prince's entourage was grand and imposing, and the Eastern Palace Guards who accompanied him split into two groups and quickly entered the courtyard in single file, immediately silencing the murmurs.
Pei Siyan was dressed in a beige-gold round-necked, wide-sleeved robe, with a lotus-patterned leather and jade belt around his waist. He was imposing, tall, and noble. Even if he just stood there casually, he had the aura of a king who looked down on all living beings. His robes fluttered as he strolled over.
Pei Siyan's expression was cold, his indifferent gaze sweeping over everyone before briefly lingering on her.
Dou Wenyi stood quietly to the side, her gaze meeting his for a fleeting moment before she looked away, lowering her eyes to conceal her inner turmoil.
"Your Highness!"
Upon seeing the Crown Prince, Dou Mingyan instantly gained confidence. Lifting her skirt, she ran to him and pleaded sweetly, "Siyan, Mother is truly wronged! The Dou family has suffered an undeserved calamity."
Madam Gu became even more agitated. "Your Highness, please understand! This is a frame-up, and there must be a mastermind behind it. Our Dou family has no power or influence, no foundation, and is not worth such people's efforts. I think they just want to use this trivial matter to deliberately smear you and drag you down!"
Dou Wenlian twitched the corners of her mouth. Black powder was a forbidden item in the military, a matter of great importance. How could it be reduced to 'sesame seeds and mung beans' in her mouth?
Madam Gu is well past the age of naivety; to remain so naive would only make her seem foolish and ignorant.
However, one of her remarks hit the nail on the head. If something were to happen to the gunpowder hidden in the Dou family's possession, Pei Siyan and Dou Mingyan would be bound together as husband and wife, sharing both glory and ruin, and Pei Siyan would also be implicated.
Therefore, Pei Siyan will definitely protect Dou Mingyan and let her get away unscathed. It's just unknown whether he will feel resentful having such a troublesome in-law family.
Shen Yanzhou bowed respectfully to Pei Siyan, his tone sarcastic, "Does Your Highness also think so?"
He was practically saying outright that Pei Siyan was going to disregard the law.
Dou Wenyi suppressed a laugh; his sarcastic words were more hurtful than harsh criticism.
Pei Siyan remained expressionless, his tone cold, "Lord Shen is upholding the law impartially. Investigate however you see fit! I will not interfere. I trust you will not wrong an innocent person, nor will you let any bad person go unpunished."
Dou Mingyan's face turned pale. She hesitated, then stopped, ultimately daring not to say another word.
Upon hearing this, Madam Gu's face drained of color. She glanced at Dou Mingyan with resentment, then left with Shen Yanzhou and the yamen runners, looking dejected.
Pei Siyan raised his hand, and Manager Chen understood, stepping out from the crowd and bowing to Dou Mingyan.
"Third Miss, I am Chen, the head of the Imperial Ceremonial Bureau. From today onwards, I and several other matrons will teach you palace rules and etiquette. The Crown Princess's every word and action is a model for all women in the world. Third Miss, you must practice diligently and not let His Highness's painstaking efforts go to waste."
After he finished speaking, four well-dressed old women walked straight over.
Finally, Manager Chen added apologetically, "...Third Miss, if there is no improvement after a month or so, I'm afraid I won't be able to explain myself!"
Her words were tactful, but weren't they subtly mocking her poor manners? She was still Consort Zhang's person, and Dou Mingyan felt a surge of anger rising within her, but ultimately dared not lash out.
The fact that Steward Chen dared to speak to Pei Siyan so bluntly and trample on her self-esteem can only mean one thing: the Crown Prince tacitly approved of all of this!
Dou Mingyan's face turned ashen, her heart sank to the bottom, she felt a sharp pain in her eardrums, and she was utterly humiliated.
She forced a smile, "I'm sorry to have troubled Your Highness and the nanny. Mingyan will definitely study hard."
Dou Mingyan wanted to go back to her room to pack her luggage, but Steward Chen and several nannies were watching her closely and wouldn't leave her for a moment, giving her no time to pack. Instead, they said indifferently, "Third Miss, His Highness's time is precious, don't delay. The palace has everything."
The grand procession and guards of the Eastern Palace quickly departed, and Pei Siyan did not even glance at Dou Wenyi again.
Even though the Dou family noticed that Steward Chen treated Dou Mingyan with disdain, they felt it was only natural and harmless. After all, before the Crown Princess of the Great Zhou married into the Eastern Palace, she had to undergo a series of strict etiquette training.
Dou Wenyi recalled Consort Zhang's attitude towards Dou Mingyan in the detached palace and understood.
She knew very well that Dou Mingyan was Pei Siyan's savior and the Crown Princess bestowed by Emperor Muzong. With this status, today's farce would simply fade away. Pei Siyan would always side with Dou Mingyan and cover for her; as long as he wanted, Dou Mingyan would always be in an unassailable position.
Even though Pei Siyan had promised her a few days ago that he would give her an explanation, it was conditional. She had to show 'sincerity' in exchange. Unfortunately, she didn't know what was good for her and disobeyed this high and mighty Crown Prince.
That's good too, so she can get rid of Pei Siyan openly and sooner.
However, Pei Siyan was not as protective of Dou Mingyan as Dou Wenyi had imagined, nor did he become her invincible support.
——
Dou Mingyan was in tears the whole way. Even though she was crying her heart out, she didn't even get a touch on Pei Siyan's clothes before being roughly thrown into Wuxia Palace by Steward Chen and the others.
It wasn't until she changed into the lowest-ranking palace attire that she suddenly realized she shouldn't have come here at all; the Crown Princess's etiquette and manners should have been handled by the Imperial Ceremonial Bureau.
She was the future empress and the mother of the nation. She should have learned the court etiquette, speech and manners, as well as the etiquette of banquets, court banquets, receiving congratulations and worship, and sacrificial rites.
How could I eat and live with a group of lowly palace maids and learn the rules of serving others, such as kneeling, responding, serving meals, and serving tea?
Dou Mingyan never imagined that one day, the Crown Princess would suffer torment far worse than that of an ordinary palace maid, both mentally and physically...
Three days later.
The atmosphere in the Chaohua Hall of the East Palace was so heavy that you could hear a pin drop.
At this moment, Crown Prince Pei Siyan sat upright on a carved sandalwood table and chair, his cold and beautiful face appearing exceptionally stern in the flickering candlelight.
Eunuch Anxi held his breath, ready to step forward and serve at any moment.
Chi Yan pushed open the door and respectfully reported, "Your Highness, news has just come from the Ministry of Justice that Scarface Zhang San and Meng Wang have both been killed."
A line of elegant, vigorous, and graceful regular script appeared on the Xuan paper on the table. Pei Siyan's brush did not stop, and he replied indifferently, "Hmm?"
"When we left, Scarface Zhang San confessed that Xuan Ming was the mastermind behind it all. Now that he's dead, won't the Ministry of Justice suspect that we were behind it?"
Pei Siyan placed the pen on the jade pen holder, his deep gaze suddenly turning sharp as he scrutinized Chi Yan. "Xuanming?"
Xuanming had already been expelled from Tianning City by Emperor Muzong. Could it be that he harbored resentment towards Dou Wenyi and thus orchestrated this assassination attempt?
No, back then, that stupid woman Dou Mingyan almost became a woman blessed with good fortune.
Eunuch Anxi paused for a moment, then hesitated before speaking, "Your Highness, Shen Yanzhou never gets involved in factional strife. I wonder why he's showing us goodwill this time?"
Pei Siyan's lips curled into a mocking smile. This was no gesture of goodwill; it was clearly a provocation!
Back in Ru County, Shen Yanzhou had already guessed that this matter was related to Dou Mingyan, which is why he deliberately mentioned "upholding the law impartially" in front of him.
Shen Yanzhou clearly sensed his feelings for Dou Wenyi, yet he still reminded him in a way that was hardly subtle: Dou Mingyan had touched his woman?
Isn't this just a test?
I want to force him to make a statement and a choice.
Does he need to make a choice?
Pei Siyan laughed in anger, “Put your carriage at Wuxia Palace.”
Dou Mingyan was so frightened after only three days in Wuxia Palace that she became haggard and weak, feeling like she was dying. Even if she had made a terrible mistake, she was still Pei Siyan's Crown Princess and his benefactor, and she should not be treated like this.
She took a deep breath and knelt on the ground to bow respectfully, but when she met Pei Siyan's fierce and cold eyes, all the courage she had mustered vanished.
She felt a chill run down her spine, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Your Highness, I don't know what mistake I made... Please tell me, and I'll correct it, okay?"
Pei Siyan sat upright in the sandalwood chair, glancing down at her condescendingly.
Very impatient, Lian'er isn't usually like that.
He remembered clearly that Lian'er was not at all as pretentious as she seemed. No matter how difficult the circumstances, she was as resilient and vibrant as wild grass. Even when they were being chased later, she was decisive, calm, and composed, and even smiled as she made a promise to him.
—Like Dou Wenyi.
A murderous thought suddenly arose in Pei Siyan's mind: In this way, simple and efficient, Dou Wenyi could directly become his Crown Princess.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
