After Qin Jue heard Qin Jingke's account of what had happened, he glared fiercely at Ma Yuling.
At this moment, the fathers who had been kneeling on the ground also entered the palace.
"My dear subjects, your timing is truly unfortunate..."
"Qin Jingke had just finished explaining what happened when you arrived."
The arriving ministers knelt on the ground, not daring to speak.
"What's wrong? Are you all mute?"
"Your humble servant dares not."
"Ha, you dare not? I bet you dare very much."
"These are all the good daughters and good sons you raised!?"
Qin Jue threw the inkstone off the table, and by sheer coincidence, it hit the Earl of Nantong on the head.
The spot where he was hit started bleeding, and blood streamed down Ma Qu's forehead and face.
Ma Qu felt blood flowing into his eyes, but he didn't dare wipe it with his hands. Instead, he knelt on the ground with his head down, glaring fiercely at Ma Yuling behind him.
"This matter was caused by Bai Bin's daughter, Bai Tangyan. Bai Tangyan will receive twenty strokes of the cane, twenty recitations of the palace rules, and two months of self-reflection. The Earl of Nantong's daughter, Ma Yuling, will receive fifty strokes of the cane, be punished by copying the palace rules and women's precepts one hundred times, and is no longer required to attend the palace school."
The other four individuals who committed the assault will receive the same punishment.
"Qin Jingke and the other three will each receive ten strokes of the cane, recite the palace rules ten times, and reflect on their actions for one month."
"Ma Bin's disciplining of his daughter is not a problem, but he will be fined one year's salary; the other four will be fined half a year's salary."
After saying that, Qin Jue ignored the people kneeling on the ground and left.
The adults and children kneeling on the ground looked at each other, preparing to get up, when they heard Sanhezi's voice.
"My lords, gentlemen, and ladies, His Majesty has decreed that you must kneel outside the Imperial Study until the princess awakens. You are not permitted to rise, much less leave."
And so, a group of people knelt outside the Imperial Study.
After leaving the Imperial Study, Qin Jue went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Sitting by the bed, looking at Xiao Xi'er with her head wrapped in white cloth, Qin Jue's eyes were filled with heartache.
He reached out and gently touched Xiaoxi'er's cheek, remembering that the scratches on her face hadn't been treated yet.
He got up and went to a cabinet, opened it, took out a small bottle and a bottle of medicinal wine, and walked towards Xiao Xi'er who was lying down.
He sat down on the edge of the bed and began applying medicine to the scratches on Xiaoxi'er's face.
After applying the medicine to her face, he lifted the sleeve off Xiaoxi'er's right wrist, picked up the medicated wine, and began rubbing the bruised area on her wrist.
After applying the medicinal wine to his wrists, Qin Jue lifted the blanket and pulled up Xiao Xi'er's clothes over her stomach.
The first thing I noticed was two bruises on Xiaoxi'er's stomach.
Qin Jue felt sorry for Xiao Xi'er after seeing this and lowered his eyelids. He poured out some medicinal wine and gently massaged it onto her skin.
After massaging her, Qin Jue tidied Xiao Xi'er's clothes, covered her with a blanket, and sat by the bed, quietly watching her.
——————
Liuyun Pavilion
Yang Jiaojiao lay leisurely in the rocking chair, gently swaying.
"Mother Consort—, Mother Consort—"
When Yang Jiaojiao heard Qin Jingtai's voice, it was like hearing the voice of a demon.
She immediately sat up from her chair. "Cuiyun, quick, quick, cover for me! I'm leaving!"
"Yes, Your Highness, rest assured, this servant will definitely stop the Third Prince for Your Highness."
Seeing that Yang Jiaojiao wanted to run away as soon as she heard Qin Jingtai's voice, Cuiyun echoed Yang Jiaojiao's words.
Yang Jiaojiao had only taken a few steps when Qin Jingtai grabbed her clothes.
"Mother, where are you going?"
"Your subject has prepared a meal for Your Majesty."
Yang Jiaojiao felt Qin Jingtai grab her clothes and stopped.
Upon hearing Qin Jingtai's voice, he turned around as if dazed, revealing a smile that was more like a grimace.
"Jingtai...what brings you to see your mother?"
"Your subject prepared a meal and brought it here especially for Mother Consort to taste."
Yang Jiaojiao's heart was screaming, "Are you offering this to me to taste? Are you trying to poison my mother?"
Unfortunately, Yang Jiaojiao couldn't escape either, all because Qin Jingtai said that if she didn't eat it, he would take it to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
This terrified Yang Jiaojiao, who inwardly cursed Qin Jingtai.
You unfilial son, you are a complete traitor!!! If I let you take this filthy food, which even dogs wouldn't eat, to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and His Majesty sees it, having your food confiscated is a minor matter; losing your life is a major one!
I don't want to eat, but I have to.
Qin Jingtai saw Yang Jiaojiao standing there motionless, so he called out to her.
"Mother? Mother's ready to eat!!!"
"Jingtai, your mother has something to discuss with you."
Yang Jiaojiao resisted the urge to look at the food box in Qin Jingtai's hand, and solemnly spoke to him.
"Mother, what do you wish to discuss with me?"
"Mother...Mother, can you not eat?"
"Jingtai, your mother is simply not hungry, really."
"Mother, you can discuss anything with me, but not this."
Qin Jingtai pulled up Yang Jiaojiao's sleeve and led her to sit down at the stone table.
Then Qin Jingtai placed the food box in his hand on the stone table and opened the food box.
Upon opening the food box, I saw plates of black stuff and a bowl of soup with black and yellow floating matter on top.
Qin Jingtai took the items out of the food box one by one and placed them in front of Yang Jiaojiao.
After all the plates and bowls were set out, she looked at Yang Jiaojiao and said, "Mother, please try some."
As he spoke, Qin Jingtai made a gesture of invitation.
Yang Jiaojiao stared blankly at the chopsticks shoved into her hand. Then, looking at the "food" laid out in front of her, she swallowed hard and pursed her lips.
He had just stretched out his hand holding the chopsticks when he had to immediately pull it back.
His eyes held a hint of pleading?
"Jingtai, your mother is full and really can't eat anymore... Your mother... will be leaving now."
As Yang Jiaojiao was about to leave, she was stopped again by Qin Jingtai, who was quick-witted and agile.
"Mother, please try it. Even the Imperial Chef Shi Tian said it's very well made."
Hehehe
Under Qin Jingtai's unwavering gaze, Yang Jiaojiao finally picked up her chopsticks and grabbed a piece of green vegetable.
However, the greens had all turned black.
He looked at it again and again, then closed his eyes, opened his mouth wide, and put it in his mouth.
Less than three seconds after putting it in her mouth, Yang Jiaojiao finally couldn't hold back and broke down.
"vomit--"
"vomit--"
Yang Jiaojiao ran away
Qin Jingtai was left standing there, staring blankly in the direction Yang Jiaojiao had run off to.
"Aunt Cuiyun, do you think it's because my cooking is terrible? Otherwise, why does Mother always eat my food like this?"
"Third Prince...you...are indeed not suited to cooking."
"But my eldest brother can cook delicious food for me, so I want my sister to eat the delicious food I make too. That way, she'll like me even more."
After saying those words, Qin Jingtai's mood plummeted.
"Each of the Third Princes has their own special talents, and the Princess wouldn't dislike you just because you can't cook well."
"As long as Your Highness treats the little princess with sincerity, she will also like you very much."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
