Qing Xia poured some red date water into the cup on Ling Youxuan’s desk and then took the tea set from the midwife, to pour Ling Yongxu a cup of tea.
Who would have known that just as Qing Xia had walked behind Ling Yongxu, she stood up without warning. Instinctively, Qing Xia stepped back, her right foot unknowingly striking something. Her body tilted, and the hand holding the teapot turned towards Ling Yongxu’s maid. The maid let out a yelp of surprise, and in dodging, she twisted her foot and crashed directly into Ling Youxuan, standing by a pavilion pillar, pressing Ling Youxuan’s abdomen towards the pillar.
At the critical moment, another trusted maid Qing Wen threw herself forward, shielding Ling Youxuan from the pillar, but Ling Youxuan was still frightened.
The incident happened so suddenly that Sister Yu was stunned. When she finally came to her senses, she immediately arranged for the midwives to bring a soft sedan and carry Ling Youxuan to the lying-in room. She then ordered the maids to go to the wing room to find the midwife and sent someone to the front courtyard to inform Yang Chengyu and to summon the medical woman.
"This servant didn’t do it on purpose. It was Qing Xia who scalded this servant with hot water. In my carelessness, I fell and then..." Ling Yongxu’s maid justified herself, pale-faced. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
After scolding the maid, Ling Yongxu kept apologizing. Seeing that Sister Yu and the others ignored her, she hastily added, "I will go back immediately to inform my father and stepmother." With that, she tried to leave.
Sister Yu waved to two of the midwives: "Tie them up and lock them in the firewood room first."
Qing Xia was always cautious; it was unlikely she could be so careless. Moreover, who didn’t know that Princess Chen cared the most about her family? If she found out that the Fifth Young Lady had been in an accident, she would be thunderously angry. If they let Ling Yongxu and her servant leave, the consequences would be unimaginable.
How could Ling Yongxu and her servant stand a chance against the midwives? In a blink, they were tied up with the midwives’ belts and even had the midwives’ foul-smelling cloths stuffed in their mouths, causing them to pass out directly.
"This old servant has failed in her duties and didn’t take good care of the Fifth Young Lady. Please, Princess, punish me!" Sister Yu kept knocking her forehead on the floor as she spoke.
Considering the many years of affection between you and the Fifth Young Lady, this Princess fines you and Qing Xia a year’s worth of monthly money. Additionally, remember ten counts with the wooden board. If there is a next time, you will be sold directly!" Yang Mengchen’s face was as still as water, her pitch-black eyes cold and silent like ice in a deep well, exuding a bone-chilling coldness: "All the maids and midwives present today will have half a year’s monthly money fined, and the gatekeepers who failed to advise and intercept Ling Yongxu and her servant from entering the mansion will have three months’ money fined."
"This servant (these servants) thanks Princess Chen for her mercy!" Led by Sister Yu, all the servants hurriedly knocked their heads on the ground to show their gratitude, feeling not resentment but relief at the Princess’ leniency.
Even though the Fifth Young Lady was unharmed, they had indeed failed in their duties. Not killing or selling them off was already a tremendous mercy from the Princess.
The masters of the house were kind and never beat or scolded them. Their monthly silver was even higher than that of many noble aristocratic families. They were fed well, clothed warmly, lived comfortably, and occasionally received extra rewards. They were reluctant to leave such a blessed place.
"Ninth Sister..."
With a wave of her hand, interrupting Yang Chengyu who seemed about to speak again, Yang Mengchen softly said, "Let’s separate and detain Ling Yongxu and her servant first, and have people watch them closely. After this afternoon’s competition ends, we’ll invite Uncle Ling and Aunt Ling to discuss how to deal with this."
Everyone was filled with indignation, but Yang Mengchen’s words were reasonable. Ling Yongxu was, after all, Ling Changkai’s daughter, and they couldn’t handle her rashly.
Yang Chengyu nodded and excused himself to join the group in one review before going inside to accompany his wife.
Butler Huo immediately went to carry out the order.
The noon hour had passed, Sister Fan hurriedly led the staff to prepare meals. The Princess still had to compete in the afternoon and needed to eat and rest well; otherwise, how could she perform?
The incident at the competition field was promptly spread by eagerly attentive people, and everyone rushed to circulate Yang Mengchen’s well-copied literary works. Seeing that Yang Mengchen’s poetry was even better than Long Xuanmo’s, almost everyone was astonished.
No matter in the past or the present, the power of public opinion is always startling. From then on, no one regarded Yang Mengchen, the peasant girl, lightly, and there was no longer talk of her being unworthy of Long Xuanmo. Instead, they spoke of a match made in heaven, transforming the couple’s love story into a legend, leaving Yang Mengchen between laughter and tears upon hearing it.
All were saddened when they heard Yang Mengchen would no longer write poetry, lamenting the loss.
The literary men and scholars hung their heads in frustration—who could rival this? Princess Chen had such talent and yet decided to give it up, something they could not even produce if they tried. Fortune really favored Princess Chen!
However, upon hearing Old Hai’s words and reflecting on Princess Chen’s actions, which truly were for the nation and the people, everyone praised and extolled her.
And so it was that someone collected Yang Mengchen’s poetry into a volume and published it with great haste. The volume sold out on the very day it was released.
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