"The Crown Princess Consort asks, and I shall tell all I know, holding nothing back." Liao Zhiyan’s heart was a tumult of panic and bitterness, yet her face displayed only reverence.
Yang Mengchen asked slowly and deliberately, "The Crown Prince stayed at the border for several years, and it has been five or six years since he returned to The Capital before our grand wedding. During that time, why did Ms. Liao and the Liao family not seek out the Crown Prince to fulfill the marriage promise?
Furthermore, when the Crown Prince and I were wed, the Emperor issued an edict that was proclaimed throughout the realm. Ms. Liao’s father, being a Magistrate, would not have been unaware of this decree. Why did he not immediately send a memorandum, or come to The Capital to explain the situation to the Emperor?
Don’t tell me Hanba Prefecture is too far from The Capital. It has been over three years since the Emperor bestowed the marriage. Even if you had to crawl, you should have reached The Capital by now. Why is it only now that you come to The Capital?"
People nodded in agreement.
At the time the imperial marriage decree was issued, it caused an uproar. Even if Hanba Prefecture is far from The Capital, more than three years have passed, and surely they should have known by then—especially since Liao Zhiyan’s father is a Magistrate. It truly is strange why they only now seek out the Crown Prince.
"Father and mother said that the Crown Prince’s status is too noble, and my family’s background is not worthy of him, hence they always persuaded me not to take the Crown Prince’s promise seriously. But my love for the Crown Prince is deep-rooted, and I firmly believe that he is an honorable man who keeps his promises. So I waited earnestly for him, only to not only not see his return, but to suddenly lose my family to a rebellion, leaving me now, alone..."
Liao Zhiyan defended herself tearfully, while positioning herself in what she thought to be her most beautiful pose. Every time she displayed this pose, the men would fall over themselves to serve her, sparing no efforts, even to the point of laying down their lives.
Indeed, most of the men present were moved by compassion and the desire to protect a beauty, wishing they could rush forward and embrace this delicate woman in their arms, cherishing her. Any previous suspicions naturally dissolved.
"If I am not mistaken, the rebellion happened only last year." Liao Zhiyan’s attempt to invoke sympathy through her tragic experiences in order to accuse Wende and her would depend on her agreement. Yang Mengchen’s eyes flashed with a chilling light: "Ms. Liao should be in mourning for her parents. How is it that she is dressed in bright red? As the legitimate daughter of an official family, Ms. Liao surely knows this is not proper, doesn’t she?"
With Yang Mengchen’s reminder, those unaware finally noticed that Liao Zhiyan indeed wore an inappropriately bright red dress. Those who were aware didn’t dare turn a blind eye, lest they be seen as lacking in propriety.
At that moment, the glances cast towards Liao Zhiyan were filled with mockery and disdain.
It is known that a lady in mourning should not attend celebrations or feasts, and must be particularly careful about her attire. At home, they usually wear plain white, and if they have to go out, they often choose inconspicuous clothing like light blue or light yellow.
Now, less than a year into her mourning period, Liao Zhiyan was wearing ostentatious bright red and parading through the streets, which could be considered greatly disrespectful and unbecoming.
A legitimate daughter of an official family who doesn’t even know this much is bound to have questionable morals. No wonder the Crown Prince didn’t favor her.
Upon hearing the derision of the people and seeing their scornful looks, Liao Zhiyan was stunned.
She had always known that bright red suited her beauty best. She intended to use it to humiliate that lowly woman. Not only was that lowly woman less beautiful than her, devastatingly charming as she was, but she also had a prior marriage promise with the Crown Prince. Even if that lowly woman had already married the Crown Prince, now that she had arrived, that woman could only be a concubine.
So, with the intent to shame that lowly woman, she chose her favorite bright red, ignoring that she was still in her mourning period or perhaps, deep down, she actually hated her parents bitterly. If it wasn’t for their interference, she would have married the Crown Prince long ago, and wouldn’t be in this humiliating situation now.
Unexpectedly, this despicable person had seized her vulnerability and deliberately ridiculed her in public, making her feel as if she had been stripped naked before everyone, losing all face and dignity. With this, even if she married the Crown Prince, she could no longer become the Official Wife.
This lowly woman, how malicious and cruel her intentions are!
Wet Nurse Zhou was also at a loss. She had reminded the young mistress that such attire was inappropriate, but the young mistress wouldn’t listen, and there was nothing she could do.
Seeing the young mistress she had cherished like a treasure from childhood now being humiliated by everyone, her heart ached. ƒгeewebnovёl_com
Besides, things had come to this, and if the young mistress couldn’t marry the Crown Prince, her life would be utterly ruined. She couldn’t just stand by and watch the young mistress become a nun or die.
Thus, Wet Nurse Zhou raised her head and declared loudly, "The Crown Prince clearly gave his marriage promise to Ms. Liao first. My young mistress has been waiting earnestly for the Crown Prince for more than a decade. Now the Crown Prince reneges on his promise, discards my young mistress to marry another, and even forces my young mistress to remarry, clearly driving her to death. Where is justice in this?"
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