Chapter 261 Frame the Future Mother-in-Law
Zhao felt a chill rush to the top of her head, and her limbs and bones became stiff with cold.
She can't just accept this!
Once admitted, the British Duke's reputation will be completely ruined!
In a flash, a thought crossed Zhao's chaotic mind, and almost instinctively, she grasped at the last straw.
"Miss Meng, you are mistaken!"
Zhao suddenly raised her head, her bloodshot eyes snapping towards Meng Shilan.
"Although Jiyun is not of the Zhou family bloodline, she is the old lady's grandniece."
"Since the Song family..."
She paused for a moment, then casually continued, "So she was kept by the old lady's side."
"Now, she has won the favor of His Majesty and the Empress, and will soon marry into my Duke of Ying's mansion to continue her previous relationship with Xian'er."
"Isn't it only natural for me to protect her?!"
She spoke these words quickly and urgently, both explaining and questioning.
She attributed everything to "protecting one's own," to the natural protection an elder should have for a younger person.
Before she could finish speaking, she immediately turned her attention to the matter and retorted sharply.
"But you, Miss Meng!"
“You keep saying that Miss He saw Jiyun being acquainted with the villains.”
"If that's the case, why didn't you report this serious crime of colluding with bandits to the authorities immediately? Why didn't you report it to the capital's judicial authorities!"
Instantly, everyone's gaze in the hall shifted from Zhao Shi to Meng Shilan.
Yes, if you are the victim, why don't you report it to the authorities?
There's a lot more to this than meets the eye.
Faced with the bucket of dirty water being poured over his head, Meng Shilan showed no sign of panic.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and two lines of clear tears rolled down her smooth cheeks without warning.
"The Duchess is right."
Her voice was thick with nasal tone, sounding extremely aggrieved.
"I also want to report this to the authorities. I wish I could tear those thieves who dared to harm my child to pieces!"
She raised her sleeve and gently wiped away her tears.
"But...this humble woman cannot."
"This capital city is neither too big nor too small. Today the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion reports it to the authorities, and tomorrow the whole capital will be talking about it."
“They would say that the cousin of the Duke of England is a vicious and venomous woman.”
"At that time, how will the world view the British Duke's Mansion!"
"Your subject... Your subject is about to marry Congxian, and has long regarded herself as a member of the Zhou family."
"The reputation of my future husband and the honor of the Duke of England are a hundred times more important than my own grievances!"
Her words were sincere and heartfelt, each word dripping with emotion, perfectly portraying the image of a virtuous woman who wholeheartedly cared for her husband's family.
Many of the ladies in the hall had already shown expressions of sympathy and approval.
Meng Shilan took a deep breath, as if trying to swallow all her grievances.
Her gaze slowly swept over Zhao's ashen face, her voice as soft as a sigh, yet it clearly echoed throughout the entire hall.
"Miss Song's background is no secret."
"She was the rightful heir apparent of the Duke of England's mansion, and almost became your daughter-in-law, Duchess."
"Later, the Song family encountered trouble, and the marriage was called off. I dare not delve into the details."
"She was all alone and now she has to rely on the Empress's grace and His Majesty's bestowal of marriage to find a place of protection for herself and to fulfill the unfinished marriage agreement from back then."
"I have no desire to know or understand what her past is like or what stories she has experienced."
These words, seemingly considerate, are in fact veiled attacks!
As soon as she finished speaking, the fragility and grievance on Meng Shilan's face vanished instantly.
Her voice suddenly rose in pitch and became resounding!
"but!"
"Anyone who dares to touch my child, or harm my child in the slightest!"
"I, Meng Shilan, would absolutely risk my life for this!"
She practically choked out the last sentence through gritted teeth.
The entire Fengwu Palace was completely silent.
Everyone was intimidated by her fierce aura.
Empress Zhang, who had been listening quietly on her throne, paused slightly in the hand holding her teacup.
She stared blankly at the woman in the hall, whose figure was slender yet whose back was ramrod straight.
I'd risk my life for it...
Empress Zhang's heart was deeply wounded by these words.
Her fingertips unconsciously touched her flat stomach.
There, a vibrant life was once nurtured.
if……
If that child had been born safely, he would be about six months old by now.
She can babble and reach out her soft little hands to grab her fingers.
If anyone dared to harm her child, she thought, she would do whatever it took to tear them to pieces, just like Meng Shilan before her.
In an instant, the scrutiny and majesty that belonged to the emperor and empress vanished.
Instead, there is a sense of compassion and empathy from a fellow mother.
Meng Shilan keenly noticed the change in Empress Zhang's expression.
She immediately bent down and kowtowed respectfully towards the phoenix throne.
"Your Majesty the Empress."
Her forehead pressed against the cool lapis lazuli brick, her voice clear and earnest.
"This humble woman never intended to disturb Your Majesty's peace on such an occasion, nor did she have any intention of making things difficult for anyone."
"But my child is the apple of my eye, the life itself!"
"This humble woman dares not make a rash judgment. On that day, was Miss Song coerced by the villains and a victim herself? Or was she an accomplice in kidnapping my child?"
"I simply don't understand why the Duchess of Yingguo spoke so harshly and so urgently on her behalf, denying everything!"
This final question struck Zhao's heart like a heavy hammer blow.
Zhao's face turned from green to white, then white to green again, a truly fascinating sight.
She never expected that Jiang, the concubine who used to be quiet and easily manipulated in the backyard of the Duke of England's mansion, would turn out to be the same person she had been dealing with.
Now they've become so sharp-tongued and aggressive!
"Meng Shilan!"
Zhao's voice trembled uncontrollably from her breathlessness.
She pointed at Meng Shilan's back and shouted sternly.
"I have no grudge against you, why are you accusing me like this?!"
"How can you face Xian'er in the future if you frame your future mother-in-law like this?!"
This was her last weapon.
Use Zhou Congxian and their future relationship to pressure her!
However, Meng Shilan didn't even turn her head.
She seemed not to hear Zhao's roar at all, but simply maintained her bowing posture and bowed again to Empress Zhang on the phoenix throne.
"I humbly beg Your Majesty to investigate and do justice for me!"
"To clear the names of all those who have been kept in the dark!"
"Let the truth of this matter come to light!"
Her voice echoed throughout the empty hall, resounding and deafening.
There is no turning back now.
The arrow is on the string, and it must be released.
Empress Zhang looked at Meng Shilan kneeling before the prince, and then glanced at Zhao Shi, whose face was ashen and who was swaying precariously.
The tenderness and compassion in her eyes were gradually replaced by a cold indifference.
She slowly put down the teacup, the jade porcelain clinking against the table with a crisp, light sound.
In this quiet hall where you could hear your own breathing, it was exceptionally clear.
"Come……"
She was about to speak when she ordered the head lady-in-waiting to immediately report to His Majesty and thoroughly investigate the matter.
Just then—
"His Majesty has arrived!"
A clear and high-pitched voice, like a thunderclap, resounded from outside the hall!
Everyone turned around in astonishment.
All that could be seen was the grand entrance to the Phoenix Palace.
A figure in bright yellow, surrounded by eunuchs and palace servants, strode in against the light, his movements powerful and graceful.
Why is it so quiet?
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