In an imperial society, looking directly at the emperor was a capital offense of disrespect.
Not to mention, Fu Jiang dared to glare at the emperor and was caught red-handed by him.
The Grand Princess hurriedly got up from the sedan chair and knelt down. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This child would never dare to glare at you. He was in pain and wanted to beg Your Majesty for mercy."
"He's only just met His Majesty and doesn't know the proper etiquette. I will definitely teach him well when he returns."
Fu Jiang had finished slapping himself, and he realized what was happening and hurriedly nodded.
Xie Tingzhou chuckled, "Since I was a child, I have felt that my father favors Xie Yunzhou and his sister, so he thinks everything they do is good."
But today I have witnessed true favoritism. The Grand Princess dotes on her newly found grandson, even interpreting his glaring resentment as a plea for mercy. Her loving heart has moved me deeply.
However, regardless of his true nature, the emperor's majesty cannot be directly confronted, and what he just did was already an offense.
The Grand Princess naturally knew that Fu Jiang's behavior was inappropriate, but she had finally managed to save him from the Marquis of Zhongyong, and she couldn't let the Emperor execute him as well.
Therefore, she had no choice but to shamelessly continue pleading for mercy and spend a lot of money to replenish the national treasury before she heard the emperor say indifferently, "Without rules, there can be no order. Your great-aunt should indeed teach her a lesson."
"Considering this is his first offense, I will not hold it against him today. He shall be given twenty strokes of the cane and then leave the palace. There will be no next time."
So Fu Jiang was beaten with twenty more strokes of the cane, his mouth swollen, his buttocks smeared with blood, his legs crippled, and he was carried out of the palace unconscious.
The Grand Princess had been respected for many years, but this was the first time she had bowed her head and begged for mercy since returning from her marriage alliance. Her expression was very unpleasant.
“My Nianxi is so clever and intelligent, how could she give birth to such a child? He must have taken after that butcher.”
She wanted to protect Fu Jiang because Fu Jiang was very likely her grandson, which did not mean she couldn't see Fu Jiang's character.
He sighed and said to the head eunuch beside him, "Go with him to Qingzhou. On the way, tell him about the rules that aristocratic families and the palace should follow."
If she lets him continue like this, who knows what trouble he might cause her.
How much face did she have to risk to plead for him, and how long did she have to live to do so?
But then she thought of her daughter and said, "Find a few more good doctors and take them with you. Take good care of them on the way."
The eunuch agreed, and seeing that she was in a bad mood, he coaxed her, "The team sent to Qingzhou to pick up the people has already set off. In about ten days, Your Highness will be able to see your great-grandchildren."
At that time, with them attending to your every need, your household will surely be very lively.
The Grand Princess's expression softened somewhat, and a glimmer of hope appeared in her cloudy old eyes.
"After the mansion is thoroughly repaired, I also need to take good care of my health and try to live a few more days..."
But then, remembering what Xie Tingzhou had just said in the council hall, the Grand Princess's voice trailed off.
She knew a little about Marquis Zhongyong. The Xie family father and son were known for spoiling their children. If Xie Yunzhou were his son, Marquis Zhongyong would never have publicly said that he was an illegitimate child.
That means Fu Jiang lied.
The Marquis of Zhongyong doted on Xie Yunzhou, but in the end, he gained nothing. What about her? Will she also end up lying?
She stroked the jade pendant in her hand; it was the one she had retrieved from Fu Jiang.
Her two children followed her back to China, and knowing the importance of the jade pendant to them, they wouldn't easily give it to outsiders...
The Grand Princess closed her eyes. She dared not gamble. Even if she had protected the wrong person, she would accept it.
Meanwhile, the emperor was very happy.
Although the Grand Princess has been recuperating at the Imperial Estate for the past few years, she still gets involved when important court affairs arise.
No emperor wants someone to be above him, especially since the Grand Princess was very protective of the ministers of the late emperor's faction.
Therefore, he was happy to see the Grand Princess bully others by abusing her power this time.
I even wish she could be more assertive and unreasonable.
The old princess, who was praised by the world, suffered a great loss of prestige in the court and among the people because of her favoritism.
The emperor's power will be more secure.
Therefore, he would not easily deal with Fu Jiang. In his view, Fu Jiang was a restless person who would definitely cause trouble for the Grand Princess again.
Moreover, they also received an unexpected windfall.
Therefore, the emperor also rewarded Xie Tingzhou, which was also a way to compensate the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion.
Thinking that it was Xie Tingzhou, the guard, who was the first to discover Fu Jiang's disloyal act, the emperor also rewarded Ye Zhen with a sword and praised him as a competent guard.
The three thanked the emperor and left the palace.
A large amount of rewards was sent to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence. The old lady soon learned the news and was so angry that she almost ground her teeth to powder when she found out why the Marquis of Zhongyong and his men had been rewarded.
“They dared to trample on my son’s flesh and blood to be arrogant. If I don’t avenge this, I will not be worthy of being a mother.”
She said to the head maid beside her, "Go and send some clothes and shoes to those children. Tell them that since they were raised by Ye Zhen, they are now also children of the Marquis's mansion. They should treat the Marquis's mansion as their own home."
If there's anything they'd like to eat, just tell the kitchen to make it for them; don't be shy.
The children were afraid to accept it, so they asked Ye Zhen for help.
Ye Zhen had removed her makeup and changed back into her own clothes. She smiled and said, "We must not disappoint the old lady's kindness."
She took the children to thank the old lady, so that the children wouldn't be remembered as unreasonable in the future.
The old lady smiled kindly, patted Chunni's head, and asked how Suisui's wound was. She instructed Ye Zhen to make sure to find the best doctor and give her the best medicine, so that the child would not be left with scars.
Ye Zhen smiled and agreed to each one.
The old lady and the boys also spoke, and then each of them was given a gift of jewelry, inkstones, and Xuan paper. Finally, they were sent to the pavilion to eat fruits and snacks.
She asked Ye Zhen to stay and talk.
“I was confused before, so don’t be angry with your grandmother. She was also blinded by sweet words and fell for Liu’s tricks.”
She heard so many bad things about you from her that she started to believe you really were that kind of person.
Now that Grandma has regained her sight, she knows you are the good one, and from now on, Grandma will protect you…
The old lady praised Ye Zhen in many good ways, and Ye Zhen reciprocated with feigned affection.
In the end, she also received a set of jewelry from the old lady.
The headdress was inlaid with top-quality rubies, which were quite valuable. Ye Zhen stroked the gems on it, wondering about the old lady's purpose.
She must be feigning reconciliation to lower my guard. So, what is she planning to do?
The most dangerous snakes are the ones that lie in wait.
Ye Zhen dared not let his guard down.
She called the children to her side, "I have offended the old lady and have also been in her way. I am someone she wants to kill, so you must not be careless either..."
Ye Zhen gave him some instructions.
The children nodded in agreement.
Chunni said, "But you have to pretend to be a good person on the surface so that she will think that her scheme has succeeded."
Da Niu Hanhan chimed in, "Then the older sister was the one who stalked the cicada behind."
"No, the eldest sister is using a counter-strategy."
Ahri corrects.
The children shared their diverse perspectives, which were very engaging.
As Ye Zhen watched, her eyes quietly welled up with tears. It was wonderful that they were still alive in this life.
I wonder how Yin Yue and the others are doing, and whether they have found any trace of their master.
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