Chapter 224 Sending Madam to Retreat
But when it came to her daughter's turn, Mrs. Zheng's attitude was not so humble. Even though she was a princess now, in Mrs. Zheng's heart, she was still the girl who grew up in the countryside.
She got up from the ground, her eyes still red, but her demeanor unconsciously became more upright.
"Qingwu, can you bear to watch your mother being divorced? Why don't you persuade your prince and your father?"
No matter what, I am her biological mother after all, and I have raised her for seven or eight years.
Madam Zheng was truly panicking at this moment. The Zheng family's influence had long since declined, and her parents were already gone. How could her brother dare to stand against Xi Jianan for her? Furthermore, there was the prince and the Yang family...
Qingwu looked at Madam Zheng who had become "dignified" again, just like when she first saw her after returning to the Xi family. At that time, she was amazed that she had such a background and such a "noble" mother. But later, she realized what this attitude meant.
It represents Mrs. Zheng's contempt for her unruly behavior, and represents her biological mother's alienation and arrogance towards her.
Now their positions have been reversed, yet she is still so arrogant, clinging to her identity as the biological mother... Qing Wu smiled, lowered her eyes and said, "Madam, how could you have the heart to force my daughter to be swapped with your other daughter?"
Hearing the complaints from her mouth, Madam Zheng couldn't help but retort: "You are such a petty girl. Isn't Qingtong your biological sister? Besides, you are the princess now. Isn't this the best result?" In Madam Zheng's opinion, Qingwu should be grateful to her.
However, seeing Qingwu's face grow colder, Madam Zheng accepted his expression and weakly changed her words: "Mother also knows that she was wrong. She shouldn't have asked you to swap..."
If Qingtong had been able to hold on a little longer, wouldn't this trouble be avoided? At this moment, even if Madam Zheng had been partial to Xi Qingtong before, she couldn't help but feel resentful.
Perhaps because he had already seen through Madam Zheng, Qing Wu seemed to see through her heart and whispered, "Madam, do you think that if Xi Qingtong had been patient, the position of princess would have been hers by now?"
Xiao Ji had already felt that Madam Zheng wasn't truly admitting her mistake, and after hearing what Qing Wu said, he immediately felt a chill run down his spine. Without thinking, he said, "With her character, even if she resisted the temptation to exchange, she wouldn't take me seriously. I can't possibly ask her to be my consort."
Xi Jianan, who was listening at the side, blushed with extreme shame.
And he had to admit that based on this incident, if Qingtong was asked to accompany the palace, the result would be as Xiao Ji said, even if she came back, she would still be a concubine. If he wanted to be worse and abandon Xiao Ji and return to the Xi family, how should he, as a father, deal with it?
However, Xiao Ji did not dwell on this. His peach blossom eyes were filled with cold arrogance. "Wrong is wrong. Even if the result is good now, it is Qingwu's good fortune. Can it offset the grievances in the past?"
Madam Zheng was frightened and trembled, but she still forced herself to remain calm: "Your Highness, please calm down. I just feel that now the ending is perfect..."
"Madam, you are so nonchalant. It's obvious that you don't know your own mistakes and you don't have a motherly heart. Father-in-law, what do you think?"
Xiao Ji no longer looked at Madam Zheng but turned to Xi Jianan. The word "father-in-law" made Xi Jianan's heart sink. He knew that this was not a sign of intimacy, but rather oppression.
He turned to look at his wife. Even though he remembered that she had been with him for more than twenty years and had given birth to his children, Xi Jianan also knew what a wrong decision Zheng had made this time. If he didn't punish her, who knows what kind of trouble she would cause in the future.
But divorce is not necessary. The Xi family still has face to save, and they have indeed treated the princess badly.
Xi Jianan took a deep breath, lifted his robe, and knelt. "Your Highness, although Zheng has committed a grave offense, she has been with me for over twenty years and has borne me children. If I divorce her, it would be embarrassing for the princess. I beg Your Highness to show some mercy and allow her to remain at home to reflect on her mistakes."
He turned to look at Qing Wu, pleading in his eyes: "Father knows I've wronged you. But if I really divorce you, it will also damage your reputation..."
Qing Wu pursed her lips and said nothing. She had long anticipated this day would come. As long as this matter was kept under wraps and the Xi family didn't suffer any real loss, how could her father easily divorce his wife?
Moreover, she herself would not take the initiative to expose the matter in order to get Madam Zheng punished. If she did so, she would become the sinner of the Xi family.
Qing Wu lowered her head, her eyelashes fluttering gently. Blood ties and conflicts of interest ultimately bound her, as if she could only "handle the high with the low, punish lightly and admonish severely"...
But how could she easily nod? If she did, she would be betraying herself who had been wronged.
Thinking of this, Qing Wu took a deep breath——
"It's not enough..."
"Reflect on your mistakes in silence?"
The two voices rang out at the same time.
Qing Wu looked at Xiao Ji in surprise, but saw that the boy's eyes were gentle. He signaled her not to speak, but when he turned to others, he had regained his cold and arrogant attitude.
Xiao Ji raised his chin slightly. "Princess, please consider our blood relationship, but I cannot bear this. This punishment is too light. What a fool I have been subjected to."
Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng immediately looked up at Xiao Ji, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Now..."
Before he could finish his words, Xi Jianan had already said, "I understand."
Xi Jianan bowed and said, "From this day forward, Zheng's stewardship will be revoked. He will be relocated to a manor in the suburbs of Beijing to live in seclusion. He is not allowed to return except for the New Year banquet."
He looked up at Xiao Ji and said sincerely, "This will not only save her dignity, but also make her reflect on her mistakes. If she does something wrong again, I will never tolerate it again."
Xiao Ji also knew that letting Madam Zheng be divorced was not the best option, but he still respected his wife's wishes. He looked at Qing Wu, "What do you think, Qing Qing?" If Qing Qing felt it was not enough, then he would continue to play the bad guy.
Qing Wu was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Just do as father says."
Even though he still felt aggrieved, Qingwu knew that there was no need to divorce his wife.
If a woman of Madam Zheng's age were divorced and sent back to the Zheng family, she might be "dead of illness" by the Zheng family within a few days to ease the relationship between the Xi and Zheng families. Life is difficult for women in this world after all. Madam Zheng gave birth to her and raised her for several years. She cannot kill Madam Zheng.
What's more, as a princess now, she no longer only represents herself, but also needs to take care of Xiao Ji's face. Xiao Ji has already attracted enough attention from others, so there is no need to attract more attention.
Xiao Ji was the bad guy for her, so naturally she had to consider him.
Qing Wu looked at Madam Zheng, and in his heart, he wrote off all past grudges at this moment. "I hope Madam... take care of yourself."
Mrs. Zheng sat paralyzed on the ground, unable to speak for a long time.
Reason seemed to return at this moment, and she suddenly realized what she had lost for her little daughter...
The power of the housekeeper, the treatment of the mistress of the Xi family, the honor of being the mother of the princess...
She turned to look at Qing Wu, her heart completely panicked. She rushed towards Qing Wu, "Mother was wrong, mother was really wrong..."
But it was too late. Xi Jianan looked at Xi Zhong. Xi Zhong stepped forward, took out a handkerchief and covered Mrs. Zheng's mouth and nose. After a while, Mrs. Zheng's body went limp.
"Give orders to pack up Madam's belongings and send her to the farm."
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