The steward, who had just been beaten black and blue, stepped forward and cried out, "Your Highness, please grant me justice."
Hua Qing, a maidservant, looked down at the steward kneeling before her. He was covered in wounds, his face particularly battered, and there seemed to be footprints on his chest.
She was very puzzled. Who in the Eastern Capital dared to lay hands on people from their princess's manor? They must not want to live.
"What did you do?"
"I found a young man for the princess, and I was about to bring him back when suddenly someone intervened. They beat up all of us brothers!"
He spoke with a sob, and when he cried, the wound near his mouth ached. He gently touched it, and the pain almost made him cry out.
After some thought, she had the others remain kneeling in the courtyard, while Hua Qing brought only the steward into the room.
Princess Changlin was already dressed, her hair lightly tied with a jade hairpin, giving her a languid appearance.
When she saw the steward, she raised an eyebrow. "Caused trouble?"
"I beg the princess to make a decision."
"Even a dog needs to consider its owner. Although you lack talent, beating you is equivalent to slapping the face of my Princess Changlin's manor. I want to see who is so bold as to oppose me."
Her tone was unhurried, but the threat and the impossibility of being slighted were very clear.
"It was... that person claimed to be the legitimate second grandson of Prince Kang's manor. I hadn't met him before, and I don't know if it's true."
The steward, fearing the power of Prince Kang's manor while also unable to swallow this insult, reported in a low voice.
Normally, Princess Changlin's manor and Prince Kang's manor were like well water and river water, never interfering with each other. Old Prince Kang was one of the few surviving imperial uncles, and even Princess Changlin had to respectfully call him Uncle Kang.
His legitimate second grandson had beaten someone, so how would this situation be resolved?
"Oh? The legitimate second grandson? Is it the nephew who went to Liangzhou with his second uncle? I remember him." Princess Changlin said this to Hua Qing. She knew the imperial family members like the back of her hand and replied with a slight nod.
"Reporting to the princess, it is him. He returned with General Xiao a few days ago and is engaged to the legitimate daughter of the Bai family."
"That girl, Si Ru?" Hua Qing nodded again.
Princess Changlin's impression of Xiao Muqian remained from many years ago. As for Bai Siruo, she had met her twice at banquets. She was a cheerful girl, quite to her liking.
"Excellent, excellent. This is a marriage of close relatives. However, I remember that nephew having a very good temper. Why did he beat you?"
Hearing the princess's words, the steward's heart sank.
The hope of seeking justice seemed slim. What if they offended both sides? That would truly be like lifting a rock only to drop it on their own feet.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Hua Yu, standing beside him, looked displeased at his state and spoke up, "The princess is asking you a question, why aren't you answering!"
"Your Highness, I, I encountered a young man on the street. He looked exceptionally handsome, and I wanted to bring him back to the princess's manor. Who knew this legitimate second grandson would intercept us halfway..."
As he spoke, his voice grew weaker, fearing that if Princess Changlin became angry, his life would be forfeit.
After a moment of silence, Princess Changlin spoke, "Uncle Kang and my princess's manor have always been on good terms. How can the relationship be ruined because of one of your lowly servants? Guards, break this group of useless people's limbs and send them to Prince Kang's manor as an apology."
Her words fell lightly, yet they meant the ruin of more than a dozen lives. She herself was as indifferent as if she were crushing ants, without the slightest hesitation.
The steward collapsed to the ground, large beads of sweat trickling down his neck. He immediately cried out, "I beg the princess for mercy, I beg the princess for mercy! I will never dare again, never again."
"Oh, and pull out their tongues too. They're too noisy."
Upon hearing this, the steward was overcome with terror and fainted from fright.
The wailing outside was quickly silenced by the manor guards who took them away for processing. Peace was restored to the main courtyard.
Hua Qing and Hua Yu, who were serving her, exchanged glances. They both felt that the punishment might have been a bit excessive, but neither dared to speak up, fearing they would be the next to be implicated.
Having served the princess for so many years, they could never fathom her temperament.
When she was in a good mood, the rewards were generous, but when she flew into a rage, even the current emperor would find it difficult to control her.
The two of them fell silent and obediently served by her side. The Grand Princess who had given the order, however, was now merely comparing which pearl hairpin was more suitable in the diamond mirror, appearing as if she were detached from worldly affairs.
At Prince Kang's manor, the steward's consort had a very grim expression.
The more than ten servants whose limbs had been broken and tongues pulled out, now barely clinging to life, were lying neatly arranged at the entrance of Prince Kang's manor. The guards who delivered them shouted loudly.
"These lowly servants deliberately tried to sow discord between Prince Kang's manor and our princess's manor. The Grand Princess has already ordered their punishment and sent them here to be dealt with by Prince Kang's manor as they see fit."
The bloody scene terrified anyone who passed by. But people are like this; the more they are afraid, the more they gather.
Before long, the entrance of Prince Kang's manor was completely surrounded. Everyone said that Princess Changlin was a formidable figure, but they had many criticisms of Prince Kang's manor.
Those who didn't understand the situation whispered about Prince Kang's manor's shortcomings.
Why torment them so? Servants are also human. Torturing them like this is worse than killing them outright.
In an instant, Prince Kang's manor's reputation was tarnished by "those with intentions."
Xiao Muqian, returning from Changchun Tower, happened to witness this scene. He thought something major had happened and his drunkenness immediately sobered up. He pushed through the crowd to take a look.
The guards of Prince Kang's manor, lined up at the gate, saw Xiao Muqian approaching and quickly stepped forward to escort him into the manor, to avoid further trouble.
However, the guard was sharp-eyed and quick-handed. He immediately walked towards Xiao Muqian, bowed respectfully, and apologized, leaving no room for blame.
"Greetings to the Second Young Master. It is all the fault of these dog servants for being blind and offending you. I have been ordered to bring them here for Prince Kang's manor and you, Second Young Master, to deal with."
Xiao Muqian sneered. Although he grew up in the Liangzhou army, he was not entirely devoid of worldly wisdom.
These words, on the surface, showed that Princess Changlin's manor had given Prince Kang's manor ample face. But in reality, they had placed the lives of more than a dozen dying people squarely on Prince Kang's manor. Whether they were dealt with or not, they were all dead.
Princess Changlin's manor would gain the reputation of being fair in its rewards and punishments and maintaining its relationships, while Prince Kang's manor would inexplicably be stained.
"Deal with them? Hasn't the Grand Princess already dealt with them? Why send them to my Prince Kang's manor to put on a show?"
His words almost choked the guard speechless. In the noble families of the Eastern Capital, weren't they all smiling tigers? To speak of "putting on a show" so directly left him in a rather awkward position.
Before he could speak, Xiao Muqian seized the opportunity to continue.