After bracing herself at the doorway, Concubine Liu straightened her back and walked in.
What was she afraid of? She had a son and a daughter, and her daughter was the Ning Princess.
Her son was also blessed with many descendants.
Wasn't that better than the overbearing woman from Liaodong, who had only one son and one daughter?
Her son was a dissolute fellow, and at his age, he still couldn't find a wife.
Her daughter was a complete money pit.
She brought shame upon them, eloping with a wild man and failing to keep track of the daughter born from that union.
Why hadn't she died out there?
Concubine Liu cursed inwardly with all her might, but outwardly, she put on a show of pitiful crying.
She claimed to know nothing, to have done nothing.
Concubine Liu was a woman from Jiangnan. When she cried, she was like a pear blossom caught in the rain, delicate and charming.
Prince Xiang, who had initially believed Ruan Niang and Xue Li,
softened and hesitated upon seeing Concubine Liu's display.
Princess Xiang immediately became enraged.
She knew Prince Xiang was indecisive.
No matter how well he thought things through, he could change his mind in an instant.
He was also easily swayed. She wouldn't stand for it and directly declared Concubine Liu's crimes.
She even threatened to report the matter to the authorities, to have the Shun Tian Prefecture investigate.
Concubine Liu's heart skipped a beat, and she realized the other party was serious.
If the authorities were involved, given her actions, even Prince Xiang couldn't protect her.
She threw herself to the ground, crying without regard for her appearance, her sobs utterly heart-wrenching.
Prince Xiang was already incredibly soft-hearted.
While he loved his Princess, Concubine Liu was also an indispensable woman in his heart.
After all, she had borne him a son and a daughter.
They were usually well-behaved and lovable, giving no one any cause for complaint.
Prince Xiang pulled his Princess aside and said, "Princess, perhaps we should discuss this matter further."
"Discuss it further? Prince, you speak so nicely… how do you propose we discuss it?" Princess Xiang's face was filled with mockery.
His daughter and son were suffering, and he was telling her to endure?
She had never known the meaning of the word "endure" in her life.
Princess Xiang's blatant disrespect in front of outsiders also angered Prince Xiang.
Concubine Liu continued to weep, saying that Princess Ping An had insisted on doing things her way, and that she and Ping Ning had even tried to dissuade her…
Prince Xiang's heart was further swayed, and he became even more reluctant to punish her.
Both the palm and the back of his hand were flesh; he felt pain no matter which side it was.
Seeing the stalemate, Su Xiao Qi nudged Shen Yun.
It was better for outsiders like them to leave first.
Shen Yun, understanding, requested to take their leave.
It was indeed not a suitable time for guests at Prince Xiang's manor, so after a few polite words, the butler was instructed to see them out.
Before leaving, Su Xiao Qi glanced at Xiao Xi Que. The latter immediately understood.
This was Sister Xiao Qi showing her support, telling her that no matter what happened, she had her back!
Xiao Xi Que was no longer flustered. She held onto Ruan Niang, who was crying uncontrollably, and Princess Xiang, who was raising her hand in rage to strike Concubine Liu. She bowed to them:
"Your Highness, Princess Consort, if you do not believe what my mother said, then we shall leave.
Although I am untalented, with the help of my Sister Xiao Qi, I am sure I can support my mother and will not cause you any more trouble."
Her words caused everyone in the room to turn grim.
Liang Jing Ting stepped forward to smooth things over: "Hey, you little girl, what are you saying? Don't worry, your maternal grandparents are here, and they will certainly not let you and your mother suffer injustice."
Xiao Xi Que replied, "Thank you for your kind intentions, Uncle. But perhaps Uncle should investigate properly why, every time Uncle is about to get married, the bride encounters problems.
One or two might be accidents, but three or four? How many accidents are there in this world."
Xiao Xi Que repeated Su Xiao Qi's exact words.
Spoken in that setting, it was like a massive stone being dropped into soft mud, instantly creating a large pit.
It stunned everyone into speechlessness.
The Prince and Princess Consort were too shocked.
Concubine Liu, on the other hand, was terrified.
Her first thought was that they knew, they knew everything!
She knew the Prince favored sons over daughters.
After all, their family had a noble title to inherit.
Offspring were the most important thing.
If the Prince knew that she and Princess Ning were behind the slow marriage of the heir, her life would certainly not be so comfortable.
Concubine Liu immediately burst into tears, accusing Xiao Xi Que of slander!
Liang Jing Ting was not to be trifled with either.
Reminded by Xiao Xi Que, he immediately became energized and brought out all the evidence he had obtained from Shen Yun.
What followed was a fierce battle of wits.
Meanwhile, Su Xiao Qi and Shen Yun had already left Prince Xiang's manor.
It was a family matter for them.
They had already investigated everything in Prince Xiang's manor thoroughly and had no interest in how the arguments unfolded.
However, as it concerned Xiao Xi Que, Su Xiao Qi sent someone to Prince Xiang's manor the next day.
Xiao Xi Que informed her.
Because the evidence was conclusive, Concubine Liu was firmly convicted and had been sent to the family temple, never to return in this lifetime.
Even so, Princess Xiang would not let her off.
Su Xiao Qi knew that there were many ways in the inner chambers for people to die without knowing how.
Previously, Princess Xiang had not bothered her not out of fear, but simply because she saw no need.
Now that she knew her most precious children had been harmed, she naturally wouldn't hold back.
Indeed, within a couple of days, news spread that Concubine Liu had sleepwalked in the middle of the night and fallen into the lotus pond, drowning.
She had swallowed so much water by the time she died that her entire body was swollen and horrifying.
Prince Xiang had already gone to the palace to report the household matters.
The official announcement was that Princess Ping An had an accident, lost her memory, but had not died.
Now resurrected and with her title restored, even her daughter Liang Xi'er was enfeoffed as County Mistress Xi'er.
Upon hearing this, Su Xiao Qi knew that the matters of Prince Xiang's manor had come to a close.
Next, it was Ning King's manor's turn.
Whether Concubine Liu was too stubborn or Princess Ning's methods were superior,
Concubine Liu's predicament had implicated her son, who was driven out of the prince's manor.
Yet, Princess Ping Ning, the daughter of Concubine Liu, emerged unscathed.
When she asked Shen Yun about it, he replied, "Prince Xiang protected her. This matter was not publicized, and few people know about it, so it won't cause a major upheaval."
Both of them regretted not being able to remove Princess Ning along with Concubine Liu in one go.
But there was nothing that could be done at the moment.
Emperor Yongxing had decreed that Shen Yun should return to Ning King's manor on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, after the Dragon Boat Festival.
It was rumored that the imperial decree to enfeoff the heir had already been drafted for Ning King's manor.
Lately, the King of Ning had been visiting the Zhuangyuan Manor with increasing frequency.
Since receiving Su Xiao Qi's treatment, he had been able to recall many things.
The blurry figure in his mind had gradually become clearer.
She was Madam Zhao.
The woman he had loved most.
He used to visit Zhuangyuan Manor to find Shen Yun.
Now, he visited Zhuangyuan Manor to find Madam Zhao.
But he had never managed to see her.
Firstly, Shen Yun would not allow it.
Secondly, Madam Zhao refused to see him.
Therefore, he returned disappointed every time.
Although they hadn't met, it had infuriated Princess Ning.
She had already smashed several sets of teacups in the prince's manor.
She knew that the King of Ning had already petitioned for Shen Yun to be made the heir.
He had done this without even informing her, intending to depose her son,
without a word, without any explanation.
"Princess Consort, please return to the prince's manor," the attendant eunuch softly advised.
"Return to the prince's manor, and live at the mercy of that woman from Liaodong?" Princess Ning's heart ached immensely.
Her mother had already met with misfortune.
Drowning in the lotus pond, who would believe that?
It was simply that the other woman couldn't tolerate her mother.
Or perhaps, her mother had committed suicide to protect her position as Princess Ning.
In any case, she was now an orphan.
Having become a mother, she could better understand a mother's feelings.
Concubine Liu had done many wrong things in her life.
But every single one was for the sake of her and her son.
No matter how many mistakes she made in the eyes of outsiders, she had always been true to her children.
And to avoid giving that woman from Liaodong any excuse, she dared not even return to visit.
"Do you think that woman is easy to deal with? Father is no longer on my side," Princess Ning understood this very clearly.
Many of the things Concubine Liu had done involved her participation.
The fact that she had not been implicated until now was surely due to her father shielding her.
But it wasn't for her sake, but to maintain the relationship between Prince Xiang's manor and Ning King's manor.
And amusingly, she even knew that the relationship her father sought to maintain was not with the current Ning King's manor.
Instead, it was to stabilize Shen Yun, who was said to be a greatly favored minister before the Emperor.
Hmph, a bunch of men whose eyes only saw power, if they couldn't have it good, then neither would she!
Little did they know that their relationship had already become so strained that there was no room for reconciliation.