The eunuch stepped forward, still intending to say a few words for his future Princess Consort: "Princess Consort Chang, please be clear. Today is the grand occasion for our Prince and Princess Consort. Would it not be inappropriate to immediately punish the Princess Consort's maid?"
"Hehβ"
Song Chaoyu sneered, "You know it's a grand occasion? When you were dealing with my maid just now, you didn't say that, did you?"
In this capital, everyone knew how to pretend.
The eunuch, on the other hand, felt that dealing with those who pretended was easier.
It was Song Chaoyu's directness today that left him speechless, only able to wipe the sweat from his brow.
Song Chaoyu stood there, showing no fear, even pointing to the people around her: "Ask them yourselves. For how long has everyone worked hard to prepare for today's wedding? Are you going to let everyone's efforts go to waste for a maid who can't even hold a jewelry box steady?"
At this moment, servants were naturally looking in their direction. The servants in the palace had undergone very strict training, and they were naturally displeased with Hu Ya's behavior.
If the eunuch were to protect Hu Ya at this point, it would naturally cause even more dissatisfaction.
Some palace maids even began to murmur, "Princess Consort Chang is right. That maid can't even hold a makeup box steady, how can she serve her master in the future? Don't say she's hungry, haven't we all been hungry since night? Yet none of us are in trouble, and she's caused such a mess. Are we still going to indulge her? She clearly doesn't put our palace rules in her eyes at all!"
Soon, someone whispered in agreement, "Isn't that right? Princess Ti Le married Prince Wen, and she is now one of us in Da Yue Dynasty. How can a palace maid of Da Yue Dynasty be so undisciplined!"
At this point, even if the eunuch wanted to shield Hu Ya, it was probably impossible.
Ultimately, the eunuch hardened his heart: "Guards! Drag this ignorant servant away and deal with her according to palace rules!"
This way, the restless hearts could be appeased.
However, to Princess Ti Le, this only added to her anger and unwillingness.
But these rules could not be broken by her, so she could only clench her fists and follow Prince Wen, unable to say a word more.
After Hu Ya was dragged away, Song Chaoyu's expression remained unchanged.
She smiled at the eunuch: "Eunuch Ou Nuoge truly considers everything for Prince Wen! With Eunuch Ou Nuoge serving Prince Wen, the Emperor can rest assured!"
These sarcastic words naturally made the eunuch's face turn ugly.
Fortunately, the preceding matters were quickly concluded, and Prince Wen was about to lead Princess Ti Le out of the palace to return to Prince Wen's manor.
β
To welcome Princess Ti Le, Prince Wen had even renovated Prince Wen's manor.
But Song Chaoyu understood that the Princess Ti Le beneath the wedding veil would likely not have a pleasant expression.
Fortunately, once they exited the palace gates, everyone could relax a little.
Song Chaoyu knew that Mu Changxi was waiting for her at Prince Wen's manor.
If he found out about the matter of the bridal escort, what would he do?
As she thought about this, the wedding procession stopped on the most prosperous street in the capital and did not move forward.
Song Chaoyu curiously stepped forward and discovered that someone had blocked the wedding procession!
Before Song Chaoyu could ask, the eunuch hurried over, his face filled with panic: "This is bad! Someone has blocked our procession! It seems... it's Ah Xiu's family. They are holding white cloths, and five people are kneeling in the middle of the road. The surroundings are already crowded, what should we do?"
Ah Xiu's family?
Song Chaoyu rubbed her forehead, knowing that things were likely to become complicated again.
Song Chaoyu looked up at Prince Wen, who was sitting on a tall horse. His expression had already turned grim.
But it was likely that Princess Ti Le in the bridal sedan chair was still unaware of what was happening outside.
So Song Chaoyu stepped forward and nodded slightly to Prince Wen: "Leave it to me!"
It was best not to escalate this matter.
But when Song Chaoyu walked to the front, she saw that Ah Xiu's family was holding white cloths with bright red characters such as "Return my daughter's life" and "Prince Wen killed people." They had been kneeling here for an unknown amount of time, attracting a crowd of onlookers who were pointing and judging Prince Wen.
Song Chaoyu frowned and asked the eunuch in a low voice, "How long have they been kneeling here?"
The eunuch was truly a little flustered: "This servant... does not know."
"You don't know?!"
Song Chaoyu became even more stern with the eunuch: "You are the steward of Prince Wen's manor, and today is Prince Wen's wedding. Yet you know nothing. Is this how a steward should act? In this situation, you didn't clear out all these people, and only after Prince Wen and Princess Consort arrived did such a thing happen. Tell me, how have you been performing your duties as a steward?!"
Song Chaoyu's words were not false; letting these people kneel here for so long was indeed the eunuch's dereliction of duty.
But now was not the time to assign blame.
Song Chaoyu said in a low voice to the eunuch, "Since they have been here for a long time, they have likely already made the people of the capital aware. If we want to keep this a secret, it is probably impossible."
The eunuch frowned, "Then now... what should we do?"
Song Chaoyu glanced back at Prince Wen, then said, "Now, we can only apologize to that Miss Ah Xiu."
Before the eunuch could react, Song Chaoyu had already stepped forward, walking towards Ah Xiu's family.
She looked closely. Kneeling at the very front were a couple who appeared to be in their early forties, Ah Xiu's parents.
They held nothing in their hands, only supporting each other and weeping.
Behind them knelt three men, all appearing older than Ah Xiu, likely Ah Xiu's elder brothers.
The white cloths held by the three men respectively read "Return my daughter's life," "Prince Wen killed people," and "The Prince breaks the law, and commoners are equal to him."
Judging by their clothing, they looked like ordinary farmers, and it was unlikely they could write something like "The Prince breaks the law, and commoners are equal to him."
Therefore, they were likely guided by someone behind them.
Song Chaoyu walked up to the elderly couple and asked gently, "Are you Ah Xiu's parents? What are your names?"
The two of them then looked up and stared at Song Chaoyu, saying, "We are from Xiao Liang Village, and our surname is Liang."
"It's Uncle Liang and Aunt Liang."
Song Chaoyu smiled lightly, "How many children do you two have?"
She pointed behind them, "Are these three all Ah Xiu's brothers?"
They did not understand the meaning of Song Chaoyu's question, but judging by Song Chaoyu's attire, they understood that Song Chaoyu's status was not ordinary.