Chapter 7

The air seemed to freeze in an instant. The faces of the people who followed turned pale.

The Old Madam covered her face, looking at her in shock: “How dare you hit me?”

“You wretched maid!” Sheng Chuyue, seeing her mother being hit, couldn’t hold back any longer. She rushed over to slap Chang Lan. “My mother is the mother-in-law of the Grand Princess, and you dare to hit her? I’ll have my brother beat you to death with a stick!”

Chang Lan grabbed her hand, her gaze sharp: “The Sheng family truly has no respect for the imperial power. Even a mere minister’s daughter dares to shout at the Grand Princess?”

The sound of swords being drawn filled the air, bringing a chilling, murderous aura.

The Old Madam’s heart sank. She turned to look at the guards who had drawn their swords, her face pale, trembling as she pointed at them: “You… you dare to draw weapons in the Duke’s mansion?”

“Don’t… don’t be impulsive.” Second Madam quickly spoke to smooth things over. “We are here under the orders of the Grand Princess to pay our respects. We mean no harm, truly, we mean no harm.”

Sheng Chuyue, seeing the guards draw their swords, was so frightened that her face turned pale, losing all her previous arrogance. If you looked closely, you could even see her trembling legs. The two concubines were even more frightened, unable to say a word.

Chang Lan coldly released Sheng Chuyue’s hand: “The Grand Princess allows you to enter.”

The Old Madam hurried into the main hall of the Huang Residence, seeing Yan Donghuang sitting in the main seat, dressed in luxurious clothes, her head adorned with noble hairpins, exuding the full demeanor of a princess. On either side of her were a nanny and three maids, along with Chang Lan and Chang Yue. There were a total of eight first-class maids.

The Old Madam’s face was ugly. She turned her head to look around the hall, not seeing Sheng Jing’an and Shen Yun.

“Old Madam Sheng.” Chang Lan walked to Yan Donghuang’s side, coldly looking at the large family in front of her. “You should kneel when you see the Grand Princess.”

The Old Madam’s gaze shifted slightly, staring at Yan Donghuang: “The emperor has decreed that the Grand Princess, after marrying into the Sheng family, should serve her mother-in-law, assist her husband, and teach her children. She must not disobey. Grand Princess, are you defying the decree?”

“You’re right.” Yan Donghuang held a teacup, casually lowering her eyes to stir the tea. “Not only will I defy the decree, but I will also kill all those with ulterior motives!”

The last four words seemed to suddenly carry a layer of bloodthirsty aura, chilling everyone’s hearts.

The Old Madam was shocked, unconsciously taking two steps back: “You… what did you say?”

Yan Donghuang calmly ordered: “Bring them out.”

Hearing the order, two stout nannies turned and opened the door to the side pavilion. In a short while, each dragged someone out. When they reached the main hall, they simultaneously threw the people they were holding onto the ground.

Everyone’s eyes turned to the two people, not recognizing them at first. Both were disheveled, covered in blood, their clothes torn by whips.

The Old Madam’s expression changed, staring at Sheng Jing’an’s clothes, which were clearly the wedding robe he wore yesterday. The groom, who was full of spirit yesterday, had become a bloodied man today?

Her eyes went from shock to disbelief. She staggered forward, bent down, and trembled as she brushed his hair aside, finally seeing his pale face clearly.

In an instant, she was almost scared out of her wits: “Jing… Jing’an? How did you become like this? Who beat you like this? Jing’an! Jing’an! Who? Who beat you like this?”

“Brother!” Sheng Chuyue rushed over, squatting in front of him, looking at him in disbelief. “What happened? What on earth happened?”

The Second Madam and the two concubines also recognized Sheng Jing’an, each frozen in place, unable to react. This scene was clearly unexpected for everyone. A joyous occasion yesterday, bloodshed today?

This… this…

“Mother.” Sheng Jing’an, recovering from the severe pain, spoke in a hoarse voice. “I’m… I’m fine. Mother, don’t worry. Look at Yun’er first. Find a doctor to check on her. The child in her belly…”

Yun’er?

The Old Madam turned to look at Shen Yun, seeing her head and face covered in blood, her hair disheveled, her face covered in shocking bloodstains, unrecognizable.

“Mother, it’s me…” Shen Yun’s voice trembled. “I’m Shen Yun.”

The Old Madam’s pupils contracted, looking at Shen Yun in disbelief: “Are you really Shen Yun?”

Shen Yun’s eyes were red, her face pale: “It’s me…”

“Grand Princess, ” the Second Madam was stunned. Slowly, she looked at Yan Donghuang in the main seat, trying to calm herself down. What is going on? You just got married yesterday. How did it come to this?”

Weren’t they fine when they got married yesterday?
Why did the newlyweds turn against each other overnight?

Yan Donghuang said nothing, lowering her eyes to sip her tea. Seeing that everyone had recognized Sheng Jing’an and Shen Yun, she slowly spoke: “Don’t you know you should kneel when you see the Grand Princess?”

Thud!

The two timid concubines were the first to kneel in fright, trembling, not daring to resist.

“Yan Donghuang!” The Old Madam almost lost her mind, getting up and rushing towards Yan Donghuang, raising her hand to slap her face. “You vicious woman! Jing’an is your husband, and you tried to murder him on your wedding night? Shen Yun is pregnant with his child, and you—”

Chang Lan grabbed her wrist, kicking her knee.

Thud.

“Ah!” The Old Madam’s knee hit the ground hard, her face turning pale from the pain, breaking out in cold sweat.

“Mother!” Sheng Jing’an’s eyes were bloodshot, filled with hatred as he looked at Yan Donghuang. “If you have any grievances, take them out on me. Don’t bully my mother. She’s a weak woman. She’s your elder! Yan Donghuang, she’s your mother-in-law!”

“Mother-in-law?” Yan Donghuang sneered. “Sheng Jing’an, have you forgotten what I said last night? From the moment you handed me the poisoned wine, we became mortal enemies. Don’t try to claim kinship. From today on, I am alone, with no relatives.”

The Second Madam’s face changed: “Poisoned wine? What poisoned wine?”

“Yan Donghuang, you’re talking nonsense!” The Old Madam’s face turned angrily blue, glaring at Yan Donghuang. “How can you be so ruthless? Shen Yun is the sister of Consort De, and she’s pregnant with Jing’an’s child. How dare you beat her like this? Are you rebelling? Someone! Someone come quickly! Report to the emperor that the Grand Princess is rebelling… What are you doing? Don’t come near me, don’t come near me…”

Yan Donghuang stood up, walking step by step towards the Old Madam.

Seeing her expression as cold as a death god, the Old Madam seemed to realize the danger, retreating in fear: “I’m telling you, you can’t act recklessly. You… you are now the daughter-in-law of the Sheng family. Even if you have merits, it’s all due to the emperor’s grace… Ah!”

Yan Donghuang’s eyes turned cold, grabbing her by the neck: “The emperor’s grace? Taking concubines for Sheng Jing’an is the emperor’s grace, poisoning me is the emperor’s grace, taking away my military power is the emperor’s grace, trying to kill me is the emperor’s grace?!”

The Old Madam, unable to speak, cried out in pain: “Mmm… mmm… let me go! Let me go!”

“Your Highness.” Suddenly, someone hurried in from outside, kneeling on one knee. “Ten thousand elite soldiers have entered the city, but they alarmed the city guards. There was a small conflict, and a dozen of them were injured. They have already reported to the emperor.”

Yan Donghuang released the Old Madam, coldly saying: “Send five hundred men to each of the nine city gates. No nobles, officials, or their families are allowed to leave the city.”

“Yes.”

“Send the remaining five thousand to the inner city, guarding the main road to the palace, keeping a safe distance from the city walls to ensure their arrows are useless.”

“Yes.”