Chapter 27: The Heir’s Consort Protecting Her Husband

“What I said is true! I wasn’t bribed!” Qiuniang anxiously clarified.

Minister Zhou just sneered, disdainful.

Jiang Rong saw this scene and was not surprised.

The Zhou father and son dared to come to the door openly because they were certain that even if the person involved testified in person, it would not prove Xie Lingxi’s innocence.

As an old hand in officialdom, he could easily make the victim’s words completely unconvincing.

“Lord Zhou, I just said that day, I saw it.” Jiang Rong emphasized.

A trace of contempt flashed in Minister Zhou’s eyes, “You and the Heir are husband and wife. I believe everyone can understand that you will protect the Heir.”

“I haven’t finished speaking yet. That day, I also saw a guard wearing the uniform of the Feathered Forest Guard passing by. I don’t know his name. But as long as you report to His Majesty and check the Feathered Forest Guards who left the palace on duty that day, it will be fine.” Jiang Rong looked at him, her thin lips slightly raised:

“His Majesty’s personal guard, does Lord Zhou believe it?”

Minister Zhou’s breath hitched.

He now wanted to beat his son. The dog said that few people passed by, and they were all ordinary people.

Even His Majesty’s personal guard saw it. Isn’t this seeking death?

Zhou Hongyang was even more confused. Was there another guard? He didn’t see Jiang Rong, let alone any guard…

“Such a trivial matter, how can it disturb His Majesty’s hearing?” Minister Zhou quickly objected.

“This old woman thinks Rong’er’s suggestion is very good…” An old voice came from the mansion.

Old Consort Xie came out surrounded by a group of servants.

“Old Consort!” Minister Zhou looked at her and bowed.

Old Consort Xie said lightly, “Lord Zhou, I will go to the palace now and ask His Majesty to preside over justice for your son. If it is indeed Xi’er’s fault, let His Majesty punish him severely. But if your son is talking nonsense and framing the heir… then let him be exiled to the Northern Frontier and serve the country loyally.”

“I don’t want to go to the palace! I don’t want to be exiled!” Zhou Hongyang could no longer pretend and stood up.

Minister Zhou said with a dark face, “You scoundrel, why don’t you quickly explain what’s going on?”

He didn’t dare to make a fuss in front of the emperor, otherwise, he would definitely be charged with failing to discipline his family.

“I really kindly offered to buy Qiuniang and gave her silver to bury her father… but she didn’t want to go with me. During the struggle, Xie… Heir Xie passed by and beat me…” Zhou Hongyang spoke softer and softer.

“If you were kind, why wouldn’t Qiuniang be willing?” Jiang Rong’s dark eyebrows slightly raised.

Qiuniang realized that the unfamiliar Heir’s Consort, who was like a goddess, was helping her. With a thump, she knelt down in front of Jiang Rong:

“The Heir’s Consort is wise, Qiuniang and her father depended on each other and made a living by selling noodles. But Zhou Hongyang took a fancy to me and wanted to buy me as a concubine. I refused, and he actually said that he had an upset stomach from eating at my family’s noodle stall and spent a thousand taels on medicine, asking me to pay back the money…”

“I couldn’t afford it, so they snatched me to pay off the debt. My father protected me and was beaten to death by them… I could only sell myself on the street to bury my father, and he wanted to forcibly snatch me into the mansion. Fortunately, the Heir saved me and saved my life…”

“Zhou Hongyang has a feud with me for killing my father. This commoner would rather die than marry him.”

Old Consort Xie heard this and was both sympathetic and angry. She said angrily, “You surnamed Zhou, how dare you, you’re bullying people too much!”

“Old Consort, this is just the rogue’s one-sided story. The food she made almost killed me. It’s only right for me to ask her for the medical expenses.” Zhou Hongyang immediately argued:

“As for her father, he died accidentally during the pushing and shoving. How can you blame me for that!”

Minister Zhou nodded repeatedly, “According to the Great Xia Law, those who cause death by negligence shall be redeemed. My son just needs to pay some fines to the officials. As for not repaying the debt, she must be taken back to pay off the debt!”

Old Consort Xie sneered, “Lord Zhou is the Minister of Justice and knows the Xia Law best. He speaks eloquently. This old woman is a mere woman and doesn’t understand these things. Come on, beat them out for me! Standing in front of my King’s mansion gate is really unlucky!”

As soon as the words fell, the King’s mansion guards rushed out in unison, each with a wooden stick. At the command of the Old Consort, they beat and chased the Zhou father and son.

The Zhou father and son fled in a sorry state.

The onlookers finally understood the excitement and were amazed, clapping their hands and cheering.

“Grandmother, how can you let the guards beat an official of the court? This is not in accordance with the rituals!” Xie Yuanwen advised.

In his heart, he only felt it was a disgrace to scholarship!

Old Consort Xie came from the Sheng family, a family of generals. Although she was already a grandmother, she cultivated herself and nurtured her character on weekdays, looking like a kind old lady.

But when she got angry, the fiery nature of a general’s daughter was fully displayed.

“If he’s not convinced, he can go to His Majesty and impeach me!” Old Consort Xie snorted coldly and looked at Xie Lingxi with a smile on her face:

“I knew my good grandson was a good child, acting bravely, eradicating evil and helping the weak, he has the spirit of our ancestors!”

Xie Yuanwen was resentful in his heart. Xie Lingxi had done all sorts of bad things. Wasn’t it just that he was coveting beauty and accidentally did a good deed, and he could still be praised like a flower?

“Thanks to you passing by that day, otherwise it would have been unclear.” Old Consort Xie also held Jiang Rong’s hand, full of relief.

Jiang Rong said softly, “It was a coincidence.”

In fact, she didn’t happen to witness it, and the Feathered Forest Guard was also something she fabricated.

These were all things she knew later.

In her previous life, after Xie Lingxi became a living dead person.

The people and things in the King’s mansion were all arranged by her one by one. Qiuniang, who stayed in Jinyuan, was used by her to manage her business. With Cui’er, one inside and one outside, they were her left and right arms.

So she knew Qiuniang’s background and her feud with the Zhou family.

Later, after some planning, she avenged her.

As for the reputation of Xie Lingxi forcibly snatching a civilian girl, because Qiuniang became a member of the Northern King’s mansion, her clarification also became unbelievable in the eyes of the world.

In her previous life, Jiang Rong didn’t care about the reputation of a dissolute young man.

Xie Lingxi’s attitude clearly didn’t care either.

But at this moment, Jiang Rong cared.

If the truth was ignored, then she would fabricate a lie to make the truth known to the world.

Xie Lingxi looked at Jiang Rong thoughtfully.

He hadn’t seen Jiang Rong that day, but she knew everything about this matter. Was she really nearby?

He always felt that this matter was a bit strange.

Too coincidental.

But even Jiang Rong, who was determined to kill him, could protect him because of the Yellow Springs entering her mind?

What else was impossible in this world?

Xie Lingxi withdrew his gaze and returned to his calm state. Only a hint of an unfamiliar emotion still lingered in his heart…

The feeling of being protected by Jiang Rong…

Unfamiliar and warm.

…

The Xie family returned to the inner courtyard.

Old Consort Xie asked Qiuniang a few more questions in detail and sighed:

“What a poor child… I’ll reward you with a hundred taels, you can go down.”

Qiuniang kowtowed to thank her, “Thank you, Old Consort, for your kindness! The Heir has already given this commoner burial expenses. This commoner cannot take any more. This commoner is not worth that much money…”

“She’s an honest and decent girl. Keep it.” Old Consort Xie smiled.

Seeing this, Concubine Zhao’s eyes flashed: “Old Consort, this girl was brought back by the Heir, so she is destined to be with the Heir. Her personality is also likable. Why not let her be the Heir’s concubine…”

As she spoke, her challenging gaze fell on Jiang Rong’s face.

She didn’t miss any opportunity to cause trouble for Jiang Rong.