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Madam Qin’s expression changed dramatically when she heard the order for the rattan whip. She spoke urgently, “Princess Pingyao, it was I who ordered the attack on Qin Yumo. If you have any grievances, direct them at me! Zhilan is just a delicate woman, she has done nothing—”
“Direct them at you?” Princess Pingyao raised an eyebrow, smiling nonchalantly, though the smile did not reach her eyes. “How could I do that? Madam Qin is the mother of my husband. If I were to strike his mother, wouldn’t that give others a pretext to accuse Yumo of disobedience and insubordination? Since Madam Qin claims it was for Qin Yumo’s benefit, then I am also doing this for Qin Zhilan’s benefit.”
With that, she gestured coldly, “Give Miss Qin a handkerchief to bite on, so she doesn’t scream and lose the dignity of a noble lady.”
“Yes.” The nursemaid walked over, ignoring Qin Zhilan’s struggles and resistance, and roughly stuffed the handkerchief into her mouth. “Please bear with it, Miss Qin, so as not to disgrace the Imperial Uncle’s residence.”
“Princess Pingyao!” Madam Qin struggled desperately. “Zhilan is innocent! She is innocent!”
Princess Pingyao glanced coldly at Madam Qin and turned to enter the hall, ignoring her anxiety and shouts.
Innocent?
The word sounded particularly laughable coming from her mouth.
Qin Yumo lay on the bed and, seeing Princess Pingyao enter, hung his head and spoke voluntarily, “Although the four guards were somewhat negligent, it wasn’t their fault. My father sent over a dozen guards, all of whom were skilled. I didn’t want them to fight in the streets, so I…”
Princess Pingyao raised an eyebrow. “So you went with them willingly?”
The question sounded somewhat unfriendly.
Qin Yumo pressed his lips together and nodded slightly. “You could say that.”
Princess Pingyao poured herself a cup of tea, picked it up, and took a sip. “What did Madam Qin make you do in the ancestral hall?”
“She made me write a memorial to impeach Your Highness, claiming that Your Highness was plotting rebellion. She also made me draw the military deployment of the Princess Pingyao’s residence.”
Military deployment?
Princess Pingyao paused for a moment, then sneered, “Does she think my residence is a military secret location or the imperial palace? Even if they wanted to rebel, would capturing my princess residence solve everything?”
Qin Yumo said softly, “They might only want to impeach Your Highness for having rebellious intentions.”
“Impeach to whom?” Princess Pingyao raised an eyebrow and handed him the tea. “One moment impeaching the Regent, the next impeaching me, yet they don’t know who is in charge of the court now?”
Both military and court power were in the hands of the Regent. What was the difference between Imperial Uncle Qin impeaching the Regent and impeaching the Emperor? Who did he expect to support him?
The esteemed Imperial Uncle couldn’t even see the situation clearly, he was truly stupid.
As for impeaching her, that was even more ridiculous.
Hadn’t she been willful and reckless for a long time? Which of the court officials did she put in her eyes?
Not to mention now that the Empress Dowager was confined and the young Emperor was powerless, even if her father were alive, she would not fear impeachment.
“Your Highness, the imperial physician is here.”
Princess Pingyao turned her head. “Come in.”
The young imperial physician entered with his medicine box, not daring to comment on the scene outside. After greeting Princess Pingyao, he went straight to the inner room to attend to the injuries of the Prince Consort.
“Reporting to Your Highness, the injuries of the Prince Consort are not severe, they are all superficial wounds. With some ointment for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and a few days of massage, the swelling will gradually subside.”
Princess Pingyao said indifferently, “Massage once for me to see, then leave the ointment. There’s no need to come tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“Princess Pingyao, Princess Pingyao!” Madam Qin’s anxious and angry voice rang out, sounding desperate. “Zhilan is innocent, you shouldn’t vent your anger on her! Your Highness holds military power, yet you only bully the weak?”
The rattan whip struck Qin Zhilan over and over again, and Madam Qin watched helplessly, feeling both anxious and furious, wishing she could rush over and take the blows for her.
“How laughable.” Princess Pingyao walked to the window, pushed it open, and looked at Madam Qin, who was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, her lips curling coldly. “Qin Yumo is as weak as a chicken, yet aren’t you also relying on your numerous guards and so-called elder status to forcibly take him home and abuse him? Madam Qin, would this not be considered bullying the weak?”
“Of course not!” Madam Qin struggled fiercely to break free from the restraints on both sides. “Qin Yumo is a concubine’s son of the Qin family. It is only natural for me, as the head wife, to discipline him. Your Highness cannot be so unreasonably barbaric—”
“There is a difference in status between me and Qin Zhilan. If I want to discipline her, isn’t that also natural?” Princess Pingyao smiled slightly. “Madam Qin, you really can’t see your own green fur, insisting on calling others monsters. Don’t you find it laughable?”
“Mm-mm…” Qin Zhilan was pressed down on the spring bench, the rattan whip causing her such pain that her face turned pale. Her body involuntarily convulsed and struggled, trying to escape the tearing agony. “Aaah!”
“Zhilan, Zhilan!” Madam Qin tried to rush over without regard for anything, but two maids firmly held her down. She could do nothing but beg for mercy in a hoarse voice, “I know I was wrong, Your Highness, please spare Zhilan. She is just a delicate woman and cannot endure such punishment, Your Highness…”
“If Madam Qin truly knows she was wrong, she should lower her stance and apologize voluntarily.” Princess Pingyao said coldly. “You struck Qin Yumo, so the person who you should apologize to is naturally him.”
Madam Qin’s expression changed. “I am his legitimate mother. Does Your Highness expect me to grovel before a concubine’s son?”
“Your Highness!” A person hurried into the courtyard and knelt before the veranda. “There is news from outside. The Regent is leading people to search and seize the Imperial Uncle’s residence!”
Princess Pingyao fell silent.
Madam Qin turned in disbelief. “You… what did you say?”
Had she heard wrong?
Yes, she must have heard wrong.
On what grounds could the Regent search and seize the Imperial Uncle’s residence?
Princess Pingyao asked, “Why is the Regent searching and seizing the Imperial Uncle’s residence?”
“Many in the court have impeached Imperial Uncle Qin for corruption and injustice. The censors spoke passionately and requested that the Regent strictly investigate the Imperial Uncle’s residence. The Regent, under pressure, personally led people to search the residence.”
Madam Qin swayed, her face ashen.
No, this couldn’t be true. It must not be true.
Ignoring her daughter, she turned to return to the Imperial Uncle’s residence. However, the two maids restraining her had not received orders from Princess Pingyao and naturally could not let her go.
“Let me go!” Madam Qin struggled violently. “Let go! I need to return to the residence, I need to return—”
“Madam Qin, please calm down.” Princess Pingyao smiled nonchalantly. “Even if you go back now, you won’t be able to help. Instead, you might hinder the Regent’s investigation. Why not stay here and wait until the search is over? I will personally escort you and your daughter to the Ministry of Justice’s prison, allowing your family to reunite in jail. How does that sound?”