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On the other side, in Xie Huaian’s courtyard, the newlywed bride, after paying respects to Heaven and Earth, had been escorted to the bridal chamber.
No one dared to make a fuss in the Princess’s bridal chamber; it was quiet.
Before the groom arrived to drink the wedding wine, the bride lifted her red veil herself, revealing a beautiful and bold face.
Her eyes were full of ambition.
She had finally married into the Pingyang Marquis residence; soon she would be able to see her beloved!
When Xie Huaian entered, he saw that Princess Zhenyang had already changed into her regular clothes. She raised her chin and asked eagerly, “Second Young Master Xie, can I go see the Eldest Young Master tonight?”
Xie Huaian’s eyes darkened; this Princess Zhenyang was too audacious.
It was their wedding night, yet she was so eager to lay her hands on his elder brother; she was truly shameless.
But for the sake of the benefits she could bring him, he was willing to flatter and appease her.
He spoke softly, trying to dissuade her, “Princess, today is, after all, a joyous occasion. If anything unexpected happens, it will be detrimental to you. It’s best to make other plans another day.”
Princess Zhenyang understood this, but she had only asked casually. Since Xie Huaian couldn’t arrange it, she didn’t press the issue.
“There’s plenty of time; I was just impatient,” Princess Zhenyang, being a woman, didn’t want to lose face in front of Xie Huaian, so she put on an air of authority. “Then tonight, Second Young Master Xie will have to sleep on the couch. After tonight, I’ll claim I’m not used to sharing a room with others and move to another room.”
After a pause, she looked at Xie Huaian with an ambiguous smile, “That will make it easier for you to visit your favorite concubine.”
“As the Princess commands,” Xie Huaian said, appearing completely obedient.
Princess Zhenyang was very satisfied and then started thinking about when she will see Xie Yunzhi.
Du Jinyun, who lived in the side courtyard, couldn’t sleep. Although she knew that Xie Huaian and Princess Zhenyang were merely using each other and wouldn’t consummate their marriage, she was still extremely upset and miserable.
“Xi, why don’t you go and find out some information?”
Xi worried, “Madam Du, today is Second Young Master and the Princess’s joyous day; no mistakes can be made. If Madam finds out that you sent someone to spy, she will scold you again.”
Madam Qin hoped that Du Jinyun would settle down, but Du Jinyun had never been content and still hadn’t accepted her position as a concubine.
Du Jinyun said unhappily, “It’s just a little bit of information gathering; can’t you even do that?”
Xi protested, “I dare not, Madam. I’m only doing this for your good.”
“Then go quickly.” Du Jinyun forced Xi.
Unbeknownst to her, Princess Zhenyang had already anticipated that someone would come to inquire tonight. She had already instructed her old woman that if anyone was caught acting suspiciously, regardless of their affiliation, they should be slapped twice without any explanation.
No matter who it was, they would be slapped.
There was no need to give face to the Pingyang Marquis residence.
Spying on the Princess’s wedding night, two slaps were the least they deserved.
On the other side, Madam Qin also wanted to send someone to gather information.
But she couldn’t decide.
She could only go to Yi’an Courtyard to ask the Old Madam for her opinion.
She thought that the Old Madam was the ultimate authority in the residence; if she obtained the Old Madam’s consent before sending someone, then even if something happened, the Princess would have to give some face.
“Make your own decision; I’m old and don’t want to get involved in these matters,” Unexpectedly, the Old Madam skillfully avoided the issue, seemingly still angry about her provoking Princess Zhenyang.
Madam Qin face fell; she felt somewhat wronged. She did covet the Princess as a daughter-in-law, but it was Princess Zhenyang who had initially offered the opportunity; she had simply failed to refuse in time.
Anyone in her position would have found it difficult to refuse immediately; it would have been disrespectful to the Princess.
As for the Marquis later decision to refuse, while she regretted it, she had nothing to say.
She hadn’t expected Xie Huaian to secretly agree with the Princess.
“Mother-in-law is just speaking out of anger. For matters concerning our Pingyang Marquis residence, if you can’t manage them, who else can?” Madam Qin apologized with a smile, humbly explaining to the Old Madam, “This was truly an accident. It’s all our fault for not communicating with Huaian in time; he thought we were going to agree and fell for the Princess’s trap.”
“Hmph, I think you were all too eager to accept this trap, desperate to bring a noble Princess into the family,” The Old Madam was displeased. The fact that Princess Xining and Princess Zhenyang, this royal aunt and niece, both harbored affections for Xie Yunzhi was no secret in their Marquis residence; the difference was one was overt, the other covert.
Now that Prince Su was becoming increasingly powerful, Princess Zhenyang had come up with this despicable scheme.
What angered the Old Madam even more was that Madam Qin and her son, knowing full well that Princess Zhenyang was a wolf, still wanted to let her into the house.
It was outrageous.
Now they were trying to use her as a shield, hoping to restrain the Princess; how could she agree?
“Go away. After a day of noisy celebrations, I need to rest,” The Old Madam waved her hand, dismissing her.
Madam Qin had no choice but to leave dejectedly.
She dared not send anyone to spy anymore; after all, there was plenty of time. She would first observe the Princess’s temperament carefully.
Xi became the only one sent to gather information.
Little did she know that the Princess had arranged for many people to lie in wait. As soon as she stepped into the area, she was apprehended by two tall and strong old women.
They didn’t even give her a chance to speak before they pressed her to the ground and slapped her twice hard.
After the beating, the old woman asked fiercely, “Which courtyard are you from? It’s the Princess’s wedding day; what are you, a mere maid, doing here?”
Xi was beaten to the point of seeing stars, with a split lip. Hearing the question, she didn’t dare to admit she was a concubine’s maid and hastily made up a trivial excuse.
Only then was she released.
With her face in a terrible state, Xi cried as she returned to the side courtyard.
Du Jinyun was startled to see her and exclaimed, “Xi, how did you get beaten like this? What happened?”
Xi felt extremely wronged as she said, “The Princess had old women arranged to guard around the area. As soon as I got close, I was captured. They slapped my face without saying a word, and only then did they ask which courtyard I was from.”
The implication was very clear.
She gritted her teeth and said, “Madam Du, the Princess is making a show of power! You sent me over, and it was like walking into a trap; from now on, you should keep your distance from the Princess.”
Du Jinyun felt a tightness in her chest upon hearing this. She wanted to ask Xi if she had revealed her name but was afraid that Xi would be upset and not work diligently in the future.
“Good Xi, it’s all my fault for not thinking it through. I’ve wronged you,” Du Jinyun took a deep breath to calm her chaotic heart, comforted Xi with a few words, and promised her a reward before asking, “So how did you respond to the Princess’s people?”
Xi replied, “Of course, I didn’t say I was from your courtyard.”
Du Jinyun let out a sigh of relief. It was dark outside, so the Princess’s people likely wouldn’t remember Xi’s appearance too clearly.
“What courtyard did you say you were from?” She even hoped Xi would claim to be from Danhuai Courtyard, diverting the trouble toward Xu Qingyi.
Xi replied, “I said I was from the kitchen.”
Du Jinyun felt somewhat disappointed.
But she also knew it wouldn’t be easy to pin the blame on anyone else.
The people from Danhuai Courtyard hadn’t even attended the wedding banquet today, each one claiming to be unwell.
And it seemed the Marquis wasn’t holding it against them.
Du Jinyun felt hatred; why was there no one to deal with Xu Qingyi?
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