Chapter 6

This night seemed particularly long. In the front courtyard, the guests were still lively after three rounds of drinks. However, no one noticed that two hundred elite soldiers had quietly surrounded the Duke’s Mansion.

The young gentlemen drank until midnight, and most of them left in a drunken state, feeling that something was off about the Duke’s Mansion tonight. First, the young Duke had not come out of the Eastern Mansion after entering and had not accompanied the guests for drinks. Second, the Duke’s Mansion atmosphere felt different, with many unfamiliar faces around.

But guests were just guests. They didn’t think much of it in their slightly drunken state, assuming they didn’t recognize the Duke’s Mansion guards or that it was normal for the Grand Princess’s people to escort her on her wedding night. After all, the young Duke and the Grand Princess had been childhood sweethearts, deeply in love and inseparable.

After the guests left, the Duke’s Mansion returned to silence.

After a busy day, the Old Madam was exhausted and went to bed early, instructing Nanny Tang, “Wake me up early tomorrow morning. I need to set some rules for them.”

Nanny Tang respectfully agreed, “Yes.”

But lying in bed, she still felt uneasy, “Nanny Tang.”

“Old Madam.”

“Send someone to check on the Eastern Mansion.”

Nanny Tang looked troubled, “Old Madam, I sent someone to check earlier. The people in the Eastern Mansion said the Grand Princess and the young Duke had already retired for the night. Disturbing them might upset the Grand Princess.”

“Upset her?” The Old Madam’s expression darkened, “She is now a daughter-in-law of the Sheng family. The emperor had her marry into the Sheng family, not have Jing’an marry into the Grand Princess’s mansion, proving the emperor’s favor towards the Sheng family. If she doesn’t understand this, don’t blame me for setting her straight tomorrow!”

Nanny Tang bowed her head, “But setting rules is for tomorrow. Old Madam, you should rest early to have enough energy for tomorrow.”

The Old Madam snorted coldly, already thinking about how to give Yan Donghuang a proper lesson to make her understand her current status and change her battlefield temper. If she was upset because of Shen Yun, she should be disciplined even more. How could a dignified princess have no tolerance? How could she be a virtuous wife in the future?

Nanny Tang helped the Old Madam to bed, instructed the two maids on night duty to serve well, and then left.

That night, the Old Madam slept restlessly, feeling something was slipping out of her control, causing her unease. She woke up before dawn. While being dressed by the servants, she casually asked, “Has the East Mansion woken up?”

Nanny Tang shook her head, “No movement yet.”

“Sleeping in on the first day of marriage, does she have any sense of propriety?” The Old Madam said coldly, “Send someone to wake them.”

“Yes.”

Outside, the sky was still gray, and the mansion was unusually quiet.

Yan Donghuang had already finished washing up. She had barely slept that night, her mind constantly replaying past events, only dozing off briefly when extremely tired, only to be startled awake again. She was now wearing a red floor-length dress, her black hair up, adorned with beautiful hairpins and jewels, looking regal and elegant. The screams and groans had become hoarse and weak in the adjacent pavilion. She walked to the main hall and sat down, calmly saying, “Pass on my order: everyone in the Sheng family, from the Old Madam to the maids and servants, must come and pay respects to this Princess.”

“Yes.”

The order reached Shou’an Hall, and everyone was stunned.

The Old Madam, dressed in fine clothes and waiting for the newlyweds to serve tea, could hardly believe her ears, “What did you say?”

Nanny Tang, looking terrified, said, “The East Mansion sent word that the Grand Princess ordered the Old Madam to bring everyone in the Sheng family to pay respects.”

“Outrageous!” The Old Madam slammed the table, “She is now a daughter-in-law of the Sheng family. Has she forgotten her status?”

In Shou’an Hall, besides the Old Madam, were the concubines: Madam Xue and Madam Fang, Second Madam Wang, and the eldest and second young ladies, Sheng Chuyue and Sheng Chu’in.

Hearing Nanny Tang’s words, Sheng Chuyue’s face turned angry, “What’s wrong with my brother? He can’t even control his own wife? The emperor favored the Sheng family by having the Grand Princess marry into the family. On the first day of marriage, she not only doesn’t come to pay respects to her mother-in-law but dares to act like a princess? This is outrageous!”

Nanny Tang said uneasily, “Old Madam, when I went to the East Mansion to deliver the order, only the Grand Princess’s personal maid spoke. I didn’t see anyone else, not even Madam Yun. Isn’t this too strange?”

The Old Madam’s heart sank, “What is she up to?”

“Old Madam! Old Madam! Something’s wrong!” a servant hurriedly reported from outside. “Many elite soldiers surround the Duke’s Mansion. I found out they were transferred from the Grand Princess’s Mansion last night.”

“What?” The Old Madam stood up angrily, “What is Yan Donghuang trying to do? The Sheng family is not her Princess’s mansion. Does she want to rule here?”

Sheng Chuyue growled, “Mother should set some rules for her; let her know who is in charge of the Sheng family.”

Second Madam frowned, “Sister-in-law, the Grand Princess is still a princess. Although the emperor is gracious, the hierarchy must not be disrupted. Sister-in-law, why not be patient and see what happens? Maybe the Grand Princess just overslept and doesn’t mean to show us up.”

“But don’t you find it strange?” Madam Xue raised a point, “Even if the Grand Princess doesn’t come to pay respects, the young Duke should come to greet his mother. And Shen Yun is also missing. I feel something is off.”

Hearing this, the Old Madam couldn’t sit still, “I’ll go see for myself. If Yan Donghuang dares to act like a princess and bully me, I’ll have Jing’an report to the emperor.”

The Eastern Mansion ordered the Old Madam to bring everyone in the Duke’s Mansion to see the Grand Princess. Naturally, the Second Madam followed. No matter what happened next, they couldn’t be accused of lacking manners.

Madam Xue and Madam Fang followed silently behind the Madam. They were the late Duke’s concubines, each with a daughter but no sons. They had no say in the Duke’s Mansion and lived at the mercy of the old lady and Sheng Jing’an.

Second Madam Wang and Third Madam Ning were the wives of the late Duke’s brothers, making them sisters-in-law to the Old Madam. In fact, three years ago, the second and third masters had moved out after dividing the family. The second and third madams didn’t live in the Duke’s Mansion but were called over by the Old Madam to support her in setting rules for the new daughter-in-law.

With them, the two concubines, and the two young ladies, Sheng Chuyue and Sheng Chu’in, along with several maids, the group became quite large.

Arriving outside the Eastern Mansion, they found it heavily guarded, as if not even a mosquito could get in. Seeing this, the Old Madam’s face turned livid, “She really treats the Sheng family as her Grand Princess’s mansion. Look at these guards! Surrounding the Eastern Mansion like an iron barrel. What is she trying to do?”

Chang Lan and Chang Yue came out, looking at the Old Madam coldly, “Shouting in front of the Grand Princess’s courtyard, what kind of behavior is this? Is this how the Duke’s Mansion teaches its people?”

The Old Madam’s anger froze on her face, “What… what did you say? Do you know who I am? Where is the Grand Princess? Have her come out to see me immediately!”

“How dare you!” Chang Lan stepped forward and slapped her, “Who allowed you to speak to the Grand Princess like that?”