Chapter 8: Openly Troubling

Before the Emperor and Empress arrived, the Crown Prince came first, heading straight towards Zhuang Xiaoyu’s table. His posture clearly indicated he was looking for trouble, scaring the little eunuch carrying tea, who almost dropped it.

“Zhuang Xiaoyu, you have some nerve! How dare you intentionally damage the flowers in the Imperial Garden!”

Damn, this was an outright attempt at framing her!

“We didn’t do it, Your Highness! My sister and I were together the whole time. We didn’t damage any flowers!” Zhuang Xiaoyu protested.

“You’re just a little girl, and you’re lying so blatantly! You even dare to defend her? Guards, slap her forty times!” the Crown Prince ordered.

“Ah?” Zhuang Xiaowan froze. She had just been accused of damaging the flowers, but now they wanted to hit her?

Zhuang Xian and his wife stood up to bow respectfully. “Your Highness, there must be some misunderstanding. My daughter isn’t that kind of person.”

“Prime Minister Zhuang, are you shielding them?” the Crown Prince sneered.

“What evidence do you have to prove that they damaged the flowers in the Imperial Garden?” Zhuang Xian countered.

“You want evidence? They are the evidence,” the Crown Prince replied coldly.

At that moment, several women from noble families appeared behind the Crown Prince.

Xue Ziyan, Zhang Xue, Sun Yulan, and an unfamiliar face.

“I personally saw Miss Zhuang damage the flowers and say that the flowers in the Imperial Garden aren’t as beautiful as those in the Wei residence,” Sun Yulan declared.

Zhuang Xiaoyu couldn’t help but remember that last part—it wasn’t made up; she had really said that.

“I saw it too,” Zhang Xue added.

…

This…

Zhuang Xian was slightly uncertain now. Could it be that his daughter had really caused trouble?

Madam Zhuang looked at the group of women and immediately understood. Xiaoyu had been framed. However, she couldn’t understand why Sun Yulan, the most famous young lady in the capital, would involve herself in such a dirty scheme.

“Zhuang Xiaoyu, with both human and material evidence, what do you have to say for yourself?” The Crown Prince seemed intent on punishing her.

Zhuang Xiaoyu, feeling infuriated, couldn’t help but laugh.

“Old Zhuang, I told you the Crown Prince would definitely cause trouble today, but you didn’t believe me. You kept saying the heir to the throne wouldn’t be petty and small-minded. If he’s this petty, how could he ever be fit to rule the country? See, this is the so-called magnanimity of a nation’s heir,” Zhuang Xiaoyu mocked, speaking through her father’s mouth.

Zhuang Xian had never said anything like that. This was just Zhuang Xiaoyu using his words to criticize the Crown Prince!

“Stop spreading nonsense and confusing the public! Did you or did you not damage the flowers? If so, will you slap yourself, or should I have the palace servants do it?” The Crown Prince sneered.

“Forty slaps, right?” Zhuang Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, if you slap yourself forty times, this matter will be over, and the palace won’t pursue it,” the Crown Prince said arrogantly.

“Even the number of slaps is the same as what happened in the Wei residence last time. It’s as if you’ve been thinking about it ever since!” Zhuang Xiaoyu replied sarcastically.

“Stop talking nonsense. If you don’t act now, the palace won’t hesitate to assist you,” the Crown Prince threatened.

“Ah, tsk tsk tsk… With such a Crown Prince, the future of Da Zhou is in peril,” Zhuang Xiaoyu shook her head, amused.

“Heh, Zhuang Xiaoyu, are you done pretending to be foolish?” The Crown Prince’s voice grew colder.

“Your Highness, you’re so domineering, you even make fools act normal,” Zhuang Xiaoyu quipped.

“Whether you’re really a fool or pretending to be one, don’t think you can escape this punishment today,” the Crown Prince said with a malicious look.

Madam Zhang was about to speak, but Zhuang Xiaoyu cut her off. “Mother, don’t beg him. He’s not worth it.”

Zhuang Xiaoyu pulled Madam Zhang back, reassuring her that she could handle this herself.

Madam Zhang, looking anxious, turned to Zhuang Xian. Her daughter was being framed in public, but he didn’t seem to notice!

“Xiaoyu, tell father. Did you or didn’t you do it?”

“Master, Xiaoyu is being wronged,” Madam Zhang could no longer hold back. Even she couldn’t stand it anymore and was shocked that Zhuang Xian was doubting their daughter.

“Madam Zhuang, are you implying the Crown Prince is deliberately wronging her?” the Crown Prince sneered.

“Your Highness, will you swear to the heavens that you’re not intentionally framing Xiaoyu?” Madam Zhuang challenged.

At this point, Madam Zhuang wasn’t backing down. Xiaoyu was right; enduring for the sake of peace was one thing, but this was simply humiliation.

“You… You all have such nerve! You dare to defy the palace like this!” The Crown Prince’s voice rose with fury.

Zhuang Xiaoyu shook her head. “Your temper is too fiery. It could actually kill you, you know? Don’t believe me? I won’t admit to damaging the flowers, no matter what.”

“With all these witnesses, you still deny it?” the Crown Prince barked.

“These few cabbage-like people are your witnesses? Ha, they’re just like you, all petty and narrow-minded.” Zhuang Xiaoyu couldn’t help but mock.

“Stop your excuses! Move, slap her forty times!”

Zhuang Xiaoyu narrowed her eyes at Murong Xiao. What a dog! He had come here just to try and distance himself from him, and now he kept rushing to his own death. Well, she’d make sure it happened.

“Big Brother, I can prove that Miss Zhuang didn’t damage the flowers in the Imperial Garden.”

A handsome young man entered as he spoke, dressed in dark robes, with clear brows and bright eyes. He walked gracefully, like a celestial descending to the mortal world.

Seeing him, some quickly saluted. “We pay our respects to Lord Xuan.”

“There’s no need for formalities,” Murong Xuan replied casually.

So this was the legendary Lord Xuan. Zhuang Xiaoyu nodded inwardly; this guy was clearly a few levels above Murong Xiao in both temperament and appearance.

“What are you doing here?” Murong Xiao sneered, sensing that this guy’s presence could only mean trouble.

“I was sent by Father to attend the palace banquet, and I happened to witness something,” Murong Xuan said calmly.

“Stop meddling in matters that don’t concern you. It’s not good for you,” Murong Xiao retorted.

“Then why are you blaming Miss Zhuang for the damage to the flowers, when it was clearly someone from your side who did it? And these witnesses—you brought them, didn’t you?” Murong Xuan’s tone was flat, as if he were commenting on the weather.

“Murong Xuan, are you looking for trouble?” Murong Xiao’s face darkened.

“When I was at the frontier, fighting for the country, Big Brother was still enjoying his tender and gentle comforts. The enemy didn’t kill me, so now do you want to kill me instead? If they come again, who will dare to lead the troops?” Murong Xuan’s voice held a biting calmness.

“Slap!” Zhuang Xiaoyu clapped her hands loudly.

“I told you, the Crown Prince is unreliable! Old Zhuang didn’t believe me, saying he wasn’t petty, but look at this! He’s not only framing the daughter of loyal ministers, but he also wants to harm generals who protect the country. Tell me, can someone like this be emperor? Would you dare let him be emperor?” Zhuang Xiaoyu said aloud, looking around.

The crowd fell silent, lowering their heads. They didn’t have Zhuang Xiaoyu’s courage to speak out against the heir to the throne.

“How dare you, you vile maid! You dare speak ill of the Crown Prince? Guards, slap her!”

Just then, a procession entered at the gate of the Imperial Garden, and a woman dressed in lavish robes appeared—it was none other than the Empress.

Zhuang Xiaoyu rolled her eyes. These two must have been scheming together. They wouldn’t feel right unless they slapped her forty times.

Two strong servants quickly approached, trying to seize Zhuang Xiaoyu, but Madam Zhang rushed forward, pushing them away. “Let go of her! Don’t touch her!”

“How dare you, Madam Zhang, defy the Empress? Punish her as well!” one of the servants hissed.

“You’ve gone too far! The Crown Prince has wronged her, and now the Empress is going to punish her without understanding the situation! Father, we’ll never come back here again. The palace is too frightening!” Zhuang Xiaowan suddenly snapped, pushing one of the servants away, and then quickly moved to shove the other one.

Zhuang Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow, impressed. Hmm, this girl could be trained.

Some people watched the scene with amusement, while others shook their heads with a sigh. The Crown Prince and Empress were truly being outrageous, driving innocent young women to this point.

“Calm down, calm down, don’t be afraid,” Zhuang Xiaoyu murmured as she embraced her weeping sister, feeling a warmth in her heart. This was what family meant—sharing blessings and troubles together. As for that old Zhuang, he could be forgotten.

Seeing her sister crying like this, the Empress stopped the servants, but her face was even more sour than if she had eaten something bitter.

The mother and son had planned everything out. Before the Emperor arrived, they would deal with Zhuang Xiaoyu. Even if the Emperor stood up for the Zhuang family, the punishment would be over, and then Xiao would just have to apologize. But this stubborn girl refused to comply with their plans.

Time was running out—the Emperor would be here soon, and they couldn’t afford to let the situation escalate.

“Since Miss Zhuang denies damaging the flowers, this matter will be temporarily dropped. The Empress has decided to let it go, and no further action will be taken.”

Madam Zhuang sighed in relief, but Zhuang Xiaoyu wasn’t having it.

“No, no, don’t drop it! It must be pursued! Look at these few people acting as witnesses, if I don’t deal with them, I won’t be able to sleep at night!” Zhuang Xiaoyu said, shaking her head.

“Zhuang Xiaoyu, you dare be so impudent in front of the Empress?” The Empress narrowed her eyes, clearly a woman who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

“I’m being impudent? What impudence? I… Hey, where’s my iron piece? I put it in my pocket this morning…” Zhuang Xiaoyu suddenly remembered.

“Wuwu… Sister, what are you looking for?” Zhuang Xiaowan sniffled, her tears still fresh.

“No, no, something’s wrong. How could it be missing? Did it fall out when I took off my hat earlier? Let’s look for it, we have to find it… It’s an iron piece, about this big, this wide, and it’s the only thing my master left me!” Zhuang Xiaoyu looked frantic.

Upon hearing how important it was, Zhuang Xiaowan quickly helped search. The two sisters bent over and scoured the ground, completely ignoring the crowd around them. Everyone was dumbfounded—what was happening? How had the atmosphere shifted so suddenly? What was going on?

Zhuang Xian sighed deeply, feeling helpless. He had worked so hard for the country, yet look at his family—his daughter had been bullied into this state, and now they were both acting foolish.

Finally, the Empress understood her son’s anger. Zhuang Xiaoyu truly had the ability to drive someone insane. She was completely disregarding her, and even mocked her as if she was nothing. It was something she couldn’t tolerate.

“Zhuang Xiaoyu, you…” The Empress started, but was interrupted by Zhuang Xiaoyu.

“I found it, I found it! It must have fallen out when I took off my hat earlier.”

The Empress’s words were cut off as Zhuang Xiaoyu interrupted her. Zhuang Xiaowan hurried over to see the iron piece.

“Is this it? It doesn’t look that valuable,” Zhuang Xiaowan remarked.

The two sisters spoke freely, completely ignoring the royal atmosphere, while the Empress nearly fainted from the rage.