Chapter 8: Sacrificing the Pawn to Protect the King, So Coldhearted

The Grand Princess cast a faint glance at Lady Qin and Tang Rong before instructing the matron by her side, “Go investigate the tea that Miss Tang drank in the guest hall.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Matron Zhong immediately responded and went off to investigate.

Tang Rong nervously peeked at Lady Qin, beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead.

Had that wretched Tang Mi done anything with the teacup after drinking? She couldn’t remember at all.

Lady Qin’s heart was also pounding, praying silently that the matron would find nothing.

It wasn’t long before Matron Zhong returned with a teacup in hand. “Your Highness, I have already had the court physician examine it. The tea Miss Tang drank was indeed drugged. I also questioned the ladies who shared her table, they all confirmed that the tea was served to her by Fourth Miss Tang.”

Everyone immediately turned to look at Tang Rong.

Lady Qin’s heart sank to rock bottom.

The Grand Princess looked at Tang Rong with a dark expression. “Tang Rong, do you have anything to say for yourself?”

Tang Rong’s eyes darted around before she burst into tears again. “It wasn’t me who drugged the tea. I never gave Tang Mi anything. I don’t know why that teacup was tampered with. She must be trying to frame me please, Your Highness, investigate thoroughly!”

Lady Qin also began sobbing, adding, “Our Rong’er has always been kind and gentle. She would never do such a thing. Someone must be setting her up. Please investigate, Your Highness!”

Seeing the mother and daughter still trying to deny it, the Grand Princess’s face grew even darker. “She’s framing you? With her own purity on the line? That’s what you’re claiming?”

Tang Rong’s eyes shifted rapidly, and she cried out even louder. “Now I’m the one in trouble! Tang Mi must have planned this from the beginning. She wanted everyone to think I framed her so she could escape responsibility after things went wrong. Please, Your Highness, bring her to justice!”

Seeing how obstinate Tang Rong was, the Grand Princess’s eyes flashed with clear disgust.

She had once thought this Fourth Miss Tang was sweet and charming. Who would’ve thought she was actually so ignorant and tactless? Even if she had been framed, the Grand Princess now felt no sympathy for her.

The Grand Princess remained silent, and Tang Rong, growing more desperate, shoved Tang Mi. “Why did you frame me? Why are you trying to ruin me?!”

Those questions seemed to come straight from the heart, so much so that her tears looked quite genuine.

Tang Mi stepped back, looking at her coldly. “Fourth Sister, this joke of yours isn’t funny at all. When did I ever frame you? You’re the one who brought me here, not the other way around. How could I have set you up?”

Tang Rong paused, then stammered, “You pretended to faint. You drugged yourself, then lured me into bringing you here to set me up!”

Tang Mi shook her head. “Your logic is quite far-fetched. Why would I drug myself? Even if I pretended to faint, how could I have been sure you would be the one to bring me here? We aren’t exactly close. There were other sisters who came to the palace today. How could I have guaranteed it’d be you taking me to the guest hall? Or are you saying I’m so insane that I was prepared to harm any of my sisters, regardless of who it was?”

Tang Rong was completely at a loss for words, only able to scream in rage, “You are insane! You”

“Enough!” the Grand Princess suddenly snapped, cutting her off with a sharp glare. She turned to Lady Qin, face full of disdain. “Lady Tang, is this how you raised your daughter? I don’t care whom she was trying to frame, but to stage such filth in my palace and still refuse to admit guilt, is she trying to force me to summon the Court of Judicial Review?”

At that, Lady Qin trembled violently. A sharp glint passed through her eyes before she suddenly slapped Tang Rong across the face hard.

Smack! The sound echoed through the hall, stunning everyone.

Even Tang Rong herself looked at her mother in disbelief. “Mother…”

That slap landed like a blow to Lady Qin’s own heart. She was overwhelmed with guilt, but there was no turning back. The Grand Princess had already decided Tang Rong was guilty. Further denial would only make things worse. If this got to the Court of Judicial Review, even Ying’er’s reputation could be dragged down with it.

She didn’t have just one daughter, she had to think of Ying’er, too. And now that Rong’er’s reputation was ruined, she had no future anyway. She couldn’t let her drag Ying’er down.

“I thought you were telling the truth,” Lady Qin said, wearing a heartbroken expression. “I stood by you because I believed your elder sister had wronged you. But to think it was you trying to harm her. How did I raise such a daughter? I’m so disappointed.”

Tang Rong’s face turned pale. She understood then, her mother had abandoned her.

But why? She was still her daughter!

Lady Qin’s heart ached even more when she saw the despair on her daughter’s face, but once the arrow has left the bow, it cannot be called back.

“Apologize to your elder sister now. Then go home and accept your grandmother’s punishment.”

Lady Qin frantically signaled to Tang Rong with her eyes, but Tang Rong stubbornly refused to apologize.

Tang Mi lowered her gaze, hiding the light in her eyes.

Lady Qin was cunning indeed by taking the initiative to punish Tang Rong, she managed to help her escape the worst consequences. A clever move that softened the Grand Princess’s stance.

Seeing that Lady Qin had handled it, the Grand Princess waved her sleeve impatiently. “Enough. Take them and leave.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Lady Qin bowed quickly and prepared to take her daughters away.

“Wait.” The Grand Princess looked down at Tang Rong kneeling on the floor, her tone cold: “Tang Rong caused such disgrace at my birthday banquet, I do not want to see her at any future banquet in the palace.”

Lady Qin clenched her fists and gave Tang Mi a hateful look before gritting her teeth and replying, “Understood.”

Tang Mi’s lips curled into a cold smile.

Lady Qin, do you really think it’s over?

No. This is only the beginning.

All the pain you and your family inflicted on me in my past life, I’ll make sure every bit of it is returned with interest.