Chapter 217

Chapter 217: A Small Lesson

Shang Xing Yu’s words left Old Madam Shang speechless.

“Then… then is there no other way?” Old Madam Shang wiped her tears. “If you make them move out now, where will they live?”

Old Madam Shang naturally knew why Shang Xing Yu acted like this.

No matter what, it was because not long after Mother died, Shang Tian Hao insisted on taking a concubine and making her his wife.

Old Madam Shang had beaten and scolded him. Old Madam Shang had even moved to the estate for so many years.

In Old Madam Shang’s eyes, no matter how much grievance Shang Xing Yu carried, it should have faded by now.

What was more, Young Master Yuan was Shang Xing Yu’s blood brother. Bones could break, but the ties of blood would remain.

How could they fight to this point over something from the previous generation?

“Couldn’t they live in the house His Majesty granted back then?” Shang Xing Yu asked.

“An imperial command cannot be disobeyed.” Shang Xing Yu did not budge. “If Grandmother doesn’t believe me, then let General Shang keep living here.”

“When the inventory list doesn’t match the one I submit to His Majesty, and His Majesty blames me, I can only tell the truth.”

Shang Xing Yu directly pushed the responsibility onto Emperor Chong Sheng.

If Shang Tian Hao had the courage, Shang Tian Hao could go confront Emperor Chong Sheng himself.

But clearly Shang Tian Hao did not. That was why Shang Tian Hao had thought of bringing Grandmother back to coax Shang Xing Yu.

After saying that, Shang Xing Yu showed the dates the Imperial Palace had sent.

The moment Old Madam Shang saw them, Old Madam Shang grew anxious. “So soon?”

“Yes.” Shang Xing Yu nodded. “When the time comes, we must first send the betrothal gifts to the Empress Dowager’s palace for her inspection.”

“The Empress Dowager has to look at those too? This… this doesn’t fit propriety.”

“Propriety was propriety. It wasn’t written for the Imperial House.” Shang Xing Yu’s gaze stayed calm. “The Empress Dowager doted on the princess.”

“Grandmother, do you know how much dowry the Empress Dowager is giving the princess?” Shang Xing Yu’s voice stayed steady. “Even ten times Mother’s dowry wouldn’t amount to even half of it.”

“So much…” Old Madam Shang suddenly worried that once Shang Xing Yu went to the princess’s residence, Shang Xing Yu might live poorly.

“Grandmother didn’t need to worry about General Shang-”

“That is your father!” Old Madam Shang cut in.

Shang Xing Yu grabbed her hand. “Grandmother should go visit Elder Brother’s courtyard and the two sisters’ courtyards.”

“Elder Brother’s Duan inkstone and the jade pendant hanging from his sash together cost several thousand taels.” Shang Xing Yu’s voice stayed even. “And the two sisters’ jewelry. The current Madam Shang is also skilled at managing the household.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Shang Xing Yu nodded, but Shang Xing Yu did not say a single word about how all those things had been bought by trading away Mother’s dowry.

Whatever had been taken before would be returned in the same way.

Those matters could wait. Shang Xing Yu did not want Grandmother to worry.

Grandmother came from a poor family. Even at the estate, Grandmother still planted grass and spread manure herself.

Even if the General’s household fell into hardship, it would not truly affect her.

What was more, Shang Xing Yu was still here.

Shang Xing Yu’s words slowly tilted Old Madam Shang’s heart again.

That night, with Liang Rao urging him impatiently, Shang Tian Hao came to ask about the result.

Shang Tian Hao left with a dark face.

“Na cai is on the fourth day of the third month. His Majesty knows the inventory list. The Empress Dowager will personally inspect it…” Liang Rao dropped into a chair.

This was… this was forcing her to die.

The Shang Family fell into chaos.

Shang You Xi and Shang You He, one fourteen and one twelve, learned they would have to move out of the courtyards they had lived in since childhood.

They cried as they ran to find their mother.

Listening to her daughters’ sobs, Liang Rao regretted it more than ever.

If she had known things would come to this, back then she should not have been soft-hearted and kept that bastard Shang Xing Yu.

*Imperial Palace.

Hui’er hid behind a rockery and chatted with the dumb fish in the pond.

Faintly, Hui’er heard two women’s voices.

At first, Hui’er did not care. Yet the more Hui’er listened, the more Hui’er heard Elder Sister Qing Ning’s name.

The little miss immediately made a shushing gesture at the dumb fish and pressed herself behind the rockery to eavesdrop carefully.

Ming Jia said impatiently: “What’s the point of all this useless talk? Sheng Zhi Wan wasn’t your elder sister-in-law for two years for nothing. How could you not even have a single handle on her?”

Qi Fei Rui tried to persuade her gently: “Commandery Princess, Princess probably won’t spread your matter. Besides, Princess saved you. Why do you insist on going against Princess?”

“She had no choice but to save me.” Ming Jia touched her neck. Because of the wound there, Ming Jia had delayed until today before entering the palace to pay her respects. “If she were truly kind, she should have handed those guards over to me!”

“Anyway, don’t let Sheng Zhi Wan fool you.” Ming Jia’s voice sharpened. “Sheng Zhi Wan is hypocritical to the core. Sheng Zhi Wan is amazing at pretending!”

“That’s not true-!” A childish voice suddenly rang out.

Ming Jia and Qi Fei Rui both jumped.

Hui’er stood with her hands on her hips and glared at them. “Who are you? You actually dared to speak ill of Elder Sister Qing Ning. I’m going to tell Empress Dowager Grandmother!”

As Hui’er spoke, Hui’er turned and started to run.

“Stop!” Ming Jia grabbed Hui’er in one motion.

Ming Jia’s eyes swept over Hui’er’s face again and again, and then Ming Jia suddenly smiled. “Noble Lady Fu is your Consort Mother?”

“How did you know?” Hui’er tilted her head.

Ming Jia feared even less now.

A princess born to an unfavored Noble Lady was even lower than Sheng Zhi Wan, and she still dared to complain about Ming Jia?

Ming Jia’s gaze flicked to the rockery. “Where were you hiding just now, eavesdropping on us?”

“Hui’er didn’t eavesdrop!” Hui’er puffed up angrily. “Hui’er talked to the dumb fish. You came over and spoke bad about Elder Sister Qing Ning!”

“Hmph. You still dared deny it?” Ming Jia snorted.

Earlier, in order to talk with Qi Fei Rui, Ming Jia had thrown the palace attendants far behind.

There were no outsiders here now.

Ming Jia looked at the rockery, then at Hui’er’s short arms and legs, and a plan formed in Ming Jia’s mind.

Ming Jia would teach this ungrateful little princess a lesson.

If Hui’er dared to speak for Sheng Zhi Wan, Hui’er would have to suffer a little.

“Fei Rui, come help.” Ming Jia pinched Hui’er under the arms and lifted Hui’er up.

Hui’er struggled and screamed.

Qi Fei Rui’s face went pale. “Commandery Princess, this is a princess. You should put her down.”

“What are you afraid of?” Ming Jia sneered. “She’s just a princess born to a lowly Noble Lady. Back when this Commandery Princess lived in the palace, I even beat princes. She dares speak for Sheng Zhi Wan. What’s wrong with giving her a small lesson?”

Qi Fei Rui kept retreating.

Ming Jia gave a cold snort. “So spineless. Fine, this Commandery Princess will do it myself.”

Ming Jia held the wriggling Sheng Zhi Hui and climbed up the rockery.

After finding a spot stable enough to stand, Ming Jia placed her on top.

“All right. You can wait up here for Sheng Zhi Wan to come save you!” Ming Jia turned and climbed back down.

Hui’er’s round little body trembled on top of the rockery.

The last time Hui’er had spoken with Elder Sister Qing Ning, Consort Mother had been furious.

Consort Mother had locked Hui’er in the room and would not allow Hui’er to come out. Hui’er had secretly climbed out through a window just to feed the dumb fish.

Now the nannies definitely did not know Hui’er was no longer in the room.

They would not come save Hui’er.

Thinking of that, Hui’er burst into loud sobs. “I was wrong! I want to come down… woo woo woo. Let me down, I’m scared! Consort Mother… Elder Sister Qing Ning…”

“Commandery Princess, we should still put the princess back down.” Qi Fei Rui’s heart pounded wildly.

Qi Fei Rui had not expected Ming Jia to be this bold.

Qi Fei Rui only wanted to use Ming Jia to win the Third Prince’s favor. Qi Fei Rui did not want to cause any trouble.

Qi Fei Rui could not help glancing back.

This was the Imperial Palace, after all. The palace attendants in charge of the little princess should be able to find her soon.

With that thought, Qi Fei Rui barely managed to steady herself.

Yet after the two of them walked a few more steps, they no longer heard the little princess shouting.