"What, Qin Yushan was escorted back to the Qin manor by the guards?" Bai Xinxin, upon hearing the news, angrily flung the melon seeds in her hand onto the ground.
Recalling the rumors about Qin Yushan in the capital, she couldn't help but sneer, "Still calling herself a Valkyrie, but she's just a useless good-for-nothing!"
She had thought that even if Qin Yushan couldn't do anything to Nan Shiying, she could at least embarrass her and put her in her place. To her surprise, this one was driven out of the Prince's manor without even stepping into the Xin Yuan Pavilion.
Useless thing!
...
"Didn't even get through the door?"
Wei Rulan, while trimming flower branches, heard the maid's words and a slight smile curved her lips as she said softly, "How interesting!"
...
Prince's manor, study.
Qin Yourou's maid paced back and forth anxiously. Upon seeing Ji Jinmo's figure, she acted as if she had seen a savior. From a distance, she threw herself to her knees before Ji Jinmo, crying and pleading, "Your Highness, you're finally back, please save my lady... The Princess Consort, she not only cut my lady's face, but now she's also punished my lady to kneel in the courtyard of Xin Yuan Pavilion! Your Highness, you know, my lady has always been gentle and refined, she's never had a conflict with anyone. But this time, this time... Your Highness, please save my lady. If my lady's face isn't treated soon, I fear it will be completely ruined. Please, for the sake of my lady's many years of devoted service, save my lady!"
Ji Jinmo's hand, which was rubbing his prayer beads, paused slightly. That woman, why did she bother Qin Yourou?
Although he didn't care about Qin Yourou's life or death, he had to consider Qin Qiancheng's reputation. Thus, he turned and said, "Let's go, to Xin Yuan Pavilion!"
...
"My lady, His Highness is back."
Upon hearing that Ji Jinmo had returned to the manor, Lu Wan and the other maids couldn't help but feel a little worried. However, the protagonist of the matter leaned nonchalantly on the couch, eating pastries with carefree abandon, not at all concerned that her actions might incur the Prince's wrath.
Nan Shiying gave a perfunctory "mm" and pointed at the pastries in her hand, saying to Lu Wan, "Next time, tell the kitchen to use less sugar. It's too sweet!"
Lu Wan said "ah," and nodded helplessly, "This servant understands. But, my lady..."
Before Lu Wan could finish, the servants' announcement of the Prince's arrival suddenly came from outside.
"My lady, hurry and get up!"
Seeing Nan Shiying, who remained unhurried even after the announcement, Lu Wan's voice became anxious, changing her tone. Nan Shiying popped the last bite of pastry into her mouth before slowly standing up, reprimanding with dissatisfaction, "What's the hurry?"
For the first time, Lu Wan saw someone who showed so little regard for their master, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say!
Ji Jinmo stepped into Xin Yuan Pavilion and saw Qin Yourou kneeling in the center of the inner courtyard.
"Your Highness, you're back."
Hearing the commotion, Qin Yourou looked up at Ji Jinmo. She did not cover her face with her hand, and the shocking wound on her face was thus directly exposed to Ji Jinmo's eyes.
Her face, mixed with blood and tears, was extremely ugly, but the sorrow and grievance in her eyes were so heartbreaking.
She tried hard to pull at the corners of her mouth, as if wanting to smile at Ji Jinmo, but the pain from the wound made her tears fall like strings of pearls.
"My lady!"
The maids who followed Ji Jinmo instantly turned red-eyed with heartache. She quickly ran to Qin Yourou's side, knelt beside her, and gently supported her wavering body.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, please save my lady!"
The maid turned her head and cried pleadingly towards Ji Jinmo, her voice choked with grief, unable to hide her sorrow.
"Hiss~"
Qin Yourou suddenly gasped, and the maid's spine stiffened instantly. Her gaze fell on her swollen hand, on which the finger lines were no longer visible.
"My lady, my lady~"
The maid burst into tears.
Let alone Qin Yourou's maid, even Xuan Thirteen frowned with a touch of pity.
Why did that woman strike with such heavy hands?
Ji Jinmo couldn't help but frown. He turned and shouted at the servants in the courtyard, "Are you all dead? Hurry and send the concubine back to Linglong Pavilion!"
The servants trembled all over. How dare they delay? They quickly released the maid who was tied up by Lu Wan and others, and helped Qin Yourou to her feet.
"Your Highness, my face, is it completely ruined?"
Qin Yourou looked at Ji Jinmo with tear-filled eyes. There was no hysterical madness, nor any angry, sorrowful crying, only a heart full of grievances and deep despair.
She didn't even ask Ji Jinmo to seek justice for her, but her appearance made people pity her even more. And the more people pitied her, the more they hated the abuser.
When Nan Shiying pushed open the door, she happened to see Qin Yourou's pitiable demeanor.
Wow, a wronged little darling, a miserable victim!
If the setting were different, Nan Shiying would have really wanted to set up a stage for this one to perform.
She walked forward gracefully and bowed respectfully to Ji Jinmo, greeting him, "Your concubine greets Your Highness."
Her smiling appearance was completely different from before.
Seeing Nan Shiying, Qin Yourou trembled reflexively. Only when she felt the support of her maid did she slightly alleviate the fear in her heart.
She lowered her head, hiding the almost overflowing resentment and malice in her eyes.
But this appearance, in the eyes of others, was one of timid fear. Xuan Thirteen's gaze towards Nan Shiying instantly became unfriendly.
Even if the Princess Consort had a thousand and one faults, she was still the lady personally married by the Prince. Now, she was being bullied and intimidated to this extent by someone who had usurped her place?
"Nan Shiying, you have great courage!" A thunderous rage rolled down, and Ji Jinmo's angry questioning voice exploded in Nan Shiying's ears.
Hearing Ji Jinmo's angry question, a hint of triumph flashed in Qin Yourou's eyes.
But it was quickly covered by the hatred in her eyes.
She couldn't help but feel unwilling. For the humiliation she suffered today, she couldn't make Nan Shiying repay a hundredfold. Just thinking about it made her want to abandon all reason and tear Nan Shiying alive.
But she had to endure. Who told Nan Shiying to have the Prince's Xuan Guards by her side, making her afraid to falsely accuse and slander. Otherwise, she would definitely ensure that Nan Shiying would never be able to turn the tables.
Nan Shiying raised her head, her bright pupils reflecting Ji Jinmo's figure. She was not afraid of his anger, but calmly stated the facts, "Although your concubine does not have the right to manage the inner court, she is also the mistress of the Prince's manor. If the concubine wishes to humiliate me, she should also consider her own identity."
"Your Highness says your concubine is bold, and indeed your concubine is bold. If your concubine were not bold, it would not have been the concubine whose face was cut today, but your concubine."
"Your concubine..."
She couldn't let her continue speaking. If she continued, the Prince's wrath would turn towards herself.
Thinking this, Qin Yourou suddenly fell backward.
"My lady, my lady, what's wrong with you!"
An urgent, sorrowful cry interrupted Nan Shiying's words. Nan Shiying turned her head and saw Qin Yourou faint in her maid's arms.
She couldn't help but sneer.
The trick of feigning unconsciousness, why were they never tired of using it?
But then again, wasn't this what men liked?
The corners of her mouth curled up, and she was already expecting Ji Jinmo to rush to Qin Yourou's side and pick her up horizontally. However, Ji Jinmo merely stood with his hands behind his back, his expression unchanged, and shouted at the servants, "Someone, send the concubine back to Linglong Pavilion..." With that, he ordered Xuan Thirteen, "Take this Prince's token to the Imperial Palace and invite Imperial Physician Wang to examine the concubine!"
"Yes!" Xuan Thirteen took the token, turned, and quickly left.
Nan Shiying was slightly stunned. Was this one so stone-hearted?
Seeing her stunned, Ji Jinmo wondered what she was thinking. The corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise a little, but the words he spoke carried a suffocating coldness, "Princess Consort Nan Shiying, arrogant and jealous, unkind as a matriarch, is punished to confinement for three months."
As the cold voice still echoed in Xin Yuan Pavilion, Ji Jinmo had already turned and left.
Nan Shiying watched Ji Jinmo's retreating back, her eyes shifting.
Nan Chaoyin was punished to confinement for three months?
That's it?
After scheming for so long, this was the result?
Ji Jinmo, are you even capable?