Until she walked in and was arranged in a spacious, bright, and luxuriously decorated room, the old woman felt as if she were still floating in the clouds.
The Grand Princess?
She had even offered condolences at the time…
As soon as the old woman moved in, Qiao Ci had already sent for an imperial physician.
Under Li Su’s explanation, the old woman settled down with peace of mind, thinking that the princess was truly a good person.
It was also at this time that Li Su learned that the old woman had contracted consumption. Fortunately, it had not yet reached a point where it was beyond help, and her gratitude towards Qiao Ci deepened.
After settling the old woman, Li Su found Qiao Ci, intending to thank her, but saw that the驸马 (fù mǎ – prince consort) and a seductive woman had just walked over to her.
A strange feeling of blockage filled her heart, and her gaze dimmed as she lowered her eyelids.
She had a 驸马, and she was merely someone of unknown origin. She hoped that while Qiao Ci was still interested in her, she would be able to cure her mother-in-law.
Faint voices could be heard from the other side, as if the two were bullying Qiao Ci. Li Su felt conflicted. He wanted to step forward to help the princess, but he didn’t know what status he held to do so.
Over here,
“Grand Princess, how can you, relying on your status as a princess, arbitrarily punish my cousin, and even humiliate him like that? He is your husband!” Zeng Honglian, after helping Zhao Shimei apply medicine to his wounds, slept with him for a while, and then impatiently came to settle the score with Qiao Ci.
Zhao Shimei stood to the side, his pig-like face unable to hide his inherent arrogance. He seemed to be waiting for Qiao Ci to soften and apologize.
“What husband? Is he worthy? The consort of a princess is called a 驸马, meaning he is to serve this princess like an ox or horse. I see him eating and drinking for free in my princess’s mansion, contributing nothing, and even bringing in his mistress! What does he think of this princess’s authority?” Qiao Ci sat leisurely in the pavilion, drinking tea, her words each more merciless than the last.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shimei glared at Qiao Ci and retorted with venomous words, “You keep saying you love me and cannot live without me, yet now you’ve brought back a pretty boy? Heh, I used to think you were wicked, but I didn’t expect you to be inherently… unspeakable!”
As if fearing Qiao Ci might suddenly go mad and slap him again, Zhao Shimei forcefully swallowed the lewd words that had been accustomed to being spoken.
However, Qiao Ci would not let him off just because he had ‘shown mercy.’ She ordered the servants nearby, “The 驸马 has spoken disrespectfully to this princess. Give him a hundred slaps.”
Wasn’t he trying to manipulate the original owner? Didn’t he like to speak profanities? Hitting him until he dared not babble was the way.
Now, the mansion had completely changed. The servants stepped forward, restrained Zhao Shimei, and began delivering a barrage of slaps. Listening to the sound, Qiao Ci felt it carried a touch of personal grievance.
Zeng Honglian looked at Qiao Ci in disbelief. Wasn’t her cousin saying that the Grand Princess was completely under his control? The more she was abused, the more obedient she would become? Who was this woman with such an imposing aura, who struck when she pleased? https:/
Listening to the sound of the slaps, Zeng Honglian had no time for further doubt and rushed to stop the servants, “Stop hitting! Don’t hit anymore! Cousin is going to be disfigured!!! Princess, how can you bear this???”
“Hit her too,” Qiao Ci said lightly.
Cui Liu and Cui Zhu heard this. They quickly walked to Zeng Honglian’s side and pulled her away. Cui Zhu held her, while Cui Liu, gritting her teeth, slapped her furiously.
Qiao Ci watched Cui Liu’s ferocious and gleeful expression, thinking that Zeng Honglian had stolen her husband, and became extremely happy.
However, it was also a case of retribution. In the original plot, Cui Liu, being outspoken and championing the original owner’s cause, had angered Zeng Honglian and was sold off by Chen Shimei on some pretext. She was also a spirited person, and upon learning she was to be sold to a brothel, she committed suicide that very night.
“Oh, this is truly unjust! A wicked daughter-in-law dares to slap her husband’s face! What kind of princess is this, she’s simply a poisonous woman! Come and see, is there any justice left!”
At this moment, an aged voice sounded.
Without even thinking, Qiao Ci knew this was Madam Jiang, Zhao Shimei’s mother, from the plot.
Ever since Qiao Ci married Zhao Shimei, Zhao Shimei’s entire family had prospered. His elder brother was skilled in business, and the original owner had managed to give him the immense opportunity of being a royal merchant. In just one year, Zhao’s elder brother had made a fortune.
His third brother knew some martial arts and had secured a leisurely position in the Imperial Guard, where he spent his days flattering and enjoying himself.
As for his mother, Madam Jiang, who had originally clamored to live in the princess’s mansion, Zhao Shimei found her vulgar and told her to live with his elder brother.
Madam Jiang had a princess daughter-in-law whom she cherished dearly. Even though they didn’t live together, she often visited the princess’s mansion to sponge off them, and then would sarcastically try to get the original owner to quickly bear heirs for the Jiang family. Later, she became even more aggressive and verbally abusive…
Qiao Ci rubbed her temples.
Damn it!
She couldn’t think about it anymore.
The sense of immersion was already very strong.
It was truly infuriating!
Madam Jiang knew that her second son had become successful and had even brought her niece into the mansion. This time, she intended to make Qiao Ci feel a sense of urgency, urging her to quickly bear heirs for the Zhao family.
One must know that even if her niece had children, they would still be commoners. Only those born from the princess’s womb would be of royal blood. Madam Jiang was very clear about the priorities.
Who knew that upon arriving, she would see her son being violently slapped? She immediately couldn’t take it, slapping her thighs and wiping her nose as she sat on the ground and threw a tantrum.
“So noisy, stuff the mouth of this ill-mannered old hag.” Qiao Ci waved her hand dismissively.
Cui Liu saw that there weren’t enough people on hand and stopped her actions to rouse others.
Soon, four or five servants arrived. Cui Liu domineeringly ordered, “The Princess says to stuff the mouth of this ill-mannered old hag!”
After saying that, she went back to continue hitting Zeng Honglian. Only half of the hundred slaps had been delivered, her hands hurt, but she felt even more exhilarated!
Zhao Shimei’s slaps were finished. Upon hearing this, he ignored his swollen face, which was beyond recognition, and roared, “Qiao Ci, you’ve really gone too far! You need to know when to stop! You can mess with me, but she is your mother-in-law, an elder. This is filial piety!”
After enduring the slaps twice, Zhao Shimei learned his lesson. He didn’t dare to belittle Qiao Ci right away and instead used filial piety to pressure her.
Qiao Ci scoffed, “Zhao Shimei, you have also read the classics. I am a princess of the court. When she entered, not only did she fail to pay her respects to me, but she also spoke obscenities and insulted the dignity of my royal family. Her crime, deserving of death, is great.”
Hearing this, Zhao Shimei’s forehead darkened, his veins bulging. A tightness in his chest, and his loosened teeth, accompanied by blood, spat onto the ground.
Seeing this, his anger increased by more than a degree, and he threatened, “Still not knowing when to stop, huh? Qiao Ci, I will divorce you!”
“What did you say?” Qiao Ci asked disdainfully, “Divorce me? Do you have the ability?”
Mother Jiang heard Zhao Shimei was going to divorce Qiao Ci. The humiliation she felt immediately subsided. Her plump body twisted, she broke free from the servants, and loudly stopped him, “Second son! You can’t divorce the princess, you can’t!”
If the princess was divorced, where would she go to brag to her old friends about her princess daughter-in-law?
Zhao Shimei thought Qiao Ci couldn’t bear to part with him, and a triumphant smile appeared on his lips, though he said, “Then let’s have an amicable separation!”