Gu Jiu brought her people and arrived at Chunhe Hall.
At a glance, the place was in complete chaos.
Princess Huyang wanted to leave the wang fu and enter the palace. Ouyang Fu was desperately trying to stop her, exhausting every kind word she could think of.
Pei shi sat in the main hall, slapping the table and cursing.
“Let her go. It wasn’t enough for her to ruin the entire Chen family, now she wants to ruin the wang fu too.”
Princess Huyang felt utterly wronged and cried, “This is my wangxiong‘s residence. If not for my wangxiong, do you think I would tolerate your insults? I’ll go into the palace right now and ask mufei to judge the matter. Let mufei see your ugly face for herself. Then naturally she will stand up for me.”
Pei shi snorted.
“As if benwangfei would be afraid of you. If you’ve got the nerve, then hurry up and get out.”
Princess Huyang was furious and charged toward the door.
Ouyang Fu was almost unable to hold her back.
Xiao Qin’er sat on the sidelines watching the spectacle, with no intention whatsoever of intervening.
Shen cefei and the others sat below Pei shi, coldly watching the scene unfold.
They had been slapped by Princess Huyang and had been unable to retaliate. Naturally, they were delighted to see Princess Huyang suffer.
Without Princess Huyang around, there would be one less scourge in the manor.
Gu Jiu gave Wang Yi a meaningful look.
Wang Yi received the instruction and prepared to act.
Just then, Ouyang Fu finally failed to stop Princess Huyang, who rushed straight toward the doorway.
Wang Yi, meanwhile, charged directly at Princess Huyang and wrapped her in a tight bear hug, holding her firmly in place. Princess Huyang could not move at all.
“Where did this wretched maid come from? Let go of bengong. Otherwise, bengong want your life.”
“I wonder whose life gumu wishes to take?”
Gu Jiu stepped forward calmly and signaled Wang Yi to loosen her grip slightly, at least enough to let Princess Huyang breathe.
Princess Huyang had never regarded Gu Jiu as important.
In her eyes, Gu Jiu was merely the daughter of an official. Being able to marry an imperial grandson was already a blessing bestowed by heaven.
A mere official’s daughter with little experience, suddenly granted such great honor, should naturally behave with extreme caution and follow others step by step. In the entire wang fu, no one was more noble than Princess Huyang, and Gu Jiu should have no right to speak.
Yet today, Gu Jiu had actually allowed a maidservant to block her path.
This was insubordination, disrespect toward an elder, and deserved punishment.
“So it’s you! Quickly order your wretched maid to release bengong. Otherwise, don’t blame bengong for being rude.”
Gu Jiu smiled faintly.
“Release gumu, and then watch helplessly as gumu goes off to her death? If anything happens to gumu, Shu fei will demand accountability. When that time comes, who will bear the responsibility?”
As she spoke, Gu Jiu glanced toward Pei shi sitting in the hall.
She refused to believe Pei shi did not understand the implications. She was simply blinded by anger and no longer thinking clearly.
Now that Gu Jiu had stepped forward and reminded her, Pei shi should at least react.
After Gu Jiu’s reminder, Pei shi‘s expression froze, but she remained silent.
Clearly, she could not bring herself to back down.
It had been she herself who had told Princess Huyang to get out. If she now changed her words and asked Huyang to stay, how could she save face?
Therefore, Pei shi said nothing, yet she also did not oppose Gu Jiu’s forceful efforts to keep Princess Huyang behind.
Princess Huyang, however, had not calmed down.
She shouted at Gu Jiu, “Whether bengong lives or dies is none of your concern. Release bengong at once.”
Chen Min was crying, while Chen Lu stood there at a loss, terrified and confused.
Gu Jiu pointed toward the Chen siblings.
“Gumu may not care about her own life, but does she also not care about theirs? His Majesty is enraged. The Chen family faces near-certain destruction. Do you believe that once gumu dies, Chen Lu and Chen Min will be forced to accompany both the Chen family and gumu in death? The last remaining bloodline of the Chen family will be buried by gumu’s own hand.”
Princess Huyang stopped struggling and looked toward her two children.
Chen Min was still childish, crying so hard she could barely breathe. She was clearly terrified.
Chen Lu was only a half-grown boy. How could he have experienced anything like this before? His face was full of tension, confusion, fear, and helplessness.
Princess Huyang’s body trembled slightly. Clearly, she had been affected.
But when she thought of Pei shi‘s attitude and the things Pei shi had said, she simply could not endure it.
No matter how shameless she might be, she still cared about her dignity.
The muscles on her face twitched uncontrollably a few times. Suddenly, she turned on Gu Jiu.
“You are spreading malicious nonsense and confusing people’s minds. Bengong is entering the palace to see mufei, yet you keep cursing bengong with death and disaster. What are your intentions? Why are you slandering mufei and fuhuang like this? You, could your heart possibly be black?”
Gu Jiu’s expression instantly turned cold.
She no longer addressed her as gumu and instead asked directly:
“Wangye and gongzi have not been allowed to leave the palace. May I ask Your Highness the reason?”
Princess Huyang snorted coldly. “How would bengong know?”
Gu Jiu laughed mockingly.
“Whenever Your Highness encounters trouble, all you know is to run into the palace and seek Shu fei. But have you never considered this? Shu fei clearly knows your current situation, that you have virtually nowhere to go, yet she still expelled you from the palace. Is the reason truly so simple?
“As far as I can see, Shu fei dotes on Your Highness more than anyone. Yet at such a moment, she still drove Your Highness out of the palace. Was it really because she was merely angry with you?”
Princess Huyang became uncertain.
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
Gu Jiu stepped aside and moved to the edge of the path.
“If Your Highness insists on going to the palace no matter what, then this niece-in-law will not stop you.”
“Wang Yi, release Her Highness.”
Wang Yi obeyed the order and released Princess Huyang.
However, Princess Huyang remained standing where she was and did not move.
Seeing this, Ouyang Fu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Da furen truly was formidable. With only a few words, she had already made Princess Huyang hesitate.
A little more effort, and she would surely abandon the idea of entering the palace.
Gu Jiu took out a handkerchief and walked over to Chen Min.
“Come, wipe your tears. You’ve cried yourself into a little spotted kitten.”
Her movements were gentle as she lightly wiped Chen Min’s cheeks.
Gradually, Chen Min stopped crying.
Gu Jiu smiled and softly asked, “Do you want your mother to stay by your side?”
Chen Min nodded vigorously.
Gu Jiu took her hand and turned her toward Princess Huyang.
No words were needed.
At a single glance, Chen Min threw herself into Princess Huyang’s arms.
“Mother! Please don’t go to the palace. Gege and I will behave. We’ll listen to everything Mother says.”
With eyes full of attachment and dependence, Chen Min gazed hopefully at Princess Huyang.
Princess Huyang turned and looked at Pei shi, who remained seated in the main hall.
Her eyes were filled with resentment.
Gu Jiu walked into the hall and bowed.
“Erxi greets mufei. Has lodging been arranged for Huyang gumu?”
Pei shi snorted coldly and said nothing.
She was someone who cared about face, and she believed she was in the right. There was no way she would lower herself to Princess Huyang.
Ouyang Fu was the perfect teammate. Seeing the awkward atmosphere, she hurriedly said, “Huyang gumu‘s family’s quarters have already been arranged. Servants have also been assigned there.”
Gu Jiu nodded.
“Very good. Then I’ll trouble er dimei to escort Huyang gumu‘s family to the guest courtyard and help them settle in. Also, have the kitchen prepare a table of food and send it over.”
Ouyang Fu readily agreed.
“Of course. I’ll arrange it right away.”
Then Ouyang Fu went to invite Princess Huyang back to the guest courtyard.
Princess Huyang raised her voice and shouted toward Pei shi, who remained seated motionlessly inside the hall.
“This is my wangxiong‘s residence. Since childhood, wangxiong has always doted on me and granted my every request. Now I live in my wangxiong’s residence and eat food bought with his money. It has nothing whatsoever to do with certain people. Therefore, certain people should stop dreaming of ordering bengong around.”
Bang!
Pei shi slammed her palm onto the table.
Gu Jiu had gone to enormous lengths to extinguish the conflict between the two sides, only for all her efforts to be wasted.
Pei shi was furious and pointed at Princess Huyang.
“Wangye is trapped in the palace and unable to return. Who do you think caused that? And yet you still have the nerve to speak so shamelessly. If wangye had not given instructions, do you think benwangfei would bother with you?”
Princess Huyang immediately burst into tears.
Gu Jiu rubbed her forehead.
Could these people not calm down for even a moment?
“Enough. All of you, be quiet.”
Gu Jiu’s voice was not loud, yet it rang out like a great bell, startling everyone.
Everyone stared at her in disbelief.
She was a junior. A newly married daughter-in-law.
How dared she?
Who had given her such courage?
“Laoda’s wife, you…” Consort Shen tried to remind Gu Jiu to mind her words.
Gu Jiu sighed.
“Mufei, please have everyone unrelated leave. I have an important matter to report.”
“What important matter? You are being outrageously insolent.”
Pei shi redirected all her anger toward Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu remained calm.
“Wangye and gongzi are trapped in the palace and unable to return. Is it truly because of Chen fuma‘s affairs? As far as I know, all the wangye are currently being kept in the palace and their movements restricted.”
The moment Shen cefei and the others heard this, they all turned to look at Pei shi.
Pei shi‘s expression became grave.
She waved her hand.
“Everyone not involved, leave immediately.”
Although Shen cefei and the others were unwilling, they dared not disobey Pei shi‘s orders.
They rose and left.
As they passed Princess Huyang, they all gave her meaningful looks.
The looks seemed to say:
Are you leaving or staying? Do you still want to preserve a princess’s dignity? If you’ve got the courage, walk out right now.
Princess Huyang gritted her teeth.
She handed Chen Min to Chen Lu and instructed the servants to take the siblings back to their rooms.
Then she walked directly into the hall.
In a self-righteous tone, she declared, “Since it concerns my wangxiong, I must hear it too.”
Pei shi found her extremely irritating.
But because she was preoccupied with Gu Jiu’s so-called important matter, she endured it.
Gu Jiu noticed that Xiao Qin’er was still sitting in her place.
She looked at her with a faint smile.
Pei shi followed Gu Jiu’s gaze and spoke on her behalf.
“Laosi’s wife, you may leave now.”
Xiao Qin’er was momentarily speechless. Then an idea occurred to her.
“Since it concerns fuwang and da gongzi, erxi also wishes to help share mufei‘s burden.”
Pei shi‘s face darkened.
“What burden are you going to share? Just manage your own affairs properly and stop causing trouble for benwangfei.”
Xiao Qin’er was utterly humiliated.
Her face alternated between red, pale, and green.
Remaining any longer would only invite further embarrassment.
She shot Gu Jiu a fierce glare and reluctantly withdrew.
Now only Pei shi, Princess Huyang, Gu Jiu, and several of Pei shi‘s trusted maids remained in the hall.
Pei shi asked, “Laoda’s, what exactly is the matter?”
Gu Jiu bowed slightly and got straight to the point.
“The Crown Prince has been poisoned. His Majesty is alarmed and suspicious. That is why all the wangye have been kept in the palace.”
The moment those words were spoken, both Pei shi and Princess Huyang changed color.
“Ah!”
Princess Huyang cried out.
“It’s over! It’s over! Wangxiong is finished this time. With the Crown Prince poisoned, the greatest suspects are the princes. Fuhuang will certainly investigate thoroughly.”
“Shut your mouth.”
Pei shi angrily rebuked Princess Huyang.
At this moment, Pei shi herself was panicking. She immediately bombarded Gu Jiu with questions.
“The Crown Prince was poisoned? When did this happen? Why doesn’t benwangfei know about it? Who told you this? Has it been confirmed?”
Gu Jiu took a deep breath.
“This morning, when I learned that His Majesty had canceled the New Year’s audience, I felt uneasy and ordered people to investigate carefully. Before coming here, erxi finally learned the truth. This morning, Attendant Shen went to the Eastern Palace to deliver an imperial decree and discovered that the Crown Prince had been poisoned. Attendant Shen immediately reported the matter to His Majesty. His Majesty became alarmed and suspicious, which is why all the wangye have been detained in the palace.”
Pei shi‘s face turned deathly pale.
She collapsed back into her chair.
“The Crown Prince has been poisoned, and His Majesty has become suspicious. Every wangye is under suspicion. However, no one will step forward and admit to it. In that case, all the wangye can only rely on luck.”
Princess Huyang was flustered and anxious. “What should we do? Will fuhuang suspect wangxiong? No, I must enter the palace and see mufei.”
“Stand right there for benwangfei!”
Pei shi‘s face was ashen.
“Huyang, don’t forget what Shu fei niangniang told you when you left the palace. If you enter the palace now, are you trying to make wangye die faster?”
Princess Huyang bit her lip.
“Saosao, then tell me what to do. Are we supposed to sit here and wait?”
Pei shi kept a stern face. “This matter is already under benwangfei‘s consideration. There is no need for you to worry about it. You should worry about Chen fuma and the Chen family instead. They do not have many days left to live.”
Princess Huyang’s expression changed. She burst into tears.
“Saosao is rubbing salt into my wounds! I am sincerely worried for wangxiong, yet saosao kicks me while I’m down and delights in my misfortune. Do you have any semblance of a sister-in-law left?”
“Shut up!”
Princess Huyang wiped away her tears.
“Fine. I won’t enter the palace today. I won’t cause trouble for wangxiong or mufei. But remember this, saosao. Once these matters are settled, I will certainly enter the palace and see mufei. I will repeat every word you said exactly as it was spoken.”
“Do as you please.”
Pei shi was not afraid in the slightest.
She was the officially invested wangfei of Ning wang, personally appointed by the Emperor. Her natal family was the Pei clan, and her elder brother was Lu hou, Pei Ren, who held military authority.
Even Shu fei would not be overly harsh with her.
If Princess Huyang wanted to complain, all the better. Pei shi wanted to complain as well. She intended to tell Shu fei everything Princess Huyang had done and ask Shu fei to give her daughter a proper lesson.
Nothing less would soothe the hatred in her heart.
Princess Huyang stormed out in a huff.
Gu Jiu was not reassured. She called after her and reminded her,
“Please keep the matter of the Crown Prince’s poisoning confidential, Huyang gumu. If word gets out and His Majesty investigates, another charge may be added to fuwang‘s account.”
For the first time, Princess Huyang looked directly at Gu Jiu.
“Don’t worry. Bengong knows what is important. It seems Zhao’er did not choose his wife with poor judgment after all.”
Gu Jiu pressed her lips together.
“Thank you, Huyang gumu. I won’t escort you back to your quarters.”
Princess Huyang snorted.
“Take good care of persuading your pomu. At her age, she should at least restrain her temper a little. That hateful expression of hers is unbearable to look at.”
Gu Jiu could not help laughing.
She truly did not know which of them looked more hateful.
Did Princess Huyang actually consider herself amiable?
After seeing her off, Gu Jiu returned to the main hall.
Pei shi sat there sighing repeatedly, deeply troubled.
Was the Emperor’s suspicion really so easy to deal with?
Once the Emperor became suspicious of someone, that person’s death was usually not far away.
Although, as a prince, it was unlikely he would be executed by imperial decree, he could still be stripped of his status and confined for life.
Just imagining such a fate was enough to make one’s skin crawl.
She looked at Gu Jiu.
“You handled things very well this time. Fortunately, you stopped Princess Huyang in time and prevented her from entering the palace.”
Given Huyang’s reckless nature, no one knew what disaster she might have caused had she entered the palace.
Gu Jiu said, “It was merely erxi’s duty.”
After a pause, she suggested, “Should mufei send someone to Lu hou fu to inquire?”
Sometimes court officials were better informed than the wang fu.
The Emperor’s wariness toward his sons was hardly a new development.
By contrast, he was generous and amiable toward meritorious officials.
Compared to the treatment of the princes, who were beaten and scolded at the slightest provocation, court officials lived quite comfortably.
Looking at it that way, the Emperor truly seemed split in two.
Pei shi nodded to herself.
“Benwangfei will send someone to Lu hou fu immediately.”
For the first time, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law reached complete agreement on a matter.
Even though the Emperor had specifically ordered the news to be suppressed, information nevertheless spread as if it had grown wings, flying from the Eastern Palace and the imperial palace into the residences of every prince, duke, and noble family in the capital.
For a time, all civil and military officials in the capital wore grave expressions, as though facing a great enemy.
Even the three major military camps of the capital, rarely active during the New Year celebrations, assembled in preparation for possible unrest.
The officials who would ordinarily host lavish banquets during the holiday all canceled them without prior consultation.
Everyone became unusually quiet.
On one hand, they prepared for whatever upheaval might be coming.
On the other, they lowered their heads and tried not to attract the Emperor’s attention.
At a time like this, anyone who caught the Emperor’s eye was likely not far from death.
By evening, the Imperial Guards arrived once more.
This time they directly arrested several eunuchs and attendants from Bixi Pavilion and sent them to the imperial prison for interrogation.
Dozens of Imperial Guards were also stationed outside the wang fu gates, restricting the movement of everyone within.
Faced with this series of developments, Pei shi was overwhelmed with shock, anxiety, and worry.
Unable to bear it any longer, she fainted on the spot.
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