After the execution of a prince and the ongoing matters involving the Lu family, the Guo family, and the Princess Consort of Cheng, many were watching the happenings at Jiyun Alley. However, contrary to everyone's expectations, everything at the Tang residence proceeded as usual, with no delays even to the previously scheduled banquet the next day.
The Tang family did not send any notice to postpone the banquet, and those who had received invitations showed up as planned. When they arrived, they were greeted by the beaming and cheerful Madam Rong.
Some people could not help but murmur as they saw Madam Rong, smiling and talking to Princess Le Yang in the distant water pavilion, her face free of any shadow of sorrow: “Isn’t the Princess Consort of Cheng being too heartless? She and Cheng Wang were married for nearly twenty years, and now he’s just been executed, yet she looks so happy. If you didn’t know better, you would think it was someone else who had died.”
“That’s right! I heard that yesterday Cheng Wang’s corpse was left unclaimed, and it wasn’t until the palace staff found a grass mat and wrapped him up before throwing him out of the city.”
“Cheng Wang and his consort seemed like a loving couple in the past. Even though Cheng Wang made mistakes, he never took in another woman. At least on the surface, Madam Rong enjoyed the full status of a princess consort. Now, she refuses to even collect his body, and instead sets up this thanksgiving banquet. It really makes her seem too narrow-hearted.”
Qian Qiyue, who had just entered the garden pavilion with Madam Zhou, overheard the gossip. With a cold expression, she shot a mocking glance at the ladies talking: “Since you all think this thanksgiving banquet is inappropriate, why are you even here?”
She then looked up at the one who had spoken the harshest words:
“Madam Rong’s heart isn’t as broad as Madam Huang’s, is it? After all, in all of the capital, you can’t find another family as kind to their illegitimate son as Madam Huang’s. I heard that Young Master Huang not only entered government service before, but even got married before Madam Huang’s own biological son.”
The pavilion suddenly fell silent. The woman who had just spoken, Madam Huang, turned pale with anger.
“You!” She glared at Qian Qiyue. “Who are you to speak like this?!”
Qian Qiyue smiled coldly. “I’m not like some people who talk nonsense. I always speak the truth. We commoners tend to talk about close and distant relationships, unlike Madam Huang, whose heart is as wide as the sea.”
“If I had an illegitimate brother who tried to steal the marriage of my legitimate brother, and even caused a scandal by flirting with my sister-in-law before the wedding, he would certainly have his legs broken and be expelled from the family. Unlike Madam Huang’s family, where the affair goes on even between siblings, and they still live together happily as one big happy family.”
The ladies around the pavilion could not help but twitch their lips.
Madam Zhou also couldn’t help but pull Qian Qiyue back slightly, coughing softly.
This was referring to the infamous scandal in the Huang family, where an illegitimate son had seduced his elder brother’s wife before the wedding, which led to a violent confrontation. But Lord Huang, having a soft spot for his concubine and his illegitimate son, had suppressed the matter. Madam Huang wanted to pursue the issue, but Lord Huang had intervened.
Madam Huang, enraged and with her face turning purple, gritted her teeth. “You… You…”
“What? What’s wrong?” Qian Qiyue tilted her head. “Does Madam Huang have something to teach me? Oh, if you want to propose, then forget it. The atmosphere in your house—this humble young lady really can’t give it a compliment. But, I do admire how Madam Huang and Lord Huang have such a loving relationship. For love, you can endure so much, even treating an illegitimate son as your own. You even tolerate their daughter-in-law getting robbed. Truly, I admire you.”
Madam Huang trembled with anger, and seeing the surrounding people looking over at them, she felt like she was being mocked even if no one had spoken a word. She stepped forward and tried to strike Qian Qiyue with her hand.
Madam Zhou immediately stepped forward, pulling Qian Qiyue back a step, frowning and saying softly, “Madam Huang, this is Jiyun Alley. Please show some restraint.”
Madam Huang shouted angrily, “What does Jiyun Alley matter? This girl’s mouth is venomous and dishonorable, slandering the Huang family’s reputation and speaking ill of other people’s household matters. She will definitely be a disaster in the future. Today, I will teach her a lesson in place of her elders!”
How could Qian Qiyue back down? With her hands on her hips and her chin raised, she was about to move forward, but just then, a voice came from behind.
“This madam wants to teach someone a lesson at the Tang residence?”
Qian Qiyue stopped her actions, turned around, and saw Tang Ning walking over.
Tang Ning?
The Princess of Yiyang?
The ladies in the pavilion quickly looked up at the young lady approaching. She wore a blue long dress, her features exquisite, her eyes clear and bright. As soon as she peeked inside, the expressions of those who had been talking earlier changed.
Madam Huang, who had just been pointing at Qian Qiyue, immediately turned pale. Before she could speak, Qian Qiyue, who had been mocking her moments before, had her face immediately drop into an expression of complaint.
“Tang Ning, why did you take so long to arrive!” Qian Qiyue, beautiful and radiant when smiling, now looked pitiful as she puffed out her lips in grievance.
“They’re bullying me! They say Madam Rong has a narrow mind and doesn’t care about her marriage. They also say she didn’t even go to collect Cheng Wang’s body and instead set up a banquet, being heartless. I was so angry at them for slandering Aunt, so I said a few words back, but she actually tried to hit me.”
Qian Qiyue hid behind Tang Ning, whining, “Tang Ning, I’m so scared.”
Madam Zhou: “…”
The onlookers: “…”
Tang Ning glanced at the serious-looking Qian Qiyue leaning against her shoulder. A trace of amusement flashed in her eyes. She gently patted Qian Qiyue’s shoulder and then turned her cold gaze to Madam Huang.
Madam Huang, flustered, quickly defended herself: “Princess of Yiyang, don’t listen to her nonsense. I was just having a casual conversation. She’s the one who slandered our Huang family. I couldn’t bear it and wanted to teach her a lesson…”
“Did Madam Huang say the things Qian Qiyue just mentioned?”
“I…” Madam Huang immediately faltered. She had wanted to argue that she hadn’t said such things, but there were so many witnesses, and she had been speaking loudly.
At the time, she had been relying on the fact that there were no Tang residence servants around, and that most of the people present were acquaintances, so she had spoken carelessly. Who could have imagined that someone would appear and point out her words?
Madam Huang lowered her voice. “I was just having a casual conversation…”
“Did you say it, or didn’t you?” Tang Ning’s voice had lost all warmth now.
Madam Huang opened her mouth but didn’t respond.
“So you did say it?” Tang Ning raised her eyes, no longer soft, “Which family do you come from?”
“She’s from the Huang family, the family of Lord Huang Yi, the Shaoqing of the Taichang Temple,” Qian Qiyue leaned over and said before retreating behind Madam Zhou, pretending to sob again.
Madam Zhou almost lost her composure, and with a helpless sigh, she lightly pinched Qian Qiyue.
But Tang Ning was completely unfazed as she stared at Madam Huang. “Lord Huang serves in the Taichang Temple and is responsible for the rituals in the ancestral temple. He must be well aware of the importance of following the Emperor’s decrees, and the principle of respecting the imperial edicts.”
“The Emperor’s decree has allowed my aunt to part from Cheng Wang. From now on, their marriage is severed. Madam Rong is the head of the Rong family and is not anyone’s subordinate. There’s no need for her to be concerned about anyone’s opinion. Madam Huang, are you questioning the Emperor’s decree?”
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You can read ahead to chapterr 400 (100+ extra chapters) here
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