“I didn’t!” Madam Huang’s face turned pale. “I just said it in passing…”
“You said it in passing, but now you want my aunt to bear the consequences?”
Tang Ning's appearance was not particularly aggressive, and compared to Qian Qiyue, she was far less confrontational. However, at that moment, her gaze was unusually sharp.
"The Princess of Cheng is a thing of the past. The Cheng King was heartless, unfaithful, and despicable. My aunt has already severed ties with him. To see him punished and not even celebrate with firecrackers is already showing her kindness. Who dares say a word against her? If Madam Huang has complaints, if you pity the Cheng King’s plight, the Huang family can go to His Majesty and request his body."
“If you feel it's inconvenient due to your position, I can send someone on your behalf to inform His Majesty and everyone else how broad your mind is, Madam Huang.”
Madam Huang’s face turned blue. The Cheng King was a traitor personally condemned by His Majesty and just executed. Any association with him would only lead to ruin. Moreover, questioning the imperial edict and defying the royal will was something Madam Huang could not afford.
Madam Huang trembled and hurriedly lowered her head. "Please forgive me, Princess of Yiyang. I was confused just now and spoke thoughtlessly..."
“If you were confused, then stay at home and reflect on it carefully,” Tang Ning turned and addressed the outside. “Someone, take Madam Huang out.”
Madam Huang’s color drained, and the onlookers were all shocked.
No one had expected that the Princess of Yiyang would directly "see her off."
"Princess of Yiyang..."
Madam Huang wanted to plead, but to be thrown out of Tang Mansion would definitely become a huge joke in the future. Moreover, the words Tang Ning had spoken would surely implicate the entire Huang family. She had only said a few casual remarks, how could it escalate to this?
But Tang Mansion's people gave her no chance. Hua Wu quickly stepped forward, blocking Madam Huang’s path with a sharp motion.
“Madam Huang, please!”
“Princess of Yiyang, she is a guest...” One of the ladies who had spoken with Madam Huang earlier couldn’t help but plead. “Madam Huang just misspoke, why make it unpleasant for everyone?”
“Insult my aunt and then say I’m making things unpleasant? If it weren’t for being in Tang Mansion, I wouldn’t have let her leave so easily.”
Tang Ning raised her eyes and glared at the woman who spoke, her gaze cold. “The Rong family is not without people, and Tang Mansion is not a place for anyone to act recklessly. My aunt will not tolerate being humiliated by anyone. If this lady feels displeased, then she may leave with Madam Huang. Tang Mansion does not welcome you.”
The woman who had spoken was suddenly surrounded by people, her face stiffening. She didn’t have time to react before she was surrounded.
Seeing Tang Mansion’s servants escorting them outside, the woman instantly became enraged. “Princess of Yiyang, Madam Huang’s words are the truth. Besides, we are all guests invited by Madam Rong, is this how you treat guests? My mother is Princess Fengyang, and my husband...”
She looked up and saw a figure appear outside the pavilion, and her words immediately died in her throat. The next moment, her face went pale.
Xiao Yan spoke indifferently: “What about your husband?”
“Lord Xiao...”
The woman trembled, and when she saw Xiao Yan look up and lightly murmur “hmm?”, cold sweat appeared on her forehead.
The atmosphere both inside and outside the pavilion became deathly silent. Tang Ning had not expected Xiao Yan to come at this moment, and she looked at him in surprise. “Brother.”
“What happened?” Xiao Yan asked.
Tang Ning furrowed her brows. “They insulted my aunt.”
Xiao Yan's tone was calm: “Throw them out.”
Hang Li, following behind, stepped forward. This time, it wasn’t like Tang Ning’s “gentle” approach. Madam Huang and the others were terrified, their faces ashen, but when facing the men armed with knives and swords, they didn’t dare to speak. After a brief moment, the two women were forcibly pushed out of the Tang Mansion’s gates. The maidservants who had come with them were also promptly “escorted” out, and the gifts they brought were returned to them.
“My lady says that if you weren’t truly here to attend the banquet, then please take these things back. From now on, Tang Mansion and the Rong family will not associate with you.”
Outside Jiyun Alley, there were carriages lined up, and the coachmen who had not entered the mansion were surprised to see the two women being pushed out.
Madam Huang and her group, facing the gaze of the crowd, had a hideous expression. Madam Huang turned and whispered, “How could this Song Tang Ning be so petty? It was just a casual remark, I’ve already apologized, but she actually had us thrown out. What should we do now, Madam Lin?”
“‘We?’ Who’s ‘we’?”
Madam Lin was filled with regret. She had looked down on Rong Yue’s divorce and envied her for inheriting the Cheng King’s estate and being made the Lady Rong. But she never thought of getting on bad terms with Rong Yue.
Moreover, there was still Xiao Yan. Now that she had been thrown out in front of everyone, it was embarrassing, but how would she explain it to her family when she got back?
If Tang Ning and Xiao Yan held a grudge, what would she do?
Madam Lin, feeling the eyes around her, swiftly shook off Madam Huang’s hand. “What are you standing around for? Let’s go quickly!”
Madam Huang, staggering and supported by others, was pale as she was ushered away.
...
Inside the pavilion, seeing Madam Huang and her group being “thrown” out, the ladies who had been discussing Rong Guo’s consort earlier looked uneasy.
Tang Ning, however, did not pursue the matter with the others. She gently spoke, “Ladies, you came today to attend the banquet, but we’ve caused an upset. It’s my fault for not greeting you properly, and I hope you can forgive me.”
The tense atmosphere in the pavilion instantly relaxed, and everyone sighed in relief.
“Princess of Yiyang, you’re too polite. The scenery at your residence is excellent, and we’ve been enjoying it very much.”
“Indeed, there are few places in the capital as beautiful as Tang Mansion. These flowers are so well cared for. I was just talking to a few ladies and said that I would come back to the county lord’s residence to learn and take a few flower seedlings home.”
“Yes, please don’t be too polite, Princess.”
Everyone chimed in, complimenting the surroundings.
Tang Ning smiled gently, with none of the coldness from earlier. “I’m glad you all like it. My aunt is still chatting with Princess Leyang, so it may take a little while before she can attend to you.”
“It’s quite hot today, but the flower hall has been prepared with ice cups, cool drinks, and some pastries. Other guests are also resting there, so feel free to move over and cool off.”
Naturally, no one objected. Not only had Tang Ning’s “killing the chicken to scare the monkey” tactic kept them in check, but they also wouldn’t act foolishly with Princess Leyang’s identity.
Hua Wu led the ladies to the flower hall, and Qian Qiyue gave Tang Ning a playful wink before pulling Zhou Erniang to join Madam Qian and the others.
Tang Ning couldn’t help but laugh at Qian Qiyue’s antics, and as she laughed, she said, “Why did my brother come now?”
Xiao Yan replied, “I came to ask for something.”
Tang Ning turned her head, “What?”
“The Dragon Pattern Pendant.”
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You can read ahead to chapterr 400 (100+ extra chapters) here
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