Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1025 - 1023_1

Chapter 1025: 1023_1

Shangguan Xuanyi ignored the Empress Dowager’s words, only staring coldly at Fang Wanping, scolding harshly, "Speak!"

Shangguan Xuanyi’s loud roar nearly made Fang Wanping jump in fright.

Even Xiao’er, standing next to Shangguan Xuanyi, was taken aback.

Fang Wanping trembled in fear. She clenched her lower lip, not daring to speak, nor willing to. She could only clutch her injured spot, pretending to be in great pain. Indeed, it was very painful. How could a broken rib not cause agony? She was enduring it, only hoping to gain more from this injury.

The Empress Dowager was also startled, for she had never seen her grandson so enraged before.

Regaining her senses, she patted her chest, grumpily saying, "Why are you shouting like that!" trying to scare someone to death, are you?

After finishing her words, the Empress Dowager warily examined Fang Wanping. Seeing her frightened and trembling, appearing to be in unbearable pain, she felt a tinge of pity.

After all, this was the person who broke a rib while saving her. Thus, the Empress Dowager said, "Alright, we’ll deal with this matter after she’s recovered from her injury! Ruan Wanping, you should return to your mansion to recuperate! Someone, take..."

Shangguan Xuanyi interrupted the Empress Dowager, "Royal Grandmother, let’s let her finish speaking before sending her out of the palace, otherwise, those who don’t know might think that our princess is bullying her!"

Hearing these words, Fang Wanping couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. She didn’t do anything, and what she said wasn’t wrong. Princess Rui was indeed revered by the common people, she often heard the commoners singing her praises! But it was Princess Rui who maliciously revealed her family background in front of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, causing her extreme embarrassment.

Why should such a person receive Prince Rui’s protection!

The Emperor glanced at Fang Wanping’s pitiful appearance, then looked at Shangguan Xuanyi, slightly furrowing his brows, "What brought this on?"

Everyone was also curious about Fang Wanping’s background.

Though Shangguan Xuanyi’s face was usually cold, even when he was furious, his words were chillingly cold, never thunderous. He had never shouted so rudely before!

The Empress Dowager was cut off by her grandson’s words, and he didn’t give her any face in front of all these people, repeatedly dismissing what she had to say. She was not happy, but since the Emperor was speaking now, adhering to the principle of her submissive role as wife and mother, she didn’t say anything, and could only quietly seethe.

She couldn’t lose face in front of the Emperor! The majesty of the Emperor is inviolable, even for her, his mother, she must hail the Emperor as supremely honorable!

Shangguan Xuanyi glanced at Fang Wanping who laid there wiping her tears, just as he was about to speak.

Fang Wanping spoke first. She couldn’t let Prince Rui reveal her background; he would definitely make it sound unpleasant!

Whispering, Fang Wanping said, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, my mother remarried, and my biological father’s surname is Fang."

Remarried? In women, fidelity is highly valued, and being remarried doesn’t have a good reputation.

So, she is Master Ruan’s stepdaughter?

"Your mother married Master Ruan as a stepmother? Why did she remarry?"

Hearing these words, a surge of shame swept over Fang Wanping’s face. Her voice dropped slightly without her realizing it. She was too embarrassed to reveal her family background in front of these noble people, "No, she was a concubine."

"What?" Fang Wanping’s voice was too soft, and the Empress Dowager, who was hard of hearing due to her advanced age, failed to catch it and asked again.

"My mother was a concubine." Lying on the bed immobilized, with others looking down on her, being interrogated by the Empress Dowager like a defendant, Fang Wanping felt extremely humiliated.

The Empress Dowager finally heard it clearly this time. A concubine! So she was a burden brought in by a concubine. Then what sort of status could she possibly have at home?

Remarrying was already a disgrace, let alone willingly becoming a concubine; the Empress Dowager thought rather lowly of Fang Wanping’s mother.

As for Fang Wanping, her kind heart was genuine. Yet, someone with such a background couldn’t possibly become her grandson’s concubine!

She didn’t care about how noble her family background was, but she ought to be at least from a decent family!

"By the way, why did your mother take you to remarry? Is your biological father dead or something?"

If her mother was divorced, wouldn’t that be even worse?

The Empress Dowager could never have imagined that Fang Wanping and her mother did not get divorced. Instead, they ruthlessly took all of her ex-husband’s property, abandoned that unfortunate ex-husband, and ran away themselves, and then got remarried.

Fang Wanping had purposely not answered this question earlier, but she didn’t expect the Empress Dowager to be so persistent! At this moment, Fang Wanping’s face turned unspeakably ghastly, and she harbored resentment towards the Empress Dowager.

How could these people, born in the lap of luxury, understand the suffering of those with convoluted backgrounds like hers, hence why they ruthlessly pursued her past, which was certainly not glorious.

At this moment, it’s difficult to describe how embarassed Fang Wanping felt.

She subconsciously looked at Xiao’er. Surely, she must be gloating right now! She purposefully addressed her as Miss Fang, wasn’t it just to humiliate her?

She, born to a mud-legged peasant family, if it were not for finding a noble man who loved and protected her wholeheartedly, she would probably be in the fields right now, working like a dog! How could she possibly have the opportunity to sit in this grand and imposing palace, looking down on her! Trampling on her dignity!

Having never experienced such humiliation before, at this moment, Fang Wanping really wished she could kill Xiao’er. She couldn’t wait to get her revenge!

Everyone was waiting for Fang Wanping to answer.

Fang Wanping felt that everyone’s gazes were filled with disdain, making her feel like bottom-dwelling muck.

However, if she were to tell the truth, these high-status individuals would look down on her even more. If she did not tell the truth, Prince Rui and Princess Rui would certainly expose her! Overwhelmed, the mental and physical pain caused her unconscious mind to choose what was most beneficial to her. And then, she passed out!

Seeing her faint right there, the Empress Dowager was taken aback and felt guilty, "Quickly, call for the imperial doctor!"

The Emperor furrowed his brows, glanced at the faint Fang Wanping, and calmly commanded, "No need, she has probably fainted from the pain. Just escort Miss Ruan back to her mansion! Oh right, the rewards that the Empress and I gave her, since she offered them to the Empress Dowager, should all be sent to the Cining Palace!"

The Emperor disliked those who plotted behind his back the most. However, regardless of whether she did it out of a good heart or for selfish motives, she did save the Empress Dowager. Instead of holding her accountable, he just sent her out of the palace!

After hearing the Emperor’s words, the Empress Dowager wanted to say there was no need, but instead she changed her mind, "Since those gifts are too valuable, it’s fine. Since she’s injured, get the Imperial Dining Room to prepare a pot of pork rib soup for Miss Ruan!"

If the fainted Fang Wanping knew that all the rewards she received previously had turned into a pot of pork rib soup, she would have actually passed out from anger.

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