Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 773 - 771

Chapter 773: Chapter 771

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager’s words, the Princess, wife of Prince An, flushed with embarrassment. She felt wronged and increasingly empathised with Du Yijin. However, due to the Empress Dowager’s long-established authority, she dared not say another word. Experience had taught her that she could not win an argument against the Empress Dowager, and any more words would only lead to more mistakes.

When had Du Yijin ever faced such a situation that felt like a three-way interrogation? The Empress Dowager’s words scorched her face with embarrassment. Struggling to regain her composure, she managed to reply, "Honorable Imperial Grandmother, I dare not! My hand is..."

Just as she was about to say that it was Shangguan Ruixi who had bandaged her hand, he cut her off. "To Imperial Grandmother, the imperial doctor says the Crown Princess’ hand has lost a layer of skin. It looks quite horrific and I feared it would give you a fright, so I had the maid dress it more heavily. I did not expect it to upset you! Your grandson will have it removed immediately!"

Upon hearing Shangguan Ruixi’s words, the Empress Dowager’s expression softened as she acknowledged her grandson’s filial piety: "There’s no need, lest it further displeases my eyes."

The Empress Dowager looked at Du Yijin again. This Du family girl could be considered the ugliest among all her granddaughters-in-law! Her family background was poor, she was unskilled and ugly — truly a pity for her golden grandson!

Finally her gaze landed on Xiao’er. Although Shen Xiao’er was of low birth, her beauty was unparalleled in the Imperial City! But she was cunning, a crafty vixen who had trapped her grandson turning his head in a whirl! Being too beautiful and too clever was also not good!

The Empress Dowager recalled how Xiao’er had embarrassed her earlier and decided to teach her a lesson. Otherwise, Xiao’er might grow too unbridled. So she ordered, "Princess Rui, even though your birth is low and you are not even comparable to the Crown Princess, your grasp on etiquette is impeccable. Teach the Crown Princess the proper way to curtsy! You may leave the palace only after she has learned today."

A silence fell across the room; it was clear that the Empress Dowager was intent on making life difficult for Du Yijin and Xiao’er today.

The others present couldn’t understand why.

Even the Emperor didn’t understand how his two daughters-in-law had offended their grandmother so much. He played the mediator very well, and suggested, "Mother, I have a pile of memorials awaiting approval! Why not let me have a sip of my niece’s tea first, then go back to Zichen Palace to review the memorials?"

Unable to ignore the Emperor’s request, and understanding that the affairs of the harem should not interfere with the operation of the state, the Empress Dowager said: "In that case, serve the tea first!"

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager’s words, everyone heaved a sigh of relief.

However, her tone shifted suddenly: "After the tea ceremony, the men who have official business may leave, but the women must stay. Today, until the Crown Princess has mastered her curtsy, no one is allowed to leave the palace!"

The Emperor: "..." For the first time, he felt as if he was making things worse.

What would happen with a room full of women all by themselves? He had a premonition that it would be much like a six-nation grand convention!

The Empress Dowager gestured to the maids, who quickly began to move, bringing out cushions and serving tea.

The Emperor turned to look at Du Yijin; her expression clearly showed that she was barely holding on. To avoid giving his mother any more excuses, he seized the opportunity to say: "Crown Princess, you may rise first. Make sure you learn properly later."

"Thank you, Emperor," Du Yijin thanked him, feeling greatly relieved as she stood up. She had been almost numb with exhaustion!

Although the Wang Mansion had sent a ceremonial nanny to instruct her in the art of curtsying before her marriage, and she had passed the course successfully,

She had only just recovered from a high fever the night before, so her body was not yet fully recovered, leaving her feeling a little lightheaded. Having half-curtsied for so long, she was losing her stamina. If she didn’t get up soon, she was certain she would make a scene.

Du Yijin shared a conversational glance with Xiao’er, giving her an apologetic smile.

Xiao’er returned her a look of reassurance.

The maids prepared everything.

Shangguan Ruixi and Du Yijin knelt down to begin the proceedings.

Shangguan Ruixi was extremely worried! He feared that the Empress Dowager would purposely create obstacles during the tea ceremony. What if she purposely knocked over the tea?

A deep sigh escaped him. Why was marrying a wife so difficult for him? Others could love her when they liked, show off their affection when they wanted to. In his case? So many twists and turns, so much effort!

With a sigh, Shangguan Ruixi steadied himself, then lifted a teacup to first offer it to the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager took it with a smile, had a sip, then set it down.

Then came Du Yijin’s turn.

The Empress Dowager watched her coldly, waiting for the opportunity to berate her.

Boasting of a serious hand injury? It would serve her right if she were completely disabled! The Crown Princess should not be a handicapped person. This would provide a perfect excuse for her precious grandson to get a new wife!

Shangguan Ruixi caught the cold light in the Empress Dowager’s eyes and immediately felt a shiver of fear. Without further ado, he said, "The Crown Princess’ hand is injured, and I’m afraid she won’t be able to hold the cup steady. If she spills the tea on you, Imperial Grandmother, and you get scalded, I would never forgive myself. It would be better if I hold it for her to offer it to you!"

Having said that, Shangguan Ruixi reached out to take the cup. As he gripped it, the heat from the tea reached his fingers, informing him instantly that the tea must be scalding hot!

Shangguan Ruixi was about to reprimand the maids, but reconsidering, he decided to feign ignorance. He took the cup and prepared to pass it to Du Yijin, but halfway there, he pretended to accidentally spill a little onto his hand, feigning a searing pain, and then deliberately spilled the entire cup causing the boiling tea to scald his hand and thigh.

"Hiss! How can this tea be so hot? I’m lucky it scalded me; what if it had scalded Imperial Grandmother?!" Shangguan Ruixi grimaced in pain, his inner fury flaring up. If the scalding hot tea had splashed onto Du Yijin, how could she have handled it with her hand injury?

"Crown Prince, you’ve got blisters on your hand! Bring some cold water quickly!" Du Yijin cried out in shock.

The Empress Dowager’s face changed instantly as she witnessed the scene. She reprimanded, "How did you brew this tea, to serve such scalding tea?!"

"Empress Dowager, spare me, it was an oversight on my part." The maid quickly knelt and begged for mercy, feeling utterly wronged.

She had been definitely cursed today! How could she be so unlucky to be on duty today?

"Call my servants to take her away and whip her fifty times, then send her to the Clothing Bureau!" The Empress Dowager angrily ordered.

"Summon the imperial doctor!" The Emperor commanded, his face dark.

Seeing the severe scald on Shangguan Ruixi’s hand, Xiao’er suggested, "Who in the palace has aloe vera? The juice of aloe vera has a miraculous healing effect on burns!"

"I know, I’ll fetch it at once!" a maid replied.

"The Crown Prince should change his clothes! Leaving the wound on your leg pressed against the fabric will only make it worse. Use cold water to rinse the wounds on your hand and leg to cool down your skin." Xiao’er continued.

"Quickly, go and change your clothes!" Hearing Xiao’er’s suggestions, the Empress Dowager hurriedly ordered. At the same time, she felt some regret. Maybe if she hadn’t wanted to teach Du Yijin a lesson just now, none of this would have happened.

Now, instead of accomplishing that, her own grandson had been injured! It was surely a case of her gains being less than her losses!