Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 981 - 979_1

Chapter 981: Chapter 979_1

Xiao’er had just returned from the Eldest Princess Mansion to the entrance of Prince Rui’s Mansion, when the Empress Dowager sent someone to summon her.

This made things more convenient. She didn’t even need to enter her own door. She could just turn the carriage directly back towards the Imperial Palace.

Outside of the Imperial Palace, Xiao’er also saw Yun’er’s carriage.

The two sisters entered the palace gate together, heading towards the Cining Palace.

This was Yun’er’s first time being summoned by the Empress Dowager. Holding her hand, Xiao’er asked, "Are you scared?"

"Not at all." Yun’er shook her head, then continued, "I am the wife of the crown prince of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, although not married yet. The Empress Dowager can only scold me a bit, but she wouldn’t dare to do anything more. But you, sister, probably will have a hard time dealing with the Empress Dowager!"

Xiao’er laughed. Yun’er was right. The Empress Dowager would only blame Yun’er a bit, but the treatment towards her, the granddaughter-in-law, was completely different.

"Don’t worry. I only punished a commoner girl who insulted an Imperial Court official. I, as a princess, should not interfere too much in the affairs of the Imperial Court. However, at my own household, if someone insults the officials who serve the country and the people tirelessly, I have the right to teach them a lesson."

"It’s good that it was Princess Ling’er that I hit!" Yun’er said, laughing.

"Even if you didn’t, I would have. It wasn’t the first time I’ve punished her. If she doesn’t learn to behave, she can’t blame others. As long as you’re in the right, you have nothing to fear! It’s against the law in the Imperial Court to insult its officials, not to mention cursing them! If we sisters had not reacted at all back then, everyone would think our family is easy to bully!"

But their family has never been easy to bully! The siblings always work together; their unity is unbreakable!

The two did not take the Empress Dowager’s summons seriously at all. They were laughing and chatting all the way.

The leading nanny twitched the corners of her mouth. Not afraid of anyone? Only Princess Rui would dare to say such a thing, and indeed, she feared no one, not even the Empress Dowager.

She had served the Empress Dowager for many years and knew that Princess Rui had never been at a disadvantage under the Empress Dowager’s hand, and the mere mention of her would make the Empress Dowager furious.

Although the Empress Dowager disliked Princess Rui, the nanny did not dare to show any displeasure to Xiaoxiao. After all, no one can tell who will own this world in the future. She saw no reason to offend a bright, popular, and loved princess for the Empress Dowager, who was already half-buried in the ground.

Xiao’er’s thoughts were different from the nanny’s. She and Yun’er felt absolutely no pressure. It was as if they were walking home. They chatted for a while, and soon they arrived at the Cining Palace.

The nanny paused, bowed to the duo respectfully and said, "Princess Rui, Miss Shen, please wait here while I go and announce your arrival."

Xiao’er nodded her head.

After the nanny went in, Xiao’er said to Yun’er, "Let’s go sit on the stone bench under that tree. The Empress Dowager is not likely to see us right away."

Out of the ten times the Empress Dowager had summoned her, eight of them would result in her having to wait in the courtyard for half a day before being let in. Xiao’er had experience with this!

Today, Shangguan Xuanyi was out of town, not at the Imperial Palace, so no one could save her. Xiao’er naturally would not stand there foolishly waiting and strain her legs.

From a distance, a cleaning maid saw Xiao’er coming and quietly retreated.

Xiao’er and Yun’er sat together, whispering secrets to each other. Their youthful beauty radiated against the backdrop of the garden, causing the surrounding flowers to look dull in comparison. This spectacle enraptured the maids of the Cining Palace.

Contrary to Xiao’er’s expectations, the Empress Dowager summoned her for an audience sooner than she had anticipated.

Inside the palace hall, unsurprisingly, Princess Ling’er was seated beside the Empress Dowager. Her slightly tanned face was still swollen on one side, but it looked much better than before.

Xiao’er’s gaze landed on a small, exquisite box on the table. Hmph, a precious ointment wasted on a pig!

Xiao’er and Yun’er bowed in respect. "Your humble daughter-in-law/daughter greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager enjoy eternal peace and prosperity."

"You are the second daughter of Marquis Shengping? Raise your head and let me see!" the Empress Dowager commanded from her elevated seat, her face filled with arrogance and authority.

Upon hearing the order, Yun’er gently raised her head. Heeding royal etiquette, she avoided direct eye contact but didn’t waver. The corners of her lips slightly turned upwards, her expression just right.

Although Yun’er’s beauty couldn’t rival Xiao’er’s enchanting splendor, she surpassed all the other ladies in the Imperial Capital save for Xiao’er.

The Empress Dowager felt a flicker of displeasure in her heart: another vixen-like beauty, no wonder she had attracted the crown prince of the Eastern Jin Dynasty at such a young age!

The Empress Dowager sat in her seat, coldly observing them without uttering a word. This time, without her grandson in the Imperial Palace, she was eager to see who would come to their aid. After a long pause, she eventually broke the silence: "Do you know your crimes?"

"Your humble daughter-in-law has always conducted herself with integrity, free from wrongdoing. How can I know any crime?" Xiao’er replied, rolling her eyes inwardly: the Empress Dowager always used this questioning tactic against her, couldn’t she come up with something new?

Yun’er also replied, "Your humble daughter does not know."

"You went to the eldest princess’s house, destroyed Princess Ling’er’s bridal accessories, and bullied people using your status. You even assaulted Princess Ling’er and an official’s daughter. Are you saying you didn’t commit any crime?"

"Your Majesty, we did assault them, but hitting people is not a crime. You can ask Princess Ling’er why we hit them and what they said at that time!"

Upon hearing this, Princess Ling’er’s eyes flickered. She took out a handkerchief and pretended to wipe away tears, lamenting, "Your Majesty, I didn’t say anything at that time. I didn’t mean anything else."

The Empress Dowager looked at her, then back at Xiao’er, "Regardless, as a princess, your actions represent the face of the royal family. Resorting to violence, such behavior that only a shrewish village wife would exhibit, is disgraceful to the royal family! I hereby order you to kneel in the small Buddhist temple for the night. Don’t stop until you recite Buddhist scriptures a hundred times for penance, do you accept this punishment? "

A royal wife, slapping someone in public, acting like an unrefined shrew - does she think she’s still in that dirty little village?

"Your Majesty, what would you do if someone were to curse Prince Rui’s son to remain unmarried, or to fall gravely ill when he is about to marry?" Xiao’er countered.

Xiao’er knew that while the Empress Dowager found her daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law distasteful, when it came to her sons and grandsons - those who shared her blood - she genuinely cared and loved them deep down. Hence, she used this as an example.

Prince Rui’s son? Shangguan Xuanyi’s son? That’s her great-grandson! The Empress Dowager shot Xiao’er a fierce look upon hearing this, and scolded, "You shameless woman, what kind of mother talks about her future son like that!"

Xiao’er was not afraid of her and asked again, "Your Majesty, what would you do if someone cursed Prince Rui’s son?"

Xiao’er felt helpless. She didn’t want to bring up her future son, but when making an example, it would be inappropriate to involve anyone else. She had to take advantage of her yet unconceived son. Furthermore, it wasn’t certain she’d have a son; she wouldn’t mind having a daughter either!

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