Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 201 - First Update

Chapter 201: Chapter 201 - First Update

"Mother, I have known the difficulty of this matter; hence, I dared not bring it up." Zong Yunqian glanced at his mother, feeling that it was better to endure the short pain than the prolonged agony.

Gu Dao looked at his own princely heir. What was this new drama? When had it started? Why was there no hint of it?

Eldest Madam Zong was startled and looked at her son with some confusion. They had only been in the Imperial City for about ten days, and Zong Yunqian had met the princess just once.

Therefore, there was still a chance to change the situation; she must not panic first.

Eldest Madam Zong suddenly felt that this matter was related to her forcing her son to choose a bride.

"Yunqian, the selection of a Crown Prince’s wife must be done carefully. There is no need to rush. However, that princess is definitely not suitable." Eldest Madam Zong took a deep breath. This matter had to be nipped in the bud.

"Mother, I’ve made my decision. If it isn’t Princess Chao Ren, I will never marry." Zong Yunqian also showed no sign of stepping back.

Gu Dao became anxious. Did the princely heir not know about Eldest Madam Zong’s temper? Couldn’t everything be discussed amicably? This was yet another start to a commotion.

What exactly did the princely heir want to do? Given the identity of that princess, Eldest Madam Zong and the Old Madam would definitely disagree. Prince Duan had not intended that day either, and the heir had acknowledged that he would never mention the incident.

So, what was the heir trying to achieve? Was it just a ploy to prevent the Eldest Madam and others from pressuring him into choosing a Crown Prince’s wife? Because they would definitely disagree with the princess.

"Madam, the princely heir is only being deeply loyal and feels that he should take responsibility..." Gu Dao could not think of any better excuses for now, leaning towards a favorable interpretation was nevertheless correct.

"Deep loyalty? Where does he place the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family?" Eldest Madam Zong snorted coldly.

"Yunqian, the two ladies that Old Madam and I fancy for you are Heir Chen’s sisters, Miss Tang and Princess Helin. Even if the Crown Princess Consort isn’t outstanding, she must at least be the daughter of an Aristocratic Family." Eldest Madam Zong held back her anger, "Tomorrow, I will invite a matchmaker..."

"Mother, if you insist on this, I will remain unmarried for life." Zong Yunqian’s expression was resolute, and even Gu Dao was somewhat unable to discern whether his words were true or false.

"Fine, fine, after all these years of raising you, I’m still not comparable to a princess you’ve just met once. Do you even know who that princess is? It seems you’ve not inquired." Eldest Madam Zong took a deep breath and glanced around, "Let everyone else leave."

The servants dared not linger and left immediately, while Gu Dao and Xi Feng looked at the princely heir and could only wish him luck with a helpless expression.

"No need, mother, I am aware of the princess’s background and have given this careful thought," Zong Yunqian immediately added.

"You, you, are you trying to drive me to my grave?" Eldest Madam Zong gasped for air, her fingers shaking with anger, an expression Zong Yunqian had never shown before.

Lin Xiang immediately supported Eldest Madam Zong, while soothing her master, she anxiously signaled the princely heir with her eyes to soften his stance and first calm the madam down, asserting that nothing was unspeakable.

"Fine, fine, indeed, a good son raised by me." Eldest Madam Zong laughed bitterly in anger, "Lin Xiang, go fetch the family discipline stick."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiang turned deathly pale, wanting to beg for mercy but not daring to do so, and slowly walked towards the door. Just as she stepped out, she saw Gu Dao hiding outside and eagerly trying to peek inside; Lin Xiang grabbed him.

"Quick, go fetch the Old Madam." Gu Dao was startled.

"Madam is going to enforce family discipline." Lin Xiang spoke hastily and did not dare delay any longer, heading directly to fetch the discipline implement.

Eldest Madam Zong’s family discipline involved her own rattan whip, which she had brought as part of her dowry. It wasn’t considered the Zong Family’s official discipline method, but that whip was indeed formidable.

Lin Xiang took the whip and waited and waited until she could wait no longer and then slowly headed towards the Princely Heir’s courtyard.

Eldest Madam Zong snatched the whip from her, looking down at Zong Yunqian who stubbornly refused to submit. She had given him so much time and had repeated the Commandery Princess’s status again, fearing others’ words were too vague, that Zong Yunqian might not have understood, but her son still refused to change his statement—intent on infuriating her to death.

"Madam, please give the Princely Heir some time, perhaps he’ll come to understand by tomorrow." Lin Xiang’s expression turned anxious. She had served the lady for so many years, with Nanny Hua, who had unexpectedly died; since then, she was the closest maid to her mistress. How could she not know her mistress’s temper?

"Stand aside—" Eldest Madam Zong knew all too well her son’s stubborn nature, unyielding as multiple bulls; this time, she wouldn’t stop until he was nearly beaten half to death—to do anything less would dishonor the ancestors of the Zong Family.

"Princely Heir, quickly apologize to the madam. Everything she does is for your own good." Although Lin Xiang did not understand why this particular Commandery Princess was unacceptable and others were not, she had personally seen her own mistress tense up and turn instantly pale at the mere mention of Princess Chao Ren by the Princely Heir.

Eldest Madam Zong had already coiled up the whip, and with a "crack," it struck the ground with a crisp, loud noise that made Lin Xiang shudder. Before she could speak, the whip had already lashed Zong Yunqian’s body.

"Crack—"

"Madam, please calm down—" Lin Xiang crawled over while the servants standing outside immediately knelt down.

"Madam, it’s my fault too, if you must strike, strike me instead." Xi Feng kept kowtowing and crawled into the room, hoping to take the lashes for his own master.

"Get out, have you all forgotten your manners? You won’t escape your punishment either, I’ll discipline him first, then deal with you two servants." Eldest Madam Zong’s eyes reddened, and Zong Yunqian’s silent kneeling on the ground fueled her rage even further.

"Crack—" This lash struck straight on Zong Yunqian’s spine, followed by several more in quick succession.

Lin Xiang frantically looked up and rushed forward to embrace Eldest Madam Zong around the waist.

"Madam, you must stop, if you continue, something terrible will happen." Lin Xiang’s eyes were red with tears, seeing that the back of Zong Yunqian’s clothing had split open, revealing several horrendous, blood-red wounds.

"Madam, I beg you, no more..."

Eldest Madam Zong came to her senses and realized that her anger had gotten the best of her, resulting in excessively harsh blows.

"Yunqian, tomorrow I will report back to the Dowager Duchess and propose that the Yongchang Aristocratic Family mediate a match with the Nanan Aristocratic Family..."

"Mother, you might as well kill me then." Zong Yunqian said coldly.

Upon hearing this, Eldest Madam Zong trembled all over with rage, raising the whip in her hand.

"Stop, stop right now—" Just then, a wavering voice sounded outside the door, and a large group of people escorted the white-haired Dowager Duchess inside.

"You, why are you beating him?" The Dowager Duchess couldn’t hold up appearances any longer, and upon seeing the wounds tearing open on Zong Yunqian who was kneeling on the ground, her body weakened and she slurred her words as she spoke.

"You’re trying to kill him, you’re beating him to death."