Chapter 11: Determined to Teach a Lesson

"Ah!"

With a sharp cry of pain from Xiao Huaiqing, Su Yingyue could no longer maintain her ruse of being unconscious. She scrambled to her feet and asked anxiously, "My lord, are you alright?"

"You?" Xiao Huaiqing stared at the now-awake Su Yingyue, momentarily stunned.

Lin Yue sneered, "Are you two playing a double act for my benefit?"

Xiao Huaiqing realized he had misunderstood the situation, but hearing Lin Yue’s mocking tone, he couldn't be bothered to explain himself. Besides, he felt deeply resentful. Even if he had been mistaken, how could Lin Yue kick him in front of everyone?

With Su Yingyue’s help, Xiao Huaiqing stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes. "If you hadn't always been so unkind to Yingyue, I wouldn't have misunderstood. In the end, this is all your fault."

Lin Yue laughed in exasperation. "Xiao Huaiqing, you have successfully disgusted me."

Hearing this, Xiao Huaiqing retorted with cold fury, "Lin Yue, that’s enough! I’ve already decided not to hold your kicking me against you—what more do you want?"

Lin Yue scoffed, "What do I want?"

"I’ll let you know exactly what I want today."

"Guards! Take the Heir to the dungeon. I intend to discipline him personally!"

Seeing the icy chill in Lin Yue’s eyes, Su Yingyue quickly moved to block her path. "Mother, even if the Heir is at fault, you cannot treat him this way. He is the Prince’s only flesh and blood."

Lin Yue retorted mockingly, "Only? Once the Prince returns, I shall bear him a few more, and then he will no longer be the only one!"

"Guards, take him away!"

"You..." Xiao Huaiqing was stunned, staring at Lin Yue in disbelief.

What had he just heard? Lin Yue intended to bear his father’s children? How could that be possible?

In his stupor, he didn't even react when Zhang Jiang and Bi Hua stepped forward to apprehend him.

Seeing that she couldn't stop them, Su Yingyue cried out in panic, "You cannot do this! Nanny Wang, Steward Qian, come quickly!"

Nanny Zhang grabbed Su Yingyue, a flash of disgust in her eyes. "Princess Consort, do calm yourself. When a son errs, it is only natural for his mother to discipline him. Even the heavens cannot stand in the way of that."

But no sooner had she spoken than Nanny Wang, who had rushed onto the scene, shrieked, "What are you doing? Release the Heir at once!"

She glared at Lin Yue and demanded coldly, "Princess Consort, did you order this?"

Lin Yue stared at the fierce Nanny Wang, who was said to be Xiao Huaiqing’s wet nurse and who often looked down even on Su Yingyue. Her husband had passed away early, leaving her with a capable son who, unfortunately, had died on the battlefield protecting Xiao Huaiqing.

Lin Yue crossed her arms, unmoved. "I ordered it."

Nanny Wang immediately rebuked her, "You are but a secondary consort; how dare you treat the Prince’s legitimate heir this way? Release him at once!"

Lin Yue sneered, her gaze dark. "A secondary consort is still a consort. What can you do to me?"

Nanny Wang was startled by that look, yet she still stood in the way, preventing the guards from taking Xiao Huaiqing.

Xiao Huaiqing regained his composure and looked at Lin Yue. "You’re just doing this because you’re angry that I went to the palace to lodge a complaint, aren't you?"

"Lin Yue, you are truly unreasonable."

He tried to shake off the two guards. But these were men from the Imperial Palace, and their strength far exceeded that of ordinary household guards. Xiao Huaiqing couldn't break free, and his face grew flushed with embarrassment and rage. Nanny Wang also scrambled to help, pinching and prying, nearly resorting to biting.

"Stop! What is the meaning of this?"

Steward Qian had brought over Chief Clerk Bai, a trusted confidant left behind in the estate by the Prince of Ding, a man of great prestige.

Nanny Wang’s eyes reddened. "What is the meaning of this? Can’t you see? The Princess Consort is attempting to use force against the Heir!"

Steward Qian looked displeased as well, but he quickly pulled Nanny Wang aside and stood respectfully to the side.

Chief Clerk Bai was a refined middle-aged man in long robes. His face was pale and clean-shaven, unlike other men who kept beards. In the original story, he was a fickle man, but one thing was certain: he was fiercely loyal to Xiao Jingyun. Upon learning the truth of Xiao Jingyun’s death, he had even attempted to assassinate Mu Lixin, though he failed.

He stepped forward and advised, "Princess Consort, the Prince is not in the estate, and the Heir is grown. Perhaps you could wait and handle this impartially when the Prince returns?"

Lin Yue replied, "Your name is Bai Shi, not 'foolish.' The Heir addressed me by my name and provoked me with his words; he was clearly insulting me. If I do not discipline him today, there will be a second time tomorrow. If he can push me today, he will do so tomorrow. When the Prince returns, what kind of Princess Consort would I be? I’d be lucky not to be trampled upon and turned into a common servant!"

Bai Shi was struck speechless, looking at Lin Yue with surprise.

Lin Yue remained firm. "What if I insist on disciplining the Heir? What do you intend to do, Chief Clerk Bai?"

Bai Shi composed himself and stated calmly, "Whatever happens in the estate, I will write to the Prince to inform him of every detail."

Lin Yue scoffed, "Then you had best write quickly. Be sure to include every detail, no matter how small. If your account doesn't match the letter I write, you will be guilty of dereliction of duty."

Bai Shi frowned in confusion. When had the Princess Consort become so confident? Had she not always been terrified of the Prince hearing about the affairs of the estate?

Seeing that the household staff held Lin Yue in such low regard, Nanny Zhang spoke up immediately, "I am here under the Empress’s direct decree to serve the Princess Consort. The estate is currently in such a state of disarray that I fear even I cannot suppress these unruly servants."

"Princess Consort, please endure this for one night. I shall return to the palace tomorrow to report to the Empress, and then we shall decide how to proceed."

Upon hearing this, Nanny Wang finally showed a hint of fear, though she clenched her fists in resentment.

Bai Shi offered a faint smile. "Nanny Zhang, you speak too seriously. Naturally, the Princess Consort is the master of this house; we would not dare to be insolent."

He stepped aside and gave Su Yingyue a look, signaling her to stop resisting.

Realizing she had caused trouble, Su Yingyue knelt before Lin Yue and pleaded, "Mother, it is all my fault. I am willing to bear the punishment in the Heir’s stead. Please, spare the Heir."

Seeing Su Yingyue kneel, Xiao Huaiqing’s eyes turned red. He shouted, "Yingyue, don't beg her! She doesn't deserve it!"

"Stand up and go back to your room! She wouldn't dare do anything to me!"

Then, he turned a vicious glare toward Lin Yue. "Don't think that just because you have the Empress backing you, you can do whatever you want. When my father returns, I will expose your true colors."

Chief Clerk Bai noticed the two armed guards and, hearing the Heir’s words, quickly understood. The Princess Consort had gone to the palace to complain and had returned with reinforcements.

Once Lin Yue led the group away, the courtyard fell silent.

Seeing that her pleas were in vain, Su Yingyue collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her red-rimmed eyes.

Nanny Wang rushed over but didn't help her up. Instead, she asked Chief Clerk Bai, "Are we just going to watch her bully the Heir?"

"Chief Clerk Bai, can't you think of something?"

Bai Shi impatiently pulled his hand away and looked at Nanny Wang. "I told you long ago that even if she is a secondary consort, she is the Princess Consort of Ding, married into the Imperial family. You cannot afford to slight her."

"Usually, she is considerate of the Heir and does not haggle with you, so you all treated her as if she were made of mud. Now that you see her using force against the Heir, you are all worried sick."

"Just wait. With Nanny Zhang by her side, the Princess Consort won't go too far."

Having said this, Bai Shi walked away.

Nanny Wang wept, "Heavens, no one is going to save him? What shall we do?"

"My former mistress, I have failed you. It is my fault for not looking after the Heir properly."

Steward Qian stepped forward and grabbed her. "Are you still howling? If you cause any more of a scene, the Heir will be locked away by her orders—who will save you then?"

Nanny Wang choked with resentment and pointed at Su Yingyue on the ground. "It’s all your fault!"

"Always faking fainting spells and acting weak. If you weren't so useless, forcing the Heir to step in for you at every turn, would he be bullied like this?"

"The legitimate heir to a Princely estate, the grandson of the Empress Dowager himself..."

"Woooo..."

Steward Qian ordered the guards to drag Nanny Wang away and had Su Yingyue’s attendants help her back to her room.

But as she sat there, Su Yingyue stared in the direction of the dungeon, her eyes filled with a dark, lingering resentment.