Chapter 276
“So, it’s that cheap girl again?” Ji Youran’s face was cold and solemn.
“Yes, it’s that cheap girl from the Qu Mansion. I don’t know what is wrong with her. Do you have any suitable men? Pick one and marry her to that guy so that she won’t be able to hang around and cause trouble.”
Xiao said in a bad tone.
There were quite a few clansmen in the Pei clan. They could be considered members of the imperial house. However, some of them had already gone downhill and were not much better than ordinary households.
Of course, Xiao could not allow Qu Moying to marry well. She just wanted to choose someone from the Pei clan without power or influence for Qu Moying to tie her up. In that case, Qu Moying would no longer be able to cause trouble for the Ji Family.
“Mother, let’s postpone this matter for now. What did she do this time? How many people know about it?” Ji Youran asked impatiently. Xiao had been talking for so long, but she still hadn’t grasped the key point.
“She came to the mansion to see your grandmother, and Yue Wenhan also came. The two of them made a scene in front of your grandmother. They wanted to get back the ex-Crown Princess’ dowry from the Crown Prince’s Mansion.” Xiao said.
Ji Youran’s expression changed greatly and she said in disbelief, “What did she say? About that shop?”
That shop had just changed its name, and she was the one who gave it the name. How could she not know?
“Yes, it was caused by that shop. I don’t know how she saw it. If she had the time to worry about other people’s matters, why didn’t she worry about her own matters? Her own shop was involved in a scandal, but she had the face to interfere with other people’s matters.” Xiao snorted coldly.
The expression on Ji Youran’s face was as deep as water, and her eyes looked cold as she thought, “This Qu Moying really took herself seriously.”
“What does this bitch want?”
Xiao nodded. “I don’t know what she wants. No matter how much trouble she makes, it can’t benefit her at all. She is Vice Minister’s Mansion’s lady, how can she be so bold and dare to do such a thing?”
“Yue Wenhan also showed up?” Ji Youran wasn’t interested in Qu Moying. She felt that this matter had more to do with Yue Wenhan.
“Yes, he was also there. Shen came to the mansion with that damned cheap girl. Apparently, he came to cause trouble.” Xiao said resentfully. The instant she thought of Qu Moying, her teeth itched.
“What was Yue Wenhan doing there? How come he has the guts to ask the Crown Prince’s Mansion to return Ji Hanyue’s dowry? Does he really think he is a big potato?” Ji Youran sneered.
“Bang!” A heavy sound came from outside the door.
Ji Youran, who was inside, was shocked. Then, there were continuous sounds. It sounded like the painful groans of someone who had been knocked down and beaten.
“Who is so bold? Quickly go and find out.” Ji Youran was furious and shouted harshly. This was her yard, who dared to be so impudent?
Her two private maids Shui Ning and Xie Feng immediately walked out. Only when they lifted the curtain did they see the Crown Prince Pei Luo’an looking at them coldly. They were so scared that they trembled and hurriedly knelt down.
“Well then, can’t I come here?” Pei Luo’an entered the room with a cold face. His malicious gaze fell on Ji Youran, and he was furious.
Xiao hurriedly stood up and said in a panic, “Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Mrs. Xiao, go back if you have nothing to do here. After all, you are only the Side Princess’ mother. If my Princess Consort sees you in the future, I’m afraid she will complain!” Pei Luo’an said unceremoniously.
These words made Xiao’s face turn green and white. This was the first time the Crown Prince had said such words to her. Didn’t her daughter often say that the Crown Prince would make her the next Princess Consort?
She couldn’t help but look at her daughter.
Pei Luo’an was not in the mood to talk to a woman without any official title. He waved his hand and said, “Someone, send Mrs. Xiao back!”
A eunuch came over and smiled at Xiao in a strange way, which made the hair on Xiao’s body stand up. “Mrs. Xiao, please!”
His words were polite, but his tone was not polite at all, and he sounded very tough.
When Xiao sensed the atmosphere, she did not dare to say anything else. She turned back to look at her daughter and secretly gave her a look. Then, she hurriedly lowered her head and carefully retreated. She knew the Crown Prince was now angry. She wondered who had provoked the Crown Prince to such an extent that he even vented his anger on her.
After leaving Ji Youran’s yard, the eunuch led the way in the front. As they walked, Xiao felt the route became more and more desolate. She was very flustered, but she did not dare to ask. In the end, as they walked further and further, she had to smile and say, “Eunuch, my own carriage is not parked on this side. Is there any mistake?”
“Impossible. Mrs. Xiao, your carriage is parked here.” The eunuch said with a fake smile. Then, he pointed to a place in front of him. “The Eastern Palace’s carriages are parked there. Mrs. Xiao, you can take a carriage back to your mansion.”
After saying that, he turned around and was about to leave.
Xiao was anxious and said quickly, “Eunuch, please stay. What happened to my… my carriage?”
The old maids who Ji Youran had sent before had not returned yet. Judging by the current situation, how could she not know that something had happened to her carriage?
She came to the Eastern Palace to see her daughter, the Side Princess, today. How could something happen to her carriage?
Moreover, the carriages that were parked here were apparently not for masters. At a sight, she knew they were taken by the servants who were out to run an errand. No wonder she was led to such a remote place.
The eunuch stopped. He looked at Xiao and said, “Lord Yun came to the mansion today to inquire about the assassin. The Crown Prince instructed the guards to be on high alert. There must not be any mistake. Your carriage was parked at the place reserved for Lord Yun. It was considered a source of danger and was directly overturned.”
After all, Xiao was Princess Ji’s biological mother. The eunuch was not willing to offend Princess Ji too much. At present, the inner yard was still managed by Princess Ji.
“My carriage stopped in the wrong place, so it was overturned?” Xiao’s eyes widened. She opened her mouth and said after a long time, “But… but there is nothing unsafe in my carriage.”
“Who knows? Previously, the Crown Prince’s Mansion was invaded by assassins several times. Lord Yun and the Crown Prince had ordered to make a thorough investigation. However, Princess Ji’s people came over without saying anything. They even wanted to punish the eunuchs who were serving Lord Yun. This angered Lord Yun to such an extent that he even reprimanded the Crown Prince.”
The eunuch said coldly.
He really didn’t know why the people sent by Princess Ji were so bold. They came up without saying anything and wanted to slap Lord Yun Mansion’s eunuchs. After being seized by Lord Yun Mansion’s guards, they even shouted that it was Princess Ji’s order and asked the several eunuchs to die.
Didn’t they know who Lord Yun was? Even the Crown Prince had to greet this Lord with a smile. How could a Side Princess be so audacious? Just because she was a woman that the Crown Prince cared about?
Had she offended Lord Yun? Xiao’s face turned pale. Everyone in the capital knew that Lord Yun Pei Yuanjun was a formidable person who would seek revenge for the smallest grievance. Thinking of this, her body was on the verge of collapse. She stammered, “E-eunuch… could you please…”
“No!” The eunuch directly interrupted Xiao. This time, he decisively turned and left. He had been away for a long time. The Crown Prince was angry at this time. He had better go back as soon as possible to wait on the Crown Prince.
Lord Yun was furious and scolded the Crown Prince. He did not care about the Crown Prince’s feelings at all and mocked him in front of all the servants. He said that even the Princess Consort did not have as much face as this Side Princess. He also said that the Crown Prince’s so-called deep love for the Crown Princess was fake. The person he really cared about was this Side Princess.
These words were too harsh, like a slap in the Crown Prince’s face. All of the Crown Prince’s trusted subordinates knew that the Crown Prince had always expressed his deep affection for the ex-Crown Princess in front of others. Now that he was ridiculed by Lord Yun like that, how could he not be angry?
However, the Crown Prince could not be angry with Lord Yun. This resentment was naturally vented on Princess Ji.
Seeing the eunuch’s attitude, Xiao did not dare to say anything at this time. Flustered and frightened, she got on a carriage and went straight back to the Ji Family…
“Your Highness, what happened?” Seeing Xiao go out, Ji Youran said softly. She held the maid’s hand and slowly stood up. She was confused, but the expression on her face was concerned. “Did my mother do something that made Your Highness unhappy? If that’s the case, I will warn her and tell her not to do any similar thing in the future.”
Her tone was very gentle. Although she had difficulty walking, she was extremely concerned about Pei Luo’an. It was as if she was wholeheartedly thinking for Pei Luo’an. Although Pei Luo’an had uttered harsh words to her, she seemed to not have heard them.
This kind of Ji Youran was what Pei Luo’an liked the most in the past. He felt that she was more to his liking than Ji Hanyue. She was gentle and elegant, and her mind was filled with concern for him. But now, a trace of coldness flashed in Pei Luo’an’s eyes.
Just now, Pei Yuanjun’s words had severely humiliated him.
He was a dignified Crown Prince, yet he had actually pampered his Side Princess to such an extent that he disregarded the etiquette of the imperial family for her. Lord Yun also accused him of faking his affection for the Crown Princess in public but doting on the Side Princess in private.
“Ji Youran!” Pei Luo’an calmed down a little.
“Your Highness!” Ji Youran replied in a sweet voice.
“Ji Youran, you are my Side Princess. Remember your identity and act properly. I will definitely reward you accordingly. If you think you are my favorite and dare to make trouble for me, I will definitely punish you.” Pei Luo’an warned with a gloomy look in his eyes.
“Your Highness, I don’t dare.” Ji Youran bowed gently and said delicately.
“That would be the best. If the same thing happens next time, I’m afraid I don’t need to protect you.” With a gloomy face, Pei Luo’an flicked his sleeves and left.
Just now, the actions of the two old maids sent by Ji Youran were extremely arrogant. They even beat Pei Yuanjun’s people, causing him to lose all his face in front of Pei Yuanjun. Once again, it made him feel the taste of being suppressed, which pissed him off.
Ji Youran slowly stood up straight and looked at Pei Luo’an’s back. She frowned and said to an old maid beside her, “Go and find out what exactly happened that made the Crown Prince so angry.”
The old maid left. Soon, she ran back with a panicked face. Apparently, she was overly frightened. “Er… Princess Ji, those… those two haven’t died completely…”
“Who haven’t died completely?” Ji Youran lay on the bed and frowned as she listened to the old maid’s confusing report.
“They were the two…people sent by you. The Crown Prince got someone to break their legs… and… there were also many people who were pulled to watch… watch the execution…” The Old maid’s face was extremely pale. It wasn’t that she had never seen someone flogged to death. Ji Youran also frequently punished people here. She had beaten a few servants to death.
However, she had never seen someone with broken legs, rolling on the ground and crying. The sight was extremely terrifying!
“What?” Ji Youran understood the meaning of the old maid’s words. She suddenly sat up straight, and her vision turned black. Her people had been severely punished by the Crown Prince as a warning to others. How was she going to manage Eastern Palace in the future?