Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Noble Consort Xiao sneered. âAlright, since youâre from the Xiao family, you should be smarter. Get up.â
She gestured for Madam Xiao and her daughter to take a seat.
Madam Xiao thought Noble Consort Xiao would support them if they stayed. She began to complain about the incidents in the hall, speaking ill of Lin Sisi, hoping to tarnish her reputation in front of Noble Consort Xiao.
Noble Consort Xiao listened casually, neither rebuking nor refuting.
When Xiao Ruxue and Madam Xiao finished speaking, Noble Consort Xiao appeared as composed as ever, holding a pearl hairpin in her hand.
She toyed with the hairpin. âAre you done?â
Madam Xiao, holding Xiao Ruxueâs hand, spoke respectfully. âYour Majesty, I know I tend to be long-winded, but Iâm doing this for the Ninth Princeâs sake. Please donât misunderstand.â
âLingâer is my favorite. 1 treat him the best. Madam Xiao, 1 heard you speak today out of consideration for your daughterâs grievances. But donât forget, you brought this upon yourselves.â
Noble Consort Xiaoâs languid tone carried a touch of coldness.
Madam Xiao and her daughter immediately knelt. âYour Majesty, spare us! 1 trulyâ¦â
âEnough!â Impatience flashed in Noble Consort Xiaoâs exquisite eyes. âLet me tell you, even if Lingâer killed a maid or both of you, 1 wouldnât blame him. Whoever provokes him, 1â11 kill them! If you want your daughter to be Lingâerâs imperial consort, then prove yourself!â
âEven if Lin Sisi is an eyesore, 1 wonât object if Lingâer is devoted to her! But you⦠better not make my Lingâer angry again! Otherwise, Iâll personally beat you to death!â
Noble Consort Xiao impatiently tossed the pearl hairpin onto a plate.
Madam Xiao and her daughter trembled in fear, quickly retreating.
Granny Song approached Noble Consort Xiao, massaging her shoulders. âYour Majesty, if you consider the Xiao familyâs future, having a daughter of the Xiao family by the Ninth Princeâs side would be wise. Miss Lin is only a descendant of a general. Once General Lin dies, the Lin family wonât have much left.â
Noble Consort Xiao rubbed her temples. âHow could I not know? But whenever 1 see Lingâer angry, I want to beat those who angered him to death. Lingâer is my treasure, I canât bear to see him upset.â
Granny Song sighed softly. âAlthough Your Majesty is reluctant, you canât watch over the Ninth Prince forever. Your Highness is pure-hearted and uninterested in the throne, so he wonât have to worry about the future. But he still needs worldly experience, or who will protect Your Majesty and the Xiao family?â
Noble Consort Xiaoâs heart sank. Granny Songâs words echoed her thoughts.
She had pampered Chu Jinling for years, but he would have to take responsibility for the Xiao family someday.
Glancing at the treasures from the Xiao family, she instructed, âMen, give all of these to Xiao Ruxue. Tell her to develop her skills.â
Granny Song smiled in relief.
At the Marquisâs Manor, while Su Yingxue handled household matters, Zi Wei returned.
Su Yingxue glanced up from the account book at the young man, as cold as a statue. âHow did it go? Is Saint Ruan dead?â
Zi Wei shook his head. âHe saved himself.â
Su Yingxue nodded. âThat old man is indeed reluctant to die.â
She had used Intoxicating Fragrance, a poison that Saint Ruan had abandoned midway in his research.
Thus, he couldnât concoct an antidote on the spot. But it didnât mean he couldnât save himself with his medical skills.
And so, he lived on..