Chapter 48: A Night Banquet in the Palace_1

Those five maids and servants who had taken bribes from King Liang’s Mansion, upon seeing Chun Yan’s fate, were already trembling uncontrollably, only bowing their heads incessantly to beg for mercy.

Mrs. Dong, infuriated by Chun Yan to the point of chest pain, gritted her teeth and said, “Steward Hao, handle this according to the rules. Do not go easy on them…”

Steward Hao immediately stepped forward, efficiently dealing with these five money-grabbing individuals by breaking their legs and having their entire families taken and sold.

With the year-end approaching, the Princely Heir’s wife, Mrs. Dong, due to the unclear entanglement between the household staff of the Duke of Zhen’s residence and King Liang’s Mansion, reorganized the mansion thoroughly. Those deserving punishment were punished, and those to be sold were sold. Even a few stewards were implicated and unjustly affected.

Mrs. Dong drastically replaced and adjusted the stewards, especially having the gate guarded with heavy security.

Mrs. Dong knew very well that the gate was the first line of defense for the Duke of Zhen’s residence. No further incidents were permissible.

King Liang had been waiting outside the side gate the whole time. Tongji, hearing the commotion inside as they replaced the gatekeepers, could not help but knock on the door, but no one came to open it.

After a few moments, someone came to inform King Liang that many servants were being sold off from the Duke’s residence, with some carried out bleeding. King Liang’s heart tightened, knowing that he likely wouldn’t be able to see Bai Qingyan today, so he ordered his men to return to the mansion, instructing Tongji before leaving, “You stay behind. Find a way to contact Chun Yan and ask what happened at the Duke’s residence.”

“Understood!” Tongji nodded.

Upon returning, King Liang was restless. Tongji returned and reported that all the gatekeeper maids and servants had been replaced. He had bribed some people to call for Chun Yan, but no one dared accept the money, all stating that since the Princely Heir’s wife had just reorganized the mansion, nobody dared to risk offending her now.

King Liang could only close his eyes and think of another plan.@@novelbin@@

That night, Chun Xing, who had taken over Chun Yan’s position as the head maid, stood obediently beside Bai Qingyan, speaking of the matter of the wife of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, Jiang Fengchun, being released by the Jing Zhaoyin’s residence: “Later, the case concluded that since the five dowry maids lost their slave status posthumously after death, they were still considered slaves at the time of death. Thus, the wife of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage was deemed not guilty and was released.”

Bai Qingyan, listening, placed a chess piece on the board, nodding slightly. “I see. You may go and tend to your tasks now.”

Chun Xing bowed and agreed, noticing Chun Tao entering with red eyes, she then exited the room.

“Miss, may I help you settle in?” Chun Tao’s voice was thick with emotion.

Bai Qingyan asked, “How is Chun Yan?”

Chun Tao started to cry again, guilt overwhelming her, and she felt ashamed enough to want to die: “The doctor said she would need at least half a month to recover. The execution nanny still hit her too lightly; even breaking her legs wouldn’t be too harsh!”

Bai Qingyan found such a Chun Tao endearing, patting her hand, “It’s alright! I am not angry anymore, so you should not feel so remorseful! I wouldn’t have done anything severe to Chun Yan even if you hadn’t pleaded for her, as I still have use for her. Just take good care of her, and keep this matter to yourself.”

Chun Tao blinked her tearful eyes, her spirits lifting immediately upon hearing that Bai Qingyan still had use for Chun Yan. She promised repeatedly, “Rest assured, Miss, I won’t show it on my face, and Chun Yan won’t suspect a thing.”

Today, upon hearing Chun Yan tell King Liang all of Miss’s secrets, Chun Tao had no more sympathy for Chun Yan. Naturally, she would follow whatever Bai Qingyan instructed.

In the Qingming Courtyard, Bai Qingxuan and his mother had been hearing about the major commotion at the Duke’s residence today, disciplining and selling off five families, a total of nearly forty people.

His mother was terrified and kept wiping her tears with a handkerchief: “Had I known, I would have stayed quietly at that estate. At least we were still masters there. I thought we could enjoy life at the Duke’s residence, but who knew we’d be beaten before even entering the mansion, and now we’re being watched! This family that readily punishes and kills…”

“Enough, Mother! Stop talking!” Bai Qingxuan, struggling with his wounds and lying prone on the bed, was extremely annoyed. His eyes were filled with malice. “When I recover, we’ll see about it!”

A few days ago, His Majesty had grandly commended Qin Lang, declaring him a model among the aristocracy, influencing the noble families throughout Dadu City to confine their unruly young men at home to study diligently.

In recent days, the business at Dadu’s restaurants, teahouses, brothels, and pleasure boats had dwindled day by day. Those noble scions, used to a life of revelry, were suffering bitterly at home.

It wasn’t until the palace banquet on the Eve of the Minor New Year that these scions finally had a legitimate reason to gather and share their grievances about their recent confinement. Qin Lang, who also attended the banquet, was endlessly complained to by these normally unruly peers. Qin Lang only smiled foolishly, bowing and apologizing with drinks.

Bai Qingyan was brought by the Eldest Princess to sit below the high seats of the Emperor and Empress. Seated opposite them, King Qi and the Princess of Qi immediately rose to greet the Eldest Princess. Bai Qingyan, standing properly behind the Eldest Princess, curtsied in greeting.

She remembered that in March of the sixteenth year of Xuanjia, the next year, King Qi would be appointed Crown Prince and reside in the Eastern Palace, his first task being to preside over the case of Duke Bai Weiting’s treason.

There was Liu Huanzhang’s testimony and the letters between the Duke of Zhen and Prince of Nanyan found in the Bai family’s house. The Bai family’s crimes were thus confirmed in King Qi’s hands.

Later, already the Crown Prince, King Qi petitioned to lessen the punishment for the Bai family’s women, only to be reprimanded by the Emperor and confined in the Eastern Palace for reflection.

At that time, she had also deeply hated King Qi. Thinking back now, in the previous life, the evidence was conclusive. As the Crown Prince, King Qi had no choice.

Supporting the Eldest Princess to her seat, Bai Qingyan looked up to see Xiao Rongyan seated just behind King Qi, nodding slightly at her with a gentle smile. Her palm tightened, and she lowered her gaze, unable to tell if Xiao Rongyan had received the message or not.

Xiao Rongyan’s seat behind King Qi showed how much King Qi valued him.

“Chun Tao…” she turned her head and lowered her voice, hiding her mouth with a handkerchief, “Did your cousin deliver the letter?”

Chun Tao, kneeling beside her, whispered, “Miss, don’t worry. My cousin said he had a beggar deliver it to the Xiao Mansion’s gate, mentioning a letter for the steward. He saw the beggar deliver it into the steward’s hands himself! The beggar doesn’t know my cousin’s identity.”

Chen Qingsheng was trustworthy in handling affairs. In her previous life, Xiao Rongyan helped her greatly. This time… she hoped to repay him somewhat.

Hearing the eunuch announce the arrival of the Emperor and Empress, she suppressed her deep-seated hatred, supporting the Eldest Princess as they rose to greet.

It seemed that the Emperor was in an exceptionally good mood because King Liang, who had been bedridden with serious injuries, was showing significant improvement.

After they were seated, she raised her cup along with others, her clear eyes fixed on the Emperor, who was toasting and speaking of righteousness, virtue, and peace. Her gaze was profound.

Xiao Rongyan, noticing Bai Qingyan’s steady gaze towards the Emperor without the slightest hint of reverence, found it interesting. He thought of the note given to him by the steward before entering the palace—”Ambush at the palace banquet, a traitor in the Qi residence.”

He raised his cup and drank with the Emperor of Jin, rubbing the cup while glancing at King Qi, who was smiling at him, and returned the smile.