Volume One, Chapter 16: Clean Your Foul Mouth

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Xia Huai’an’s face turned ashen. He knew it was Eunuch Pei’s corruption and favoritism, but he couldn’t say a word. He had already fallen out of favor with the emperor; if he angered Eunuch Pei and Pei badmouthed him to the emperor, his official career would truly be over.

Eunuch Pei saw his timid anger and scolded him silently as a coward. “Wash their mouths thoroughly for me.”

The young eunuchs scooped up a ladle of filthy water and brought it before the few people. Shen Qier covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, utterly disgusted. This water had washed countless dirty clothes, and no one knew whose clothes had been washed—perhaps even those of the eunuchs themselves! Eunuchs were the filthiest, often wetting their pants uncontrollably.

Her moist eyes brimmed with terror, evoking pity. “Master, I just gave birth to Xiaoqiang, my body is frail—I cannot endure this…”

Xia Huai’an felt a pang in his heart. Ultimately, this was an undeserved disaster brought upon by Jiang Guanning.

He raised his head and said matter-of-factly, “Guanning, Qier has been pampered and never suffered in her life. You should bear the suffering in her stead.”

“Besides, your mother is already old and frail; she cannot withstand such torment. I will suffer alongside you.”

These words enraged the onlookers, who wanted nothing more than to slap him across the face. Was that even human speech?

No wonder the emperor was so furious. His own daughter was being treated so harshly. If it were them, they would have already stormed the manor with weapons.

Shen Qier felt triumphant inside. She was blessed by the lucky star; even if the emperor blamed her, the gods would not let her suffer.

Jiang Guanning could hardly believe her ears. Her heart constricted painfully, almost suffocating her. “Huai’an, we both just gave birth. Do you think my body can bear this?”

Xia Huai’an was momentarily stunned. Today, Jiang Guanning was dressed with such dignity, exuding an unintentional aura of authority. But looking at her pale face compared to Qier’s rosy cheeks, she seemed weaker.

Yet this calamity originated from Jiang Guanning.

Moreover, Qier was the legitimate mother. If she were wronged, the lucky star would surely be displeased, and the gods would punish them.

“Isn’t all this your doing?”

“Furthermore, as your husband, I suffer punishment with you. What complaint do you have?”

Xia Qianshan spat angrily, “Ptooey! When it suits you, you forget about mother, but now you suddenly think of her! Shameless!”

Eunuch Pei, never having seen such audacity, trembling with anger, snapped, “What? Do you want to switch the heir like a cunning cat, deceiving the emperor?!”

“Guards, teach them a lesson!”

The young eunuchs nearly shattered their molars from biting their tongues earlier. Now, at this order, they rushed forward to pin Shen Qier and the matriarch to the ground.

Shen Qier’s eyes were full of terror. “I am the mother of the lucky star! Do you not fear punishment for treating me like this?!”

“Yes, yes! I am the lucky star’s grandmother. Beware of retribution!” the matriarch added.

The young eunuchs found them unbearably noisy and covered their mouths, force-feeding them.

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Both women swallowed the foul water with gurgling sounds.

Shen Qier lay on the ground, retching out nothing but the foul water.

After a long while, she lifted her head and saw Jiang Guanning standing majestically in luxurious robes.

Why?! She had caused this disaster, yet Jiang Guanning remained clean while they were punished!

The hatred in her eyes could no longer be hidden and fell straight into Jiang Guanning’s gaze.

Jiang Guanning’s eyes darkened, and she ceased to conceal her true nature.

She had never understood before why, despite her constant forbearance, such hatred brewed so deeply.

Now she suddenly realized.

It was precisely because she had been too forgiving that Xia Huai’an took her for granted, allowing a concubine to trample over her and a lesser son to strike at the legitimate heir.

This time, she would not endure it!

With a sharp “smack,” a loud slap struck Shen Qier’s face, causing her to turn aside.

“You show no respect for rank; you needed to be taught some manners!”

Suddenly, silence fell.

The matriarch and others looked at Jiang Guanning as if she were a stranger.

Jiang Guanning had always been meek—how could she suddenly lose her temper and strike someone?

“Clap, clap, clap!” Xia Qianshan clapped enthusiastically from her cradle.

“Oh my goodness! Mother has finally stood up!”

Shen Qier’s cheek burned with a fiery sting, overwhelmed with shame.

“You… you actually hit me?”

Jiang Guanning sneered inwardly, “What’s wrong with the mistress educating a concubine?”

“Jiang Guanning, don’t go too far!” Xia Huai’an warned sharply. Hurting the lucky star’s mother would surely bring disaster to the Xiahou family.

Jiang Guanning’s eyes reddened as she looked at Xia Huai’an in disbelief. “Do you also think I have no right to discipline a concubine?”

The onlookers could no longer hold back and pointed fingers at Xia Huai’an.

“If the mistress has no right, who does? The Marquis of Anjing is truly blind with lust, unable to tell right from wrong.”

“No wonder the illegitimate son dared to hire assassins to kill the legitimate daughter—it’s all because the Marquis of Anjing spoiled him!”

Xia Ziyi: ??? I hired assassins to kill the legitimate daughter, not personally murdered her!

No, I only bribed the commoners to cause trouble!

Xia Huai’an was scolded into silence and simply closed his eyes, giving up.

He spared Jiang Guanning, but she would not spare him.

“Fine. I know your feelings for me have faded. A divorce document will grant you freedom,” she said, tears falling.

This stirred even greater anger and dissatisfaction among the crowd.

They cursed him for occupying a position without fulfilling his duties, blind and heartless, uttering all manner of insults.

Xia Huai’an suddenly felt weak. He knew Jiang Guanning could not bear to lose him; her words were only attempts to win back his affection.

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“When did I say my feelings for you have faded? I only worry your hand was hurt.”

Shen Qier bit her lip in grievance, eyes full of jealousy.

Don’t get cocky. Master only did that to avoid gossip.

In the past, Jiang Guanning would have been moved to tears by such words, but now she felt only disgust.

Yet she did not show it; she wiped her tears and stopped.

Xia Qianshan watched in awe; mother’s acting was truly superb.

Tears fall just by saying so.

“All right, the punishment is done. Now, announce the imperial edict,” Eunuch Pei declared.

Xia Huai’an suddenly opened his eyes wide.

Imperial edict?

How could there still be an edict?

“By the emperor’s decree, why do you still not kneel!” Eunuch Pei commanded.

Ignoring the pain in his rear, Xia Huai’an knelt quickly, reaching out to receive the edict. “I accept the edict.”

Eunuch Pei rolled his eyes and ignored him, instead turning to Jiang Guanning. “Princess Anjing, receive the edict—”

He bypassed the head of the household to address the woman of the manor, openly implying Jiang Guanning held authority over the Xiahou family.

Pain burned on Xia Huai’an’s face.

Without knowing what he was thinking, Jiang Guanning knelt down holding Xia Qianshan.

“By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Xia Qianshan, for timely saving of the Empress and capturing the Miao Yang assassin, has achieved great merit and is hereby granted the title of Princess Yongle. So it is decreed.”

The emperor had amended the edict after hearing the Empress’s words.

“I accept the edict,” Jiang Guanning said.

“Ah ah~” The edict acceptance~

Looking down, Jiang Guanning saw Xia Qianshan holding up her chubby little hands, apparently mimicking the act of receiving the edict.

Eunuch Pei respectfully said to Jiang Guanning, “Princess Anjing, my duties are complete. I take my leave.”

“Farewell, Eunuch,” Jiang Guanning replied.

After they left, Jiang Guanning slipped the edict into Qianshan’s hand to let her touch it for good luck.

But when she tried to take it back, she couldn’t.

The baby’s grip was surprisingly strong; her chubby paw seemed welded to it.

Shen Qier burned with jealousy, furious. Why was that ill-fated child receiving a title?

She didn’t believe the edict was genuine. Xia Qianshan had done no heroic deed, certainly not capturing assassins.

And the title was Yongle!

The character “Yong” shared a taboo with the emperor’s name.

It showed how much the emperor favored her!

This honor should have belonged to Xiaoqiang. Only because Jiang Guanning refused to take it did the title go to Qianshan.

The rightful title should have been hers.