After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband-Chapter 765 - 763: Punishment to Kneel

Duke Chong’s Mansion.

The Empress arrived at Duke Chong’s Mansion in the phoenix carriage.

However, the carriage did not stop directly in front of the mansion’s gate.

At a short distance from the gate, the carriage halted.

Nanny Zhou assisted the Empress out, and they walked to the front of the mansion.

Seeing Duke Chong’s Mansion draped in white silk and lanterns, the Empress felt a piercing sorrow in her heart.

Duke Chong and the Duchess came out to greet her.

The Empress helped them up, her eyes red-rimmed as she entered the mansion.

Today marked the third day since the passing of the Old Madam of Duke Chong, and many had come to pay their respects.

The Empress knelt down, and Duke Chong hurriedly said, "You must not..."

"Why should I not kneel for my own birth mother?" the Empress choked out.

Duke Chong said nothing.

None of the civil and military officials present dared say a word.

As children, kneeling for one’s deceased mother is right and proper, but the Empress is no ordinary daughter; she is the Empress of Daqi.

The distinction between monarch and subject must be upheld.

However, this was not seen as a major issue, nor would anyone criticize the Empress for it.

There is never anything wrong with filial piety.

The Empress kowtowed, offering incense, and gazed at the coffin, speechless for a long time.

She had never imagined that the healthy Old Madam Duke Chong would pass away so suddenly.

Her mother was the one who loved her most in this world.

Her father...

His eyes and heart only held her elder brother.

It used to be her brother, now it is her brother’s son!

The Empress wept uncontrollably.

Princess Shouning knelt beside her, feeling equally distressed.

Her grandmother doted on her too.

Since the Princess Consort Zhenbei entered the palace, they had not had a good day.

Every step was fraught with difficulty.

After kneeling for a quarter of an hour, Nanny Zhou helped the Empress up, and Princess Shouning followed suit.

Although it was only a short time, the pampered Princess Shouning found it hard to bear.

She looked at the Empress and said, "Mother, I shall go see my cousin."

The Empress remained absorbed in her grief, giving no reply.

Nanny Zhou gave Princess Shouning a peculiar look.

Why would the princess suddenly want to see the Young Master?

Thinking of the matter between Heir of Duke Chong and the eldest daughter of Wenyuan Bo Mansion, Nanny Zhou felt troubled.

The Empress gave no response, so Princess Shouning took it as tacit consent.

Upon leaving the main hall, she asked a servant, "Where is my cousin?"

"In the ancestral hall..."

"He’s being punished with kneeling in the Buddhist Hall."

Typically, men kneel in the ancestral hall, and women in the Buddhist Hall when punished.

But Duke Chong’s mansion had its ancestral hall located in Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

The situation was quite awkward.

Princess Shouning did not know where the ancestral hall of Duke Chong’s Mansion was and had the servant lead the way.

On the night of the Old Madam Duke Chong’s passing, despite the event, Heir of Duke Chong had left the mansion to enjoy lanterns, causing a major scandal.

Such unfilial behavior could not go unpunished by Duke Chong.

Not only would he punish him,

but he would also have to impose a severe penalty.

Otherwise, people might say that the elder set a poor example.

In the Buddhist Hall, the Heir of Duke Chong knelt upright.

Of course, he only knelt properly upon hearing the sound.

Seeing Princess Shouning arrive, he exhaled in relief and said, "Why is it my cousin? You scared me."

"Has my cousin become timid? Who is there in this mansion to fear?" Princess Shouning bluntly remarked.

Indeed,

there was no one in the mansion whom the Heir of Duke Chong feared.

He simply felt that since he was being punished by kneeling, he should at least appear proper in front of the servants.

Princess Shouning waved her hand, signaling the palace maids and eunuchs to leave.

The Heir of Duke Chong furrowed his brows slightly.

Once everyone had left, Princess Shouning said, "Cousin, did you hear of Prince NanAn’s incident of spitting blood and fainting yesterday?"

"How could I not?" the Heir of Duke Chong replied.

"A rebellious son like Prince NanAn ought to be struck dead by Prince NanAn."

After speaking, he looked at Princess Shouning and asked, "Cousin, you haven’t still got designs on Prince NanAn, have you?"

"What nonsense?!" Princess Shouning retorted.

"I just found his incident of spitting blood and fainting unusual, and since you also had an incident at the lantern festival, I came to ask you."

The Heir of Duke Chong also found the fainting suspicious.

But he was only pleased if Prince NanAn had fainted.

Ideally, he would be struck dead.

Princess Shouning asked, "Did you not have a hand in it, cousin?"

"I wish I had," the Heir of Duke Chong coldly remarked.

Recalling the lantern festival and the embarrassment he faced, the Heir of Duke Chong felt a subtle pain in his chest.

If not for the eldest daughter of Wenyuan Bo Mansion being nearby to save him, he might have lost his life then and there.

He would never rest until this grudge was avenged!

Witnessing the malice in the Heir of Duke Chong’s eyes, Princess Shouning felt a chill down her spine.

From growing up together, she knew better than anyone how ruthless and vengeful her cousin could be.

The conflict between him and Prince NanAn was undoubtedly a life-and-death matter.

She did not wish for anything to happen to Prince NanAn.

Nor did she want anything to happen to her cousin.

"Can they not turn hostility into friendship?"

This thought circled Princess Shouning’s mind multiple times but never escaped her lips.

For she knew it was an impossible wish.

The conflict was not only between the Heir of Duke Chong and Prince NanAn but also involved Duke Chong’s Mansion and Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.

That was the true root of the issue.

She was merely a princess; how could she meddle in court battles?

Moreover, the person in the world most eager to see Dongxiang Marquis and Duke Chong clash was her own father.

Princess Shouning remained silent.

The Heir of Duke Chong knew she had not given up on Prince NanAn.

He truly could not understand.

What was so good about Prince NanAn that made her so determined to marry him?

"Cousin, you should give up on Prince NanAn. He already consummated the marriage with the daughter of Marquis Yangnan’s family," the Heir of Duke Chong stated.

"How is that possible?!" Princess Shouning blurted out.

"They are not even married yet!"

To make Princess Shouning give up, the Heir of Duke Chong recounted everything from the lantern festival.

The poison he used was incurable.

If not for the timely assistance of the eldest daughter of Wenyuan Bo Mansion, he might have drowned or died from exploded internal organs.

Though many came to save the daughter of Marquis Yangnan,

she was the fiancée of Prince NanAn, and the Heir of Marquis Jingguo, among others, also had fiancées.

Why would Prince NanAn refrain from detoxifying her and expect another man to cleanse his fiancée?

What man would be foolish enough to invite trouble onto himself?

Plainly evident, there was no need for conjecture.

Princess Shouning’s face turned pale, her eyes welled with tears.

Although she had anticipated this day, its sudden arrival caught her off guard; he, they...

How could they do this?!

She bit her lip, fiercely holding back tears.

The palace maids and eunuchs waited outside, oblivious to the conversation inside the hall.

After a long wait, Princess Shouning finally emerged.

The spirited princess who had entered came out looking utterly dejected.

"Princess?" a maid called out.

There was no answer. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

But the maid noticed.

That was the servant of the Heir of Duke Chong.

The princess could not let go of her feelings for Prince NanAn. The next time the Heir of Duke Chong went against Prince NanAn,

the Heir’s heart, already inclined toward revenge, would be set aflame by Princess Shouning’s lingering attachment to Prince NanAn.

How could he possibly let this grudge go unanswered?

The princess should not trouble herself with worries about a potential conflict,

but the very person who hoped for a fight between Prince NanAn and Duke Chong was none other than her own father, the Emperor.