After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband-Chapter 822 - 819: Refund

That night, the court ministers aligned with Duke Chong had little chance to sleep soundly.

No one really knew about the iron mine in Princess Duanhui’s fiefdom of Zhangzhou.

Such a significant matter is naturally better known by fewer people, even Princess Nanzhang was unaware, which says something.

Because Princess Duanhui dispatched someone to assassinate the Princess Consort Zhenbei, she was demoted by the Emperor, and the fiefdom of Zhangzhou was seized by the Princess Consort Zhenbei.

Princess Duanhui feared the exposure of Zhangzhou’s matters, so much so that she attempted suicide by slitting her wrists...

Although she was snatched back from King Yama’s grasp, her life still hung under a giant axe.

Duke Chong, in order to protect Princess Duanhui and Prince Qi, had already sacrificed the Military Equipment Supervisor.

He was determined to preserve Princess Duanhui no matter what.

Those who stood on Duke Chong’s boat, could they not follow the current?

But the iron mine...

Princess Duanhui said that concealing the iron mine was out of greed, all the weapons crafted had been sold to the court, such rhetoric even they didn’t believe, would the Emperor believe?

The ministers of Duke Chong’s faction found themselves in a difficult situation.

To help Duke Chong save Princess Duanhui would surely be remembered by the Emperor. If Prince Qi succeeded in the future, their contributions might be minimal, but if Prince Qi failed, they would undoubtedly face the consequences.

But at this time, if they didn’t help Duke Chong, all their past flattery and efforts would be in vain, their efforts wasted, and if Prince Qi failed, they would suffer. If he succeeded, they wouldn’t benefit either.

A night of tossing and turning, they rose early the next day.

In front of the Political Discussion Hall was an unprecedented bustle, whispers among threes and twos.

Of course, some slept well, like Marquis Dongxiang.

He entered the hall right on time, just a couple of sips of tea earlier than the Emperor.

The Emperor thought today’s morning court would be exceptionally noisy.

However, the situation was entirely different from what he anticipated.

Although Duke Chong held half the influence in the court, only half of half were willing to defend Princess Duanhui, and even they lacked confidence.

Marquis Dongxiang didn’t even get a chance to speak.

The reason to defend Princess Duanhui was that knowing one’s mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue. She had already voluntarily admitted her error. The Empress Dowager, being old, would be unable to bear the blow if Princess Duanhui were to be executed.

Moreover, before anyone impeached or reported the iron mine in Zhangzhou, Princess Duanhui chose to slit her wrists to commit suicide, was rescued, and promptly confessed to the Empress Dowager. This is a self-surrender.

Court law, leniency for confession, severity for resistance.

In the end—

The Emperor spared Princess Duanhui’s life.

But a death sentence can be avoided, a punishment cannot.

The Emperor took away Princess Duanhui’s title, confiscated all the assets of the Princess Mansion, and the Prince Consort’s family couldn’t escape punishment either.

That’s not all, the Emperor punished Princess Duanhui’s family to watch over the Imperial Mausoleum.

The officials all said, "The Emperor is merciful."

But for the Empress Dowager, the punishment was too severe. Her daughter was demoted to commoner status, sent to guard the Imperial Mausoleum, making it very difficult for her to see her daughter and granddaughter again.

Especially since Princess Duanhui had just attempted suicide, her health hadn’t recovered. Guarding the mausoleum was harsh, and the Empress Dowager feared her daughter couldn’t endure it.

The Empress Dowager pleaded bitterly, the Emperor made an exception for Princess Duanhui to move to the mausoleum a month later.

As for this month, she certainly couldn’t stay at the Princess Mansion anymore.

Princess Duanhui moved to Prince Qi Mansion to recover.

During Princess Duanhui’s move—

Su Jin received another imperial edict.

The court generally wouldn’t make land with a mine, especially an iron mine, a fiefdom.

Officials all suggested the Emperor exchange Su Jin’s fief for another.

This matter perfectly suited the Emperor’s intentions, Marquis Dongxiang initially seized Zhangzhou as a temporary measure, Su Jin couldn’t exploit the iron mine to sell, so the fief didn’t have much advantage.

The Emperor took the opportunity to exchange Su Jin’s fief for fertile land.

Su Jin didn’t understand Daqi’s geography at all, but it didn’t hinder her from happily accepting the edict from Eunuch Fu.

Eunuch Fu didn’t stay long and returned to the palace.

As soon as he left, Princess Nanzhang sought Su Jin for the debt.

The Empress Dowager had Nanny Li invite Su Jin to treat Princess Duanhui.

Su Jin demanded ten thousand taels to go.

Nanny Li, helpless, borrowed ten thousand taels’ worth of silver notes from Mrs. Zhao for Su Jin.

Su Jin went to Princess Duanhui Mansion, but she couldn’t treat Princess Duanhui. Princess Nanzhang wanted Su Jin to refund the consultation fee.

At the time, there were many people in the room, Old Prince, Prince, Princess Consort... a full house.

The maids and matrons exchanged glances.

After all, before Princess Qi fainted at the Prince Mansion gate, she made boastful claims, and at that time, what Princess Nanzhang said was heard by the maids.

Princess Nanzhang mocked the Heir’s wife for being domineering, not snatching things is already good, once something is in her hands, don’t expect her to give it back.

But now—

Princess Nanzhang was asking the Heir’s wife for silver notes.

The young maid didn’t understand, but some matrons figured it out by three parts; this was to use the Old Prince and the Prince to pressure the Heir’s wife.

Charging ten thousand taels for curing a disease was excessive; charging ten thousand taels for merely taking a pulse was extortionate.

Su Jin still held the imperial edict, smirked self-deprecatingly, "Previously, I was just the Princess Consort Zhenbei, to be ordered around by the Empress Dowager was fine, but now I am a Princess, yet still the Empress Dowager calls me like a doctor and views me as such, then I will charge for treatment, at least it brings some comfort."

"My medical skills are shallow, unable to treat Princess Duanhui, suspecting I’m unwilling to save Princess Duanhui, and now wanting me to return the consultation fee?"

Finishing the statement, Su Jin’s smile became even more mocking.

She looked at Princess Nanzhang, "The consultation fee for Princess Duanhui, I received from Nanny Li, why should I return it to you, Princess Nanzhang?"

Xie Jinyu quickly said, "Nanny Li hurried to save Princess Duanhui and borrowed ten thousand taels from my mother!"

"Then the debt is owed by the Empress Dowager, not me," Su Jin said coldly.

"To get back the ten thousand taels’ consultation fee, have Nanny Li bring the Empress Dowager’s command to personally fetch it," Su Jin’s voice was stern, indisputable.

However, Princess Nanzhang and Xie Jinyu were very pleased.

Princess Nanzhang knew Su Jin’s nature and initially held only a two to three-part hope that Su Jin would hand over the ten thousand taels.

Now hearing Su Jin’s words, the possibility of getting the silver notes back was high indeed.

Even the maids and matrons in the room felt the Heir’s wife was too agreeable, seeming to become... reasonable?

Xie Jinyu worried that Su Jin might regret it and promptly added, "Princess Duanhui slit her wrists to commit suicide, the Empress Dowager fell ill, Nanny Li has to serve the Empress Dowager, what’s wrong with my mother receiving the payment?"

Su Jin laughed, "The Empress Dowager merely fell ill, there’ll be a day she recovers. If the Empress Dowager isn’t in urgent need of this ten thousand taels, let Nanny Li come for it when she’s free."

Leaving this sentence, Su Jin turned with the imperial edict and left.

She would only return the silver notes to the one who issued them, no room for negotiation.

With Su Jin gone, the others dispersed as well.

Back in the courtyard, the Princess Consort looked at the Prince and said, "Why didn’t you and the Old Prince speak for the Heir’s wife?"

"Returning the ten thousand taels would mean the Empress Dowager could no longer command the Heir’s wife, that’s a good thing," the Prince smiled.