After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband-Chapter 827 - 824: Punishment
Prince Qi Mansion, Outer Courtyard.
The Second Prince stayed for a quarter of an hour before Prince Qi escorted him out of the mansion.
Just as they stepped out of the study, Mo Chengxian ran over, "Father, Mother Consort is in unbearable pain. Please think of a way to save her."
Prince Qi was still angry, but in front of his daughter and the Second Prince, he couldn’t disregard the life of the Princess Qi.
He sighed, "I went to see Marquis Dongxiang, but he refused to help."
The Second Prince didn’t get to see Princess Qi, but his concern for her was no less.
Since childhood, Prince Qi and Princess Qi had been very kind to him.
Moreover, if he wanted to seize the position of Crown Prince, he would need Prince Qi’s support.
With Princess Duanhui attempting suicide and the issue of the iron mine in Zhangzhou, the Second Prince had some suspicions.
He didn’t believe that Prince Qi was unaware of the iron mine.
However, Prince Qi had no sons, only a daughter, Mo Chengxian, and even the Empress Dowager doted on him.
The Second Prince felt it was inappropriate to suspect Prince Qi of harboring treasonous intentions.
Mo Chengxian looked at Prince Qi and said, "I’ll go plead with the Princess Consort Zhenbei...."
She turned to run, but was blocked by the Second Prince’s raised arm.
Mo Chengxian looked at the Second Prince. The Second Prince said, "Princess Consort Zhenbei is not someone who will soften just because you kneel and plead."
"If you want to plead, you should enter the palace and ask Father Emperor."
The Second Prince hadn’t dealt much with Su Jin.
But Princess Shouning was the Second Prince’s biological sister.
If not even Princess Shouning could influence her, would Mo Chengxian’s kneeling matter?
If she dared to expel Nanny Li from Prince Zhenbei Mansion, she would also dare to expel Mo Chengxian.
But the Emperor is different.
The Emperor values face and has to consider the Royal Family’s reputation.
Mo Chengxian is of the younger generation; could the Emperor really ignore her kneeling in front of the Imperial Study?
Taking the Second Prince’s advice, Mo Chengxian hurried to the palace.
She wanted to see the Emperor, but he refused.
So, Mo Chengxian knelt in front of the Imperial Study.
Inside, the Emperor’s expression was dark and gloomy.
The Empress Dowager’s pressure didn’t work, and now Mo Chengxian was kneeling to plead.
To use his daughter like this, they truly spared no effort.
Eunuch Fu felt extremely fortunate to have already sided with Marquis Dongxiang, and he remained resolute.
Duke Chong’s takeover of Duke Chong’s Mansion and his means of eliminating dissent in the court were utterly terrifying.
In terms of treachery, perhaps Marquis Dongxiang couldn’t match Duke Chong.
But there’s a saying that evil cannot triumph over good.
Since Marquis Dongxiang’s return to the Capital, Duke Chong’s faction had committed countless foolish acts.
Using the princess like a common doctor to demand diagnoses fees, closing off their way out, and now coming to beg the Emperor.
What do they want, the Emperor to help them bully the princess?
They talk about tearing down a bridge after crossing a river, but they hadn’t even crossed the river and had already torn down the bridge, now crying for help while drowning in the water.
Thought the ten thousand taels for the diagnosis was too expensive and were reluctant to pay.
Now look, even if they want to pay the ten thousand taels, they don’t have the chance anymore.
Mo Chengxian knelt outside the Imperial Study for one hour.
By evening, when it was time for the Emperor to have the Imperial Banquet.
With a person kneeling outside the Imperial Study, the Emperor had no appetite.
Eunuch Fu advised Mo Chengxian to leave, but she refused.
If the Emperor didn’t agree, she wouldn’t rise from her knees.
The Second Prince also came to plead with the Emperor on Mo Chengxian’s behalf; surely, they couldn’t let Mo Chengxian kneel outside the Imperial Study all night?
The Emperor waved his hand, "Let her go back."
The Second Prince’s heart leapt with joy.
Father Emperor has agreed.
He went out, had a palace maid help Mo Chengxian up, and escorted her out of the palace.
The next day, after the early court session, the Emperor sent Eunuch Fu out of the palace to find Su Jin.
The Emperor had agreed, but Su Jin did not.
When Eunuch Fu found Su Jin, she was seriously reading a medical book and said, "Not long ago, I was humiliated at the Princess Duanhui Mansion."
"Any illness I can’t cure is because I’m unwilling to treat it."
"A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit; I’m not going to offer myself up for humiliation again."
Eunuch Fu knew Su Jin was angry.
In fact, it wasn’t just the Emperor, even Eunuch Fu found it infuriating.
But with Mo Chengxian pleading to the Emperor, the Emperor had no choice but to act.
Eunuch Fu looked at Su Jin and asked, "What would it take for the princess to calm down?"
Su Jin continued flipping through her book without responding.
Xingxing looked at Eunuch Fu and said, "Isn’t it obvious? The Empress Dowager has to apologize personally."
Eunuch Fu, "..."
In such a casual tone, even the corners of Eunuch Fu’s eyes twitched.
The Empress Dowager had already lost face by reclaiming the ten thousand taels.
If she were to return those ten thousand taels, wouldn’t that be like putting her face on the ground for everyone to tread on?
No need to say it; Eunuch Fu knew it was unlikely.
"Princess, this concerns the Royal Family’s reputation, you...,"
Before Eunuch Fu could finish speaking, Xingxing was displeased, "The Royal Family needs face, does not my young lady need it too?"
Eunuch Fu, "..."
Su Jin put down her book and said, "I won’t make things difficult for Eunuch Fu. I believe the Empress Dowager was unaware of the foolish act of reclaiming the silver note, and Nanny Li, who is by the Empress Dowager’s side, even dared to falsely convey the Empress Dowager’s orders."
"All I ask is for the Empress Dowager to deal with Nanny Li and let Princess Nanzhang come in person to return the ten thousand taels silver note to me."
"Regarding previous matters, I’ll let bygones be bygones."
Su Jin wanted to reclaim her lost face doubly.
Anyways, it was the Empress Dowager losing face, so Eunuch Fu readily agreed.
Upon returning to the palace, Eunuch Fu didn’t first go back to the Imperial Study but headed directly to Yongning Palace.
He informed the Empress Dowager of Su Jin’s demands and added, "The princess cannot guarantee she will be able to cure Princess Qi."
Really.
That last statement was devastatingly powerful.
The Empress Dowager nearly died from anger.
But what could she do?
The Imperial Physician had already made it clear there was no saving Princess Qi.
The Princess Consort Zhenbei was the last hope.
Even if there was the slightest hope, they had to try, right?
Nanny Li fell to her knees with a thud, admitting her mistake to the Empress Dowager.
In the end—
The Empress Dowager ordered Nanny Li to be punished with forty strikes of the rod.
Eunuch Fu watched the Palace Attendant administer the punishment in front of Yongning Palace.
After forty strokes, Nanny Li was left with barely a breath.
Eunuch Fu returned to the Imperial Study to report back.
Only then did the Empress Dowager’s suppressed anger erupt.
The palace maids and eunuchs knelt on the ground, trembling with fear.
The Empress Dowager, gritting her teeth, said, "Go and tell Princess Nanzhang to take the ten thousand taels to the Princess Consort Zhenbei!"
The ten thousand taels—
was the Empress Dowager’s punishment for Princess Nanzhang’s short-sightedness.
Since Princess Qi had been writhing in pain on her bed and the Imperial Physician was helpless, Princess Nanzhang had been worried that this fire would eventually burn her.
Princess Nanzhang was mentally prepared, but she did not expect the Empress Dowager to not only have her fork out ten thousand taels but also require her to personally deliver it to Su Jin.
Her face turned sour when the eunuch relayed the message.
Aware she had gotten the Empress Dowager into trouble, Princess Nanzhang dared not utter a word in front of the messenger eunuch.
But as soon as the eunuch left, Princess Nanzhang exploded.
The teacups and snacks on the table were smashed to the ground.
Mrs. Zhao didn’t dare to advise.
Since the Heir’s wife entered the mansion, the Commandery Princess had spent nearly all her money.
If she hadn’t been truly out of money, she wouldn’t have taken back the ten thousand taels.
What was loaned out was money, but what was received back was a hot potato.
Indeed... money should not be lent easily.
Princess Nanzhang leaned on the table, her face twisted, squeezing out words through her clenched teeth.
"Go and bring her the ten thousand taels!"
