Pei Shu’er wore a smile on her face, but her eyes were cold and piercing.
She said, "Aunt Ying Chun, regarding the rumors you’ve been spreading about and the Seventeenth Prince, don’t you think you owe an explanation?"
A quick flicker of panic crossed Ying Chun’s eyes, but her deanor remained composed, showing no signs of weakness.
"Princess Consort, what are you saying? Ying Chun doesn’t understand."
Pei Shu’er laughed coldly, her gaze full of mockery as she looked at Ying Chun.
"Xuan Yi!"
Xuan Yi stepped forward and explained the situation to everyone present.
At first, the other concubines in attendance didn’t quite understand Pei Shu’er, thinking she was making a fuss over nothing.
After all, Ying Chun had barely crossed paths with Pei Shu’er a few tis.
She had no apparent conflict with Pei Shu’er, so how could she go against her?
Moreover, since the Old Madam ceased to handle affairs, Pei Shu’er had already beco the de facto mistress.
But as Xuan Yi continued, everyone’s faces grew increasingly shocked.
For Xuan Yi’s words were detailed and credible, prompting many to glance at Ying Chun.
Ying Chun, who was initially calm, gradually turned pale and eventually looked ashen-faced.
Pei Shu’er said, "Do you have anything else to say?"
Ying Chun looked around at those seated, but no one wanted to plead for her.
She rolled her eyes and collapsed to the ground, stamring.
"I was just... just speaking casually, I didn’t expect it to spread so wildly."
Pei Shu’er sneered, not caring at all about how others’ reputations might be tarnished by her evasive words.
"Firstly, I am the Princess Consort of Prince Zhan Mansion. You all, to speak nicely, are concubines seeking refuge here. If my reputation is ruined, then the entire Prince Zhan Mansion will beco a laughingstock in the Capital?"
"Secondly, with the Seventeenth Prince having just arrived in the Capital, who doesn’t know that his position is unstable? Spreading such rumors, how is he supposed to live?"
Yan Huan Yu’s eyebrows furrowed in cooperation: "Speak honestly, don’t force to act."
Ying Chun was there crying, seeing Pei Shu’er maintain a cold, hard face, appearing heartless.
Despite pleading several tis, Pei Shu’er remained unmoved, and Ying Chun grew increasingly anxious.
Ying Chun quickly kneeled beside the Old Madam, grabbing onto her knees.
"Old Madam, you must save . It was an unintentional mistake. You cannot let the Princess Consort punish like this. This would harm her own reputation even more."
Pei Shu’er’s expression was cold, and other concubines were also persuading the Old Madam.
"Even though she’s just a concubine of War King, she still has connections with War King’s father. She can’t be punished so easily; it would dishearten others."
Liu Xu ignored the advice of the others, pointing at Ying Chun coldly: "Bold Ying Chun, who instructed you to deliberately ruin Zan’er’s reputation?"
Liu Xu had fought with these inner court won for most of her life, so she knew Ying Chun’s nature well.
Ying Chun was sharp-tongued, but she had a sense of what should and shouldn’t be said, more aware than anyone.
Otherwise, given her background as a girl from a brothel, she would’ve been destroyed long ago.
Now, her daring words clearly indicated soone was behind her.
Tang Peizhong’s current position made it even less suitable for him to step forward, and he no longer cared about others. He was entirely focused on Liu Xu.
As for Ying Chun, she deserved what was coming to her.
Ying Chun’s lips trembled, instinctively wanting to look in a certain direction but forcing herself to lower her head.
"No, sister, no one instructed . I just misspoke. Please forgive , sister. We’ve had so many years of friendship. I only said a few words, not expecting it to turn out this way."
Pei Shu’er frowned; Ying Chun’s words seed harmless at first but upon closer inspection, there was a trap.
If Liu Xu didn’t forgive her, wouldn’t that make Liu Xu seem petty?
She never intended to involve Liu Xu.
Pei Shu’er was about to speak when Yan Huan Yu held her hand.
"Now even if the Princess Consort and Lady Liu forgive you, I won’t. Don’t forget, one of the people you’re talking about is ."
Ying Chun’s face had already paled significantly, and it turned even paler upon hearing Tang Zan’s words.
Indeed, this was a prince, and if he pursued the matter, her situation would only worsen.
Considering this, the unshed tears in her eyes fell instantly, making her appear pitiful.
Fearfully, she kneeled at Yan Huan Yu’s side, kowtowing several tis.
"Seventeenth Prince, please forgive ?"
Yan Huan Yu glanced at Pei Shu’er unintentionally, and Pei Shu’er knew that Yan Huan Yu was standing up for her.
After all, she and Liu Xu weren’t really suited to punish concubines.
If they didn’t punish, their authority would be undermined, and such incidents would recur.
If they punished, they’d be accused of being unreasonable and abusive.
Having an outsider like him, who was also involved, was actually quite fitting.
Moreover, as a prince, his status was quite high.
Pei Shu’er felt grateful and couldn’t help but feel comforted.
Yan Huan Yu was finally growing up, taking responsibility.
No longer the cute, fierce, little puppy.
Yan Huan Yu said, "Co, detain Ying Chun and her son, and interrogate them thoroughly. I want to see who is really behind this."
Ying Chun had always appeared weak, her mouth tough, always evading the subject.
For a ti, there was no way to deal with her.
But now, hearing Yan Huan Yu say he would imprison her eight-year-old son, her expression changed imdiately.
Yet she didn’t dare confess.
The people behind her wouldn’t spare her either.
Thinking about this, Ying Chun’s expression turned incredibly sour, her fingers curling up, hoping the Seventeenth Prince was rely intimidating her.
As his guards seized Ying Chun’s son, Tang Jun, Tang Jun’s face filled with terror.
"Mother, save , don’t let them take ."
Tang Jun struggled in the guard’s grasp until he was slapped and subdued, bowing his head miserably, afraid to speak.
Seeing this, Ying Chun realized the Seventeenth Prince was serious.
She imdiately knelt and kowtowed fervently to Yan Huan Yu.
"Please forgive , Seventeenth Prince, I was blinded by greed. It was Aunt Dong who instructed ."
As soon as these words were uttered, a gasp rippled through the room.
Pei Shu’er looked at Aunt Dong, whose face turned various shades, her voice sharp and breaking.
"Ying Chun, how could you say such things?"
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