Chapter 416 - 408: Disbelief
How could Mrs. Liu Sr. not be upset? She just went out for some convenience, and the little maid from the mansion kept leading her around without letting her return. The purpose was nothing but to bully Sister Ning, knowing there was no one to stand up for her. Thinking of Sister Ning being wronged in the front while she couldn’t go back, how could Mrs. Liu Sr. not be anxious?
At that time, Mrs. Liu Sr. stopped letting the maid lead the way and found her way back herself. The maid tried to block her path, and in anger, Mrs. Liu Sr. had her own maid give the obstructionist maid two slaps, which drew the attention of the guards around. Only then did they understand what was happening, and Mrs. Liu Sr. returned to the main hall.
Consort Zhou was, after all, a noble consort. Even if Mrs. Liu Sr. was angry, she couldn’t say much in front of her. However, she indirectly pointed out what the Liu Mansion had done. Seeing Sister Ning’s furrowed brows, her heart lifted with concern.
"What’s wrong? Do you have a stomachache?" Mrs. Liu Sr. might not care if Consort Zhou was present, and she asked out loud.
Lin Youning nodded, "Grandmother, I’m not feeling well here. Why don’t you accompany me home first?"
Lin Youning felt that Consort Zhou’s anger should have been vented by now. She truly felt unwell and didn’t want to continue being critiqued there.
"All right, grandmother will accompany you back now." Mrs. Liu Sr. looked tense.
Mrs. Zhou Sr. also descended, "Since you’re not feeling well, better not move. Stay here in the mansion and rest quietly. I’ll summon the Imperial Physician."
After all, she was a guest at their mansion, and if anything really happened, the Zhou Mansion’s reputation would worsen.
"Indeed, how could this happen, suddenly having a stomachache? Just now, I forgot to let you get up, but it was only for a moment. The madam’s body seems rather delicate." Consort Zhou spoke from above, "Since you’re here as a guest, have the Imperial Physician check you before you leave. Otherwise, if word got out, people might think I was being harsh to you."
Mrs. Liu Sr. was angry, though it didn’t show on her face, her tone was very serious, "Since Sister Ning became pregnant, her health has been unstable, and someone even secretly drugged her. This is a household matter and hasn’t been publicized. She should be resting in the mansion, but received an invitation from the Zhou Mansion, saying Her Highness insisted her presence. Only then did she come, disregarding her health. Now that she’s unwell in front of Her Highness, how could she dare deceive Her Highness?"
"I wrote an invitation insisting she come, what’s this talk about?" Consort Zhou’s smile slowly faded.
Mrs. Liu Sr. looked up, "It was someone from the Prince Mansion who delivered the invitation personally. The old madam of Gu Mansion hasn’t attended a banquet in years. This time, knowing the minister’s wife was coming, she specifically sent someone to the mansion, saying some things to the imperial consort’s wife, and asked her to take care of Sister Ning here."
"Then the person delivering the invitation must be from the Zhou Mansion. If Her Highness doesn’t believe it, you can have someone investigate and find the person to confront them with us face to face." Mrs. Liu Sr., if not for the rank of the consort, wouldn’t be speaking so politely.
Consort Zhou’s face had no trace of a smile left, "I wouldn’t have the time to oversee a minor matter concerning a little madam, nor send such invitations. I believe there’s some misunderstanding here? But what I heard is different from all this."
She stopped here, and didn’t continue, but was interrupted by Mrs. Zhou Sr.
"Sister, given that Sister Ning’s health isn’t good, have someone escort her to the back courtyard now, as the child she carries is more important. I will have the Imperial Physician summoned." Mrs. Zhou Sr. knew she couldn’t let her daughter speak further. Evidently, Yuanhua was the one behind this.
Mrs. Liu Sr. understood what was happening, as did the madams in the hall who now realized the truth. So, without pointing it out, Mrs. Liu Sr. had Sister Ning helped away.
Mrs. Zhou Sr. also summoned for the Imperial Physician and apologized to the madams in the hall, "Sorry to have made a spectacle of ourselves."
The madams hurriedly responded, saying they dare not, and they indeed dared not, as Consort Zhou was present. How could they dare to make a joke of the Zhou Mansion?
Consort Zhou, claiming fatigue, rose to go to the back, while Mrs. Zhou Sr. tended to the madams, having no time to think about her daughter further back.
Consort Zhou, however, had someone call over her daughter, Princess Yuanhua, who felt guilty and dared not lift her head upon seeing her mother.
Seeing her daughter’s demeanor, Consort Zhou knew she was the one behind this, "So, everything you told me was fabricated. It wasn’t that Lin wanted to curry favor with our Zhou Mansion and insisted on coming without an invitation, but you sent an invitation and insisted she come, right?"
Princess Yuanhua didn’t dare to speak, only nodded, "I deceived Mother only in this matter, everything else is true. When I visited their mansion, she knew Gu Er couldn’t provide an heir, yet she spoke like that, clearly mocking me. Besides, she’s already pregnant and always teasing the Second Young Master in frivolous ways."
Consort Zhou glared, "Today you’ve made me lose face before all the madams. I told you before, it’s merely a small madam, not worth paying attention to. Today, after hearing your insistence, I brought her to the front to reprimand her, intending to stand up for you and let her know our Zhou Mansion is not a place to come and go at will. It turns out, this was your doing behind the scenes, and now everyone can see it. You’ve made me lose such great face. You’ve excelled, indeed."
Seeing her mother angry, Princess Yuanhua quickly knelt down, "Mother doesn’t know; her daughter has always been in Gu Er’s heart, and life in the mansion hasn’t been good at all. When you left the palace this time, I thought you should help me put her in her place, so she understands I’m not easy to bully. Moreover, the ladies here mostly want to please our Zhou Mansion, today’s events won’t be leaked."
"Nonsense, do you think I’m like you? What if such matters reached your father, the emperor? Imagine what your father would do?"