Chapter 188: The Matter Has Blown Up
"Mother, it’s terrible! Something terrible has happened!" Xiang Mingli rushed straight to the Old Madam’s residence.
Old Madam Xiang had been worrying about yesterday’s events and had only fallen asleep late at night. She was still in bed and had not yet risen.
"Mother, get up quickly! If you don’t, we’ll be facing disaster!" Xiang Mingli pounded on the chamber door.
Old Madam Xiang was woken up. Though somewhat displeased, she still got up and ordered a maid to help her wash up.
"What’s all this shouting so early in the morning? Has your older brother returned?" The Old Madam was wary of Ye Qianning, but deep down, she was counting on Xiang Minghou not to ignore the matter of the Emperor’s gifts.
After all, for so many years, she had been the one to receive and store everything the Emperor bestowed upon them.
"That little bastard really did take people to the Prime Minister’s residence to start a fight yesterday."
Old Madam Xiang’s expression froze, finding it hard to believe. "She really went?"
"She didn’t just go. She hacked down the plaque of the Prime Minister’s residence, shaved down the threshold, and beat Prime Minister Gao, his wife, and their daughter." Xiang Mingli couldn’t believe a child could be so audacious.
In all her years in the Capital City, Old Madam Xiang had never heard of anything so brazen. She was too shocked to speak.
"Prime Minister Gao was beaten so severely he’s unconscious, and we don’t know if he’ll live or die. Imperial Physicians have been rushing in and out. This has blown up into a huge incident." Cold sweat beaded on Xiang Mingli’s forehead.
It took a long moment for the shocked Old Madam Xiang to process this. But then, on second thought, she realized it didn’t have much to do with them.
"What are you panicking for? She’s Zhan Yi’s granddaughter. Even if she’s caused apocalyptic trouble, it has nothing to do with us. Besides, after beating a Prime Minister of the state, I refuse to believe that little bastard can survive this. And she still wants the Emperor’s imperial gifts? She should take a look and see if her life is even worth that much."
Xiang Mingli paused. ’That seems to be right.’
Old Madam Xiang rinsed her mouth, and a maid handed her a cloth.
"This matter is more or less over. Second Son, you’d better not go gambling anymore. If you keep messing around like this, you’ll bankrupt the entire General’s estate." Yesterday, Old Madam Xiang had checked the accounts and found there wasn’t even a hundred taels of silver in cash left.
"I know, I know," Xiang Mingli replied perfunctorily.
Old Madam Xiang shot him a glare, knowing he hadn’t listened at all. ’How did I give birth to such a good-for-nothing?’ she wondered. If it weren’t for her grandson, she couldn’t be bothered with him.
"Old Madam, the General has returned," the butler announced, knocking on the door.
"That little bastard isn’t with him, is she?" Old Madam Xiang asked casually.
"The Eldest Miss returned to the estate long ago," the butler said.
"Returned long ago? When?" Old Madam Xiang was surprised.
Xiang Mingli was also stunned. ’She’s back?’
"The Eldest Miss returned at the crack of dawn. A eunuch from the palace even drove the carriage to bring her back personally."
’Personally brought back?’
’How is that possible?’
"When she came back, wasn’t she injured or anything? Did the eunuch say anything?" Old Madam Xiang felt something was wrong.
"The Eldest Miss didn’t say anything, but the eunuch was beaming. He kept praising our General for having such a good daughter." The butler could tell at the time that the eunuch was of a high rank. He was so respectful to the Eldest Miss; she must have received a great honor from the Emperor.
Old Madam Xiang staggered. ’How could this be?’
A beaming eunuch definitely meant the Emperor had given a reward.
’That little bastard attacked the Prime Minister’s residence, so why didn’t the Emperor punish her severely?’
Fear crept into Xiang Mingli’s heart as well, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.
"Did the little bastard really not say anything?" Old Madam Xiang asked.
"No. When the Eldest Miss returned, she went straight back to Yuehua Small Building. She looked very sleepy, as if she hadn’t woken up properly. I expect she’s probably sleeping right now." The butler had been observing the events of the past few days.
’Once the Eldest Miss wakes up,’ he thought, ’the Old Madam and the Second Master are going to be in for it.’