Prime Minister Xia's face turned green, and he said to Madam Linglong in a stern voice: "Why don't you pull her away?"
Madam Linglong hurriedly left the table and rushed out, holding Xia Wan'er with one hand, "Wan'er, don't make trouble."
Xia Wan'er turned around and found that everyone was looking at her. She knew she had lost her composure, but then she remembered that she had been married to the prince and was the future princess, so she had the right to speak for the prince.
So, she hurried back to the palace, raised her head and looked at Murong Jie and said, "Your Highness, although the Crown Prince mobilized troops privately, as a Crown Prince, don't you have the power to mobilize a thousand soldiers? Sooner or later, this country will belong to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Your Highness is only acting as the regent. The Emperor gave you the power, not for you to abuse it to take revenge. If you beat the Crown Prince in front of so many royal officials today, it would be a disgrace to the state. Queen, don't you agree?"
Xia Wan'er's words caused an uproar, and some people even thought she was crazy. Didn't they hear Bao Gonggong's decree just now? The regent had the power to depose the prince, and he was beaten because he did violate military law by privately mobilizing troops.
No, that was secondary. Even if she, a woman, didn't understand these things, she actually said in front of so many emperors and ministers that Murong Jie abused private punishment to take revenge. Was she really crazy? Did she know that the person sitting on the high throne was the regent of the dynasty
Moreover, she dragged the queen into the water. Did she really think that they shared the same hatred and a common enemy
She is the second daughter of the Xiangfu, the Xiangfu's tutor...
The queen's face also darkened. She had never liked Xia Wan'er in the first place. Even though Xia Wan'er spoke out to protect the prince, she was extremely stupid. After reading the imperial edict, she accused Murong Jie of abusing private punishment. Wasn't this repeatedly emphasizing to all the princes and ministers the mistakes made by the prince
Prime Minister Xia's face was immediately filled with shame. Before Murong Jie could say anything, he quickly apologized, "Your Majesty, my daughter is young and ignorant, and she spoke nonsense. Please be magnanimous and forgive her."
Murong Jie did not show any anger, but just looked at the queen and asked calmly: "Queen, do you think what the future Crown Princess said makes sense?"
Xia Wan'er looked at the Queen expectantly. She believed that the Queen would be very happy to see that she cared so much about the Prince.
However, she saw the queen's vicious eyes, as cold as a sharp knife.
Her expression froze and she seemed a little at a loss.
Seeing that the Queen didn't say anything, Murong Jie didn't intend to let her go, and continued to ask: "I heard that the Second Miss is about to marry the Crown Prince. It was the Queen's personal order. The Queen is the Crown Prince's biological mother and has the right to decide the Crown Prince's marriage. But, are you sure it's the Second Miss? Let me and my mother discuss this matter carefully."
As soon as these words were spoken, there was silence. The noble ladies who had just been jealous of Xia Wan'er now looked at her with gloating eyes. Perhaps the Regent meant to petition the Empress Dowager to abolish the Queen
Doesn’t that mean Xia Wan’er can’t become the Crown Princess
Madam Linglong's face gradually lost its color when she heard this. She said in horror, "How can this be possible? The decree has already been issued, and the prince also said that the queen has the right to decide the prince's marriage."
Murong Jie turned his head to look at the queen, "Queen, are you going to say something? This lady of the Prime Minister's Mansion is very interesting to me."
Prince Li stood up and said, "Seventh Brother, this is not the wife of the Prime Minister."
This reminder seemed like a humiliation, humiliating Madam Linglong and Xia Wan'er. Some of the female relatives were already covering their mouths and laughing.
Concubine Yi, who had been silent all night, looked at Yuan and suddenly said, "Madam Xia, as a lady, you are willing to be on an equal footing with concubines. You are really an extraordinary woman. Why don't you tell us how you tolerated it?"
This was to tell everyone that Xia Wan'er, whom the prince was going to marry, was a concubine's daughter, born to a maid.
Of course, many people knew this, but it was common knowledge that Prime Minister Xia favored his concubine, but no one had pointed it out to him in person.
The purpose of Concubine Yi's revelation this time was really strange.
Everyone was looking forward to Yuan's answer, because no matter how many years had passed, Yuan was still the focus of everyone's attention, and her marriage with Prime Minister Xia was even more of a curiosity for everyone.
Yuan didn't expect that Xia Wan'er's antics would cause Concubine Yi to point the finger at her, but she didn't seem angry. She just stood up and bowed slightly to Concubine Yi, and replied in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "Concubine Yi, there is no question of tolerance. Chen and I don't see each other once a year."
Prime Minister Xia was extremely angry at Yuan's answer, his face turned blue with anger. Even the people present were very surprised by Yuan's answer. Perhaps there was a better answer, but obviously this answer made people feel more comfortable. Not seeing her once a year, didn't it mean that Madam Linglong didn't need to pay her respects
Concubine Yi sneered, "Not even once a year? This is really strange. As a concubine, don't I need to greet the mistress? What kind of status is this for a mistress? You are the legitimate wife of the prime minister. How can you live like this?"
Yuan said, "I live in seclusion and seldom see strangers, so I have only been with my daughter Zi'an these years, and my life has been quite happy."
What a strange word! What a happy life I only have with my daughter! These few words were like a slap in the face to Prime Minister Xia and Madam Linglong.
The Great Zhou was a country that emphasized etiquette and morality, and the mistress and concubines should have been clearly distinguished in terms of status. As the prime minister of the Great Zhou, the status and order of priority in his family were messed up. How could he not be laughed at
Even Murong Zhuangzhuang, who had been crying with excitement since he saw Murong Jie appear, couldn't help but say, "This Xiangfu is really a strange place. The mistress is not the mistress, and the concubine is not the concubine. The way the Xiangye manages his family is very strange."
The eldest princess's sarcasm made many people present laugh out loud, and the laughter pierced Prime Minister Xia's chest like a sharp sword.
Zi'an looked at Yuan and saw that she looked calm, but there was still some embarrassment in her eyes. To make her position and situation in the prime minister's mansion public was a humiliation for someone with such a strong self-esteem as her.
However, no matter how Concubine Yi answered such a question, it would be inappropriate, because her position in the Prime Minister's Mansion was already inappropriate.
She could only answer in such a nonchalant manner, and was unwilling to lie and cover up the truth by saying that she and Madam Linglong were as close as sisters.
She is disdainful!
Everyone in the hall seemed to have forgotten that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was being tortured outside. Naturally, the Crown Prince's howling also disappeared. He had never suffered any injustice or hardship, and after being beaten with ten sticks, he fainted.
No matter how stupid Xia Wan'er was, she knew that danger was approaching, but she didn't believe that the Regent could overturn the Queen's decree.
She believed that as long as she continued to please the Queen, her position as Crown Princess would be secure.
So, she endured the mocking gazes of the crowd, knelt in front of the Queen, and choked up and said, "Queen, your Highness and I have already established our relationship. I feel sorry for the Crown Prince and know that he is wronged. Please allow me to stay in the palace to take care of him until his injuries are healed."
(End of this chapter)