Chapter 137: Chapter 137 Condemnation

How could it just be guilty conscience, Eunuch Fu had never encountered such an embarrassing situation in his life.

From the moment Xingxing called him, his heart trembled like a sieve.

It wasn’t until he stepped out of Yongning Palace that he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Leaving the medicine in front of Su Jin was his way of telling the Empress Dowager that he had nothing to do with the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

His constantly trembling heart was devoted to the Empress Dowager.

It was just a coincidence that the medicine was found by Xingxing from under the chair.

This changed the meaning entirely.

In the eyes of the Empress Dowager, Eunuch Fu could have offered the medicine to her anytime, even handing it to any attendant in her palace as he left would ensure it reached her.

But instead, Eunuch Fu made a show of doing it in front of the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion and her maid.

It was as if he was mocking the Empress Dowager as a fool, trying to deceive everyone and have it both ways!

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to give her the medicine; it was that the female bandit’s eyes were too shrewd, it had nothing to do with him.

Having “dropped” it once, he naturally dared not “drop” it again.

Indeed, he underestimated Dongxiang Marquis Mansion!

Eunuch Fu was someone close to the Emperor, someone she had tried to win over for years, yet Eunuch Fu never dared to betray the Emperor, and now he was siding with the bandit.

A flash of harshness passed through the Empress Dowager’s eyes.

Inside the great hall, no one spoke.

Su Jin couldn’t help but give a light cough, drawing everyone’s attention.

If there was something to discuss, they should get to it quickly; if not, she would leave, standing there like a wooden peg was uncomfortable.

The Duchess of Duke Chong was so angry that her lips turned purple, and as for her son, the young master of Duke Chong’s Mansion, he had already been led away by a palace maid to a side hall, lest his crying disturb the Empress Dowager.

The rewards Su Jin demanded were substantial, things liked by the Empress Dowager. The Duchess of Duke Chong just wanted to help the Empress Dowager vent her frustration on behalf of her son, but who knew the venting would hit the bandit’s muzzle directly.

She was more of a hindrance than a help, how could she open her mouth to ask the Empress Dowager to give up these items to save her son?

The Duchess of Duke Chong clenched her fists and said, “How much is the antidote? Duke Chong’s Mansion will pay!”

Su Jin raised an eyebrow.

Just when everyone thought she was going to ask for an exorbitant price—

She smiled faintly.

“I’m not lacking money,” she said.

“I think this matter won’t be settled in a moment, you can discuss it. Perhaps the Imperial Physician can detoxify the young master,” Su Jin said kindly.

She bowed slightly, turned, and left.

Xingxing cheerfully followed behind her.

As Xie Jingchen was about to turn away, the Empress called out to him, “Is the Eldest Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion going to let the Eldest Young Madam act recklessly like this?!”

Xie Jingchen paused and said, “I haven’t stabilized my authority at home just yet.”

As Su Jin turned back, she happened to hear this.

Her knees went weak, nearly causing her to fall.

Did he really have to say that just to deflect the Empress?

Though, he was—

Telling the truth.

Behind the beaded curtain, the Empress was so choked by this sentence that her face turned green, but she had nothing to say.

He admitted to lacking authority at home; what could she reprimand him for?

Xie Jingchen made a bow and left.

The palace attendants looked at each other, with sympathy in their eyes.

The Eldest Young Master of Duke Zhen’s Mansion was truly a pitiful figure.

Robbed on the street, betrothed while unconscious, woken to find himself married to a bandit wife who was fierce and domineering, fearing neither heaven nor earth, even daring to rob the Empress Dowager. He said he hadn’t stabilized his authority at home yet, but in their view, unless he divorced and remarried, he might never gain authority in this lifetime.

Outside Yongning Palace, Su Jin gave Xie Jingchen a sidelong glance.

“When did you learn to use the unvarnished truth to choke people?” she asked.

“….”

“One is influenced by those around them,” Xie Jingchen said gloomily.

“….”

Xingxing said excitedly, “My lord is our Qingyun Mountain’s lord, of course, he speaks and acts like us from Qingyun Mountain.”

Su Jin couldn’t help but laugh and cry.

She tapped Xingxing lightly on the noggin.

“I’m still the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, shouldn’t I speak and act like them?” Su Jin said.

“Of course not, the Marquis said that we of Qingyun Mountain should be people who influence others, not those who are swayed by others. We must be firm in everything we do, and not just follow the crowd,” Xingxing said earnestly.

“….”

No rebuttal possible.

Unexpected that her father, despite his complex mind, could say things so truly insightful.

All around, there was no one, only the gentle breeze.

Su Jin looked at Xie Jingchen and said, “It seems like the relationship between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager isn’t great. The Empress Dowager isn’t the Emperor’s biological mother, is she?”

“She isn’t,” Xie Jingchen replied.

“I knew it.”

If she was his mother, the Emperor would have been enraged at her blatant robbery by now.

In the court, Duke Chong holds power, and in the harem, the Empress Dowager and Empress have control; the Dragon Chair of the Emperor must be quite uncomfortable to sit on.

With such a fearlessly audacious Marquis Dongxiang standing against Duke Chong, it aligns perfectly with the Emperor’s interests.

As long as the Emperor sees Marquis Dongxiang’s capability to go against Duke Chong, he will undoubtedly support Marquis Dongxiang within his capacity.

She, being the most favored daughter of Marquis Dongxiang who saved the Emperor’s life, surely the Emperor would favor her?

Thinking this way, Su Jin felt quite pleased.

Thinking of a question, Su Jin asked, “Does the Empress Dowager have a biological son?”

“Prince Qi is the Empress Dowager’s biological son,” Xie Jingchen replied.

“But Prince Qi isn’t in the Capital, he’s in his fief.”

“Better he’s in his fief, he’d surely be a new enemy if he were in the Capital,” Su Jin said anxiously.

Yongning Palace.

The Empress Dowager’s face was still swollen.

Nanny Li saw it and said heartbrokenly, “Empress Dowager, shall I go find Eunuch Fu to get some ointment to reduce the swelling?”

“No need,” the Empress Dowager’s voice was cold.

“Empress Dowager?”

Nanny Li was puzzled.

Although the ointment belonged to the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, using it would be infuriating, but the Empress Dowager wasn’t the kind to go against herself. Was she enraged by the Eldest Young Madam today to the point of losing all reason?

“There’s no need for the Empress Dowager to go against herself, reduce the swelling first then think of a way to deal with that female bandit, she won’t have benefited for nothing,” Nanny Li comforted.

The Empress Dowager laughed coldly.

That female bandit wasn’t even in her eyes.

It was the Emperor’s favor towards that female bandit that was disheartening.

“Go get Doctor Chen to fetch some ointment for redness and swelling,” the Empress Dowager said icily.

“Does the Empress Dowager wish for Prince Qi to return to the Capital to see the illness?” the Duchess of Duke Chong cautiously guessed.

“This is indeed a good opportunity,” the Empress said.

…

The carriage slowly stopped in front of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

Xie Jingchen dismounted, then helped Su Jin down.

Just as they stepped into the Duke Mansion, Manager Li approached and said, “Eldest Young Madam, the Old Madam has summoned you to return to the mansion, please go to Qihao Hall.”

“I understand.”

Su Jin replied, then moved forward.

The Qihao Hall was packed with people.

Princess Nanzhang’s face was cold.

The Old Madam was playing with Buddha beads, and when she saw Su Jin approach, she scolded, “Kneel down!”

Su Jin stepped forward and asked, standing with her back straight, “Old Madam is an elder, should I not kneel down for you? But everyone in the room is standing, looking at me like I’m a criminal, obviously wanting me to beg for forgiveness. But I ask, what did I do wrong?”

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