Chapter 11

Wen Ruoruo had already lost her patience while waiting in Liu Xinmei’s courtyard. Was it that difficult to send someone to bring the pair of mother and son back?

Just as she stood up, Lian Ying’er walked over, “Sister Wen, we can’t have the reputation of our prince’s residence* be just ruined by them like this. Thou¹ must teach this bitch a good lesson in a while. Thou are kind and show concern for them, giving them food to eat and a roof over their heads. Forget how they don’t know how to be grateful but they actually even ran outside of the residence to go beg. Thou must say, who is it that they’re trying to slander?”

*TN: I know I called it palace before but a more accurate term is the prince’s residence since the palace is where the king resides. I’ll be slowly going back and changing it

¹TN: So in Chinese, there are two characters for you; 你 and 您. 您 is the one that’s used here which is a much more respectful way of saying you. Since english doesn’t really have that, I will be using ye olde anglish instead. For the previous chapters, I will also be going back and change it to reflect this.

“That’s right. Wang Fei Niang Niang, behind the closed doors of this residence, be it old or young, who doesn’t praise thou as being highly virtuous and exceedingly kind? Them doing this, they must have quite the little conscience.” Half of Lian Xing’er’s face was swollen. If she wasn’t able to see those two mother and son being beaten until they crawled messily on the ground, she would not be able to get this clump of anger out of her.

“How can you spout these kinds of words? No matter what happens, she is also Wang Ye’s official legal wife. How could I possibly have the authority to punish her?” Even though Wen Ruoruo said it righteously on the surface, the delight in her eyes and brows couldn’t be hidden at all.

Liu Xinmei, look at how unpopular you are. Not only does the Wang Ye not like you, even no one amongst these people expects anything well of you. Originally I thought you would become smarter when you had woken up, but it seems now that you are still just as hopelessly stupid. Wang Ye is one that places extreme importance to face. Now that you have done such a brazen thing, do you think he would still have mercy on you? Begging in front of the prince’s residence, to be able to even come up with such a thing.

“How do you not Sister Wen? Has it not been thou who had always made the decisions in this prince’s residence? It has already been two years since Wang Ye had even taken half a step in here. Thou art even giving her face to have thought of teaching her a lesson today.” Lian Ying’er smiled. Ha ha, how come they’re still not back? There will soon be a good show to watch.

“Wang Ye, please come in.” Liu Ye’er walked a few steps briskly and held up the curtains for Murong Yining. A group of people all came in.

Why did Wang Ye come? Wen Ruoruo and Lian Ying’er exchanged looks as they properly stood with their hands lowered.

“Fourth Uncle, thank you. Just put me on the bed,” Chaofan said cheerfully.

Cheng Wang, how could it be him?

“Wang Ye, please have a seat.” Liu Xinmei gave up her seat.

“Thank you, Princess Consort-in-law.”Murong Yining sat down.

“I have seen Cheng Wang.” Wen Ruoruo and Lian Ying’er both came to offer their greetings.

“Oh, it turns out to be Side Consort Wen and Side Consort Lian. Both of you, there is no need to pay so much courtesy.” Murong Yining just waved his hand as he still just sat there with a dignified air.

The both of them secretly clenched their teeth. This is clearly not placing any importance towards them. Who, currently, still even knew of Liu Xinmei, this proper legal princess consort, in this residence?

“Side Consort Wen, take a look. I have managed to acquire so much silver here. All of this has not touched any of the public funds. You will not obstruct what we eat and wear now right?” Liu Xinmei asked delightfully.

“Sister Wang Fei, these words have truly unjustly accused me. I have not even treated the servants of this residence badly.” Wen Ruoruo’s eyes misted up.

Hmph, your acting is not bad. Liu Xinmei rolled her eyes and said, “That’s right. Us, mother and son, are treated more inferior than even the servants. Naturally there’s no need to be afraid of mistreating us.”

“Sister, you cannot say such things. Sister Wen has been exerting her utmost effort to manage the prince’s residence. Behind this residence’s doors, be it the old or young, who doesn’t praise her for being well organized and methodical? How many people have said that only Sister Wen has the proper bearing of being the lady of the house?” Lian Ying’er said as she glared with her eyes.

“Even if she has the temperament so what? She still just has the life of a concubine.” Liu Xinmei said bluntly.

“You” Wen Ruoruo’s complexion continuously changed several times. This woman really had such good luck, how come she didn’t just die from her fall.

“Liu Xinmei, you bitch. You actually dared to go out and lose Lord An’s Residence’s face yet you still did not come over to kowtow and beg for forgiveness from Sister Wen. Apply the residence’s disciplinary measures, teach them a very good lesson. Let them know that the prince’s residence is a place with rules.” Ling Ying’er sharply screamed and then threw herself over to slap Liu Xinmei’s face. The word “concubine” just now had even scolded her too.

“In which residence’s rule is this where the Side Consort has the right to mete out punishment to the legal princess consort for wrongdoings?” Following a cold rebuke, Lian Ying’er was pushed back. Unable to get a steady footing, she sat right now onto the ground.

It wasn’t known when Murong Yining had stood up and blocked the front of Liu Xinmei.

“You” Lian Ying’er froze. She did not expect that Murong Yining move to protect that bitch Liu Xinmei.

“Cheng Wang has seen a joke. You have seen it all. These people keep on mentioning the rules with every word but in actuality, who really placed these rules inside their sights. You must attest that these silver and gold were acquired clean and innocently, no one can snatch it away.” The impression that this man gave her was getting more and more favourable.

“Why haven’t you helped up Consort Lian yet” Wen Ruoruo shouted out an order to the maids around her.

Someone came to help Lian Ying’er up on the left and right side.

“Older Sister Wang Fei, although thine status in name is higher than that of younger sister, but since Wang Ye has requested younger sister to manage the prince’s residence, everyone needs to obey the rules. Wouldn’t thou say so?” Wen Ruoruo’s face also sank.

“What Younger Sister says is correct.” Liu Xinmei said with a smile. Haha, this prince’s residence still has rules my ass.

“Then do you know of your sins?” she asked coldly.

Liu Xinmei shook her head. She had not done anything.

“You indulged the Shizi to go out and beg, causing the prince’s residence to lose its face. This is just one of the things. Secondly, every one of us is someone under Wang Ye. Between one another, we should take into consideration each other’s faces. It’s one of the things that you condone Shizi out of begging and make the royal palace lose face. Currently, Wang Ye has ordered this consort to take care of the prince’s residence. How could you raise your hand on your own without permission?” Wen Ruoruo looked directly at her.

“Side Consort Wen, if you have the wish to condemn, there are no excuses that won’t do. However, I had used peaceful methods before resorting to more forceful ones. I had brought up my requests to you, hoping that you improve the living conditions for us mother and son. At that time, didn’t you flatly refuse? Who could be blamed that the prince’s residence’s face was lost? If you had handled affairs in a fair manner, how could us, mother and son, be placed in such a difficult position? You spout honeyed words whilst hiding a sword in your belly.² Having withheld the monthly allowance for us mother and son yet still not allowing me to find another way out? Wasn’t it you that forced me to lose the face of the prince’s residence? If there is a need to talk about sinning, then you really committed an unforgivable sin.” Liu Xinmei’s sharp mouth was very powerful, her words leaving Wen Ruoruo with nothing to rebut.

²TN: hypocritical and murderous

“In addition, everyone had seen it. It was Lian Ying’er who first cursed insultingly at me and even threw herself over to strike at someone like she was a shrew. I had not done anything to her Wen Ruoruo. Have you gone blind? The one that pushed her was Cheng Wang. He could no longer stand to see this anymore so he intervened having seen this injustice. What does it have anything to do with me? A side consort, nothing more than just a concubine and yet you have climbed on top of my head. This prince’s residence, you truly have managed it so well.” Liu Xinmei placed her hands on her hips with a ridiculing smile hanging on the corner of her lips. This skill for distorting the truth, Wen Ruoruo really has practiced it to perfection.

Wen Ruoruo’s complexion continuously changed several times. They had all said that Liu Xinmei seemed as though she had changed into an entirely different person when she woke up. Right now, she also believed that a little bit.

Liu Xinmei stood there, plain clothed with a wooden hairpin but there was a sharpness between her eyes and brows that had never been there in the past. That imposing manner as one that sat high above pressured her to the point where she found it a bit hard to breathe.