Chapter 3

When the news came, the younger ones all looked at Xiao Liux with envy.

The prince's pearl beads meant a promising future.

For now, he would accompany the prince in reading and playing, and when he grew up, he might be posted as a military official or serve as a guard for the prince.

Xiao Liux's face glowed with anticipation: "If I go to the palace to study, won't I be able to eat the imperial cuisine?"

Shu Shu thought about the identity of the 15th Prince, born to a concubine, and classified as a minor prince, not part of the "Nine Dragons Struggle for the Throne." He also had a biological brother who was adopted as an iron-hat prince. His status as a study companion was very safe.

Thinking of this, Shu Shu couldn't help but look at Xiao Wu, deciding to urge him to study hard in the future.

Of her younger brothers, Zhu Liang, at 14, had a fourth-rank hereditary position as a banner leader, and was now enrolled in the Right Wing Banner School, where his classmates were all descendants of nobles with hereditary titles; the 12-year-old twins, Xiao San and Xiao Si, attended the Main Red Banner School, and would fill banner positions when they came of age; Xiao Liux, at 7, would, with his status as a prince's study companion, at worst become a guard.

Only Xiao Wu, at 9, had no place in the official schools, which were all taken by his older brothers, and could only study at home, making his future prospects more challenging than his brothers'.

Xiao Wu, still too young to worry, smiled at his sister, revealing a gap in his teeth, and quickly closed his mouth.

This hot pot meal lasted until the first watch of the night.

Shu Shu didn't rush to leave. After the brothers had all gone, she mentioned the lawsuit today.

Qi Xi's face was dark: "That little brat, daring to bully you? Don't worry, leave it to Father..."

Shu Shu was afraid of this. If the adults got involved, the matter would either escalate or be suppressed. She quickly grabbed Qi Xi's arm: "Father, please don't get involved, just pretend you don't know... We can't afford to lose; we must strip him of his skin..." She then whispered her plan.

Qi Xi frowned, unwilling: "Why should you have to face it yourself? Can't Father protect you?"

"If it were just Gui Dan, Father could handle it... But there's the 9th Prince behind him. The relationship between a prince and a minister is different; we can't settle things so clearly. If it gets to the Emperor's ears, it will make Father seem overbearing, disregarding the princes..." Shu Shu quickly persuaded him.

The Emperor's authority was growing, and Qi Xi understood this. Still, he was worried: "If it doesn't work, I'll talk to the 5th Prince... We can't let the Guoluo family's boy mislead the 9th Prince..."

Shu Shu thought for a moment and agreed: "That's right, but there's no rush... Father should pretend you don't know, and after the trial, use the excuse of 'poor upbringing' to apologize to the 5th Prince..."

Qi Xi couldn't resist his daughter and reluctantly agreed, but he decided not to use the excuse of 'poor upbringing.'

His eldest daughter was perfect in every way; what was there to criticize?

Gui Dan was the one who was "bullying with the support of a powerful backer." If the 5th Prince didn't discipline him, he would "help" discipline him.

*

Three days passed quickly, and it was soon March 19th, the day the Northern City Military Commission would hear the case.

As the saying goes, "bannermen and civilians are governed separately." The legal system for the Eight Banners was independent and did not follow the county and prefecture systems for other civilians.

In the inner city of the capital, ordinary disputes among bannermen were handled by the Five City Military Commissions, property disputes by the Eight Banners Department of the Ministry of Household, criminal cases by the Metropolitan Command, and cases involving the imperial clan by the Imperial Clan Court. Disputes between two banners were jointly heard by the two banner commands.

The Eight Banners had a small population, and most were related by marriage or old acquaintances, so it was rare for cases to go to court.

Old and young gentlemen, bored and restless, came with their caged birds, like a market fair, to watch the spectacle, drawing many passersby to stop and watch.

An old man with a birdcage followed the crowd, curious: "Shun'an Silver Shop in a lawsuit? Isn't that the shop of the Main Red Banner Commander's wife? Who has the nerve to challenge them?"

A slightly younger bannerman replied: "Ha! In this capital, everyone is related to the royal family. What's a commander? There are three per banner, over twenty in total..."

The old man was proud: "Not just any commander, but the Dong'e family! Not just the Main Red Banner, but one of the most prominent families in the Eight Banners. His cousin is a duke, his brother a marquis, and several family members hold hereditary positions. They have been married into the Kang王府 for generations..."

Another well-informed person responded: "The defendant isn't weak, but the plaintiff is? The plaintiff is the grandson of the Third Official of the Inlaid Yellow Banner, a nephew of a palace concubine..."

The discussion was lively, and someone lost their composure: "How does the Guoluo family raise their children? They don't know their place... The Dong'e family isn't someone they can provoke?"

A girl dressed in the Main Red Banner attire was drawn to the commotion by the mention of "Guoluo." Hearing this, she was angry and called out: "The Guoluo family is the royal in-laws and can also be called royal relatives. The Dong'e family is too arrogant, not even respecting the in-laws of a prince?"

"..."

No one responded, and there was a moment of silence.

Who was this young lady, surrounded by maids and guards, and directly confronting the Dong'e family?

No one had heard of any feud between the Qi Xi family and anyone else.

Why was she so ungracious?

In the back hall of the Northern City Military Commission, the chief, Jin Chengbi, wearing a sixth-rank official's robe, had deep frown lines, looking quite distressed.

Could he not be distressed?

Not only was he mentally distressed, but he also wanted to cry!

The trial was about to start, and he still held out hope, looking at both the plaintiff and the defendant, earnestly saying: "Since everyone is here today, there's no need to argue in court. Perhaps there's a misunderstanding that can be clarified first..."

The back hall was clearly divided.

On the east side was a 16- or 17-year-old youth, slightly slender, with long, narrow phoenix eyes, chin raised, and a haughty expression. This was the 9th Prince, Yinzhen, whom Shu Shu had met once and who called himself "Second Master Jin." The fat Gui Dan, dressed in a new guard's uniform, stood behind him with several guards.

On the west side, Shu Shu wore a dark blue silk shirt, a brown Sichuan brocade overcoat, and four-inch-high flower pot-bottomed banner shoes. Her height alone made her tower over the opposite side, and behind her stood Fusu, Hou Zhaogong, and others.

Originally, Qi Xi wanted to bring the household manager or a legal advisor, but Shu Shu refused. Since they were pretending the Dong'e elders didn't know, they should act the part, so she arranged her own attendants.

The 9th Prince, being shorter by a fist, was already uncomfortable. Seeing Shu Shu's attire, his expression darkened.

They were wearing the same outfit!

The 9th Prince didn't like to dress like others, so he didn't use the common dark blue or dark green, opting for brighter colors.

Shu Shu, to appear mature, avoided the light pink and light purple colors often used by girls, choosing neutral colors.

As for accessories, the 9th Prince's hat was adorned with coral, and Shu Shu's only piece of jewelry was a coral floral brooch, which matched.

Shu Shu's coral floral brooch was even larger and more vibrant than the 9th Prince's!

Their clothes and accessories matched, and they both had oval faces, making them look like siblings at first glance.

Naturally, Shu Shu was the sister, and the 9th Prince was the brother!

The 9th Prince glanced at Shu Shu with disdain: "Imitating others, you look neither fish nor fowl!"

Shu Shu glanced at the 9th Prince's position and gave him a dismissive look, slowly saying: "Second Master Jin has self-awareness!"

What was so great about being a prince?

A loser in the "Nine Dragons Struggle for the Throne," stripped of his clan name and even his name.

The 9th Prince didn't expect Shu Shu to retort and give him an uncomfortable look. He felt offended, frowned, and was very displeased: "Being unreasonable, you only have sharp words. When I meet Qi Xi, I'll ask him about your upbringing..."

Shu Shu shook her head, sighed, and said with a hint of sympathy: "Our Dong'e family's upbringing comes from generations of matriarchs, who taught us 'do not speak of what is not proper.' It seems Second Master Jin hasn't learned this, and I should share this with you!"

"You!"

The 9th Prince's face turned red with anger. What was this if not sharp words? Insulting without using foul language, how hurtful!

The Dong'e family's matriarchs were all princesses or imperial relatives, and he had indeed spoken out of turn. But the Dong'e family didn't back down, immediately retorting.

Even if she couldn't guess his identity the first time they met, thinking he was a relative of the Guoluo family, she must have known later.

When Gui Dan was investigating other shops at the Drum Tower, he used his own name, yet the Dong'e family still bought them out!

He had asked for a shopkeeper, and she refused, and he didn't press the issue, but she held a grudge. What kind of logic was that?

It was said that Manchu women were fierce, but that was before the Qing entered the pass. The wives and sisters he knew were all virtuous and gentle.

He had never seen a woman as arrogant and disrespectful as the Dong'e family.

Even if Shun'an Silver Shop was in her name, in such a major lawsuit, shouldn't she have reported it to her parents? Why did she come to the court herself?

Shu Shu didn't take the 9th Prince's anger seriously. The more openly they became enemies, the more it bound him.

If the 9th Prince dared to target the Dong'e family, it would be seen as personal revenge.

This rift with the 9th Prince would also prevent the "Eighth Prince's Party" from trying to recruit the Dong'e family.

The chief, Jin Chengbi, was ignored, and he laughed awkwardly, feeling embarrassed and resigned.

Since mediation was impossible, the trial would proceed.

When Jin Chengbi and the clerks went to the courtroom, only Shu Shu and the 9th Prince's groups remained in the back hall. Chairs were brought forward, and they each took a seat.

Seeing Shu Shu's calm demeanor, the 9th Prince sneered: "If your business is dirty, why are you so defiant? It's hard to build a reputation, but easy to destroy it. Others might fear your dukes and marquises, but I don't..."

Shu Shu was curious and looked at the 9th Prince several times until he was about to lose his temper. She then asked: "Has Second Master Jin not read the 'Great Qing Code'?"