Li Hongyuan said, âEmperor Father, please calm down. I admit my wrongs. This matter has nothing to do with the Princess Consort, and Iâm willing to bear all the responsibility.â
âYou really know how to protect your wife,â the Emperor sneered, âShe was the one who hit and injured her. How can this have nothing to do with her?â
The Emperor slapped the table forcefully, âJiang Ning, do you admit your guilt?â
Jiang Ning calmly replied, âYour Majesty, Concubine Xian is getting old, and I donât mind her disrespectful words and actions. However, her hitting and scolding Wenzan and Lingzi led me, as their mother, to not be able to hold back my anger. Maybe itâs understandable?â
The Emperor frowned, âWhat disrespectful words and actions did she have?â
âConcubine Xian made a scene, saying that itâs because of me that Your Majesty doesnât visit her chamberâ¦â
âSilence,â the Emperor scolded, glancing around, âWatch your words.â
Those who didnât know would have thought that there was something going on between her and the Emperor based on Jiang Ningâs words.
Li Hongyuan glanced at her, his handsome face expressionless, but a trace of amusement flitted through his eyes.
Jiang Ning looked somewhat innocent, âYour Majesty, itâs not me who said that, itâs Concubine Xian.â
âThatâs absurd,â the Emperor was a bit displeased.
As an emperor, his not going to a concubineâs chamber couldnât be blamed on his daughter-in-law.
This rumor would be too unpleasant if it got out.
The Emperor was somewhat dissatisfied with Concubine Xian in his heart.
He used to think she was calm, steady, and understood the bigger picture. But now, as she had grown older, she went to the East Palace to cause trouble with the Princess Consort over such trivial jealousy.
After a moment of silence, the Emperor slowly said, âEven if her words were inappropriate, you could have sought the Empress to speak for you. You should not have resorted to violence.â
âYes, I wonât dare to do it next time,â Jiang Ning obediently apologized.
The Emperor sneered coldly, âYou still expect there to be a next time? If it happens again, Concubine Xian might just die at your hands.â
âYour Majesty is wise; I would never dare to do such a thing,â Jiang Ning knelt on the ground, âConcubine Xian is my elder. If it werenât for her blaming and scolding Wenzan and Lingzi and kicking the protective Concubine Li, I wouldnât have lost my senses and resorted to this.â
âDid Concubine Xian kick Wenzan?â
âShe wasnât able to kick Wenzan, it was Concubine Li who was protecting him that got hurt.â
âIt seems that this Concubine Li is good.â
âYes,â Jiang Ning laughed, âThose of our East Palace all have good qualities.â
The Emperor glanced at her, âSo everyone in the East Palace is good, but those who cause trouble in the East Palace are not good, right?â
Jiang Ning said, âYour Majesty, why not visit Concubine Xianâs chamber more oftenâ¦â
âNonsense!â The Emperor slapped the table, âWhen did it become your turn to meddle in my affairs?â
âIf Your Majesty doesnât go, Concubine Xian feels stifled and ends up picking arguments with us younger generations. How can any of us bear it? Although I am usually gentle and accommodating, a rabbit pushed too far will bite too. If I wound Concubine Xian next time, wouldnât that be bad?â
The Emperor was rendered speechless by her and laughed.
He pointed at Jiang Ning and told Li Hongyuan, âListen, listen, this is the good daughter-in-law you married. What nonsense sheâs talking!â
Li Hongyuan looked at Jiang Ning and raised his eyebrows, âAre you the gentle and accommodating rabbit?â
âItâs just an analogy. What can I do if Concubine Xian wants to cause trouble?â
âAs the Crown Princeâs consort, are you saying you canât suppress a Concubine Xian?â The Emperor was annoyed, âYou were fierce when you hit her, but now youâre saying youâre helpless against Concubine Xian?â
Jiang Ning said, âIf I were to deal with her, Your Majesty would feel distressedâ¦â
âShut your mouth!â
âYour Majesty, please punish me. I am willing to accept it,â Jiang Ning said..