Chapter 363: Strike Hard
Chapter 363: Strike Hard
Holding Suines in his arms, King Qi headed over, and upon confirming that it was indeed King Qi and Concubine Meng, Su Ninglan, who had been crying inside the house, emerged with her maids and servants, their worried hearts finally at ease.
Her aunt had already taken the initiative to approach Concubine Meng and brief her on the situation.
Upon witnessing this, Madame Xie, feeling she had no opportunity to interject or defend herself, could only slink away in embarrassment.
Concubine Meng had witnessed her previous antics, and she couldn't help but find them...
Preposterous.
Although Madame Xie was Master Xie's second wife, she was still officially married to him and bore the title of Madame Xie. As the wife of a minister and the king's aunt, her outrageous behavior was...
Concubine Meng didn't even know how to describe it.
Moreover, she was in her forties, not an unmarried girl of fourteen, and to behave like that toward a man from another family...
Even thinking about it made Concubine Meng's scalp tingle.
However, the more pressing concern at the moment was to comfort Su Ninglan, so she didn't dwell on it further.
Su Ninglan, having drunk more than she could handle, now deeply regretted her actions.
She had thought that no one would dare to cause a scene at King Qi's banquet, so she had let her guard down.
Now, she not only regretted her actions but also felt afraid.
Crying in Concubine Meng's embrace for a long while, she finally gritted her teeth and said, "Uncle King Qi, I won't let the Xus off the hook!"
How could she expect to get away with such malicious intentions?
In a dream!
King Qi was also displeased with the Xus for targeting them.
So they had plotted against them as well?
Hearing Su Ninglan's words, he nodded, "Rest assured, Uncle King won't let them off easily either."
After speaking, Su Ninglan wiped away her tears and added softly, "Please don't tell Grandmother about this matter, Uncle King. I'm afraid she'll get angry, and her health hasn't been good lately. I don't want to upset her."
The eldest princess was aging, and she had recently caught a cold that she hadn't fully recovered from. Even today, one could still hear her coughing from time to time.
Hearing Su Ninglan's concern, King Qi nodded, "Alright, Uncle King won't spread this around."
The young girl, still shaken by the incident, chatted for a while longer before complaining of a headache.
Doctor Liu had arrived early and had been waiting outside.
At Concubine Meng's summons, he immediately entered, carefully examined her pulse, and then prescribed a medicinal soup.
Still concerned, Concubine Meng had Su Ninglan brought to her own courtyard.
King Qi didn't want Su Ninglan to feel insecure, so he accompanied her only as far as the entrance to Concubine Meng's courtyard and didn't go in.
Watching the bustling activity inside, he gently patted Suines's back and said, "Be a good girl, for people's hearts are treacherous, and we must be cautious. Stay far away from villains like the one we encountered today and never let them deceive you again."
"Your father told me that some men are the best at deception. Even if you meet someone you like in the future, you must be vigilant because who knows if under their skin lurks a demon or an evil spirit?"
...
King Qi didn't intend to scare the child; he was just speaking his mind.
Suines was too young to understand the complexities of love and romance.
She didn't even fully grasp what had transpired that day.
But if her father said so, she would obediently listen.
"I won't play with bad guys!"
"I'll do as Father says."
"Father is the best, and so is Mother. My brothers, too!"
...
The innocence and cheerfulness of the young girl improved King Qi's mood a little.
He thought to himself that she was indeed his good girl.
Meanwhile, Sui Si, having located someone from the Prince Jing's Mansion, inquired about how to break someone's leg without causing visible wounds, ideally in a way that would make it difficult for them to recover even after half a year or a year of rest.
King Qi had no expertise in such matters, but after hearing about the incident in the back courtyard, he generously recommended Mister Hanshuang, one of his trusted aides.
Sui Si then humbly sought advice from Mister Hanshuang.
Mister Hanshuang readily offered his help and even suggested, "What's the fun in returning quietly like this?"
"Since Young Master Xu arrived in a carriage, why not find a couple of courtesans, have them dress provocatively, apply generous amounts of perfume, and escort Young Master Xu back to his mansion? Keep the carriage curtains open so that passersby can admire Young Master Xu's carefree and romantic demeanor. This should satisfy his desire for attention, don't you think?"
"We're such good people. Even after all the trouble he caused, we're still fulfilling his wishes. Tsk, tsk."
...
Sui Si: ...
He had heard that Mister Hanshuang, who served under King Qi, was a formidable character.
Now, it seemed that reputation was well-deserved.
Xu Mingxian had caused quite a stir, and with this return to his mansion, it was likely that for the next half a month, he would remain the talk of the town in the capital, his name at the top of everyone's lips.
Sui Si didn't feel that they were going too far.
Compared to the schemes they had endured, this was just a minor retaliation.
Sui Si quickly made the necessary arrangements.
He was efficient and ruthless in his actions.
Xu Mingxian was in so much pain that he passed out, and to ensure he wouldn't wake up along the way, Sui Si had someone administer a strong dose of mandrake.
They couldn't very well use other drugs, so mandrake it was.
If anyone from the Marquis of Jin'yang's mansion asked, they would explain that Young Master Xu's pain had been unbearable, and they had no choice but to administer medication to ease his suffering.
The carriage was prepared exactly as Mister Hanshuang had suggested.
As for the courtesans?
There was no need for them.
Xu Mingxian already had mistresses on the side.
With a little silver, they would eagerly cooperate.
It didn't matter if they dressed provocatively. After all, they were only there for the money and had no intentions of entering the mansion.
Xu Mingxian, with his two mistresses and his robe wide open, returned to his mansion in a most ostentatious manner.
Not only did they keep the carriage curtains open, but they also threw copper coins to the onlookers, drawing a crowd and singing loudly all the way back.
Once they arrived, the two mistresses took the money and ran.
Qi Wang Mansion had offered them far more than Xu Mingxian ever had. It was many times more generous.
At this point, why would they linger and expect Xu Mingxian to offer them a legitimate position? Could he even afford it? Not likely, judging by his father.
In the afternoon, as the guests began to disperse, the Grand Princess learned of Su Ninglan's humiliation.
Her face darkened with anger, and she grabbed her weapons, ready to march over to the Marquis of Jin'yang's mansion with her entourage.
King Qi cowered, not daring to step forward and intervene.
King Qi tried to persuade her otherwise, but the Grand Princess wouldn't listen!
Finally, Queen Qi stepped forward and gently advised, "This concerns Ninglan's reputation. If we make a big fuss, it won't reflect well on us either. There are other ways to save face, and by going to their door with weapons drawn, we only give them more reason to gossip. While they may laugh at the Marquis of Jin'yang's mansion, they will undoubtedly also speak ill of Ninglan."
The Grand Princess's face turned green as she heard these words.
It made sense, but...
She was still furious.
However, in situations like these, the young lady would inevitably be at a disadvantage.
The Grand Princess was unafraid, but she had to consider Su Ninglan's ability to withstand the fallout.
Finally, she clicked her tongue in frustration and gestured to her entourage, "Let's return to the palace!"
(End of Chapter)
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