Volume One, Chapter 15: Punishing the Matriarch Xia

The grand procession of two imperial carriages drew a large crowd of onlookers.

"Has the Marquis of Anjing been punished by the Emperor? And alongside his son by a concubine, no less?"
"What on earth could they have done?"

Eunuch Pei spoke coldly: "The Marquis of Anjing indulged his concubine-born son in showing disrespect toward his legal wife and daughter. Out of jealousy that the legal wife and daughter had earned the Emperor's favor, they bribed ruffians to provoke trouble, nearly causing the legal daughter to lose her life. The Emperor was incensed, and thus, this punishment was decreed."

Nonsense! They hadn't lost a single hair; it was he who had fallen from the upper floor and broken his leg! Xia Ziyi gritted his teeth, full of rage but unable to speak.

"What? A concubine-born son disrespecting the legal wife and daughter? That son is far too bold!"
"Heh, with such audacity, someone must have been indulging him. The Marquis of Anjing deserves this imperial rebuke."

Being pointed at and whispered about once more, Xia Huaian felt his reputation thoroughly destroyed before all social classes. He glared at Lady Jiang; if he didn't know how deeply she loved him, he would have suspected she had done this on purpose. She was more of a hindrance than a help. However, given her shocked expression earlier, she likely hadn't been the one to report him to the Emperor. It was probable that the Emperor had discovered the truth through his own investigations and caught Ziyi in the act. But in the end, the suffering he endured today was all her doing. He closed his eyes, unwilling to look at her again.

"Oh, my son! My grandson! You were summoned by the Emperor, how did you end up in this state?" Old Madam Xia hurried out upon hearing of their return, only to see her son and grandson being carried back, while Lady Jiang stood there, perfectly unharmed. Shen Qi'er, holding Xia Yangyang, also rushed over. "My son, what has happened?"

Xia Ziyi said nothing, instead casting a cryptic glance at Lady Jiang. Shen Qi'er clenched her fingers. Her son had done nothing to harm anyone, yet he had to suffer such indignity; Lady Jiang was being far too excessive. Ultimately, she was simply jealous that she had given birth to a "lucky star" while Lady Jiang had birthed a "disaster." Unable to stomach her resentment, she must have whispered slanders to the Emperor. Tears welled in her eyes as she began to wail, "Why, after Elder Sister went to the palace, have the Master and Ziyi ended up like this? I know Sister is unhappy that I birthed a lucky star, but surely you shouldn't have..." She covered her face and sobbed loudly.

Old Madam Xia’s eyes widened. "Good! Lady Jiang, did you speak nonsense before the Emperor?! How can you be so jealous!"

Watching the wailing Shen Qi'er, Lady Jiang sneered inwardly. Who doesn't know how to feign tears? "Mother, I treat you as my own mother and Ziyi as my own son. My love for Huaian is known to heaven and earth; how could I watch them suffer? How can you misunderstand me so..." Lady Jiang, appearing deeply wounded, choked on her words, unable to continue.

In the capital, everyone knew of Lady Jiang's deep devotion to the Marquis. When he was still a nobody, she had fallen for him at first sight and insisted on marrying him despite the disparity in their status. After the wedding, she served Old Madam Xia with total filial piety. Once, when the Old Madam fell gravely ill, Lady Jiang had knelt outside the healer's gate for a day and a night to secure his services—a story known to all. They had never seen someone treat a concubine-born son with the same care as her own, and at the time, people had envied Xia Huaian for being chosen by such an excellent and magnanimous woman.

The onlookers did not believe Lady Jiang could have harmed them. They felt the Old Madam was being unreasonable and ungrateful for berating Lady Jiang without checking the facts.

"To have such a wonderful wife and not cherish her! Instead of listening to Eunuch Pei, he listens to the ravings of a concubine. What an ungrateful old woman!" one man remarked with jealousy.
A middle-aged woman, also envious of the Old Madam’s daughter-in-law, added aggressively, "If you don't want such a daughter-in-law, tell your son to divorce her immediately! Did you not hear Eunuch Pei? Your precious grandson tried to hire assassins to kill the legal daughter! If I were the Princess of Anjing, I’d have the Emperor take that boy’s head!"

Xia Ziyi’s face turned ghastly. When had he ever hired assassins? Why were his crimes becoming more severe by the second? Would he be accused of patricide by tomorrow?

Old Madam Xia was so angry she could barely breathe. To think so many people favored this "damaged goods" of a Lady Jiang. As for hiring assassins, Ziyi would never do such a thing; it had to be Lady Jiang's lies to the Emperor. Even if it were true, killing a "disaster" would be a cause for celebration. She wanted to teach Lady Jiang a lesson, but doing so in front of everyone would only confirm that she favored the concubine-born son. *Hmph!* Once the doors were closed, she would settle the score. "What are you all standing here for? Carry the Master and Young Master inside!" With that, she turned to head inside.

"Wait," Eunuch Pei said, his eyes half-closed.

Suppressing her rage, the Old Madam turned back. "Eunuch Pei, is there something else you have to relay?"

"The Emperor heard rumors that someone was spreading word of him seducing his own foster daughter. Do you, Old Madam, and the Marquis of Anjing know anything about this?"

Old Madam Xia swayed, her eyes darting away in guilt, unable to meet the eunuch's gaze. Xia Huaian kept his eyes tightly shut, unable to bear watching his mother face punishment.

Shen Qi'er wept as she spoke, "Sister, the Old Madam only acted out of concern for your and the Emperor's reputation. How could you report the Old Madam to the Emperor?"

Upon hearing this, the Old Madam’s mouth twisted in fury. "Good for you, Lady Jiang! Have you grown so bold? How dare you babble before the Emperor! I will tear your mouth apart!"

"I am truly fed up with this old hag and this concubine. Aside from sowing discord, what else can they do?" remarked one bystander.
"Eunuch Pei, punish them both quickly! I can’t bear to listen anymore, let alone the Emperor himself," added another.

Eunuch Pei let out a cold laugh. "It was I who told the Emperor. You dared to spread rumors about the Emperor and his foster daughter right in front of me; you should have expected the Emperor’s wrath!"

The crowd gasped. This old woman had no fear of death. To dare spread malicious rumors about the Emperor—if not for the sake of the Princess of Anjing, they would have been dragged away for execution long ago. Eunuch Pei gestured with his orchid-shaped fingers toward the Old Madam and Shen Qi'er. "First, wash their mouths clean for me!"

"Yes!"

Several young eunuchs stepped forward, carrying buckets of murky, foul-smelling water.

Shen Qi'er’s eyes widened in terror. "Eunuch Pei, why does this involve me?"

Eunuch Pei only sneered, offering no answer. *Hmph!* Who told her to be a mere concubine who repeatedly caused trouble? Washing one mouth was the same as washing two. Shen Qi'er panicked as the foul water drew nearer, and she began to gag.

"This... what is this water?"

Eunuch Pei replied with a mocking smile, "This is laundry water from the washing quarters, specifically brought to cleanse your mouths. Though it has been used, it is perfectly suited for washing your mouths."