After marrying the heirless prince, I gave birth to three children

Xuanshu.

One of the people who started spreading rumors about Sister Ying in the capital.

Xie Yao immediately looked at the eldest princess, "Aunt, what are you doing..."

"The Zhao girl is Pei Chen's fiancée and the future owner of the Zhenbei Marquisate. She is not someone who can be bullied by anyone."

The eldest princess spoke in a loud voice, and her majestic voice was clearly heard by the people kneeling on the ground.

Xuan Shu felt extremely embarrassed. Her whole body was tense and she knelt on the ground, not daring to move. She even wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into!

The eldest princess said this to her.

The eldest princess must have known what she had done, and today she was warning her. She even called the Crown Princess. Was this a statement to the Crown Princess and the Zhao family?

But...why?

Zhao Ying was just a businesswoman who spent all day hanging out with men. She had lost all her innocence and reputation.

How could such a lowly merchant woman become the fiancée of the Marquis of Zhenbei? Was she worthy?!

Having such a person around the Marquis will only tarnish his reputation!

Even though she was extremely jealous in the past, she did nothing when she knew that the Marquis had his eyes on the woman with the surname Zhao.

But now the woman surnamed Zhao has been kidnapped and has been missing for a few days... She is really no longer worthy of the Marquis, but why is the princess still willing to admit that the woman surnamed Zhao is the Marquis's fiancée?

Xuan Shu clenched his hands, his nails digging into his palms, and knelt on the ground with his head lowered, tears falling onto the stone bricks.

Xie Yao only glanced at Xuan Shu, then looked away indifferently.

Although she thought Xuan Yue was a good person, she had no good feelings for Xuan Shu for treating Sister Ying like that.

"Aunt is right." Xie Yao said, "If Sister Ying knew about this, she would definitely be very touched."

The eldest princess's brows relaxed a little. "I am old now, and I don't ask for much."

“I just hope they’re okay.”

Zhao Ying was the person chosen by Pei Chen himself. As a mother, Pei Chen had confessed how important Zhao Ying was to him.

The eldest princess never married and was not a woman who followed the rules. In addition, Pei Chen was also responsible for Zhao Ying's disappearance, so how could she blame Zhao Ying?

Just as Xie Yao was about to speak, a palace maid came in and reported, "Princess, Crown Princess, the eldest daughter of the Xuan family wishes to see you."

Xuan Yue is the third prince's fiancée. Because of this special status, although she is a court lady, she can also directly enter the palace to seek an audience.

The eldest princess frowned slightly. Because of the relationship between the third prince and Grand Tutor Xuan Shu, she also had no good feelings towards Xuan Yue.

"Let her in." The eldest princess' voice was filled with displeasure.

Xuan Yue was quickly led in. She immediately saw Xuan Shu kneeling on the ground. A flash of worry flashed in her eyes, and she saluted calmly and steadily. "Xuan Yue pays her respects to the Princess and the Crown Princess."

The princess raised her eyelids and glanced at Xuan Yue. "Why do you want to see me?"

Xuan Yue knelt beside Xuan Shu and said, "My younger sister made a mistake and caused a serious error. I am here to apologize."

The eldest princess snorted softly.

When she had Xuanshu brought into the palace after he had done such a thing, she naturally did not cover up for him.

This might ruin Xuanshu's reputation, but Xuanshu's spreading of rumors about Zhao Ying would cost Zhao Ying's life.

"You are a sensible person," the princess said. "Get up."

Xuan Yue remained kneeling on the ground, unmoved. "Xuan Shu has done something wrong and deserves to be punished. When Miss Zhao returns safely, I will order Xuan Shu to personally apologize to her. But please understand, Princess, Xuan Shu is weak, and I am willing to take the punishment on his behalf."

"Please ask for the princess's permission."

"No need!" Xuan Shu's voice was hard. She raised her head, which was originally lowered, and straightened her kneeling body. Although her eyes were red, they were full of stubbornness.

"It's my own business, so I have to take responsibility for it!" She was not wrong, so she refused to admit her mistake.

"Xuan Shu!" Xuan Yue's usually calm voice rarely fluctuated. With the majesty of an elder sister, she gently reprimanded.

"Just because I said no, it means no!" Xuanshu's voice rose a little.

Xuan Shu met Xuan Yue's eyes. The two sisters confronted each other for a moment. Xuan Shu bit her lip and said, "I don't want you to be so hypocritical..."

"Shushu." Xuan Yue's voice was a little helpless. After a few moments, Xuanshu turned his eyes away slightly.

She was not wrong, obviously she was not wrong...

People with the surname Zhao are not worthy of the Marquis.

"Please allow me, Princess." Xuan Yue knelt down in front of the Princess again.

Xie Yao saw Suqin whisper something in the princess's ear. The princess frowned slightly and then said, "Since you want to be punished for her, I will grant your wish."

"Your humble servant thanks Princess Chang." Xuan Yue said this from the bottom of her heart, without any reluctance.

"You are the Third Prince's fiancée, and you are also a member of a minister's family. I will punish you by having you serve me for a month. Do you have any objections?"

"Your servant obeys your order." Xuan Yue naturally had no objection.

"Send Miss Xuan Er out." The eldest princess ordered the maid, and glanced at Xuan Yue again, "You should go and see her off too."

Xuan Yue immediately helped Xuan Shu up.

Xuan Shu had been kneeling for an hour and felt as if her knees were not her own. She wanted to shake off her elder sister's hand, but she staggered and almost fell.

In the end, she could only let Xuan Yue support her.

The sisters leave.

The princess then turned to Xie Yao and explained, "Suqin just said that Xuanshu was a premature baby and has been weak since childhood."

Kneeling for an hour today was already the most severe suffering Xuanshu had ever endured in his life. She saw that Xuanshu's eyes were blurry just now, and she was afraid that he would faint if he knelt any longer...

Although she wanted to punish Xuanshu, she didn't want to take Xuanshu's life at that moment.

Xie Yao nodded, expressing her understanding, "Aunt is kind-hearted."

She didn't say anything else, but looking at Xuanshu's expression... she was afraid that he might not realize his mistake.

……

Xuan Yue escorted Xuan Shu all the way to the palace gate, next to the Xuan family's carriage.

Xuan Yue didn't say a word the whole time. Xuan Shu went from being angry at first to becoming a little uneasy and nervous.

Finally, he glanced at Xuan Yue cautiously, "Sister..."

"Do you know you're wrong?" Xuan Yue asked.

Xuan Shu's expression froze slightly, and then he said, "I did nothing wrong. She was never worthy of the Marquis!"

Xuan Yue's already cold expression immediately became even uglier. She looked at Xuan Shu with icy eyes, "What position do you stand on to make such a judgment?"

"The Marquis is my savior, I..."

"Miss Zhao is the fiancée chosen personally by the Marquis of Zhenbei." Xuan Yue saw Xuan Shu's expression instantly turn pale, and his heart softened a little. He said, "Xuan Shu, do you know what will happen to Miss Zhao if you do these things?"

"Of course, cancel the engagement." Xuan Shu said as a matter of course.

Xuan Yue didn't recklessly accuse him. Instead, she said, "Innocence and reputation are extremely important to a woman. The things you did...if it were someone else, they would have lost their life long ago."

Xuan Shu's eyes widened in surprise, "Why?"

She thought that if something like this happened to her, even if her engagement was broken off, her father, mother and elder sister would still feel very sorry for her. At worst, she would just stay single and be the apple of her father and mother's eye.

She just wants the merchant girl surnamed Zhao to stop harming the Marquis!

Xuan Yue sighed softly in his heart.

Because of her weak body, Xuanshu was pampered by her parents since she was a child, and they thought she was the world.

"Not every father loves his daughter as much as Daddy does." Xuan Yue said, "But you are lucky. The Zhao family loves their daughter very much."

Otherwise, she wouldn't be talking to Xuan Shu so calmly now.

If it were any other family that cared about their reputation, they would have announced the news of missing persons or sudden deaths by now.

"I..." Xuan Shu wanted to say more.

Xuan Yue interrupted her directly, "I've always told you that being a woman is not easy. But I didn't expect you to target another woman like this."

"Miss Zhao disappeared because she was kidnapped. Her life is in danger, yet you are so calculating."

"Xuan Shu, I'm very disappointed in you."

Xuan Shu's face turned pale instantly!

She, she never thought that her sister would know about this.

She thought that the princess would follow these rumors and cancel the marriage between the Marquis and the Zhao family, so that she could hide behind the scenes...

She didn't expect that the person who exposed this matter was the eldest princess. Did the eldest princess insist on letting the girl surnamed Zhao marry the marquis?

As expected, she is not his biological mother, so she doesn't care about the Marquis...

"Xuan Shu."

Xuan Yue's voice interrupted Xuan Shu's thoughts, "If you still think of me as your elder sister, then go back home and reflect on yourself. You are not allowed to go out for the next few days."

After Xuan Yue finished speaking, he turned and walked towards the palace gate.

Xuan Shu stood there with her lower lip tightly bitten, her expression changing again and again, until she could no longer see Xuan Yue's back, then she turned around unwillingly and got on the carriage.

Xuan Yue entered the palace.

Seeing the Crown Princess's sedan chair coming out, she breathed a sigh of relief and went forward with a heavy heart, "Your humble servant greets the Crown Princess."

Xie Yao sat in the sedan chair, supporting her face with one hand, looking down at Xuan Yue standing beside her, "Miss Xuan, is there something wrong?"

"Xuan Shu has committed a serious mistake, and I have come here to apologize." Xuan Yue knew clearly that just because the eldest princess allowed her to accept punishment on behalf of Xuan Shu, it did not mean that the Crown Princess had also gotten away with it.

The Crown Princess and Miss Zhao have a very good relationship, and I'm afraid the Crown Princess will not let this matter go.

"I am willing to take the punishment for Xuanshu. Please forgive her this time, Princess." Xuan Yue said sincerely.

Xuanshu had indeed made a mistake in this matter, and he should be punished when he made a mistake. After she had taken the punishment on Xuanshu's behalf, she would go back and discipline Xuanshu.

Xuan Yue is indeed smart.

If it was something else, Xie Yao might talk to her, but since it concerned Sister Ying, Xie Yao would not act on her own.

She said, "This matter... I'm afraid I can't agree to your request."

Although she had asked someone to deal with the rumors outside, the reason she did not go to Xuanshu in person was that she wanted Sister Ying to deal with these people personally.

Xuan Yue's heart sank. "When Miss Zhao returns safely, I will personally take Xuan Shu to apologize to her. Please give me a chance, Crown Princess."

Don't do anything to Xuanshu before Zhao Ying expresses her opinion.

Xie Yao smiled and said, "Of course."

Xuan Yue let out a long sigh and said sincerely, "Thank you, Crown Princess."

Xie Yao glanced at Xuan Yue and said nothing more. She gestured for the sedan chair to move forward and out of the palace.

As soon as Xie Yao returned to the Prince's Mansion, the Prince's Mansion's steward came forward and said, "Princess Consort, the second young lady of the Wang family requests an audience."

Wang family?

Xie Yao raised her eyebrows slightly. She didn't remember any relationship between her and the Wang family.

Because His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was not favored in the past, even though he was the Crown Prince, the Wang family did not place all their hopes on him.

But this second young lady of the Wang family...

"Please come to the flower hall."

When Xie Yao arrived at the flower hall, a young woman was already waiting there. She was wearing a peony-colored dress, which was exquisitely and luxuriously dressed and extremely beautiful.

At first glance, she is a girl who has been pampered and spoiled since childhood.

"Your humble servant pays her respects to the Crown Princess." Upon hearing the footsteps, Miss Wang Er immediately stood up and saluted. Her etiquette was impeccable and her voice was clear and moving.

"Miss Wang Er, you're too polite." Xie Yao walked to the top seat and sat down before saying, "Please sit down."

Miss Wang Er sat down, raised her eyes and smiled at Xie Yao, saying, "My maiden name is Yushi, so you can just call me Yushi, Princess."

This name seems intimate.

Xie Yao only smiled and continued, "Second Miss, why do you want to see me today?"

Because of the last time the Wang family wanted to remarry, Xie Yao didn't have a good impression of the second young lady. When she met her today, she also wanted to know what the second young lady was up to.

Miss Wang Er looked around and saw that Xie Yao had no intention of sending the servant away. She hesitated and said, "Crown Princess, I'm here today because of Miss Zhao's matter."

Xie Yao's eyes became more serious.

Could it be that this Second Miss Wang has news about Sister Ying? If so...

"I heard that Miss Zhao was kidnapped by evil people. I feel deeply unfortunate. As a woman, Miss Zhao is so young, and this happened to her. I feel very distressed."

Miss Wang Er changed the subject and said with a look of regret, "But the news of Miss Zhao's disappearance has spread all over the capital. Miss Zhao has lost her reputation and innocence. It's really not good to tell others about it."

"According to ancient rules, if something like this happens to Miss Zhao, she should commit suicide to preserve the family's reputation."