The mistress has no feelings, why do you provoke her?

Outside the gate of the Prince of Nan's Mansion, a luxurious carriage was parked.

An elderly woman dressed in the robes of a concubine and adorned with pearls and jade, was being helped to stand in front of the gate of the Prince of Nanyang's mansion.

The Dowager Empress had a full head of white hair and was about sixty-five or sixty-six years old.

Although he was in his twilight years, his eyes were bright and his spirit was vigorous.

She was Lady Qi's great-grandmother, the Dowager Consort Xu.

The Qi family members stood behind her, exuding an imposing aura.

It didn't feel like they were there to seek peace; it felt more like they were there to swagger and bully others.

The Dowager Princess glanced at the entrance with a serious expression and deliberately asked, "Is this how the Prince of Nanyang treats his guests? We've been waiting here for so long, and not a single person has come to greet us."

Madam Qi seized the opportunity to sow discord among the Dowager Empress: "Great-grandmother, you've seen it, haven't you? The Prince of Nanyang's mansion, relying on the Prince of Chu's mansion for support, doesn't take anyone seriously. Otherwise, they wouldn't have done something like breaking into the Earl's mansion and kidnapping someone."

As she spoke, she sniffed, looking aggrieved.

The Dowager Consort Xu rolled her eyes at her unhappily: "You are a proper Earl's wife, so why do you always act like a concubine from a humble family? Is there anything else you can do besides cry?"

"Yes, granddaughter has remembered." Madam Qi quickly stopped her tears and straightened her back.

Seeing her like this, the old concubine's displeasure lessened somewhat.

As the two were talking, the Princess of Nanyang and Song Wenjun, along with other female relatives, all came out to greet them.

The Dowager Consort's face darkened, and she blurted out sarcastic remarks: "The threshold of the Prince of Nanyang's mansion is really high. I'm afraid my old bones can't cross it."

Princess Nanyang ignored her words and welcomed the Qi family and the Dowager Princess into the mansion.

After taking his seat, he began to speak.

Princess Nanyang smiled faintly: "Grand Dowager, did you come here for the Qi family's affairs?"

The implication is that we should discuss the Qi family's affairs properly.

Stop talking nonsense.

The Dowager Princess curled her lip and glanced at the Princess of Nanyang with displeasure: "Everyone says that the Princess of Nanyang is not an ordinary woman who follows the rules. Seeing her today, I can see that the rumors are true."

Most women are dignified and gentle, but the Princess of Nanyang is known throughout the capital for her fiery temper.

Wasn't the Dowager Empress deliberately mocking her by saying that?

They called her vulgar.

Princess Nanyang's face stiffened, and she felt a surge of anger, but then she heard Song Wenjun's soft voice: "What the Dowager Princess says is true. Even His Majesty says that Mother is a woman who is just as capable as any man and is a role model for women."

The Emperor has praised the Princess Consort of Nanyang; who would dare to speak nonsense?

The Dowager Consort Xu was known for her sharp tongue, and she had never been outmaneuvered. Even Emperor Wen had to give her some face.

Song Wenjun's words left her speechless, and the Dowager Empress's gaze towards Song Wenjun immediately turned cold.

Princess Nanyang felt a sense of relief; it was her good daughter who knew how to protect her.

"And who are you, junior, so lacking in manners?" The Dowager Consort knew Song Wenjun's identity, but pretended not to, and even tried to use her seniority to pressure her.

Princess Nanyang couldn't help but feel worried for Song Wenjun, as Song Wenjun shouldn't have been involved in the affairs of the Prince's residence.

If she is implicated because of this, then it is her fault.

However, Princess Nanyang was overthinking it. Song Wenjun's willingness to speak meant that she had already planned her escape route.

She stepped forward and bowed slightly to greet Consort Xu: "This junior, Shangguan Wenjun of the Prince of Chu's Mansion, greets the Dowager Consort."

She did not reveal her title, but instead used her name, which was enough to show her attitude.

She was from the Prince of Nanyang's residence, so naturally she could speak.

The Dowager Princess gave her a strange look, her displeasure becoming even more pronounced: "Since you are already a married woman, you shouldn't interfere in your family's affairs. It's truly wrong to ruin someone's marriage. As a princess, is it wise for you to use your power to oppress others?"

Princess Nanyang was furious. Who was acting like an elder now?

Was she an elder in the Nanyang Prince's Mansion?

Just as the Princess of Nanyang was about to lose her temper, Song Wenjun's voice rang out again softly: "The Dowager Princess is right. Everything is based on reason. I would never interfere in ordinary matters, but what if this involves lives?"

Her voice was soft, but it startled everyone present.

The Dowager Princess raised an eyebrow at Song Wenjun's words and said with displeasure, "It's just a daily quarrel between a young couple. How could it escalate to the point of taking a life? Princess Chu is exaggerating a bit."

"Whether it's an exaggeration or not, we'll find out once Yulan comes over and takes a look."

Song Wenjun's words caused the expressions of Madam Qi, Qi Jin, and Duke Qi to change.

They themselves knew perfectly well how badly Shangguan Yulan had been beaten.

If this were brought to the forefront, they would be drowned in a sea of ​​criticism.

Madam Qi smiled awkwardly: "Yulan is still angry. It would be of no use to call her here now. I think it would be better to ask the Dowager Princess to do us a favor and let Yulan go back with us today."

Qi Jin nodded emphatically: "Mother is right. I promise I will never be a rival to Yulan again."

"If I make another move, I'm not human."

Duke Qi chimed in, saying, "It's nothing serious, why make it sound like a court trial?"

In the eyes of the Dowager Empress, the three of them were thinking of Shangguan Yulan's best interests.

It was a girl who had been wronged, and she was also thin-skinned.

If she confronts him in court, they might not be able to remain husband and wife.

Moreover, Qi Jin also said that he would not take action again.

However, the Dowager Consort felt uncomfortable when Song Wenjun looked at her with such gentle eyes.

What kind of look was that? It was as if victory was already in their grasp.

It seemed as if the Earl's mansion was genuinely afraid of her.

The Dowager Empress coughed lightly and said, "Go and bring the child here. I will stand up for her if she has any grievances."

These words were spoken to Song Wenjun.

To prove her fairness.

Song Wenjun smiled and ordered her maid, "Go and invite the second young lady here."

Hearing her say that, the Dowager Princess was displeased again: "Since she has already entered the Earl's mansion, she is now the young mistress of the Earl's mansion. It is quite inappropriate for the Princess of Chu to still call her Second Miss."

Song Wenjun ignored the Dowager Empress's words, a faint smile on her face.

Waiting for the Dowager Empress to be proven wrong.

Before long, Shangguan Yulan was helped in from outside the door.

The Dowager Empress had never seen her before. When she saw a severely injured woman walk in, needing assistance to walk, she couldn't help but show a look of doubt on her face.

Could this person who's been beaten half to death be Shangguan Yulan?

She subconsciously glanced at the three members of the Earl's family. Qi Jin lowered his head guiltily, Madam Qi covered her mouth with a handkerchief and cleared her throat, while Duke Qi looked up at the sky, not daring to look at Shangguan Yulan.

The three of them were clearly acting out of a guilty conscience.

Even if the Dowager Empress was confused, she would understand what was going on; it turned out that the three of them had used her.

They weren't telling the truth at all; they only said that the young couple had a fight and were forcibly taken away by the people from the Chu Prince's Mansion.

But Madam Qi didn't mention that Shangguan Yulan was beaten so badly by Qi Jin.