CHAPTER 377: CHAPTER 377: PROTECTING SHORTCOMINGS

The Empress’s steps into the Imperial Study were heavy, each one as if she wanted to crush Su Jin like an ant.

Her honorable self, the Empress, sought an audience, yet the Emperor declined, citing a busy schedule.

But for a female bandit, the Emperor agreed to meet.

This was a great insult to her as Empress!

However, the Emperor did not care about the Empress’s emotions, piercing straight to the heart with a single line.

"The Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion has caused trouble again?"

The tone carried a concern even the Emperor hadn’t noticed, burning the Empress with anger.

In such a vast harem, who else was in the Emperor’s thoughts like this?

Only Consort Yun!

The Empress struggled to hold back her anger, bowed to the Emperor, and replied, "Yesterday, the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion chased a dog down the street, causing chaos with overturning horses, leading to Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s eldest daughter burning her hand. Duke Zhen’s Mansion punished her to copy Buddhist scriptures in the hall as reflection."

"For her mistake, Duke Zhen’s Mansion makes amends. Princess Nanzhang entered the palace to ask the Empress Dowager for Bihun Ointment, as she only had half a box left, thinking perhaps the Emperor might have some, hence sent this servant to ask for some."

The Emperor’s brow furrowed slightly.

The Emperor remembered the dog from the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion very well.

Whether from its name or its bite on the Left Minister, the Emperor couldn’t forget that audacious dog.

According to Eunuch Fu, that dog even bit Princess Nanzhang.

As the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, chasing a dog down the street was indeed improper, deserving punishment to copy family rules as reflection.

As for the ointment...

"Why doesn’t the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion send the ointment to Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s eldest daughter as an apology?" the Emperor asked.

The Emperor’s words implied that Su Jin had the ointment, and having made a mistake, she should make amends rather than simply take the punishment and consider the matter settled.

But to the Empress’s ears, it meant something different.

The Emperor preferred to give the ointment to the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion to apologize, rather than giving it to her.

The Empress’s discontent rose to her cheeks, and she said, "The Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion did say she would send the ointment to Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s eldest daughter, but who doesn’t know, the best ointment for removing scars is Bihun Ointment. Duke Zhen’s Mansion failed to discipline her, and as the mistress, Princess Nanzhang should also take responsibility."

Eunuch Fu stood aside, thinking: Princess Nanzhang definitely set up Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s young lady.

The Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion has exceptional medical skills, far surpassing the Imperial Physician.

The ointment she personally crafted would certainly be no worse than Bihun Ointment.

Honestly, Bihun Ointment isn’t that plentiful; it’s simply that other ointments are far inferior, making Bihun Ointment seem the best by comparison.

"Is there any Bihun Ointment left?" the Emperor asked.

"There are two boxes left, Your Majesty," Eunuch Fu replied.

"Give them all to the Empress," the Emperor generously directed.

Eunuch Fu complied.

In the past, Eunuch Fu would have advised the Emperor to keep one box for emergencies.

Now knowing the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion can craft ointment, whenever the Emperor needs it, he can just ask her.

Eunuch Fu brought a brocade box.

Inside the brocade box lay two boxes of Bihun Ointment.

The Empress felt an indescribable sensation; the Bihun Ointment, usually hard to come by even one box, was generously given two boxes by the Emperor.

The Emperor did this to spare the female bandit from copying family rules as punishment.

Unfortunately, as the Emperor didn’t state it outright, she would pretend not to know.

The Empress bowed and retreated.

Princess Nanzhang brought the Bihun Ointment back to Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

The Bihun Ointment was a valuable item, and Princess Nanzhang kept one box, instructing someone to send the other to Nanning Marquis Mansion.

Ministry of Justice.

Xie Jingchen emerged from the Ministry of Justice Prison just as a Hidden Guard rode over on horseback.

"Eldest Young Master, the Bihun Ointment has been delivered to Yongcheng Bo Mansion," the Hidden Guard reported.

"Was it from the Emperor?" Xie Jingchen asked.

"The Emperor not only gave it but also gave two boxes," the Hidden Guard replied.

The Emperor truly favored the Eldest Young Madam.

Xie Jingchen mounted his horse and said, "Return to Duke Mansion."

Qihao Hall.

The Old Madam sat on the Arhat Couch eating bird’s nest soup.

The Old Madam had little appetite in the morning and barely ate, so Mrs. Wang specially had some bird’s nest soup prepared.

Previously, no sugar was added to the bird’s nest soup, but this time a spoonful of sugar was added, greatly improving the Old Madam’s appetite.

After finishing a bowl of bird’s nest soup, Mrs. Wang took the bowl from the Old Madam’s hands.

Outside, a young maid came in saying, "Old Madam, the Eldest Young Master has arrived."

What has happened?

Shouldn’t he be helping at the Ministry of Justice right now?

"Let him come in," the Old Madam said.

In a short while, Xie Jingchen entered.

Of course, he wasn’t alone.

Three others followed behind Xie Jingchen.

These three unremarkable, plainly dressed men in patched clothing caused the Old Madam to furrow her brows.

Why bring such people into the Duke Mansion and lead them to her?

"Who are these people?" the Old Madam asked, her tone carrying some displeasure.

Xie Jingchen looked at the three and said, "They are eyewitnesses to how Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s eldest daughter burned her hand yesterday."

"Bringing them here is to let the Old Madam clearly understand how Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s eldest daughter’s hand was burned," Xie Jingchen spoke in a deep, commanding voice.

Mrs. Wang looked at Xie Jingchen and then at the three men.

Bringing them here suggested there was more to the situation with Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s young lady’s hand burn.

The Old Madam’s brow tightened perceptibly.

These three were more like parties involved than witnesses.

Two collided with Liao Xue, causing her to bump into Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s eldest daughter, burning her hand at another person’s stall.

The three people crucial to this incident were all present.

No one was clearer on the events than they were.

Indeed, chaos ensued because Su Jin was chasing the dog, but neither Su Jin nor the dog came near them during the disturbance, and Little Black had darted through a path ten zhang away to another street.

The area around where Liao Xue and her companions were injured remained calm, yet they were injured and insisted it was caused by Su Jin’s dog chasing.

This explanation was unsatisfactory.

If Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s eldest daughter was distracted by the commotion ahead and hence inattentive when Liao Xue bumped into her, it was her own negligence and not Su Jin’s responsibility.

The Old Madam clenched the Buddha Beads in her hand tightly, almost wishing to crush them.

Xie Jingchen bringing witnesses indicated clearly that the Old Madam had listened to one side and wronged Su Jin.

As an elder, wronging the younger generation in this way seriously undermines her authority.

The Old Madam coldly said, "I realize this issue cannot entirely blame the Eldest Young Madam; punishing her was for chasing the dog down the street and being improper!"

In saying so, she insisted she hadn’t been too harsh in her punishment.

Xie Jingchen said, "Su Jin did wrong by chasing the dog down the street, and the Old Madam’s punishment is justified."

"But the Duke Mansion, relying on a unilateral account, held Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s young lady’s burn wholly Su Jin’s fault, even seeking medicine before the Emperor."

"The Emperor, for Su Jin’s sake, rewarded two boxes of Bihun Ointment. If this reaches the Emperor’s ears, it might be seen as deceiving the sovereign."

Xie Jingchen’s voice was as commanding as fine wine.

The Old Madam’s expression was as grim as could be.

Xie Jingchen had said enough.

"There are things at the Ministry of Justice still unfinished; I must attend to them," he said.

"Show him in," said the Old Madam.

Shortly after, Xie Jingchen entered.

Of course, he wasn’t alone.

Three more people followed behind Xie Jingchen.

Three unremarkable men, plainly dressed and with patched clothes, causing the Old Madam to frown.

"Who are these people?" the Old Madam asked, her tone slightly unhappy.

"They were witnesses when Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s eldest daughter scalded her hand," Xie Jingchen said.

"Bringing them here is so that the Old Madam would know clearly how Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s eldest daughter came to have her hand burned," Xie Jingchen explained in a firm voice.

Mrs. Wang stood by, thinking: It’s clear there’s more to the Yongcheng Bo Mansion girl’s hand injury.

The Old Madam furrowed her brow, deep in thought.

The three men were more than witnesses; they were involved in the incident.

Two of them had collided, causing Liao Xue to bump into Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s eldest daughter, resulting in the hand burn at another vendor’s stall.

The three involved knew the situation better than anyone else.

The street had indeed become chaotic because of Su Jin and the dog, but they had not passed near them, and Little Black had run through a path ten zhang away to another street.

In front of where Liao Xue and others got hurt, nothing was amiss; it was only their injury site that was disorderly.

The Old Madam’s hand clasping the Buddha Beads tightly, almost wanting to crush them.

Xie Jingchen’s purpose for bringing them was to clearly show that the Old Madam was being partial and biased, which resulted in wrongly blaming.

The Old Madam coldly remarked, "I am aware that the issue cannot be entirely blamed on the Eldest Young Madam, but she was punished for chasing the dog down the street, which was improper of her."

"That’s my stance: to maintain that my punishment was due to her misbehavior," the Old Madam concluded.

"Su Jin did err in chasing the dog down the street, and the Old Madam’s punishment was indeed warranted," Xie Jingchen agreed.

"But the Duke Mansion listened to one side of the story. The Emperor, out of favor for Su Jin, rewarded two boxes of Bihun Ointment. If this matter were to reach the Emperor’s ears, it would appear as though the Emperor was covering for Su Jin, which could have terrible implications."

Xie Jingchen’s voice rang with authority.

The Old Madam’s face remained stern, revealing her displeasure.

Then she coolly responded, "I realize the issue cannot entirely blame the Eldest Young Madam; punishing her was for chasing the dog down the street."

"By saying so, I maintain I wasn’t too quick to punish."

Xie Jingchen rebutted, "There is more to investigate in Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s young lady’s hand burn than what was initially presented."

He then reminded with emphasis, "Su Jin’s true mistake was in chasing the dog down the street, and the Old Madam’s punishment is just in that regard."

"But Duke Mansion’s decision was based on one side of the story, placing blame on the Eldest Young Madam."

"The Emperor, in regard for Su Jin, rewarded two boxes of Bihun Ointment, and to keep this from turning into a scandal that might reach the Emperor’s ears, an act of deceiving the monarch."

The Old Madam’s complexion was severe.

Xie Jingchen had made his point emphatically.

There was nothing left for the Old Madam to add, so she remained taciturn. She waved her hand to allow Xie Jingchen to leave.