CHAPTER 430: CHAPTER 430: DECEIVING THE MONARCH

The Emperor is filial, considering that the Empress Dowager’s anger could harm her health, he lets her participate in state affairs.

The Empress Dowager should be concerned about how the world views the Emperor.

She can’t just protect her maternal family and let people say the Emperor is weak and inept, can she?

If the Empress Dowager doesn’t say how Duke Chong is to be punished, then whatever punishment the Emperor decides, she shouldn’t interfere anymore.

Although he considered the Empress Dowager, Eunuch Fu felt that she was already half-dead with rage.

The Empress Dowager’s hand trembled as she leaned on Nanny Li.

"Duke Chong falsely claimed credit, he shall be fined half a year’s salary and demoted one rank," the Empress Dowager said through gritted teeth.

Hmm.

This punishment is not light.

The Emperor was very pleased.

Marquis Dongxiang showed no particular reaction.

The Empress Dowager turned and left, and the eunuch helped the fainted Duke Chong away.

After the Empress Dowager left, the Emperor saw Marquis Dongxiang looking at him with a frown, and frowned in response.

"Why are you looking at Us like that?" the Emperor asked.

"After all these years, the Emperor is still so easy to deceive," Marquis Dongxiang replied.

The Emperor, "..."

Eunuch Fu, "..."

The Emperor’s face turned green in an instant.

He told himself this was his good brother.

That’s just his nature.

Sharp tongue, foul-smelling tofu heart.

But the Emperor still couldn’t control his anger, "How am I easy to deceive?!"

"The one who set fire to Duke Chong’s Mansion is my good son-in-law," Marquis Dongxiang said.

"When he set the fire, Duke Chong was still in my Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, how did that kick go from Duke Chong’s Mansion to Dongxiang Marquis Mansion?"

The Emperor, "..."

Eunuch Fu, "..."

"The Emperor is angry about Duke Chong’s deception, yet Duke Chong and the Empress Dowager dare to continue deceiving you."

"The fact that they openly disregard you, isn’t it because you’re so easy to deceive?" Marquis Dongxiang retorted.

In terms of adding fuel to the fire, if Marquis Dongxiang claims second, no one dares to claim first.

The Emperor’s face turned from green to black.

Then—

Duke Chong’s punishment was doubled.

Fined one year’s salary, demoted two ranks.

Additionally, grounded for a month to reflect on his actions at Duke Chong’s Mansion.

Moreover, the servant who beat the members of the Flying Tiger Army to death should be publicly executed, and compensation paid to the families of the Flying Tiger Army.

As the Empress Dowager returned to Yongning Palace, the Emperor’s punishment for Duke Chong quickly reached her ears.

Fining one year, two years, even ten years, the Empress Dowager didn’t care.

But demoting a rank, the Empress Dowager couldn’t accept.

Already having a headache from anger, the Emperor demoted Duke Chong two ranks.

The Empress Dowager, unable to suppress her anger, furiously went to the Imperial Study to question the Emperor on why he went back on his word.

However, upon entering the Imperial Study, before seeing the Emperor, she fainted.

The Empress Dowager’s health couldn’t compare to Duke Chong’s.

When the Flying Tiger Army returned, Duke Chong was so enraged he spat blood, how could the Empress Dowager not be equally furious?

The blazing sun makes it most prohibitive to get angry.

Under the scorching sun, even a robust man struggles to endure, let alone the elderly Empress Dowager.

After running back and forth, the Empress Dowager was drenched in sweat.

There were numerous ice basins placed in the Imperial Study, making it chilling.

The Empress Dowager entered with her warmth, and being hit by the cold air, she suddenly became dizzy and grandly fainted.

The Imperial Physician diagnosed heatstroke.

The Emperor suppressed his inner joy, solemnly ordered the Empress Dowager to be carried back.

Just as the punishment edict for Duke Chong hadn’t been announced yet.

The Emperor used the reason of Duke Chong deceiving the Empress Dowager, causing her to plead on his behalf tirelessly and collapse, to further demote Duke Chong by one rank.

Previously Duke Chong was a Standard First Rank, after this demotion, he became a Secondary Second Rank.

Looking at the bright yellow edict, Eunuch Fu silently lit a candle for the Empress Dowager in his heart.

May the Empress Dowager not be angered to death.

How furious the Empress Dowager was is unknown, but in any case, she was ill for half a month and didn’t recover.

This is a later story, for now, let’s not mention it.

Agarwood Pavilion, backyard.

Inside the bamboo house.

Su Jin lay reading on a small couch.

There was an ice basin placed beside her, Xingxing was pouring out chilled snow fungus and red dates soup, offering it to Su Jin to relieve the heat.

A spoonful of snow fungus went down, and all the pores of her body felt relaxed.

Xingxing sat on a small stool, eating with great relish.

After finishing, seeing Su Jin was weary, she asked, "Does Miss want to sleep for a while?"

"A short nap," Su Jin yawned and said.

"Then I will deliver some snow fungus soup to Qingqiu Garden," Xingxing said.

Xique was her first friend at Duke Zhen Country Mansion.

Xingxing was very attentive to her.

Qingqiu Garden didn’t even have an ice basin, let alone any refreshing cool items.

"Go ahead," Su Jin replied.

Xingxing packed the snow fungus soup, surrounded by ice, and happily went to Qingqiu Garden.

Qingqiu Garden.

Xingxing carried the food box into the yard.

Mrs. Li saw her coming and her eyes flickered.

When Xingxing entered the room, she quickly left the courtyard.

Inside the house.

Xique was crying, Lady Chi was applying ointment to her.

Xique’s palms had layers of skin peeled off, looking distressing.

Xingxing walked quickly over and asked, "How did you get hurt?"

Beads of tears hung on Xique’s eyelashes, looking very pitiful.

"It was Nanny Li who pushed me," Xique complained.

"Today, the Duke Mansion bestowed titles, gifts were given to all the maids by the Old Madam and the Eldest Young Madam, and both my Madam and I had a share."

"Nanny Li went to collect the reward money, but gave me and Madam only half. When I confronted her, she refused to give me more and pushed me."

"You’re so silly," Xingxing said.

Xique, "...."

Xique cried even harder.

Are they still good friends or not?

Her money was gone, and she was bullied, yet Xingxing didn’t console her, but called her silly. How could this be?!

Xique turned her head, ignoring her.

Xingxing put down the food box and said, "Forget about others, why get upset with Nanny Li?"

"You mentioned she can’t bear to spend money, she’ll soon have her comeuppance, isn’t she saving up her money for you?"

"If I were you, seeing her would make me so happy I couldn’t close my mouth."

Xique, "...."

Xique stared blankly at Xingxing.

She was filled with anger, so furious she was about to explode.

Now, surprisingly, she wasn’t angry at all.

Not only was she not angry.

She was a bit happy?

Why hadn’t she thought of that?

She had angrily gone to demand money from Mrs. Li, not only failing to get it but also injuring her hand.

Lady Chi looked at Xingxing.

She had never seen such a clever maid.

She was fretting over how to persuade Xique not to be angry.

Mrs. Li had Princess Nanzhang as her backer, Xique could only suffer losses in her hands, yet this maid resolved Xique’s anger with just a few words.

Xingxing took out the snow fungus soup from the food box, "I made snow fungus soup, it’s delicious, have a taste."

Xique happily ate a bowl of snow fungus soup.

Xingxing carried the food box and left.

Soon after leaving the courtyard, she saw Mrs. Li.

Earlier she ran away upon seeing her, clearly, she feared Xingxing would take out her anger and beat her for Xique.

Did she think hiding would solve it?

Xingxing put down the food box, took a slingshot from her bag, and deliberately picked a larger stone.

Aimed at Mrs. Li’s head.

As the slingshot released, the stone shot towards Mrs. Li’s head.

A sharp, agonized scream was heard.

Xingxing carried the food box, happily returning to Agarwood Pavilion.

Xingxing didn’t know that Mrs. Li was not only hit on the head but also got slapped.

Xie Jinxiu was passing by not far away, just stepping off a step when Mrs. Li suddenly screamed, startling her, causing her to sprain her foot.

Xie Jinxiu was so angry, she leaned on the maid’s hand to come over.

Xie Jinxiu’s maid gave Mrs. Li a slap.