Qin Yining abruptly stood up and quickly walked to the window, pushing open the latticed window. She saw a group of people blocking the entrance to the inn’s courtyard, trying to force their way inside.
The Elite Tiger Guards were all military men trained by Pang Xiao, and the Silver-faced Secret Agents were all killers who had seen blood, so naturally they stood firm at the courtyard gate, refusing to let that group of people break in.
One side wanted to force their way in, while the other side stubbornly refused to yield. In their dispute, they inevitably pushed and shoved each other, and it looked like they were about to come to blows. The Elite Tiger Guards would never back down from a fight, and it seemed like another “bloodshed incident” was about to break out.
Qin Yining frowned and called out, “Stop.”
The people outside heard her voice and all looked toward the source of the sound. They saw a stunningly beautiful young woman standing by the half-open latticed window. The Elite Tiger Guards respectfully stepped aside, but the troublemakers had found their main target.
“Good! It’s you, you vixen, who harmed my son!” A woman in her fifties, with a plump figure, wearing a dark green jacket and a deep blue eight-panel skirt, rushed forward. The jade bird hairpin on her head swayed violently with two dangling tassels.
As that woman charged forward, the other women behind her also rushed inside.
Due to Qin Yining’s instruction, the Elite Tiger Guards dared not obstruct them further, but they were also worried about Qin Yining getting hurt, so they all gathered around the door of the room.
Ji Yun said worriedly, “Princess Consort, this group of people are simply shrews. You shouldn’t lower yourself to argue with them tongue to tongue. Let us servants deal with them and send them away.”
“That’s right.” Bingtang also said with a dark expression, “Raising such an improper son, you can see that this kind of mother is also no good thing. Let this servant go deal with them.”
Qin Yining understood their good intentions and smiled, “It’s fine, I have a way to suppress them. We came here to investigate, so this matter shouldn’t continue to make a scene and attract attention.”
Bingtang and Ji Yun both nodded.
Qin Yining spoke without thinking, but Mu Jinghu on the side felt somewhat ashamed. Had he been too impulsive in his actions just now?
However, despite this, Mu Jinghu felt no regret at all. That lecher dared to act in such a way, and since he was entrusted by Pang Xiao, he naturally couldn’t let him off lightly. He believed that even if Pang Xiao were here, he would have done the same thing.
He only blamed himself for not being efficient enough—he should have killed both of those scoundrels cleanly!
Qin Yining walked toward the outside of the room, and Mu Jinghu and the two maidservants naturally followed.
Just as she reached the doorway, that woman had already charged at her like an unbridled wild mule, reaching out to scratch Qin Yining’s face: “You lowly little whore, why did you harm my son! You’ve ruined my son’s second half of life, I want you to pay with your life!”
“Impudent!” Qin Yining coldly rebuked, “Stand back!”
This woman’s words and behavior actually linked her with that toad from earlier, making people laugh at her for no reason.
Although she came here to investigate secretly, she wasn’t going to cower and let people bully her!
Qin Yining had long held high positions, and when her eyes turned stern, her dignity was intimidating. She actually forced that shrew to stop in her tracks.
Only after stopping did that woman come to her senses—why had she listened so obediently to this seductive fox? Hadn’t she completely lost face!
The woman immediately put her hands on her hips, thrust out her ample chest, and approached Qin Yining step by step. As she walked, her heavy parts and the loose flesh on her face trembled with each movement.
“Bah! What are you supposed to be, daring to be insolent before me! Do you know who I am!”
Qin Yining sneered coldly, “Who you are, I’d really like to be enlightened.”
“I’ll scare you to death if I tell you! I am the old lady of the sixth branch of the Qiu family, and the one you just injured is my legitimate eldest son! I don’t care whether you’re a guest of some Qiu Fei ‘Three’ or Qiu Fei ‘Four’, if you dare harm my son, you must pay with your life!”
“Ridiculous, is there no law here? Is it up to you, an inner-quarter woman, to clamor here! Can you decide cases without a trial?”
“Ptui! Are you brain-damaged! What status does my Qiu family have? Do we still need trials? Let me tell you, here the Qiu family is the law. If you touch someone from the Qiu family, it’s the same crime as touching someone from the imperial family! You crippled my son, so today I want you to pay with your life!”
Old Lady Qiu turned back and scolded the family guards and servants she had brought, “Why don’t you seize this poisonous whore for me!”
“I’d like to see who dares!” Qin Yining turned back and instructed Ji Yun.
Ji Yun opened the brocade box she was holding, which contained the gold plaque and gold seal bestowed by the emperor for the Princess Consort of Prince Zhongshun. As she opened the lid, the objects inside reflected the sunlight and shone brightly before everyone, extremely dazzling.
“I am the legitimate consort of the current Prince Zhongshun. Dare to touch me? Could it be that your Qiu family’s capabilities are greater than the Prince’s, greater than the Son of Heaven’s?”
Ji Yun held the brocade box and stepped forward, showing everyone clearly the objects inside that could prove Qin Yining’s identity. She declared sternly and loudly, “My Princess Consort is the consort of Prince Zhongshun, a super-grade noble lady personally bestowed in marriage by His Majesty’s golden words and jade speech! You are the lady of the sixth branch of the Qiu family—could you possibly be greater than a Princess Consort!”
Ji Yun’s rebuke made everyone present tremble in their hearts.
Even if they were ignorant in the city, they still knew the current situation in the realm. The War God Prince’s reputation wasn’t gained in vain—in establishing the Great Zhou dynasty, Pang Zhixi’s contributions were indispensable.
How could they have imagined that Pang Xiao’s Princess Consort would suddenly appear in Jianchuan City?
This was simply something they wouldn’t dare to dream of.
Old Lady Qiu gritted her teeth, but in her heart she was still somewhat timid. As a woman, she was also afraid that making a wrong step would bring blame from the men. She immediately sat down on the ground and began wailing loudly.
“My son! It’s your bitter fate, it’s mother’s uselessness! At this age, yet being bullied by others! They have high position and great power, we can’t fight them or win against them in court. They’re using their authority to suppress us, what can we do? Son, my bitter-fated son, your second half of life is ruined!”
Old Lady Qiu beat her chest and cried heartbreakingly.
The women she had brought also began crying, cursing continuously in their mouths.
Even though these people didn’t rush forward to harm Qin Yining, their wailing was truly annoying.
Qin Yining’s temples throbbed with pain. She pressed her temples with her fingers and said, “What a disgrace you are to a great family. You failed to properly discipline your son, allowing him to come out and commit evil deeds. You didn’t know how to teach him, causing him to become ignorant of the heights of heaven and earth, disregarding the laws of Great Zhou. Now that he has committed the crime of offending his superiors and affronting this Princess Consort, leaving him with his life is already this Princess Consort’s mercy. You don’t know gratitude, and still gather here to make trouble!”
“You, even if you are a Princess Consort, you should still be reasonable! How did our son offend you? Ah? He didn’t actually defile you, yet you were so vicious. You’re too cruel!” Old Lady Qiu cried even louder.
No matter how good Qin Yining’s patience was, it had all been worn away by Old Lady Qiu’s shameless behavior. Who would have thought that Qiu Feishan’s family clan actually had such people? This was truly inconceivable. A great family with over a hundred years of heritage could actually raise such street-brawling ruffians and scoundrels, which showed that when families grew large, they weren’t necessarily good—setting aside other issues, the children and descendants were already mixed good and bad.
Qin Yining took a deep breath and turned to the Elite Tiger Guards: “Go and invite the local Governor to see this Princess Consort.”
“Yes.” That person accepted the order, took a calling card, and went to visit the local Governor.
After speaking, she didn’t argue with these wailing women anymore and turned to find a stone stool to sit down.
Seeing this, Bingtang hurried to fetch a soft cushion and tea, making Qin Yining more comfortable.
As for Old Lady Qiu and her group, seeing that Qin Yining had such a grand retinue that she could even summon the Governor, they became even more flustered and cried even more sadly.
“Heaven! My son, encountering such a domineering and unreasonable person, how can mother seek justice for you!”
Qin Yining sat upright in her place, lowering her eyes to sip tea, completely ignoring this group of people.
The servants and guards the woman had brought, seeing the situation was bad, also ran back to the mansion to fetch the old master.