Shen Xihe’s words, which didn’t sound like a joke, frightened the noble ladies pale as ghosts. Having reached marriageable age, they were no longer naive young girls. They clearly understood that even if Shen Xihe truly drowned the person in the water, the Northwest King would have a thousand ways to force the victim’s family to back down.
“Princess, we spoke rashly and offended you. We’re willing to accept your punishment, but please spare Yingrao’s life.” A taller lady fell to her knees before Shen Xihe, pleading for Hu Yingrao in the water.
Shen Xihe glanced at her, then noticed Noble Consort Rong approaching hastily with others. Seeing Hu Yingrao’s struggles weakening, she tossed aside the bamboo pole. “Biyu.”
Biyu leaped forward, stepping on the railing, swift as a swallow, and pulled Hu Yingrao out, throwing her before Shen Xihe.
“Kakh kakh kakh kakh…” Hu Yingrao coughed violently while gasping for fresh air.
“What happened here?” Noble Consort Rong and her group arrived. As the host of the Chrysanthemum Viewing Banquet, she surveyed the two thoroughly soaked ladies.
Those accompanying Hu Yingrao stammered, unsure how to explain, while Shen Xihe stood there appearing completely uninvolved.
“Yingrao!” Hu Yingrao’s mother, Lady Liu, rushed forward and embraced her seemingly half-dead daughter. She knelt before Noble Consort Rong, pleading, “Noble Consort, you must help us! Yingrao has feared water since childhood—this could have killed her!”
Lady Liu had already learned everything from the maid who came to report. Though she was furious at Shen Xihe’s arrogance, she knew she had no right to challenge Princess Zhaoning, the beloved daughter of the Northwest King.
“Let’s have the physicians examine both ladies who fell in the water first. Young ladies are delicate; we mustn’t let this develop into a lasting illness.” Noble Consort Rong had naturally heard some details of the incident and didn’t dare take responsibility, having already sent someone to summon His Majesty.
Everyone moved to the pavilion exterior. After the physicians examined them and prescribed medicine for preventing cold, Emperor Youning arrived with several princes.
The Emperor had come to Furong Garden today, bringing various princes and ministers. Since this was meant to be a gesture of goodwill, it couldn’t only target the inner palace members.
“Zhaoning, what happened?” Emperor Youning immediately asked Shen Xihe upon arriving.
“Your Majesty, today I had a minor disagreement with the ladies from the Chen and Wang families, so I left alone to find a quiet place to clear my mind,” Shen Xihe replied unhurriedly. “The Xue family’s seventh daughter saw me alone and, worried I might be lonely, came to join me. Wanting solitude, I declined her kind intention.
Unexpectedly, upon my return, I witnessed the Hu family’s daughter deliberately pushing Miss Xue Seven into the lake, and said…”
Shen Xihe deliberately paused here, her beautiful eyes sweeping across several ministers, including Vice Minister of Rites Hu Zhengyang and Minister of Personnel Xue Kui.
“She said the noble families were above associating with those in power, and that Miss Xue Seven seeking my company brought shame to their traditions.”
The discord between noble families and those in power was common knowledge, and something emperors were pleased to see as a means of checks and balances. However, it couldn’t be stated openly—wouldn’t that suggest court officials had different factions rather than being united in serving His Majesty and the common people?
Especially the phrase “bringing shame to their traditions,” which implied contempt and insult toward those in power.
Sure enough, when Shen Xihe spoke these words, the faces of all nobles present darkened.
“I was angry, so I gave her a small lesson using the same method she used to bully Miss Xue Seven,” Shen Xihe finished, looking at Emperor Youning. “Your Majesty, the Chen family’s daughter repeatedly called the Northwest barbarians. When I argued with her, the Wang family’s daughter said I was elevating the Northwest to curry favor with the capital’s officials. The Hu family’s daughter also said associating with me brought shame to their traditions.”
After methodically listing everyone’s offenses, Shen Xihe continued: “One person’s words might be prejudice, but when so many speak this way, I truly wonder who looks down upon the Northwest people so much that they dare act so presumptuously?
It makes me wonder if I and the people of the Northwest are not Your Majesty’s subjects, but rather foreigners deserving such exclusion and contempt.”
Shen Xihe’s pointed implications made the present ministers secretly draw sharp breaths.
She dared to speak so boldly, even subtly criticizing His Majesty!
The princes who had never dealt with Shen Xihe couldn’t help but look at her, while only Xiao Changying held back his laughter.
He knew that she would never respectfully defer to anyone who crossed her path.
Yet she spoke with reason and evidence, using implications everyone understood but no one could fault.
“Your Majesty.” The first to step forward wasn’t from the Chen, Wang, Hu, or Xue families whom Shen Xihe had named, but rather her maternal grandfather, Censor Tao. When he stepped forward, the patriarchs of the four families all twitched their eyelids. “When women meddle in court affairs, it shows their husbands and fathers have failed to teach them properly. How can the empire be peaceful if households are not? Children’s words and actions reflect their parents’ teachings.
Mere young ladies wouldn’t speak of dividing the realm unless they’d heard treasonous talk. ‘Barbarians’ refers to the Turks—for the Chen family’s daughter to call the Northwest barbarians shows intent to divide the realm, a crime worthy of death!”
Censor Tao, nearly sixty, knelt his tall, thin frame straight before Emperor Youning: “I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and not tolerate such villains who care nothing for the court, the emperor, or the people.”
Shen Xihe couldn’t help but mentally applaud her grandfather. She’d long known her maternal relatives both doted on her and possessed sharp tongues.
In recent years, because of him, everyone feared the Censorate as much as the Imperial Guard.
Cold sweat broke out on Hu Zhengyang’s forehead. He hurriedly knelt beside Censor Tao: “Your Majesty, I harbor no disloyalty and am willing to accept punishment for failing to teach my daughter. Heaven sees all—my loyalty to Your Majesty is clear as day. My wayward daughter’s words were never my teaching.”
“Your Majesty, I too know not where my unfilial daughter heard such outrageous words. I failed to teach her properly and am willing to accept punishment.” Marquis Chen Zhong of Xuanping also quickly knelt to admit wrongdoing.
Finally, Wang Zheng, one of the Three Executives, leisurely stepped forward. Unlike Chen Zhong and Hu Zhengyang who had knelt, Wang Zheng merely bowed deeply to Emperor Youning: “Your Majesty, the Wang family’s daughter knows nothing of state affairs. I’ve raised them somewhat ignorantly, causing them to speak carelessly without understanding the gravity. I request Your Majesty’s punishment.”
Compared to Chen Jiaxu and Hu Yingrao, Wang Yuwei had indeed made a mountain out of a molehill, not directly insulting either the Northwest or Shen Xihe.
The Wang family was truly a great noble clan—to become one of the Three Executives, Wang Zheng as family head possessed no ordinary mind or methods.
“Lord Wang.” Shen Xihe turned to Wang Zheng. “I’ve heard that noble family teachings include speaking cautiously but acting decisively. Noble ladies are praised precisely because they strictly observe aristocratic standards. If your Wang family’s daughter is truly ignorant, she should have remained silent. Her offense cannot be dismissed with your single phrase about careless speech.
She has violated noble family precepts, tarnished noble reputation, and damaged noble integrity!”