Chapter 51: Seeking Justice

Proofread By:- Mim

 

In the past few days, since the Crown Prince had started visiting to pay respects, the number of people gathering at the Old Princess Consort’s residence each morning had noticeably increased. Some young ladies even began timing their arrival, aiming to stand in spots where the Crown Prince would be sure to notice them. If they managed to exchange a few words with him, that would be even better.

 

Chu Jinmiao had meticulously planned her arrival today, even calculating where she would stand when paying her respects. She was full of hope, eagerly waiting for the Crown Prince to arrive. Today, she had dressed carefully, her clothes loose and in muted tones, giving her a delicate and melancholic appearance. Her makeup also reflected a frail, pitiful look. Confident in her calculations, she believed that, since it was said the Crown Prince favored spiritual aesthetics, he would surely like her appearance today.

 

As Chu Jinmiao stood, she gradually realized that neither the Old Princess Consort nor the Princess Consort intended to speak up for Chu Jinyao. Chu Jinmiao was secretly delighted, sneaking a mocking glance at Chu Jinyao. She believed Chu Jinyao could only rely on the Old Madam Chu’s influence. Now that she was away from the Changxing Marquisate, who would care about her?

 

The room was filled with laughter, with all the ladies appearing warm and kind, but many of them were somewhat distracted. That was, until they heard, “His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived,” at which point everyone suddenly perked up.

 

Chu Jinmiao’s eyes lit up. She turned eagerly, praying hard that the Crown Prince would notice her.

 

When the Crown Prince entered, he first scanned the room, then kept his eyes straight ahead. Chu Jinmiao felt a little disappointed but quickly consoled herself. A man who avoided looking at beautiful women was certainly not driven by lust. Such a man, she thought, was the kind one could entrust with their life. The more Chu Jinmiao thought about it, the more she longed to be connected to the Eastern Palace. She didn’t expect to become the primary consort, but as long as she was favored, the difference in rank wouldn’t matter much in the long run.

 

After greeting the Old Princess Consort, the Crown Prince fell silent. The women in the room sensed that he was not in a good mood. The Old Princess Consort hesitated for a moment, then asked with a smile, “Your Highness, it rained yesterday. I hope it did not disturb you?”

 

The Old Princess Consort assumed his displeasure stemmed from the rain. At her age, she had trouble sleeping on rainy nights, and she projected this onto the Crown Prince, guessing that it had bothered him too.

 

Sensing the Crown Prince’s discontent, the Princess Consort saw an opportunity. Her sharp eyes quickly swept over the young ladies in the room, landing first on Chu Jinyao. She saw that Chu Jinyao stood quietly with her head slightly bowed, observing perfect decorum. The Princess Consort sneered inwardly, thinking, “at least you know your place.”

 

Next, the Princess Consort’s gaze fell on the others: Lin Baoying, Lin Baohuan, Yang Qixia. When her eyes reached Chu Jinmiao, the Princess Consort couldn’t help but scoff.

 

Oh, she really put in effort today, didn’t she? Chu Jinmiao appeared to have no makeup on, but in reality, her delicate appearance was the result of careful planning. The Princess Consort mentally noted this and decided that once Chu Jinmiao had served her purpose, she would deal with her properly. Such a scheming person could not be trusted around her precious daughter.

 

Chu Jinmiao had tried hard to make an impression on the Crown Prince, but her efforts were laughable to the Princess Consort. With a simple gesture, the Princess Consort could easily foil her plans by drawing the County Princess close. She smiled and said, “Our hospitality may have been lacking. Please forgive us if the Crown Prince was inconvenienced in any way. If anything was amiss or if my mischievous daughter caused you any trouble, you must tell me immediately.”

 

The County Princess blushed and, dragging out her words, called out, “Mother!” Her playful behavior charmed everyone, including the Old Princess Consort. Even the Crown Prince, being a young man, would surely be taken by her. The Old Princess Consort, smiling like a contented Buddha, decided to let things play out unless the situation turned sour.

 

However, just as the Old Princess Consort was about to relax, the events of the previous day flashed in her mind. She was momentarily alarmed, but then dismissed the thought, believing the Crown Prince had not noticed anything. After all, the County Princess’s attempt to follow the Crown Prince had failed.

 

What a bold child! The Old Princess Consort recalled how the County Princess had dared to tail the Crown Prince, though fortunately, she hadn’t succeeded. After reprimanding her granddaughter, the Old Princess Consort was relieved when she heard that Chu Jinyao had attempted to stop the princess but had been unsuccessful. That’s how a good sister-in-law should behave, she thought. It’s just that she didn’t stop the princess in the end, truly weak.

 

The matter had quietly been swept under the rug by mutual understanding between the Old Princess Consort and the Princess Consort. It was an unpleasant incident, best left unspoken for everyone’s sake. As for Chu Jinyao, some future compensation would suffice. The Princess Consort harbored an inexplicable wariness of Chu Jinyao, and even the Old Princess Consort believed it unwise to escalate the matter. If Chu Jinyao were truly sensible, she would follow orders.

 

Now, as the Princess Consort drew the County Princess closer to introduce her to the Crown Prince, the Old Princess Consort pretended not to see, closing her eyes as if to nap.

 

Qin Yi, the Crown Prince, observed the Old Princess Consort and Princess Consort with indifference. From their demeanor, it was clear they didn’t intend to rectify the injustice Chu Jinyao had suffered. How laughable.

 

Anger flickered in Qin Yi’s eyes, and his expression became sharp. The Princess Consort’s earlier words had been an excuse, but Qin Yi caught onto it. “There’s no lack of hospitality, but there are some things I would like to ask the Princess Consort about.”

 

The Princess Consort was stunned, pausing for a few seconds before replying in confusion, “Ah?”

 

“Yesterday, when I returned late, I happened to see the Fifth Young Lady of the Chu family sitting in the pavilion, seemingly trapped by the rain. Matters concerning the women of the household are not mine to interfere with, but this is the Prince Huailing’s residence. How is it that such a young lady was left alone and without even a servant by her side?”

 

Upon hearing this, the Old Princess Consort immediately opened her eyes, no longer pretending to rest. She hesitated. Why was the Crown Prince bringing this up? To her, it was a trivial matter. The Princess Consort, on the other hand, frowned inwardly and asked, unwilling to give up, “How did Your Highness know it was the Fifth Young Lady of the Chu family?” She shot a glance at Chu Jinyao as she spoke.

 

Chu Jinyao’s heart skipped a beat. She had thought the matter was over, not expecting the Crown Prince to stand up for her. From the Princess Consort’s reaction, it seemed she was jealous that the Crown Prince had remembered Chu Jinyao.

 

Qin Yi suppressed his anger, replying, “Does the Princess Consort doubt my ability to recognize people? Or perhaps she thinks I can only remember those she wishes me to?”

 

His tone was heavy, and the Princess Consort immediately rose and bowed deeply, repeatedly saying she did not dare. Even the Old Princess Consort stood up, trembling as she apologized, “Please, Your Highness, do not be angry. My daughter-in-law spoke without thinking. She did not mean to offend.”

 

The Crown Prince’s tone had shifted enough to cause everyone in the room to feel on edge. The Old Princess Consort, realizing the severity of the situation, attempted to intervene. Seeing this, Qin Yi relented, saying, “That’s enough, Old Princess Consort. Please sit down.”

 

Relieved, the Old Princess Consort shakily thanked him and was helped back into her seat. The Princess Consort, her face pale, kept her mouth tightly shut, not daring to speak again.

 

However, Qin Yi wasn’t done. After everyone had settled, he turned to the Princess Consort and said, “Princess Consort, I await your explanation.”

 

The Princess Consort was taken aback but quickly remembered what he had asked. She stammered, “Yesterday, I was busy entertaining guests and couldn’t attend to everyone. Fifth Young Lady Chu, why were you left alone in the pavilion?”

 

Her sharp gaze landed on Chu Jinyao, a warning evident in her eyes. The other women also turned to look, making Chu Jinyao the focus of attention.

 

Faced with the various looks of warning, mockery, or curiosity, Chu Jinyao didn’t panic. In fact, she hesitated.

 

She wanted justice, but could she trust the Crown Prince to follow through? If she provided evidence and he lost interest, things could get very complicated for her.

 

She thought it over quickly and stole a glance at Qin Yi. He sat calmly, but as if sensing her gaze, he looked back at her, his eyes clear and reassuring, exuding an undeniable sense of trustworthiness.

 

It was as though Chu Jinyao had been charmed. She boldly decided to ride the wave and seek justice. But first, she needed to clarify one thing.

 

After bowing to the Old Princess Consort and the Princess Consort, Chu Jinyao explained, “In response to Old Princess Consort and the Princess Consort, I honestly don’t know what happened. Yesterday, I sent my head maid to fetch something, and I waited in place. Unexpectedly, she didn’t return for a long time, and it started to rain. I was trapped in the pavilion. After some time, my maid came to find me, and we returned together. I didn’t know that His Highness had passed by.”

 

Chu Jinyao’s explanation served two purposes: to clarify the situation and to distance herself from the Crown Prince. She had no desire to admit that she had shared a pavilion with him in the rain. That would be like courting disaster.

 

Amusement flickered in Qin Yi’s eyes. It was said that people “burn bridges after crossing,” but here was someone burning the bridge before she even crossed it. Knowing what Chu Jinyao was worried about, Qin Yi didn’t hold it against her. He simply said, “I passed by the garden yesterday and saw her sitting there alone. The rain was heavy, and she didn’t see me.”

 

Chu Jinyao, who had been too nervous to look at the Crown Prince, was surprised when he supported her account instead of exposing her. Feeling relieved, she was also touched. The Crown Prince was truly a good person.

 

The Princess Consort, too, was greatly relieved. So, it had only been a passing encounter. She had been scared to death for nothing. Now that it was clear, the matter could be easily handled. She turned to Chu Jinyao and said, “Is that so?”

 

Chu Jinyao still had to stay at the Prince Huailing’s residence for some time, so she couldn’t afford to completely offend the Princess Consort. Instead, she directed her grievances toward Chu Jinmiao, one of the main culprits. “I am unsure, Princess Consort. Please investigate thoroughly and ensure justice is served.”

 

The Princess Consort exchanged a glance with the Old Princess Consort, and both women shifted their approach. Chu Jinyao is sensible, they thought. She didn’t mention the County Princess, which was wise. After all, causing trouble wouldn’t end well for her. Since Chu Jinyao only sought to reprimand Chu Jinmiao, the Princess Consort was willing to oblige.

 

With her decision made, the Princess Consort’s expression turned serious. “This is a serious matter. Rest assured, I will get to the bottom of it and ensure justice.”

 

Chu Jinmiao’s face immediately changed. She quickly turned to glare at Chu Jinyao and said, “Fifth Sister, are you sure? We’re all family. If you’re feeling wronged, you should confide in me, your elder sister, rather than trouble the Princess Consort.”

 

Chu Jinyao found this amusing. “Now you want to remind me to keep family matters private?” she thought. How convenient, once the consequences are about to land on you. Without changing her expression, she replied innocently, “Why can’t we let the Princess Consort handle this? She’s fair and won’t wrong anyone. Are you saying you don’t trust her?”

 

Chu Jinmiao gritted her teeth, glaring daggers at Chu Jinyao. “Of course not. You’re overthinking it.”

 

Chu Jinyao smiled and glanced at Chu Jinmiao, feeling satisfied. Both the Old Princess Consort and the Princess Consort thought the matter was now over, and even Chu Jinyao believed it would end here.

 

But Qinyi wasn’t done.

 

“Princess Consort, how do you intend to handle this?”

 

The Princess Consort was caught off guard. “What else can I do? I’ll investigate the maid’s whereabouts and punish her accordingly.”

 

So, in all of this, the County Princess will remain untouched? Qin Yi’s expression remained calm, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He hadn’t been particularly upset about Chu Jinyao being stuck in the pavilion, as he had been there with her. What truly angered him was that Chu Jinyao had been bitten.

 

Who dared to bite Chu Jinyao? Was it a mere County Princess from a minor noble family? Did she truly think she was untouchable?

 

Qinyi’s temper flared, and he decided not to spare the Lin family’s pride any further. He had initially planned to bring up the bite on Chu Jinyao’s wrist, but thinking it might affect her reputation, he chose another matter.

 

“Princess Consort, there’s one more thing I’d like to ask you about.”

 

Upon hearing his formal tone, the Princess Consort felt an overwhelming urge to kneel. Trembling, she responded, “What is it, Your Highness?”

 

“Yesterday, I was delayed by the rain and returned late, but I heard from my attendants that the County Princess was seen lingering outside my quarters. What does your household mean by this?”

 

His dark eyes settled on the Princess Consort, deep and unfathomable like a pool of ink. Just meeting his gaze made her feel as though she had fallen into an icy abyss.

 

The Princess Consort’s blood froze, and as she processed the Crown Prince’s words, her face flushed bright red with shame. The Crown Prince had clearly noticed her daughter’s actions the day before, and now he was upset.

 

Chu Jinyao, realizing the severity of the situation, quickly covered her wrist with her sleeve. The Crown Prince really holds grudges. How terrifying. She had made him stand in the rain yesterday, and now she feared he might take it out on her later.

 

Lowering her head, Chu Jinyao shrank in on herself, trying to make herself invisible. The Princess Consort was already completely bewildered, and the Old Princess Consort, unable to sit still any longer, hurriedly interjected, “Your Highness, please forgive us. There must have been some misunderstanding. My granddaughter is still young and sensitive. Please, grant us some mercy. If it turns out she has indeed offended you, I will not spare her.”

 

But Qin Yi paid little heed to the Old Princess Consort’s pleas. They hadn’t cared about face when they were mistreating Chu Jinyao, so why should he now? He was done talking to these people. Rising to his feet, he said coolly, “Old Princess Consort, you may investigate this matter on your own. I have other business to attend to.”

 

The room collectively rose to their feet in shock, bowing deeply as they watched the Crown Prince leave. Just as he reached the door, Qin Yi paused, and with a cold tone, he left them with one last statement, “I advise you, Old Princess Consort, to discipline your descendants properly. There won’t be a next time, but if there is, it won’t end with just words.”

 

Most of the people in the room thought his warning referred to the County Princess’s attempt to follow him, but Qiny Yi knew exactly what he was truly cautioning them about.

 

With that, Xiao Linzi held open the door for him, and Qin Yi strode out without looking back.

 

Once he had gone, the Old Princess Consort collapsed back into her chair, drained of all strength. The Princess Consort, pale as a sheet, wiped the cold sweat from her brow.

 

The County Princess, who had never been reprimanded so harshly in her life, had turned bright red in humiliation. The moment the Crown Prince left, she burst into tears and ran out of the room.

 

“Baozhu! Baozhu!” the Princess Consort called after her, but to no avail. Tears welled up in her own eyes.

 

The Princess Consort felt a deep regret. She had thought that silencing those involved would allow them to sweep the matter under the rug, but she had failed to account for the Crown Prince’s displeasure. If only she had sent someone to offer an apology to him yesterday, this might not have happened.

 

As the County Princess cried and ran off, the Princess Consort began to sob as well, while the Old Princess Consort sighed in distress. Knowing it was no longer appropriate to stay, Chu Jinyao quickly excused herself.

 

After walking some distance away, Linglong, seeing no one around, couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

 

Chu Jinyao glared at her. “You dare laugh!”

 

Linglong, still chuckling, replied, “I can’t help it! I’m just so happy for you, Miss. Yesterday, you kindly advised her, and she repaid you by biting you! Years of etiquette training, all thrown to the dogs! Now, she’s been shamed by the Crown Prince. Even though it wasn’t about your situation, it’s still satisfying to see.”

 

“Alright, alright,” Chu Jinyao said, scolding her playfully. “This is the last time we’ll mention it. You mustn’t speak of it again!”

 

“Yes, Miss,” Linglong said, still smiling. She couldn’t help but feel vindicated. The County Princess had brought it all on herself, and the Princess Consort and Old Princess Consort had only themselves to blame for spoiling her. Now, they had gotten what they deserved.

 

Though Chu Jinyao chastised Linglong, she also felt a sense of satisfaction. Someone had finally put the County Princess in her place. Her arrogance had reached its limit, and now she had hit an immovable wall.

 

But despite her internal joy, Chu Jinyao knew better than to show her satisfaction. She kept her expression dignified and composed as they walked back to her courtyard. Only her sparkling eyes betrayed her feelings.

 

She still didn’t fully understand why the Crown Prince had reprimanded the County Princess, but the politics of high-ranking families weren’t her concern. She could, however, enjoy the results. Because of what had happened today, her opinion of the Crown Prince had improved significantly, and she was even willing to overlook the fact that he had once compared her to a monkey.

 

As Chu Jinyao made her way back, she passed the pavilion where she had sheltered from the rain the day before. To her surprise, she saw a familiar figure standing there with his hands behind his back.

 

Chu Jinyao froze, and Linglong hesitated, asking, “Miss?”

 

Why was the Crown Prince standing there?