Nanshi Ying sneered inwardly, but her face displayed an expression of grief and sorrow. "Father, you..." Her voice was nearly choked, wanting to say something, but unable to and not daring to speak it.
Seeing Nanshi Ying's reaction, Nan Chaoyin was overjoyed. Could it be that all of this was merely the result of his daughter's cowardly concealment? Did Ji Jinmo not know of the Nan Residence's schemes? If that were the case, it would be easily handled!
He knitted his brows and spoke in a stern, sharp tone, "How could you do such a thing? Even if you were fond of the Regent, you shouldn't have impersonated your sister and married into the Regent's manor by deceit."
Impersonated?
Having overheard a secret she shouldn't have, Li Qing wished she were deaf at that moment.
Upon hearing this, Lv Wan's pupils widened in shock.
Could the current Consort not be the renowned Nanyuan'er of the capital?
After Nan Chaoyin's interrogation, he turned and knelt before Ji Jinmo, his voice filled with sorrow as he said, "Your Highness, I never expected this unfilial daughter would dare to commit such a shameless act."
"I have lied. My request to Your Majesty today to bring imperial physicians was not out of concern for my beloved daughter, but because this unfilial daughter's maid, indignant at her rebellious behavior, came to report it. I, I naturally did not believe it, which is why I wished to come personally, but I did not expect, did not expect..."
Nan Chaoyin was overcome with shame, his voice choked with emotion.
Nanshi Ying, witnessing his performance, almost felt like applauding.
Nan Chaoyin lowered his head and did not see Nanshi Ying's expression, but Ji Jinmo saw it all and could not help but stifle a smile.
As for Nan Chaoyin, he had devised a solution so quickly.
Indeed, compared to the crime of slandering the Regent, his daughter's shameless behavior was nothing to him.
"Father, you told me to..."
"Unfilial daughter, silence!"
Nan Chaoyin interrupted Nanshi Ying's explanation, clearly not wanting her to speak. Li Qing's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this.
Ji Jinmo let out a low chuckle. He lowered his head, gazed at Nan Chaoyin kneeling on the ground, and his voice, deep as a boulder sinking into the abyss, said, "Are you saying that this King's Consort is not Nanyuan'er?"
"I wish I could say so, but..."
"This unfilial daughter is my other daughter."
"Good, very good!"
Ji Jinmo's voice descended like thunder, pressing down with immense force, making even Nan Chaoyin's body bend a few more inches, unable to withstand it.
"The Nan Residence indeed owes this King an explanation!"
...
As the Prince and the Prime Minister went to the palace to see the Emperor, the news that the Consort was not Nanyuan'er but her sister, Nanshi Ying, spread throughout the entire manor.
"Your Highness, the Side Consort requests an audience."
Bai Zhi's voice drifted into the room through the crack of the door. Lv Wan cast a worried glance at the Consort, but she herself seemed unaffected, leaning against the headboard and eating pastries.
Did His Highness know the Consort's identity beforehand?
Lv Wan pondered.
Hearing Qin Yurou's request, Lv Wan frowned and said softly, "If Your Highness does not wish to see her, I will send her away."
Nanshi Ying, however, became interested and waved her hand, "Let her in."
Lv Wan was slightly stunned but complied, opening the door.
Qin Yurou walked into the inner room, her expression arrogant as she glanced at Nanshi Ying, and gracefully sat on the chair.
"Side Consort!"
Lv Wan reminded her indignantly, "You haven't paid your respects yet."
"Be silent!"
"Before me, what right do you have to speak? What are you, and what is your mistress? You're just a thief who usurped a nest, do you think you're worthy of me paying respects?"
Nanshi Ying raised her eyelids and cast a light, indifferent glance at Qin Yurou.
She was indeed beautiful, unlike the people of Linyuan Kingdom. She seemed to have some nomadic ancestry, her eyes deep as if containing a galaxy.
However, that was all.
"My sister has quite the airs?" A mocking smile played on Nanshi Ying's pale face, slightly tinged by illness.
She was already beautiful, and now, weakened by illness, it had not diminished her beauty but rather added a touch of gentle charm. Qin Yurou, recalling His Highness spending the night with her a few days ago, felt her jealousy sharpen like a knife, wishing she could flay the person before her alive.
"Who is your sister? Do you truly consider yourself the Consort of the Regent's manor? You dare call me sister! If you were that Nanyuan'er, I would show you some respect, but who are you? Nanshi Ying? A mere illegitimate daughter of the Prime Minister, unknown to anyone?"
"When His Highness returns, who knows how he will deal with you. If I were you, I would have died of shame long ago. Yet, some people are so shameless they are beyond redemption, still acting like the Consort here. Truly, a horse does not know its face is long, and a person does not know shame!"
Qin Yurou cursed freely, but even so, she could not quell the resentment in her heart!
Looking at Nanshi Ying's face, she suddenly harbored malicious intent.
"Xiao Yuan!"
Hearing Qin Yurou's call, the maid beside her immediately understood and grabbed Lv Wan's wrist. Another maid covered Lv Wan's mouth.
Qin Yurou stood up, walking towards Nanshi Ying as she pulled out the hairpin from her hair, her venomous voice spewing forth, "When His Highness returns, he probably won't want to see you. Rather than keeping this face for you to seduce others, it would be better to ruin it."
As she spoke, she forcefully pushed the hairpin down.
However, her wrist was caught tightly in mid-air.
Nanshi Ying looked up at Qin Yurou and sighed softly. Why did she think she was so weak and easy to bully that she couldn't fight back?
Nanshi Ying's grip on Qin Yurou's wrist tightened, and with a strong pull, Qin Yurou was uncontrollably thrown onto the bed. Nanshi Ying rolled aside, straddled her, and pressed Qin Yurou's wrist down.
"What are you doing?"
Qin Yurou's eyes widened in terror.
Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Qin Yurou's maids rushed towards them. Lv Wan, however, was not about to let them go and lunged forward, grabbing one of the maid's arms.
The three maids were instantly locked in a struggle.
Nanshi Ying raised her eyebrows slightly as she watched. She lowered her head and flashed a sweet smile at Qin Yurou, but to Qin Yurou, this smile was like the gaze of a devil, sending chills down her spine.
"I am the Side Consort personally welcomed by His Highness. If you dare to touch me, His Highness will certainly not spare you, Nanshi Ying, you..."
"Ah!!"
A scream of excruciating pain echoed through the room. Nanshi Ying, holding Qin Yurou's hand, forcefully stabbed the hairpin into her cheek.
Then, she drew it downward, from top to bottom.
She carved a wound nearly ten centimeters long on her face.
Blood gushed out, and Qin Yurou, screaming, struggled desperately.
Hearing the screams from inside, the maids outside the room rushed in. Seeing the scene, they turned pale with fright and panicked, not knowing what to do.
Nanshi Ying pulled the hairpin from Qin Yurou's hand and looked at her masterpiece with satisfaction. Qin Yurou covered her face, wailing, "My face, my face! Nanshi Ying, His Highness will not let you go, he will never let you go... Quick, call a doctor, call an imperial physician..."
Nanshi Ying casually raised her eyes and said to everyone, "Side Consort Qin Yurou committed insubordination and is punished to kneel for five hours."
"Let her kneel in the courtyard!"
At these words, a shiver ran down everyone's spines.
If the Side Consort's facial wound was not treated promptly, it would likely leave a scar. The Consort intended to disfigure the Side Consort's face!
"Nanshi Ying, you are not the Consort, you cannot..."
"Xuan Yi!"
Nanshi Ying's voice interrupted Qin Yurou's cries. Xuan Yi leaped down from the rooftop, sword in hand, and stood by Nanshi Ying's side.
Nanshi Ying asked, "Am I the Regent's Consort, and do I have the authority to punish?"
Xuan Yi replied, "You are indeed the Consort, and you possess this authority."
Qin Yurou looked at Xuan Yi, who had appeared beside Nanshi Ying, her eyes wide with disbelief. "No, no, how could His Highness let the Xuan Guard follow you? No, this is impossible..."