Seeing Nan Chaoyin arrive, Nan Yuan'er's heart finally settled.
Madam Liu raised her tear-filled eyes, her swollen eyes clouded with shimmering droplets, making her appear so pitiful that Nan Chaoyin’s expression immediately darkened. Anger churned within him, and an intense aura emanated from his entire being.
Ji Jinmo’s phoenix eyes slanted, the blush beneath his lower eyelids making him look even more alluring. "Prime Minister Nan wields great authority. Matters of the estate? So, the Nan Estate's mistreatment of this King’s Consort was at your instruction, Nan Chaoyin? Good, very good. This King knew that Liu Shi, a mere woman, would not dare mistreat this King’s Consort. So that's how it is."
As he spoke, he gathered his wide sleeves and slowly rose. "Nan Chaoyin, if you do not give this King an explanation today, even if it means incurring Ji Hong's displeasure, I will have the Demon Hunter Army level your Nan Estate's gates!"
Nan Chaoyin couldn't help but glare fiercely at Madam Liu. If she hadn't insisted on making things difficult for Nan Shiying, how could Ji Jinmo have found an excuse to attack?
He didn't believe the Prince was joking.
What was there that Ji Jinmo wouldn't dare to do? If he hadn't cared about being cursed by the world, he could have long ago led the Demon Hunter Army to storm the palace. Why would he be haggling with them here? Now that he had an excuse, if Nan Chaoyin refused to back down, the Demon Hunter Army would march into the capital, leveling his Nan Estate's gates and heading straight for the palace.
Nan Chaoyin's hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into fists. He took a deep breath, and his sharp aura dissipated. "Your Highness, please calm your anger. It is my failure to manage my household properly. I will definitely give Your Highness and the Consort an explanation!"
As he spoke, he turned and reprimanded Madam Liu fiercely, "Madam Liu has mismanaged the inner courtyard. Hand over the household management back to Madam Wang. As for the servants of the estate, those who were disrespectful to the Consort yesterday are to be dragged out and given fifty heavy blows!"
"Master?"
Madam Liu raised her head in disbelief. He was going to strip her of her management power? How could this be? This was something she had finally snatched from Madam Wang... and fifty heavy blows? Could Madam Qin and Yu'er withstand such severe punishment?
"Prime Minister Nan, it seems your wife is not satisfied with your punishment!" Ji Jinmo curled his lips, his cold voice laced with mockery.
Even yesterday, Nan Chaoyin had felt that doting on Madam Liu was harmless. But today, he suddenly felt he might have spoiled her to the point of her being oblivious to the situation.
In this current scene, couldn't she see what was happening? And she still dared to interject?
Seeing her father's instantly grim expression, Nan Yuan'er's alarm bells immediately rang. Her favored status in the estate, aside from the fortune-telling words left by that Taoist priest, was undeniably linked to her mother's favor. If her father began to dislike her mother, even if she remained favored, her father might still hold her responsible for her mother's foolishness.
This cannot happen!
She couldn't let her father become displeased with her mother.
Nan Yuan'er grabbed Madam Liu's arm, signaling her to stop speaking!
Nan Chaoyin shot Madam Liu a stern glare, then said in a deep voice, "Since Madam Liu is not feeling well, she should rest in her room for the time being. Yuan'er, hurry and help your mother back to her room to rest."
Nan Yuan'er quickly took Madam Liu away from the courtyard building.
The servants of the Nan Estate brought Madam Qin, Yu'er, and the steward to the entrance of the courtyard building, and the punishment began in front of everyone.
The sound of the slaps and screams rose and fell, and before long, the sounds subsided.
Fifty heavy blows were something even a strong man could not endure, let alone the three frail and elderly women, Madam Qin.
The three soon lost consciousness.
"Your Highness, are you satisfied?" Nan Chaoyin's jawline was slightly clenched, as if he were grinding his teeth, and he asked respectfully with his head bowed.
Ji Jinmo let out a soft "hm" from his nose. "Nan Chaoyin, for the sake of you being Ying'er's father, we will let this matter rest today. But you must remember, Ying'er is no longer your illegitimate daughter, Nan Chaoyin. She is this King's Consort now. If anyone from the Nan Estate dares to bully this King's Consort again, this King will not be as accommodating as he is today."
"Ying'er, let's go!"
Ji Jinmo said, extending his hand towards Nan Shiying.
Nan Shiying lowered her head and placed her hand in Ji Jinmo's. From beginning to end, she did not say a word in defense of the Nan Estate.
Everyone lowered their heads, their thoughts racing.
It seemed that Nan Shiying and the Nan Estate had long since harbored ill feelings towards each other.
Ji Jinmo and Nan Shiying left hand in hand. The onlookers looked at each other and then, one by one, stood up to take their leave. No one dared to linger any longer.
Only when there were no outsiders left in the courtyard building did Nan Yujin walk up to Nan Chaoyin. "Father, that..."
Nan Chaoyin turned and looked at him. "The household management will temporarily be handed over to your mother. Your mother is frail, so find someone to assist her. As for anything else, you do not need to inquire or pay attention to it."
Nan Chaoyin did not give Nan Yujin a chance to speak, directly cutting off his words. Nan Yujin opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing, only lowered his head and softly agreed.
...
In the carriage returning to the Prince's estate, Nan Shiying couldn't help but give Ji Jinmo a thumbs-up. The grievances she had settled in the Nan Estate today had somewhat brought justice to the original Nan Shiying. "I now understand what you came here for today."
"This excuse is perfect; Nan Chaoyin must be furious enough to faint."
"But I still sincerely say, well done!"
Nan Shiying thought that Ji Jinmo had come to the Nan Estate today just to stir up trouble. Ji Jinmo smiled and did not deny it.
However, the tenderness hidden in the depths of his eyes offered a different answer.
"It's too good of a deal for them," Nan Shiying sighed, still not entirely satisfied. Compared to the life Nan Shiying had endured in the Nan Estate, she felt that Madam Qin and Nan Fu had died too easily. Compared to the harm they had inflicted on Nan Shiying, death could not fully atone for their sins.
"My Lord, can their bodies be brought here?"
Nan Shiying suddenly asked.
Xuan Yi, who was driving, shuddered at the words.
Consort, do you intend to desecrate the corpses?
Ji Jinmo's emotions remained unfazed. "Of course. Do you want to bring them to Consort Mammy's grave?"
Nan Shiying nodded noncommittally.
She had said she would pave Consort Mammy's path of reincarnation with the flesh and limbs of the Nan family, and this bloody path would begin with Madam Qin and Nan Fu!