From a place Nan Shiying could not see, Nan Yuan'er had already bitten her teeth to pieces, her heart filled with hatred, clawing and dancing, wishing she could tear Nan Shiying limb from limb, but she had to feign terror and contrition.
"Miss Nan, you must be more careful. Do not let the rumors about women in power give you any disloyal thoughts. A slip of the tongue is a small matter, but if people mistake it for the Prime Minister's mansion having its own set of rules, then you might not only face the condemnation of the world, but also cause court officials and His Majesty to suspect your Nan manor of plotting rebellion."
"Your humble servant is terrified. Your humble servant merely misspoke and has absolutely no disloyal thoughts. Your Highness's words are too far-fetched, seeking guilt where there is none. I beg your forgiveness, but even if you punish me for my impudence, I will never allow you to suspect me, or to doubt the loyalty of my Prime Minister's mansion to His Majesty and to Linyuan!"
Nan Yuan'er knelt on the ground, but her back was straight. Her pretty face, filled with righteous indignation, had eyes as bright as stars, flowing with unyielding spirit and fortitude.
The crowd seemed to see the unyielding Nan Yuan'er from before Nan Shiying's rise.
Nan Shiying raised her hand, acknowledging Nan Yuan'er's passionate performance. She half-closed her eyes and said to Lvwǎn, "What are you still looking at? Why haven't you bestowed the reward?"
Hearing this, Lvwǎn grabbed Qin Yushan with one hand, freed the other, and took out several broken pieces of silver from her bosom, tossing them at Nan Yuan'er's feet. "Her Highness bestows this. Express your gratitude!"
This was treating Nan Yuan'er like an actress!
Was she mocking her, saying she was wasted if she didn't become an actress?
This jab was so astonishing, so earth-shattering, that the crowd was mesmerized. They felt that Nan Yuan'er's face at this moment was like a palette, truly turning blue, then white, then red in rapid succession.
How interesting!
Nan Yuan'er's eyes immediately reddened, but she still did not lower her head or bend her waist. Her voice, as if containing fresh blood, carried a trace of determination, "Your humble servant does not accept. No thanks!"
How to put it, Nan Shiying felt that the person had practically offered their face to her hand, begging to be slapped, and if she remained unmoved, it would seem too aloof.
So, she raised her hand and slapped Nan Yuan'er hard across the face. "Very well, since you are begging this consort to punish you, if this consort does not comply, it would make this consort appear rather unfeeling!"
The crowd: "..."
Listen to that, could anyone speak like that?
"Puchi~"
Someone in the crowd couldn't help but chuckle.
"Nan Shi..."
Seeing her daughter insulted like this by Nan Shiying, Madam Liu was furious. She wanted to curse Nan Shiying angrily, but before she could even utter the name Nan Shiying, she was forcefully pulled by Nan Yuan'er, her knees hitting the ground as she knelt heavily.
"Yuan'er?"
Madam Liu looked at Nan Yuan'er in disbelief.
Nan Yuan'er gave her a warning glance. Wasn't it obvious that Nan Shiying was looking for trouble? And she was still handing over a knife to her with her own hands? Let alone cursing, just saying Nan Shiying's name would be enough for Nan Shiying to label her as insubordinate.
Currently, in this inner court, Nan Shiying held the most noble status, with no one above her. At this time, she could only use this moment to display her integrity and pride, but she absolutely could not overdo it. Otherwise, with Nan Shiying's habit of labeling people as traitors who colluded with the enemy at the slightest provocation, even her father might not be able to protect them!
"Nan Yuan'er, you are truly something!"
Lvwǎn handed Nan Shiying a handkerchief. Nan Shiying wiped her hands and then threw the handkerchief at Nan Yuan'er's feet. She looked up at Lvwǎn and said, "Send Qin Yushan to the Ministry of Justice. Tell them she intended to assassinate this consort."
"Yes!"
Lvwǎn nodded, but she still felt uneasy about the situation here.
"You go, and be quick to return!"
"This servant obeys your command!"
Lvwǎn raised her hand and, in front of everyone, directly broke Qin Yushan's limbs. Her movements were ruthless and decisive. Qin Yushan's piercing screams made everyone's scalps tingle, and their gazes toward Nan Shiying became even more fearful.
After confirming that Qin Yushan was no longer capable of resisting, Lvwǎn, holding her hair, dragged her out of the pavilion as if she were a dead dog.
The crowd gathered outside the pavilion instinctively parted to create a path. At the end of the path, the figures of Ji Jinmo and others appeared.
Seeing the blood spreading from the pavilion, Nan Chaoyin's face was so dark it seemed like water could drip from it. Lvwǎn, dragging Qin Yushan, saw Ji Jinmo and the others, stopped, and bowed to greet them, "This servant greets Your Highness, greets all Lords!"
"What are you doing?" Nan Chaoyin reprimanded sternly!
Lvwǎn replied calmly, "Replying to the Prime Minister, Qin Yushan intended to assassinate the Crown Princess, and intended to disrupt the alliance between Linyuan and Dali. The Crown Princess fears she might be a remnant of Miao疆 or Xiliang, so she ordered this servant to send this sinner to the Ministry of Justice first!"
Nan Chaoyin looked up and his gaze met Nan Shiying's in the air. Catching sight of Nan Yuan'er and Madam Liu kneeling at Nan Shiying's feet out of the corner of his eye, a flicker of understanding crossed his eyes, followed by an outpouring of immense anger.
He let out a cold laugh and said, "Princess Consort, aren't you being a bit alarmist!"
"What? Does the Prime Minister wish to protect her?" Ji Jinmo glanced at Nan Chaoyin.
Nan Chaoyin felt a wave of malice surge through him. He suddenly laughed again, "Your Highness, what are you saying? How could this subject protect a sinner who dares to assassinate the Princess Consort!"
"Is that so? What a pity then!"
Ji Jinmo stepped forward, looking down at Qin Yushan, who lay on the ground like a puddle of mud. Qin Qiancheng, that old rascal, was truly heartless. For Dali, he had actually abandoned his own daughter!
He lifted his foot and stepped on Qin Yushan's neck, then crushed down with force. With a "crunch," the sound of bone breaking echoed clearly in everyone's ears. Qin Yushan's eyes widened instantly, her bulging eyeballs almost protruding from their sockets. She stared fixedly at Ji Jinmo, at the man she had admired for so long, and hot tears welled up in the corner of her eyes. The next second, her expression froze, and the light in her eyes vanished completely.
"Your Highness!"
Nan Chaoyin glared at Ji Jinmo, enraged.
The ladies and young ladies in the inner court's legs turned soft with fear, instinctively backing away.
"Qin Yushan's assassination of the Princess Consort is an unforgivable crime, deserving of death!"
"Your Highness, Qin Yushan is, after all, the daughter of a court official. Even if she is guilty, you cannot resort to private punishment, you..."
"Daughter of a court official? Isn't she an assassin?"
"You..."
Ji Jinmo turned his phoenix eyes and questioned Nan Chaoyin.
Nan Chaoyin was instantly rendered speechless.
Yu Chengxuan unfurled his fan and smiled brilliantly, "The Regent of Linyuan is indeed more impressive in person than in reputation!"