Chapter 136: Volume 1, Chapter 136: How Could There Be Someone So Stupid

Sure enough, things unfolded just as Han Xinglan had predicted. When Xiao Shen proposed the military exercise, the entire court erupted in uproar—this was tantamount to the Imperial Dragon Guard provoking the Three Great Camps of the capital. Was this not sheer arrogance?

For a time, memorials impeaching Xiao Shen flew like snowflakes onto His Majesty's desk, but the emperor set them aside without action. By the second day, word came that His Majesty had approved Xiao Shen's memorial!

This...

Xiao Shen had previously presented those pellets, and everyone had witnessed their power. Under such circumstances, how could they compete?

With such a lethal weapon in the Imperial Dragon Guard's hands, the Three Great Camps could not be said to be unable to defeat them, but bringing down the Imperial Dragon Guard would still exact a considerable price.

If their losses were too great, then even if they won in His Majesty's eyes, it would still count as a crushing defeat—what use would that be?

It would still be a disgrace!

Han Xinglan had Xiao Shen raise this matter precisely to stoke the fury of the Three Great Camps. That way, Hu Xi and the others' efforts to persuade and win people over would proceed far more smoothly.

Xiao Shen's blow did not just leave the court officials dumbfounded—even Prince Qi and Consort Ming were greatly astonished.

Prince Qi looked at his mother and said, "Xiao Shen revealed not the slightest hint of this beforehand. From what I can see, even though he has married my cousin Yuhua, I fear he may not necessarily be of one mind with us."

Consort Ming's expression was far from pleasant. She said, "Do not be anxious. I will summon Yuhua into the palace to ask her."

Prince Qi still had matters to attend to, so he rose and said, "I still need to meet with the commanders of the other three camps and sound them out. I will take my leave now."

"Go ahead," Consort Ming said, watching her son. Once he left, she turned to Bai Zhuo beside her. "Go, have someone pass word to Yuhua. Tell her to come to the palace."

Consort Ming made no effort to suppress the anger in her voice, her face dark as thunder. Bai Zhuo hastily acknowledged the order and instructed a palace attendant to leave the palace to deliver the message.

Ming Yuhua received Consort Ming's summons and sneered inwardly. She dismissed the palace attendant who had come from her aunt's side, then took her time with her toilette, changed her clothes unhurriedly, and only after she was properly turned out did she make her leisurely way into the palace.

She had walked this road into the palace far too many times. She was so familiar with it that she could find her way with her eyes closed.

Upon reaching the gates of Guanju Palace, Bai Zhuo came out personally to greet her, smiling. "Madam Xiao, Her Ladyship has been waiting for you for some time. Please."

Ming Yuhua's expression was faintly indifferent. In the past, when she entered the palace, she had been Consort Ming's niece, and Bai Zhuo had addressed her as Miss Ming. Now, however, she had to address her with greater respect as Madam Xiao.

Ming Yuhua entered the main hall and saw her aunt seated in the place of honor. She stepped forward to pay her respects. "This subject-wife greets Her Ladyship Consort Ming."

Consort Ming's face darkened further at these words. "What, you marry a man and no longer acknowledge this aunt of yours?"

In the past, Ming Yuhua would certainly have been afraid, but now she was not afraid at all. She raised her head and said with a smile, "Aunt, how am I to answer such words? Before, I was merely the eldest daughter of the Ming family, and even if I was somewhat remiss in etiquette, we were family. Now that I am married, if I am remiss and someone seizes upon it as a fault, I fear it would implicate my husband. That is why I have been somewhat more cautious. Please do not take offense, Your Ladyship."

Ming Yuhua's words were perfectly reasonable, but Consort Ming knew that this niece of hers was likely still resentful of her in her heart. Her expression turned stern as she looked at her and said, "Are you aware that Xiao Shen submitted a memorial asking His Majesty to permit a military exercise?"

Sure enough, it was about this matter!

Ming Yuhua put on a blank, bewildered expression. "Military exercise? What is that?"

Consort Ming saw that Ming Yuhua's expression did not seem feigned, and recalling that this niece of hers was indeed a blockhead with little ability but first-rate talent for causing trouble, she could not help saying with a headache, "Since you have married Xiao Shen, should you not show more concern for matters between husband and wife?"

Ming Yuhua said in surprise, "But Aunt, the Hou Gong may not interfere in politics, and you cannot inquire into His Majesty's affairs. Xiao Shen is so fierce—how would I dare ask about his business?"

Consort Ming's heart nearly broke from being blocked by these words. "What kind of talk is that? How can you compare the two?"

Ming Yuhua looked utterly bewildered. "What is different? After marriage, is it not always the man who handles affairs outside and the woman who manages the household? Xiao Shen has entrusted the household management to me, and I need only help him with domestic affairs. Matters outside—if he told me, I would not understand them. Besides, you know perfectly well what his post entails. I would not dare ask too much."

Ming Yuhua hated Consort Ming to the bone. Through this ordeal, she had learned a great deal, and when conversing with the aunt she had once favored most, she now knew how to spar with her.

So this was how it felt to watch one's enemy stamp about in fury—how deeply satisfying.

The breath that had been pent up in her heart had finally eased by a few degrees.

"Then go back and ask Xiao Shen why he suddenly wants to hold some military exercise. What exactly is going on," Consort Ming said, her face dark.

The smile on Ming Yuhua's face also faded. "That I cannot do. Aunt, after we married, Xiao Shen told me that I was not to inquire into his affairs. This marriage was arranged by the family from the start—no one asked whether I was willing. After I married, no one cared how Xiao Shen and I were getting along. Now you all want me to suddenly meddle and ask about his business—is it because you think my life is too comfortable?"

Consort Ming was so angry her heart trembled. "I am also doing this for your own good. You are his wife—do you not wish for harmony between you?"

"I do not!" Ming Yuhua said coldly. "A man like Xiao Shen has his head full of nothing but the Imperial Dragon Guard and how to serve His Majesty loyally. Where is there any room for romance? He did not marry me out of fondness—he simply married because it was time to take a wife."

Consort Ming cursed in her fury, "Truly, rotten wood cannot be carved!"

Ming Yuhua rose to her feet. "Aunt is right. That is simply my nature. In any case, I could never do what someone does—giving the person beside her own brother as an outside mistress. Nor could I be like my father, who went on and on about loving only my mother, yet kept an outside mistress for so many years that the illegitimate child is nearly grown. If that is what a marriage looks like, then I think the way Xiao Shen and I are is the most suitable. Neither of us interferes with the other, and we both live our lives comfortably. That is enough."

Consort Ming slammed the table. "Presumptuous!"

In the past, Ming Yuhua would certainly have been afraid, but now she felt nothing. She looked coldly at Consort Ming. "You all insisted I marry Xiao Shen, and I married him. I have already fulfilled my filial duty as a daughter. But how I live my life after marriage is my own affair. You want me to be your eyes and ears to spy on my husband—but Aunt, have you ever considered what my life would be like if my husband found out? None of you think of me. You only know how to use me. Can I not think of myself?"

Consort Ming pressed her lips together, forcibly suppressing her fury. At this moment, she wanted nothing more than to step forward and slap her twice!

This fool!

Only if her maiden family was well-off would Xiao Shen not dare to mistreat her!

But clearly Ming Yuhua was still harboring a grudge over the matter of Liu Yuniang. Consort Ming knew that at this point, there was no reasoning with this niece. She would have to let her eldest brother speak with her.

She was furious to death!

How could there be someone so stupid!