Chapter 17: Disrespect

Disrespect

Aunt Wu was a maidservant who had served beside Noble Consort Ning, the birth mother of Prince Chen, Yin Fengzhan. After Noble Consort Ning passed away from illness, she remained by Yin Fengzhan's side to serve him. Later, when Yin Fengzhan reached adulthood and moved out of the palace, she followed him to the Wangfu.

Therefore, looking across the entire Wangfu, aside from the Chief Steward Gu Hong, only Aunt Wu held the highest seniority and status. She usually managed affairs in the Houyuaner, and even Han Luoxue had to show her a degree of deference. Xiangcao was Aunt Wu's own niece, which was why Aunt Wu had stepped forward to back her up.

Yet, she had not expected to be blocked by Nie Jinxuan, and this was undoubtedly a slap to Aunt Wu's face in front of everyone!

"Since the Princess Consort says so, this old servant naturally has nothing more to say..."

Aunt Wu's complexion was ashen as she stared fixedly at the Nie Jinxuan before her, then her tone shifted in an instant.

"However, you are the Princess Consort of the Wangfu, so your every word and action is not merely..."

"So, are you implying that I, this Princess Consort of Prince Chen, am a disgrace to the Wangfu?"

In her past life, Nie Jinxuan—or rather, Fang Zheng—had been a forensic pathologist. But she also came from a wealthy, prestigious family. Thus, since childhood, she had been accustomed to the schemes and power plays of high society and the subtle nuances of the servants. Therefore, she was perfectly clear about Aunt Wu's intentions.

So, before Aunt Wu could finish her sentence, Nie Jinxuan interrupted her directly. Upon hearing this, Aunt Wu was stunned for a moment, then lowered her somewhat insolent eyes.

"This old servant would not dare."

"Didn't you just say it anyway?"

"... This old servant only wished to remind the Princess Consort... After all, the Wangfu is currently managed by the Secondary Consort, so..."

Aunt Wu was indeed shrewd. Seeing that Nie Jinxuan's words were sharp and she was no match for her, she dragged Han Luoxue into the fray. At this moment, upon hearing this, Han Luoxue, who had been standing to the side without a word, felt her gaze flicker. She looked up at Aunt Wu, then immediately put on a smile and stepped forward to say:

"Uh... hehe, alright, alright. Princess Consort sister, look, this isn't a big deal, so please don't be angry~! Besides, Aunt Wu didn't mean anything else; she is just concerned about the Wangfu and concerned about you, sister..."

"Of course, today's matter is indeed because Xiangcao, this girl, did not follow the rules. Later, this younger sister will naturally deal with her according to family law, so I hope you, sister, will be magnanimous and not hold it against a mere servant girl~!"

Han Luoxue's tone was gentle, her face full of smiles. As she spoke, she walked right up to Nie Jinxuan's side. However, upon hearing this, Nie Jinxuan, who was sitting in her seat, merely glanced at her, then cast her gaze back onto Aunt Wu.

"Not a big deal? So, Secondary Consort Han, do you think I am making a mountain out of a molehill today? Or are you saying that if this bowl of bird's nest porridge wasn't for me, but for you, you would just let the matter rest?"

She had seized Xiangcao, lectured Aunt Wu, and even refused to give face to the Secondary Consort Han Luoxue... Even when Nie Jinxuan had been arrogant, domineering, and throwing tantrums in the past, these were things she had never dared to do, yet she had done them all now!

At this, everyone fell silent! Han Luoxue stood there in embarrassment; her face still wore a smile, but it had stiffened to the point where she didn't know how to react!

The courtyard fell into a deathly silence once more, and the eerie tension and suppression were suffocating... Just at this moment, the sound of footsteps faintly drifted over from outside the moon gate of Ningxiang Yuan, and simultaneously, a man's shouting also came through.

"Aiya, what's going on? It's early in the morning, where has everyone gone? Eh... why is everyone here?"

With a loud voice and an impatient tone, the person who arrived was none other than the current Sixth Prince—Prince Gong, Yin Fengxuan. ===== CHAPTER 18 =====