Chapter 45: Broken House [Thank You for Your Support! Please Vote! Grateful!]

While the servants of the Hou Fu were urgently reporting and trying to restrain the commotion, Princess Pingning, disregarding propriety, led her ladies-in-waiting in swift strides toward the courtyard.

Qi Heng was her first child after marrying into the Duke Prefecture; since childhood, he had been sensible and obedient, quick-witted and eager to learn, and she truly cherished him to the core of her heart.

She had allowed Qi Heng to follow only because she saw Xu Zaijing attending the birthday banquet and hoped her own child might grow closer to him.

She never imagined that less than half an hour after he left, such a terrifying scene had unfolded.

As Princess Pingning walked, one of her ladies-in-waiting spoke:

“Princess, the servants say Heng-ge didn’t get hurt—he didn’t even know what happened.”

“Hmph! This Rong family truly has the audacity.”

Along the way, Princess Pingning also saw the guests gathered by the flower gate, watching the spectacle.

“Send several capable ladies-in-waiting to escort the female guests away from that flower gate.”

After speaking, Princess Pingning continued walking.

At that moment, the servants supporting the Rong family of Fuchang Hou were just catching sight of Princess Pingning.

The Lady of Fuchang Hou shot Princess Pingning a hostile glance,

and snapped: “This is how the old noble families treat their guests? Hmph, what kind of trash!”

Princess Pingning ignored her entirely, walking straight to her son’s side and carefully inspecting him—she saw no dust on his body, no disheveled braids or anything amiss.

A nearby page whispered quietly to Princess Pingning, speaking briefly and without fluff, summarizing the situation in just a few words.

“Hmph!”

“Your Majesty, the ball didn’t just strike someone—it hit his head. Of course he’d be startled.”

Buwei added.

A child this age, if startled so severely, could lose his spirit and grow weak; whether he fell ill or not, and how serious it might be, was hard to say.

The worst case would be...

Princess Pingning’s breathing grew heavier.

But seeing the female guests nearby still entertaining themselves, their watching eyes made Princess Pingning take a deep breath.

In all her life, she had never endured such humiliation; her hands trembled slightly.

As Princess Pingning bent down to pick up her son, she noticed Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and the others standing nearby.

“Jing-ge, good child. Someone, tell the guests to resume their merriment.”

After speaking, Princess Pingning glanced once more at the female guests gradually dispersing near the flower gate and sighed softly.

Families already at odds with the Hou Fu or the Duke Prefecture now had fresh gossip to spread.

“Mother, Xu’s little page was amazing—he took down so many people by himself,” said Qi Heng, nestled in the Princess’s arms; his eyes showed no fear, only excitement.

He then waved his tiny arms around.

Princess Pingning looked at her son—unfrightened, his eyes brimming with joy.

“When you’re older, Mother will find you a master to study both literature and martial arts, shall we?”

“Yes, Mother!”

Saying this, mother and son walked toward the main chamber of the Hou Laohou of Hou Fu.

The second son of the Duke, Princess Pingning’s husband, had already come over.

“Is Heng alright?”

“He’s fine—he’s even insisting on learning martial arts. It’s all thanks to Xu’s Jing-ge.”

As the couple walked, Princess Pingning briefly recounted the events.

“The Rong family is growing more lawless by the day.”

“Who can blame them? They have the imperial consort.”

“I don’t think the Rong family will let this go.”

“They have their imperial consort—we’re not soft targets either.”

Gu Er took his son from his wife’s arms, and the two continued toward the Hou Fu’s main chamber.

With the commotion over, the female guests resumed their merriment, laughing and gossiping about the Rong family.

The Second Miss of the Qin family moved like a plum blossom revived with life—her pace was quicker than usual.

“Miss, what’s the matter? You seem in high spirits,” said her maid.

“Did you see the technique that Xu’s third young master’s page used just now?”

“It looked somewhat... Miss, are you saying that was truly an Yin family lad?”

“Have your sweetheart investigate. If it’s true, we’ll need to act.”

“Yes, Miss.”

By the time Sun Shi and Bai Shi, the two senior ladies, learned of the incident, it was already over.

Upon hearing her son hadn’t been harmed but had struck Rong’s son with the ball, Sun Shi felt a pang of worry—but then she relaxed.

She believed her son had done nothing wrong.

Judging from the Xu family’s recent standing, they were clearly aligned with the Empress’s faction.

Xu Minghua’s appointments had all been secured with the help of the Cao family.

Princess Pingning had been raised at the Empress’s side; to insult her was to insult both the Empress and the Hou Fu.

At the banquet, the Hou Fu showed no sign of disdain toward the Rong family and exchanged cups and toasts with the Rong patriarch.

Rong Xian’s face bore two red marks from the ball—he couldn’t show himself before guests and returned early with his mother to the Fuchang Hou residence.

By the time the guests of the Hou Fu departed, the Lady of the Rong family and Rong Xian had already reached the palace.

The Lady of the Rong family’s face was flushed with fury; beside her, Rong Xian had shed his earlier aggression and now looked pitiful.

“Sister, I was just playing ball at the Hou Fu when the Gu and Xu boys came to bully me!

They used their status as old Beijing nobles to call our Rong family bricklayers and broken-down households.”

“I only argued with them a few words, and they used their numbers to beat our servants.

I tried to calm things down, but that Xu third son threw the ball straight at my brother’s face! Your Majesty, our family is being crushed under their cruelty! Waaah!”

As she spoke, the Lady of the Rong family began to weep.

Sitting on the couch, the Rong Consort looked no more than twenty; her favor with the Emperor was no accident—she was a beauty of heavenly grace.

Her black hair flowed smoothly, her skin as pale and flawless as jade; her fingers, exposed from her sleeves, were slender and delicate. Though long married into the palace, her eyes remained bright and innocent—any man who saw her would be awestruck.

Rong Xian, now old enough to understand matters of men and women, sat quietly beside her after his tearful plea, too timid to stare directly at his sister.

He could only sneak glances at the exquisitely embroidered shoes on her feet, lost in thought.

The Rong Consort did not respond to her family’s words; every gesture carried innate nobility. She turned to her mother and asked:

“Mother, how is our younger sister?”

“Fine—obedient, adorable, eats well and sleeps soundly.”

“Good. Mother, our family rose to power solely because of the Emperor’s favor—we should have used this chance to ally with noble houses, not provoke the Duke family!

The Hou Fu earned his title saving the Emperor’s life; the Princess is his only daughter; Heng-ge is her heart’s treasure!”

The Rong Consort’s voice was sweet and unhurried; after listening, Rong Xian looked up at his sister with admiration and said:

“Sister, Mother says Princess Pingning is slandering you among the noble ladies, tarnishing our Rong family’s name. They fear the Qi family—I don’t.”

Hearing this, Rong Xian’s mother’s eyes flickered with guilt; she stole a glance at her daughter—and sure enough, the Rong Consort’s gaze was filled with reprimand.

The Rong Consort continued: “Mother, you and Brother should return home soon. I will go before the Emperor and beg for forgiveness. Xian-ge, you must not leave the house these days.”

“Sister—”

The Rong Consort ignored her brother; her lady-in-waiting bowed slightly, gesturing for them to leave.

The Lady of the Rong family and Rong Xian rose and, under the lady’s guidance, departed the palace in a sedan chair.

At the palace gate, they stepped down; the Rong Consort’s lady-in-waiting still followed.

“Lady, the Consort had words she couldn’t say in person: Xu’s Jing-ge is a good lad. Once you leave the palace, don’t dare plot anything.

Also, gifts to compensate the Duke family are already on their way—tomorrow, you must go to the Qi family to apologize.

And remember: the young man from our household serving in the Imperial Guards has a superior who was once a personal guard of the Hou Fu.”

The lady-in-waiting turned and left; several palace attendants carried the gifts onto the Rong family’s carriage.

As the lady departed, she spotted a middle-aged maid of about forty, who bowed respectfully: “Lady Kong, greetings.”

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(End of Chapter)