Chapter 175: Every Time I See You, I Will Beat You

Jun Zijin felt a warmth in her heart and smiled faintly:

"Mother Empress, it is all in the past. Besides, as the future daughter-in-law of Father Emperor and Mother Empress, it is only right for me to fulfill filial duties on behalf of the Crown Prince."

She withdrew her hand unobtrusively; she was cold by nature and not accustomed to having her hand held tightly, even by the Empress whom she genuinely liked.

These words were very pleasing to the Emperor and Empress, and Quan Wuji could not help but laugh heartily.

Quan Tianchen spoke at the opportune moment:

"Father Emperor, Mother Empress, on the surface, the Tong'an Hall case is about Princess Jiahe being jealous of Zijin and plotting against many lives, attempting to frame Tong'an Hall. In reality, the sinister intent goes far beyond that. Who in the Imperial family does not know the connection between Tong'an Hospital and Tong'an Hall? I fear the ultimate goal of this incident was for the Prince An Estate to bring disgrace upon Tong'an Hospital."

As soon as Quan Tianchen finished speaking, the expression on Quan Wuji’s face became uncertain.

After a long while, Quan Wuji spoke in such plain, blunt language that it left everyone stunned:

"The Prince An Estate—I have long found them an eyesore! Today, he actually indulged his rotten-hearted daughter in committing crimes! If I do not teach the Prince An Estate a lesson this time, then I am not Quan Wuji!"

Oh my, Jun Zijin almost burst out laughing.

Not only did the Emperor not look like an emperor at this moment.

Even the gentle, immortal-like Prince Chen was this black-bellied; he had deliberately brought up the Prince An Estate, effectively escalating Princess Jiahe’s personal grudge into the Prince An Estate harboring malicious intent toward the Imperial family.

With this heavy label slapped on them, the Prince An Estate would lose a layer of skin even if they didn't die.

Then, the black-bellied immortal spoke again:

"Father Emperor, but Princess Jiahe is the Fifth Brother’s fiancée, and she was personally chosen by Consort Xin."

Jun Zijin secretly thought that Consort Xin, who had her kneecap shattered by a spoon at the last palace banquet and was then locked in her bedchamber by the Emperor to fend for herself, was likely going to be in trouble again.

During this time, Consort Xin had been quiet in her bedchamber, and the Emperor had likely forgotten about her.

It would have been fine if he hadn't mentioned Consort Xin, but at the mention of her, Quan Wuji’s anger burned even brighter.

Sure enough, they heard Quan Wuji issue decree after decree:

"Someone! Convey my decree: Since the Prince of An received his title, he has made no contribution to the state, provided no help to the people, failed to discipline his daughter, and indulged her in evil deeds. From this day forth, strip him of the surname 'Quan,' revoke his title, and demote him to a commoner."

"Consort Xin failed to judge character, inviting a wolf into the house; demote her to a Noble Lady and move her to the north."

Jun Zijin was slightly stunned. The north—wasn't that the Cold Palace?

The Emperor demoted a consort who had borne an Imperial Prince to a Noble Lady and moved her to the Cold Palace, not even bothering to find a better excuse.

It was Consort Xin’s own fault for courting death; of all people to provoke, she had to provoke someone who couldn't be provoked.

The eunuch conveying the decree hurried away, and everyone in the great hall felt satisfied.

Jun Zijin took the pulse of the Emperor and Empress again, finished the routine check, and then left the palace.

At this moment, the Prince An Estate—which should now be called the Wen Estate—had the eunuch conveying the decree watch personally as the plaque on the gate was taken down before he returned to the palace to report.

As soon as the eunuch left, Master Wen (the former Prince of An) saw darkness before his eyes and collapsed to the ground.

That wicked daughter caused trouble every other day, and the disasters only grew larger; of all people, why did she have to provoke that living Yama, Princess Qingping?

She even dared to poke at the Emperor’s hospital; this time, the trouble she stirred up had directly poked his title away.

It was over, all over; he had suffered a massive blow, so what else could he do but faint?

The masters of the estate were not easy to get along with, especially Wen Jiahe, who bullied the servants as a matter of routine.

Among those servants who had been bullied, who wouldn't want to see this good show?

They saw the fat-headed, big-eared Master Wen lying on the ground like a fat shrimp flipped on its back, his limbs twitching, moaning and groaning in a way that was so comical it made people unable to hold back their laughter.

The Wen Estate was in chaos; within the high walls and deep courtyards, the former prosperity and clamor had been replaced by a shroud of gloom.

Lady Wen wailed in despair while directing the servants to carry Master Wen into the house.

When the dust settled, the lights of ten thousand homes were already lit.

Shop signs swayed in the breeze, and the sound of people chatting and laughing drifted through the streets, all of which formed a sharp contrast to the sorrow of the Wen Estate.

Wen Jiahe had been hiding outside for a day, feeling that the storm had passed, and was swaying back to the estate in her carriage.

A smug smile hung on the corners of her mouth; she had caused more than one or two troubles, and although there were occasional ripples, hadn't she always been as steady as Mount Tai?

She did not yet know that a heaven-shaking change had occurred at home, and she leaned comfortably against the soft velvet cushions.

She was still calculating how to use more tricks to continue being the center of attention in the circle of noble ladies in Jingcheng.

But enemies often cross paths; halfway there, her carriage had a narrow encounter with He Linger, who was returning home after watching the excitement at the Wen Estate. The two carriages became stuck in the street, and neither would budge an inch.

Wen Jiahe lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a section of meticulously styled cloud-like hair and slender eyebrows.

She looked at the carriage opposite, her eyes full of arrogance and disdain:

"Hmph, isn't this the daughter of that martial brute from the He family? Does she not know whose territory this is, daring to block this Princess's path?"

Having been pampered in the Prince's estate since childhood, she was accustomed to being arrogant and domineering; she usually looked down on He Linger, who came from a family of military generals, always feeling that her own background was noble and that she should be superior in every way.

He Linger was not having it; the grudge from the original owner being harmed by Wen Jiahe and falling to her death from horseback had not yet been avenged.

Today she had walked right into the line of fire, and beating a dog in the water had always been He Linger’s principle.

He Linger pointed at Wen Jiahe and cursed loudly:

"Miss Wen, stop acting wild here. This street isn't your family's property; why should I yield to you?"

Hearing He Linger call her "Miss Wen," Wen Jiahe was so angry her face turned green, and she pointed at He Linger, clamoring:

"Just because I am a Princess of the current dynasty, and you are nothing but the daughter of a military general."

He Linger laughed loudly, her laughter filled with disdain and mockery:

"Miss Wen, your ability to pit your father this time is truly high-level."

Saying this, she lashed out with a whip. *Crack!* It landed on Wen Jiahe’s head.

"This whip is a gift from me."

Wen Jiahe immediately let out a pig-like shriek, her hair disheveled, her eyes spitting fire. She never expected that He Linger would actually dare to strike her.

"You bitch, how dare you hit me!"

He Linger was amused; she was not like her good friend Jun Zijin, who relied on herself to get where she was today, walking on thin ice and using her brain instead of her hands whenever possible.

She, He Linger, had parents and brothers who doted on her, and a good friend, Jun Zijin, to back her up.

She could walk sideways if she wanted; the "ten years to take revenge" thing didn't apply to her—she would use her hands instead of her brain whenever she could.

"I hit you because I wanted to. Do you think you're still the high and mighty Princess? Your father failed to discipline his daughter and indulged her in wrongdoing; your family's 'Quan' surname has been stripped by the Emperor, and your father has been demoted to a commoner. You are nothing but a commoner girl now."

Wen Jiahe widened her eyes, her face full of disbelief:

"You're lying!"

At this moment, people around them chimed in:

"The young lady is right; the plaque with the four characters 'Prince An Estate' on your gate has already been taken down."

Wen Jiahe was struck as if by lightning, her complexion instantly turning even more purple than a pig's liver.

Her worldview collapsed at this moment. She wanted to say something, but found she could no longer speak.

Once the high and mighty Princess Jiahe, she now slumped in the carriage, utterly dejected.

Seeing this, He Linger was triumphant:

"From now on, you had better stay far away when you see me. Believe it or not, I will beat you every time I see you."

Having said that, she ordered the coachman to drive away.