Chapter 26: The Second Young Lady's Miraculous Recovery: shuhaige.net

shuhaige.net

After everyone dispersed, Concubine Wu learned of the matter and was so frightened that her whole body trembled. She had never imagined that the lowly girl would have such ability, and now she had lost the Prime Minister's favor. Concubine Wu was so angry she cursed, speaking without restraint:

"That lowly girl, how could a girl from a respectable family have such a seductive air, actually enticing the Crown Prince to protect her like this? Hmph! There isn't a single good man in this world; they all pounce the moment they see a woman..."

These words had actually insulted the Emperor, the Crown Prince, her own Master, and all men under heaven.

Prime Minister Gao truly could not suppress the stifled rage in his heart. Although he was a noble Prime Minister, it was clear the Emperor intended to shield the Jun family. After the Crown Prince and his party left, he stormed toward the Buddha Hall. Before he even arrived, Concubine Wu's treasonous words reached his ears, word for word.

He rushed in with a few strides, his face full of fury. Before Concubine Wu could even offer a greeting, she received several fierce slaps to the face:

"Look at the good work you've done!" Prime Minister Gao roared.

"Your niece acted so disgracefully before the Crown Prince today that the Grand Madam was nearly frightened to death. And here you are, treasonously criticizing the Crown Prince. You... are you dissatisfied that the Gao family isn't in enough chaos? Will you only be at ease once we are convicted and our entire clan is wiped out?"

Prime Minister Gao shook his aching hand. He was so furious that he had struck too hard, and now his palm felt numb.

Concubine Wu was knocked to the ground, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. She was too terrified even to cry:

"Master, that lowly girl must have used some fox-like, seductive trick. Your concubine was just angry for a moment."

"Angry? If you had even half the intelligence and composure of that girl, it wouldn't have come to this. That girl has no backing, yet she was able to handle the Crown Prince skillfully. Look at you, you only know how to throw tantrums and curse. What kind of decorum is this!"

Concubine Wu widened her eyes, only then daring to sob aloud. She had not expected the Prime Minister to praise that girl, and she cried:

"Master, have you been bewitched by that girl?"

Prime Minister Gao disregarded the pain in his hand, raised it, and struck Concubine Wu across the face again:

"Shut your mouth! If you hadn't constantly looked for trouble with her, so many issues wouldn't have arisen."

"As for that niece of yours who is so desperate to climb into the royal family, the Prime Minister's residence will not have her. If you cannot handle this matter properly, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Concubine Wu clutched her face, her eyes filled with terror and resentment, but she could only lower her head and agree.

Prime Minister Gao no longer had a shred of tenderness or pity:

"For this month, you will stay in the Buddha Hall and reflect!" After saying this, he flicked his sleeves and left.

At the Jun residence, everyone in the main hall had different thoughts. Except for the Old Madam, no one believed the second girl had the ability to cure the Prime Minister's Gao Old Madam. An acute stroke was dangerous enough to make anyone tremble with fear.

Especially the First Lady, who was terrified that if Jun Zijin cured the Gao Old Madam, she would be even harder to deal with in the future. Although she didn't believe the girl had such ability, there was always a "what if"—what if she got lucky? She was even more afraid that if she failed to cure the Gao Old Madam, she would bring disaster upon the Jun residence, completely forgetting who had brought the disaster upon the Jun residence today.

Jun Zhengming paced back and forth in the hall, his nervousness evident.

The Second Lady and Concubine Zhou kept glancing toward the door, the young ladies kept their heads down counting their fingers, and Jun Yiyi stole glances at everyone from time to time.

At this moment, a servant ran in hurriedly, "Master, news has come. It is said that the Crown Prince, following the Emperor's decree, is presiding over the Prime Minister's residence. The Second Young Lady has already entered the residence, and so far, there have been no mishaps."

Jun Zhengming breathed a slight sigh of relief, though his brows remained tightly furrowed:

"This has only just begun; the outcome is still unknown."

Then, his heart skipped a beat: This matter had alarmed the Crown Prince and the Emperor! The Jun residence was likely facing a great disaster. Although the current Emperor was benevolent and remembered how his father had followed him at all costs and eventually sacrificed his life for the country, bestowing many favors upon the Jun family, so many years had passed. In recent years, he had not achieved much merit while trying to protect himself, and his only son was even more incompetent. The Jun family was clearly on the decline. Second girl, you must show some mettle this time.

The First Lady said sourly:

"Hmph, just by her, wanting to cure the Prime Minister's Old Madam? I fear she will only make things worse and implicate the entire Jun family."

The Old Madam glared at the First Lady and said displeased:

"Do you wish for nothing good to happen to this family?"

At this moment, Wang Mama, whom the Old Madam had sent to investigate the day's events, returned and whispered something into the Old Madam's ear.

Seeing this, the First Lady and Jun Yiyi thought to themselves: It's going to be exposed. The Old Madam's expression grew increasingly dark, and she slammed her hand on the table, shouting angrily:

"You all have such audacity!" Everyone was startled, not understanding why.

Jun Yiyi was so frightened she sobbed a few more times. The First Lady feigned composure and asked:

"Mother, what has happened?"

The Old Madam's gaze swept over the First Lady and Jun Yiyi, and she let out a cold snort:

"Wang Mama discovered that today's incident was actually caused by the eldest girl, who lacked propriety and acted disgracefully before the Crown Prince, angering the Prime Minister's Grand Madam so much that she nearly lost her life at her birthday banquet."

"The third girl tried to warn you, yet you framed her for pushing you out to harm you."

The Old Madam then pointed at the First Lady and said:

"And you, Lady Wu, who doesn't know that your younger sister, Concubine Wu, manages the inner courtyard of the Prime Minister's residence? The second girl is a legitimate daughter, yet she was arranged to sit in the seats for concubine-born daughters, and at the very back at that. Who were you trying to embarrass?"

The Old Madam then looked at Jun Yiyi, whose face was turning pale and red, with a look of disappointment:

"Your second sister and fourth sister were so far away from you, yet you were able to frame them as well. You acted so disgracefully; never mind whether the Crown Prince will be angered, if the Prime Minister's Grand Madam truly suffers a mishap this time, the Jun family will face a great disaster. Do you think you can escape unscathed? You... you..."

Seeing the Old Madam in a rage, Wang Mama quickly smoothed her chest to help her breathe and consoled her:

"Old Madam, please do not get angry, lest you harm your health. The Second Young Lady said you must not get angry right now."

Jun Yiyi was so frightened she fell to her knees with a thud, crying out: "Grandmother, this granddaughter knows she was wrong. It was all my mother who instigated me."

To avoid punishment, Jun Yiyi actually sold out her own mother~~

The First Lady widened her eyes. She truly had raised a good daughter, but after all, she was flesh and blood from her own body; she couldn't bring herself to scold her, nor could she bear the pain. She just stared at her in astonishment.

The Second Lady, Li, was amused. There were no pleasant words in the mouth of that shrew:

"I wasn't wrong, was I? So it really was the eldest girl who lacked propriety, failed to seduce the Crown Prince, and then framed her own sisters!"

"I say, eldest girl, you are already betrothed. What kind of person is the Crown Prince? How could you dare to profane him?"

The Second Lady felt satisfied, but she had offended the First Lady to the death. Once she realized she had been impulsive, the words could not be taken back, and she wished she could slap herself a few times.

Jun Zhengming was also shocked. He had not expected his eldest daughter, whom he had pampered like the apple of his eye, to act this way today. Jun Zhengming angrily said to the First Lady:

"It's all because you spoiled her!"

"..." The First Lady felt that today's events were utterly humiliating. Startled by Jun Yiyi's betrayal and now frightened by Jun Zhengming, she was on the verge of fainting.

Just at this moment, news came from outside that the Second Young Lady had performed a miracle, the Gao Old Madam was out of danger, and the Crown Prince was personally escorting the Second Young Lady back to the residence.

Jun Shuyan and Concubine Zhou, who had been silent, exchanged smiles. Li and Jun Zhidie opened their mouths wide, unable to believe it, their faces full of jealousy. Jun Zhengming was overjoyed and finally set down the heavy stone in his heart, while the First Lady, who was preparing to faint, turned deathly pale, rolled her eyes, and truly fainted away.

The Old Madam said with gratification: "When the second girl returns, we must reward her well. As for you all..."

She looked at the fainted First Lady and the sobbing Jun Yiyi beside her, then turned to look at Jun Zhengming: "Handle the affairs of your own inner courtyard yourself."