Chapter 31: Arrogant because of favor? She loved that phrase too much

The Cao family deceived my missing lord, deceived the widows and orphans of my manor, continuously occupied the silver money of my manor's shops, and openly took my manor's belongings.

As a new bride, managing the household is already difficult; my manor's income does not cover its expenses, so I cannot let the Cao family continue their encroachment.

The Cao family injured my son—his arm is broken, his leg is lame, and his internal organs have suffered internal injuries.

Your Majesty, please give me justice! I, your subject, can no longer go on!

Her words came out like popping beans, leaving no chance for others to interject, and she just rattled on like that.

His Majesty had already seen the reports of recent events, so he naturally knew how much of her words were true and how much false.

"Minister Cao," His Majesty said.

Elder Cao hurried out and knelt again, saying, "I am here."

"Go on," His Majesty said in a light tone, making it impossible to tell what his attitude really was.

Elder Cao cursed in his heart, having kicked up such a huge mess—what was he thinking provoking Ning Hanmo?

"Your Majesty, the Regent's Consort is speaking nonsense; for all these years, everything our Cao Manor has used came from the Imperial Consort's provisions for her parents, and has nothing to do with the Regent Prince's Manor." Elder Cao knelt on the ground, his heart pounding.

Although the drums outside had stopped, the drums in his heart began to beat.

"Regent's Consort, what do you have to say?" His Majesty looked toward Jiang Yun Chu.

Upon seeing her appearance, even forgetting that she had not knelt in salute, Eunuch Xi glanced at His Majesty's expression and did not rebuke her sharply.

"Your Majesty, I have here the accounts of the Regent Prince's Manor; over the years, I have recorded and organized everything the Cao family took from the manor, and I also have the records of the stewards and those who fetched items."

She raised her hands, observing none of the palace etiquette, yet His Majesty did not mind and had Eunuch Xi present it.

Eunuch Xi immediately went down and brought those accounts up.

After His Majesty finished flipping through the pages, he looked at Elder Cao and asked, "Beloved Minister Cao, is the stipend I gave you too little?"

With those words, Elder Cao, already kneeling, could kneel no lower; he knocked his head to the ground and said, "Your Majesty is sage; I, your humble servant, certainly harbor no such intention."

"No such intention? Then is your Cao family intending to humiliate the imperial house?" His Majesty flared in anger and threw the account book directly at Elder Cao's face.

Elder Cao picked up the account book—page after page, some he knew, some he did not……

Over all these years, it turned out to be this much?

"Your Majesty is sage; I… I deserve to die!" Elder Cao's face turned ashen; for all these years it had been like this, yet he never knew why things had become this way.

"Wait." Jiang Yun Chu spoke up.

As soon as she entered the room, she noticed that several people's gazes toward her were different—among them was the current His Majesty.

He seemed to be looking at her, as if thinking of someone else?

Who was that person?

Kang Ying? Her mother?

But no matter who he was thinking of……

Whoever reached out with claws toward the manor before—today she will chop them to pieces!

His Majesty looked at Jiang Yun Chu; the anger that had just gathered dispersed at the sight of her face.

"What else do you have?" but his tone was no better.

Officials who knew His Majesty's temper looked in disbelief at the present His Majesty—was this still the tyrant they knew?

Having been cut off mid‑speech, they did not even flare up?

Could this His Majesty be a fake?

"Yesterday, the three young masters of the Cao Manor injured my Regent Prince's Manor's young master—shouldn't they give an explanation?"

"Even if my Regent Prince's Manor's young master is worthless, he is still the sole sprout of the manor, the bloodline left by the Regent Prince; now beaten until he cannot get out of bed—what does Your Majesty think?"

"Arrogant because of favor?" She loved that phrase too much.

She stared straight ahead.

In this court, all the officials glanced at His Majesty's expression and quickly lowered their heads, but Jiang Yun Chu's gaze remained fixed on him, wanting to see what his attitude truly was.

She had not learned the rules, but she had not thought of breaking them—yet……

"Regent's Consort, return to your manor first; I will myself give you justice." His Majesty gazed at those eyes, but in the end said nothing.

"This is my son's injury condition, plus three reports of other young masters' injuries, oh…… and also the injury reports of the Cao Manor's three young masters; please render a holy judgment." After entering the court, her only respectful gesture was to drag the documents with both hands, waiting for Eunuch Xi to take them up.

Having learned from last time, Eunuch Xi no longer needed to watch His Majesty's face; he hurried down, dragged those few sheets over, and placed them on the dragon throne.

"Princess Consort, go back and wait for news." Eunuch Xi gave Jiang Yun Chu a look—don't ask how familiar we are; whoever His Majesty can tolerate, as his servant before the sage, what could he not endure?

"I, your subject, take my leave." Jiang Yun Chu knew she should exit the stage; if this act were over, she would surely be made to wear small shoes thereafter.

His Majesty said nothing, watching her retreating back, his heart filled with myriad feelings.

"Minister Cao," His Majesty's face bore a smile, but those who knew him could feel his mood, which was not at all pleasant.

Even Eunuch Xi retreated half a step.

"Your Majesty, I am muddle‑headed; it is my steward who is lax—I will return and investigate strictly." Elder Cao's teeth were about to shatter; his pent‑up resentment had no one to confide in.

For over ten years it had been like this, but the Regent Prince's Manor suddenly launched an attack, striking the Cao family off guard.

"Princess Consort," Zi Su and Bai Zhi saw the princess consort come out, hurriedly looked her up and down, and judged whether she had been injured.

They say the ruler's heart is unfathomable; who knows whether His Majesty's waking posture is right or wrong, whether he will vent his anger on his master?

Moreover……

Today the Regent Prince's Manor caused a great uproar in the capital; the whole city buzzed with talk of the Cao family and the Regent Prince's Manor, and even the Your Majesty now in the palace probably has this matter on his mind.

After years of forbearance, a sudden move—no one was prepared.

"I'm fine; I'll return to the manor first." Jiang Yun Chu said lightly.

Bai Zhi observed the princess consort's gait—hm, it really seemed she had not been beaten.

At this moment, inside the imperial palace.

"Since Beloved Minister Cao is so self‑reflective, he must have realized his mistake."

His Majesty's tone is really gentle, but when this tyrant is gentle, it's certainly not a good thing.

"Dismiss from office for three months, take it as a warning." His Majesty's words just left his mouth, the officials and acquaintances in the court exchanged glances, for a moment nobody understood what His Majesty meant.

Three months—isn't that too harsh?

As for this assistant minister's position, let alone three months, even three days would not be lacking people…

Dismiss from office for three months…

But reinstatement would be indefinitely delayed…

"Your Majesty, this humble subject knows his fault, I..." Cao Assistant Minister's words weren't finished yet.

His Majesty laughed, unpredictable in anger and joy, 'Defying the edict, disrespect?'

If Jiang Yun Chu were here, she would realize that the tone of these four words and her way of speaking are exactly alike.