Chapter 134 - 134: The Princess Consort is the Victim
“Now that you are with Teng, and also managing the affairs of the backyard, who else should I please, if not you, for me to get by?”
“That reason is indeed acceptable.” Li Hongyuan said indifferently, “However, you provided the osmanthus honey, so you can’t escape from being implicated. How daring of you, Ms. Zhao, to plot against the princess consort and her child.”
Zhao Shu rushed to kneel and beg for mercy: “I really didn’t know, I am wronged, it must be that old woman who framed me, please, Your Highness, stand up for me!”
It’s a pity that her pleas for mercy were worthless in Li Hongyuan’s eyes.
He coldly ordered the housekeeper: “Strip her of her palace maid status, give her thirty strokes, and send her to the main cell of the Ministry of Justice.”
“No ”
Ms. Zhao let out a sharp cry, her eyes rolled back and she fainted.
She knew she was completely finished.
The moment she fainted, a doubt sprouted in her heart.
Why was it that when she and Ms. Fang committed the deed together, only she was called out and punished in the end?
After Ms. Zhao was taken away, Li Hongyuan turned to look at Li Yuanyuan.
Li Yuanyuan was in tears: “It is all my fault, I didn’t perceive Ms. Zhao’s malicious intentions and almost harmed the princess consort and the young prince. I ask for your punishment, my lord.”
“Oh, how should you be punished?” Li Hongyuan asked indifferently.
“I beg your judgment, my lord.”
“Dock your salary for three months. If this kind of incident happens again, I will not let it go so easily.”
“Yes, I will remember.” Li Yuanyuan bowed to him, then bowed to Jiang Ning.
Li Hongyuan then said: “Cut the princess consort’s salary by half for half a year.”
Everyone was shocked.
Why should the princess consort be punished?
Wasn’t she the victim here?
Was the prince failing to distinguish right from wrong?
However, Jiang Ning was calm. She picked up her teacup and moistened her lips, saying: “Okay.”
“Let’s put this matter to rest.”
Li Hongyuan stood up and left.
Li Yuanyuan hurriedly followed him.
Jiang Ning continued munching on her melon seeds, watching them walk away and saying with a smile: “They’re all a bunch of energy drainers.”
“Miss, you’re still laughing. We’re the ones being treated unfairly.” Xiachu pouted unhappily, “That vicious Zhao deserved it, her death was well deserved. But it was Li Teng who sent the stuff over, and she just got a light punishment of losing three months’ salary. Instead, we got a half-year punishment. The prince is obviously biased towards Li Teng.”
Dongxie said, “I heard before that the prince loves Li Teng the most. It seems to be true.”
Huang Ying said, “Are all of you stupid or what? Our princess consort is not wronged.”
“Why would you say that, Sister Huang Ying?”
“You wouldn’t understand, just go out and get busy, let the princess consort have some quiet.” Huang Ying chased them out, then helped Jiang Ning sit on the couch and massaged her legs, “Do you feel wronged, my princess?”
Jiang Ning laughed and said, “I knew the pastry was poisoned and I still gave it to the Prince of Yu. He only deducted my salary for half a year, probably because he considered the child.”
Huang Ying said, “The prince is also a bit ruthless. What if he really ate it? Aren’t you worried?”
“Why should I worry, if he dies the pastry wasn’t made by me.”
“You’re just saying that out of anger.”
“I knew he wouldn’t eat the dessert I sent. I just didn’t expect him to give the pastry to someone else.” Jiang Ning said, “I feel bad for that unfortunate scholar. Sister Huang Ying, can you help me out and give 500 taels of silver to his family?”
“I’ll make note of it.” Huang Ying frowned, “We won’t mention that fool Zhao, but Li Teng obviously knew that there was something wrong with the osmanthus honey, yet she still made the pastry for the princess consort, clearly with evil intentions.. Why did the prince just brush it off?”