Chapter 826: Never Back Down

Xia Ruqing’s eyes were bright, with a demeanor of "I won’t give up unless you agree."

Double the beating, at least seventy or eighty strokes.

Enough to make Empress Dowager Zhen drink a bitter cup.

But Xia Ruqing showed no sympathy at all.

The tears shed now are the result of a muddled head during the upbringing of her son.

Your son is a precious treasure, while others’ children are just worthless?!

Is that possible? Hehe!

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone gasped.

Empress Dowager Zhen was so frightened she collapsed on the ground.

The Empress Dowager frowned, deep in thought.

But Zhao Junyao, with a faint smile, seemed to say, "This is a good idea!"

The Empress Dowager looked at Zhao Junyao and made a decision.

She immediately spoke.

"Noble Consort Xian’s words are very reasonable. Sister Zhen, are you willing to endure double the punishment?"

Empress Dowager Zhen steadied her mind, gritted her teeth.

"Yes!"

"I am willing, thank you, Empress Dowager, for fulfilling this!"

Xia Ruqing laughed.

Both mother and son were beaten, and the Xia family both physically and metaphorically got justice.

In this way, she could finally vent all her grievances.

She had no complaints left!

She couldn’t be blamed for being so hard.

To be bullied to this extent and not be tough, how weak would that be?

With the matter resolved, Xia Ruqing did not wish to stay a moment longer.

She got up, said her farewell, and left.

Zhao Junyao followed and left as well.

The Empress Dowager looked at Empress Dowager Zhen kneeling below and her two unfortunate sons.

She said coldly.

"Take them away, deal with them as appropriate!"

"Yes!"

Sister Qing finished speaking, then took several Little Palace Maids to bind Empress Dowager Zhen and took her away.

The Sixth Prince panicked.

"Mother Consort! Mother...Mother Consort!"

He called intermittently.

Unfortunately, after just enduring fifty strokes, he couldn’t move, nor could his cries for his Mother Consort be heard.

He struggled desperately for a while.

Fortunately, the Fifth Master was there to hold him back.

"Stop fooling around!"

His tone was somewhat harsh!

"Come, Fifth Brother will take you back!"

After speaking, he kowtowed to the Empress Dowager.

"Sorry to trouble Mother. I will take Sixth Brother home now!"

The Empress Dowager impatiently waved her hand.

She didn’t even bother to say a word and returned to her inner chamber, holding Sister’s hand.

The Sixth Prince was so angry he almost vomited blood, struggling to get up for a desperate fight.

The Fifth Master was a bit angry.

"Have you had enough yet!"

The Sixth Prince was stunned, not having time to express his grievances before being carried away by Palace Attendants and hastily sent back to his residence.

The residences of Fifth Master and Sixth Prince were adjacent.

He guarded nearby, devotedly sending him back to his room.

Then he arranged for a servant to summon the Imperial Physician, prescribe medicine, and take good care.

He was busy front and back, resembling a good brother.

The Sixth Prince felt very disheartened watching.

"Have you had enough of pretending to be a good person? Can you leave already? I don’t want your false goodwill!"

The Fifth Master suddenly stiffened.

"I don’t really understand what you’re saying, Sixth Brother."

"But I’ve been busy all day, and getting this response is truly heart-wrenching!"

The Sixth Prince sneered sarcastically.

"Busy all day? Haha, how funny, who do I have to thank for all this?"

"You always said you liked the Second Miss of the Xia Family, asked me to help you!"

"You said it yourself, the hero saving the damsel idea was yours, but when found out, all the blame fell on me alone!"

"In front of the Imperial Brother and Empress Dowager, you didn’t dare utter a word!"

"If not for me persevering stubbornly, do you think you would have the chance to stand here and point fingers at me?"

The Sixth Prince was emotionally agitated.

By the end, his voice trembled, even ignoring the heart-wrenching pain from his backside.

The Fifth Master’s face turned pale green and blue.

He clenched his teeth hard, his eyes flickering.

Finally, he turned his head expressionlessly.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about!"

"I’ve been busy for half the day, I’m tired, I’ll go rest now. You should also take a good break!"

After speaking, the Fifth Master flicked his sleeve and left.

The Sixth Prince fumed with anger.

"You hypocrite!"

The Fifth Master’s back halted for a moment but did not turn back, he strode away without another glance.

...

At the Xia Residence.

After several days of recuperation, Xia Caiying finally recovered.

Both Lady Wen and Ni Manxue lowered their hearts, finally at ease.

No matter what, as long as the person is fine, right?

Lady Wen and Lady Ni also began discussing their visit to the Yang Mansion.

"My status is somewhat awkward, maybe I shouldn’t go!"

Lady Wen struggled internally.

She wasn’t the official Madam, just a second wife, not genuinely more dignified than a concubine.

So... it’s better not to go.

Lady Ni was unwilling.

"Mother, you don’t have to worry, Madam Yang has a good nature and won’t care about these things!"

"We just need to go, after all, it’s our sincerity!"

Lady Wen wavered for a while, finally agreeing.

Ni Manxue smiled happily: "That’s more like it!"

"Mother, shall I prepare the invitation card?"

"Yes, you go ahead!" Lady Wen nodded.

...

The Yang Family was both surprised and unsurprised by the Xia Family’s visit.

Even though both were Military Generals, the women of the two families rarely interacted.

Still...

Precisely because both were from military households.

Sitting together, the women had plenty to talk about.

They were straightforward people, had a warm and lively chat for a while, the Madams got along well.

Madam Yang quickly set up a table, insisting they stay for a meal.

Lady Wen and Lady Ni couldn’t really refuse and had to stay.

During the banquet, they spoke of such fate.

Madam Yang laughed.

"Indeed, this is my son’s first major case since his appointment!"

"Our family has never gotten along with Empress Dowager Zhen!"

After speaking, she recounted the events of the military exam in those days, all with indignation in her words.

The follow-up to that was Sixth Prince blatantly and secretly causing trouble for the Yang Family!

"If not for the Emperor’s wise judgment, who knows what would have happened to my son!"

Upon hearing this, Lady Wen’s body trembled.

"To think that within the majestic Imperial Family, there could be such... scoundrels!"

Lady Ni nodded in agreement with a hint of sarcasm.

"The military exam was a matter between men, at least there was a reason for treachery, but what did our Cai Yang do to provoke them?!"

Madam Yang agreed.

"Indeed, it was truly... too shameless!"

Women couldn’t say much in front of others, they had to consider the so-called ’bigger picture.’

But in private, they could still vent their frustrations.

Thus, the ladies gathered together and cursed heartily.

Nothing else could better foster women’s friendships than shared animosity against a common enemy.

Finally, when discussing the two children, Madam Yang and Lady Wen shed tears.

"Poor my son, he hardly obtained a promotion, then encountered such trouble!"

Lady Wen teared up as well.

"My daughter is also so innocent!"

"She’s only fourteen, how will she ever find a match now?"

Madam Yang instinctively said.

"Indeed! My son hasn’t found a match yet either, in the future..."

Saying this, she suddenly stopped, feeling something amiss.