"Are you happy now? Ling Ren was originally assured to have at least the title of Imperial Scholar of humble birth. With us here, even if he canāt stay in the capital, he might be transferred to the Department of Commerce and Construction."
"I want to see how you explain to your son. Committing evil yourself and implicating your sonās innocent future, youāre doing a fine job as a mother. You donāt even need Ling Ren to come back; from now on, you donāt need to manage the foolish matters of the family. It seems that you have too much power, making you foolish enough to do such things!"
"Iām doing this for the family!" The Senior Lady was a bit incredulous, sitting down heavily on the ground, looking disheveled. "The Prince of the State doesnāt consider it at all. Now the Chu family is favored in the court, and theyāve taken the position that sustains us in the Emperorās eyes as the money purse."
"You think, in a few years, the silver we offer wonāt be enough to make the Emperor give us any thought. What good days will our Dukeās Mansion have then!"
"Hmph, as long as Mother and I are alive, our Dukeās Mansion wonāt fall." The Prince of the State was red-faced with anger, "Itās evident you, woman, want more power. Stop finding excuses for your selfish desires."
"If you had the ability to deal with the opposition, I wouldnāt say anything. But in the fight of kings and fools, youāve lost and must accept the consequences!"
The Senior Lady, with a mournful face, laughed maniacally: "Heh, doing it for myself? If not for this family, for Ling Ren..."
"If Ling Ren knew you had caused his title to be taken away and banned him from participating in further examinations for six years, he would surely beg you not to act for his sake." The Prince of the State gave a sarcastic smile.
The Senior Lady almost couldnāt catch her breath; the Princeās words were piercing, striking right where it hurt.
"No, Ling Ren will understand my good intentions. I just failed this time; next time I will..." A sharp slap cut off the unfinished sentence as the Prince of the State smacked her speechless.
"Do you dare talk about next time." The Prince felt a sudden fear, murmuring: "Youāre confined to the rear quarters."
"Come here." The Prince stepped out, "From today, only the people in the courtyard can serve the lady; no one else is allowed near the yard."
"Prince, you cannot..." The Senior Lady realized the situation and hurriedly ran after him.
The Prince was thoroughly indifferent, directly cutting off her voice, arranging for people locking the courtyard door and posting guards at the entrance.
Such a major incident, naturally the Old Madam knew about it; the Prince was found and went directly to the Old Madamās courtyard to explain everything.
.
The Old Madam angrily slapped her thigh, regretting endlessly: "I knew she was ambitious, wishing for things not hers. Didnāt think she would privately commit such audacious harm and play into othersā hands. Truly, a family misfortune."
"Mother, rest assured, Iāve already confined her. But the matters of the rear courtyard will trouble you to assign someone for management."
"Since she harmed Ling Ren, then let Ling Ren marry, and his Legal Wife manage the rear courtyard. I, the old lady, still have some energy, can guide." The Old Madam now also regretted it. She, smart all her life, hadnāt expected the Dukeās Mansionās promising situation nearly destroyed by a woman of the rear quarters.
No matter how much regret comes late now, can only try to make amends.
"Have you sent someone to apologize to the Chu family?" The Old Madam hurriedly asked.
"Mother, Iāve already sent someone, hoping silver would work well." The Prince of the State felt some disappointment: "But before I left, I spoke with Lord Chu, and he warned me to mind Madam Zhang."