The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

On the eighteenth day of the first month, Song Ci went to the Anping Princess Mansion to present bridal gifts for Commandery Princess Shou Yang. She stayed until the Princely Heir Lu from Marquis Jing’an Mansion arrived to fetch the bride, drank celebratory wine at the Princess Mansion, and then returned home.

As for the celebratory wine at Marquis Jing’an Mansion, she did not attend. Madam Song and Mrs. Jiang represented her at the banquet. When the two returned from the feast at Marquis Mansion, they spoke of an incident.

The people of the Ning Family had already been escorted to the capital.

”Did they arrive today?” Song Ci was somewhat surprised.

Madam Song said, ”I heard they arrived outside the city at noon. But as it coincides with Commandery Princess Shou Yang’s wedding, they delayed entering the city to avoid conflict.”

Song Ci nodded: ”The ones in charge of the escort are indeed considerate.”

Mrs. Jiang laughed and said, ”Naturally, others might not show respect, but this is the only legitimate daughter of Princess Anping getting married, who has a title as a Commandery Princess and is the Emperor’s niece. Even they must show respect. I heard Princess Anping sent a lot of celebratory wine and money to those in charge of the escort, letting them share in the festivities.”

This was a give-and-take situation.

”How many people from the Ning Family are there?”

”They say there are one hundred and three people, all escorted to the Heavenly Prison. It’s estimated that by the time spring comes, they will be dealt with. Convicted of treason, the penalty is certainly death. Even if not, their fate won’t be favorable.”

Song Ci rolled prayer beads in her hand, avoiding thoughts of those lives. It was all fate; when fortune is enjoyed together, calamities must endure together. Hence the saying of shared glory and shared loss.

”Mother, you should have seen the scene; a dense crowd entering the capital, which was astonishing at first, but isn’t the main spectacle.” Mrs. Jiang said mysteriously.

Song Ci sensed something beyond the words and grew curious: ”Why, is there another show?”

Mrs. Jiang looked to Madam Song: ”Sister-in-law, will you tell?”

Madam Song took a sip of tea and smiled: ”I’ve been sparring wits with people all day. My throat is hoarse; I’m not as eloquent as you.”

Mrs. Jiang then laughed and said, ”It’s about Princess Consort Ji. Upon hearing the Ning family arrived in the capital, she ordered someone to carry her out and pointed at the Ning Clan Leader while cursing, demanding him to hand over the traitor Ning Cabinet Minister and return her little grandson.”

Song Ci had heard Prince Min’s family’s child was abducted and never found. Was Princess Consort Ji truly so fierce?

”Did no one stop her?”

”Prince Min has already been demoted and punished, yet she remains an Imperial Concubine of the Royal Family. Accusing rebels, no one would stop her.” At this moment, Madam Song added.

Song Ci thought to herself, understanding that not only wasn’t she stopped, but perhaps even encouraged. The Emperor is petty, wishing for the deeds of Ning Family and Ning Cabinet Minister to spread widely, making them infamous. Thus, when he deals with the Ning family, no one will accuse him of brutality.”

”Not only weren’t they stopped, Mother, you wouldn’t know that Princess Consort Ji’s actions were simply more unruly than an unruly woman. Oh, in my youth in the inner chamber, I had seen street shrews, yet never one as fierce as her.” Mrs. Jiang said, covering her nose with a handkerchief.

Song Ci was intrigued: ”How so?”

Madam Song gave a somewhat reproachful glance at her sister-in-law, as if the tea could not be drunk anymore, seeming to smell the stench.

Mrs. Jiang chuckled: ”Right on East City Street, Princess Consort Ji had two buckets of dung brought out, splashing it onto the people of the Ning family, covering the whole street with dung, the stench soaring to the skies.”

Poof.

Song Ci sprayed out a mouthful of tea, eyes wide open: ”Really?”

Seeing her daughter-in-law nodding, she couldn’t help but reflect: ”Princess Consort Ji truly is, the first to paint the wall with dung!”