The Old Hag Was Confined

The old madam nearly rolled her eyes back and fainted.

How had the emperor learned of their scheme to get their hands on the Fifth Princess?

The old madam cried that she had been wronged, only to see the Fifth Princess's attendants bring in two maids, one of whom had been bitten by a snake.

Them! Hadn't Mama Qing disposed of them?

The old madam's hands and feet trembled violently.

With two witnesses present, no amount of sophistry would help them.

"Wan'er, Wan'er, didn't you say you would accompany us into the palace to plead for mercy? Hurry and kneel down to plead for us!"

The old madam tugged at Liu Wan's hem, hoping she would put in a few good words.

As long as she spoke up, the Fifth Princess would let the matter go for her sake.

Liu Wan calmly brushed the old madam's hand aside. "I said I would accompany you into the palace. As for His Majesty's decision, we are his subjects. We need only obey."

She had intended to plead for mercy, but then she had learned that Xie Jin'an already had a lover before marrying her.

Everyone in the Marquis's Residence had known. She alone had been kept in the dark.

"Your Majesty, my father is fighting for our country far from home, his fate unknown. My grandfather died saving the Late Emperor. My grandmother is old now and muddleheaded. If I truly meant to get my hands on the Fifth Princess, I wouldn't have jumped into the water to save a wet nurse. Your Majesty..."

As Xie Jin'an spoke, his eyes actually reddened.

"Your Majesty, I arranged all of this. Jin'an knew nothing about it. Had he known, he would never have jumped into the water to save someone without first getting a clear look. He is a kindhearted child. If Your Majesty must punish someone, punish me."

The old madam knocked her forehead heavily against the floor with an audible thud.

The emperor pressed his lips tightly together. The last time Xie Jin'an had caused trouble and been thrown into prison, the Marquis's Residence had also invoked the debt owed to the Old Marquis.

His ears had grown calluses from hearing it.

With Marquis Jing'an away fighting, if he executed the man's mother, then...

After a moment's thought, the emperor said, "For the sake of the marquis and the Old Marquis, I will spare your wretched life. The dignity of the Imperial Family is as great as the heavens. If the Marquis's Residence dares challenge it again, your entire family will be executed! Do you understand?"

The old madam went numb, shaking like grain in a sieve. "I... I understand."

"From this day forward, you will return to the Charity Hall in the Marquis's Residence and remain confined there. Only in death may you leave!"

"Xie Jin'an will forfeit one year's salary as a warning to others!"

The old madam collapsed to the floor.

Confinement-did that mean stripping her of her authority over the household?

Would Liu Wan have the final say in the Marquis's Residence from now on?

She could not accept it!

But before long, palace attendants led her away.

Liu Wan remained where she stood with the baby in her arms, her heart pounding with fear.

She was also the mistress of the Marquis's Residence. It would be only right for the emperor to punish her too.

Mommy, Mommy, Uncle Emperor is so fierce! Let me have a look!

Little Wanwan was so excited that she nearly tumbled out of her mother's arms. Her huge eyes fixed on the imposing, solemn man above them.

Tsk, tsk, tsk. It's been so long since I've seen someone this fierce. How novel.

In all my long life, who hasn't treated me, Xia Wanwan, with the utmost respect? When have I ever seen someone so fierce?

The emperor visibly froze.

Was he hearing things?

Wow, Wanwan hasn't seen anyone this fierce in ages. How novel.

Why are those three furrows between his brows so deep? I really want to take an iron and smooth them out...

Huh, he must be unhappy. What a shame that such a handsome, imposing face is always frowning.

The emperor's brows gradually relaxed. Seeing the baby in Liu Wan's arms, he could not help taking an interest.

How fascinating. He had actually heard a baby speak.

And she had called him handsome!

Those huge eyes, like black grapes, were studying him as she blew spit bubbles and poked them with her little hand.

Oh, what a curious little thing.

I'll tell the empress dowager later!

"Liu, you rendered a service by saving the Fifth Princess. The Marquis's Residence will depend on you from now on. Do not wallow in self-pity merely because others fail to value your daughter."

Liu Wan dipped in a curtsy. "One should not worry about lacking a position, but about having the ability to deserve it. I do not wallow in self-pity, Your Majesty. I believe that when Wanwan grows up, she too will understand that winning others' regard is not something she needs to concern herself with. Her task is to grow up safe and happy. Even if no one values her, she will value herself!"

"Good. It is rare to find someone so clearheaded in the Marquis's Residence. In recognition of your rescue of the Fifth Princess, I confer upon you the title of Third-Rank Imperial Lady and grant you an Imperially Bestowed Gold-Edged Jade Pendant."

The snowy-white jade pendant was edged in gold, a symbol of the Imperial House's favor.

Liu Wan handed the baby to the Fifth Princess, then knelt to receive it.

Wow, Mommy's getting promoted and getting rich! That scumbag Daddy isn't good enough for Mommy anymore!

The little one babbled with laughter, exposing her gums as she stretched out her hands to clap.

Hearing this, the emperor silently turned toward the screen beside him.

"Ahem, ahem." The emperor gave the Fifth Princess a meaningful look.

The Fifth Princess pointed at herself, looking puzzled.

"Ahem, ahem, ahem." The emperor coughed even harder.

Understanding dawned on the Fifth Princess. "Oh! I'll invite them to stay in the palace for a meal!"

Liu Wan was utterly bewildered, and the baby in her arms looked at the Fifth Princess too.

"Here's the thing, little sister. My wedding to the prince consort is set for next month, and there are so many things I don't really understand yet. Could you come help me look them over?"

The Fifth Princess smiled with a perfectly innocent expression.

Auntie is lying. Auntie knows all sorts of things. She's already two months pregnant, and it's a baby girl.

Uncle did it. It was all Uncle's doing!

Liu Wan broke into a cold sweat.

The emperor also froze in place.

Liu Wan hurriedly took the little one back, bowed to take her leave, and followed the Fifth Princess out.

In the imperial study, the emperor stared after his departing daughter, gritting his teeth in fury.

When had that brat Liu Ye plucked the precious flower he had spent so many years nurturing?

And he had been kept in the dark for so long!

No wonder his daughter had asked him to decree their marriage and wanted the wedding so soon.

The emperor ground his teeth in anger, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

He had decided. Tomorrow, Liu Ye would be dismissed for stepping into Chaoyang Hall with his left foot first!

"Imperial Elder Brother." A figure dressed in black slowly emerged from behind the screen. The man was tall and stern, his features mature and aloof.

"Ninth Imperial Younger Brother, I finally understand how you feel." The emperor sighed deeply!

How could he not feel stifled with anger when his daughter had become someone else's?

Xia Siheng smiled faintly. "Thank you for your help this time, Imperial Elder Brother. Still, with Liu Wan's perceptiveness, I doubt that day is far off. You probably won't be able to share my feelings much longer."

"You!" The emperor nearly spat blood.

His Ninth Imperial Younger Brother was young, but his words stabbed straight into the heart.

"By the way, how did you know they were plotting to get their hands on Zhao'er, and even rescue those two maids? What an interesting pair-one released the snakes, and the other was bitten by one," the emperor asked.

"I happened to see the old madam Xie's servant taking men to kill them." Xia Siheng raised his brows slightly.

"Pah. Save that lie for someone else. You think you can fool your Imperial Elder Brother?" The emperor scoffed, but did not pursue his deception of the sovereign.

After all, his ninth brother commanded all those troops and was still willing to support him. As emperor, he would not quibble with a child. Heh-heh.

After Xia Siheng left, the emperor pulled a bronze mirror from beneath his desk, his eyes gleaming.

He asked Eunuch Yu beside him, "Tell me, is Ninth Imperial Younger Brother more handsome, or am I?"

Eunuch Yu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and raised his eyelids slightly. "You are the Son of Heaven. How could the Ninth Prince compare to you?"

After leaving the imperial study, Liu Wan wanted to tell the people from the Marquis's Residence not to wait for her.

At the palace gates, she saw the old madam being supported by others, looking on the verge of collapse.

Xie Jin'an raised his head to look at her, his eyes faintly bloodshot. "I never imagined you could be so coldhearted, Liu Wan. You deliberately exposed Grandmother's gifts before everyone, then had the maid appear carrying Xie Huaishan, making Grandmother look like someone who favors boys over girls. What did you gain by disgracing the Marquis's Residence like this?"

Indeed, after years of effort, he had only advanced to a Fifth-Rank Official Post last year. Before he could earn His Majesty's trust, his salary had been docked and his grandmother confined.

If his father lost the war, he dared not imagine what would become of the Marquis's Residence.

All of this was Liu Wan's fault!