Yanran looked innocent and confused.
"Consort De Highness, I don't understand what you're saying. You don't want me to spill her tea in front of you, so you want me to spill it behind your back? That's not a good idea."
"You say that physically assaulting someone is a disgrace to the royal family; does that mean letting her insult us will preserve the royal family's dignity?"
She didn't pause; her voice crackled like pearls falling onto a jade plate, crisp and clear, and her speech was so fast that it gave no one a chance to refute or argue.
"I am my father's daughter, I am royalty; what is Lang Shuang? At most, she is a relative of the imperial family. In Your Majesty's palace, she attacked me first, are you implying that I am not allowed to refute her?"
"I want to listen to you; I don't want to upset you. Because my father said that of all virtues, filial piety is the most important."
"But it's too difficult for me. If I obey you, that would be filial piety, but it would be blind filial piety, and I can't do that."
"If I indulge Lang Shuang, wouldn't that allow the maternal relatives to grow powerful and rise above the imperial relatives?"
"What, is the Lang Family going to usurp the throne? This world no longer belongs to the Yuwen family, but to the Lang family. Am I supposed to swallow my pride and suffer losses at every turn?"
"Consort De Highness, if you insist on saying so, fine, I'll listen to you. But I'm afraid the Lang Family can't bear the blame."
Everyone's expression changed, including Meng Yulan's.
No one expected that Yanran would be able to, and dare to, use someone else's name to escalate a quarrel between two girls into a dispute between a powerful family and a powerful official.
This crime is so serious that even if the Lang Family had ten heads, it wouldn't be enough to chop them off.
Lang Shuang was so frightened that her Zidu trembling, but she could only stammer and palely retort, "You, you're talking nonsense, I didn't."
"You don't have it, but the Lang Family does. Otherwise, why would they let you out to bully people?"
"No, Lang Family doesn't have any either." Lang Shuang realized she had made a grave mistake, and her face turned pale.
If this gets out, who knows what kind of rumors will spread? Her elders in the family won't let her off the hook.
The word "usurpation" is like a mountain, something no one dares to mention.
But Yanran dared to do it, and even went so far as to frame the Lang Family for crimes.
If someone else says it, they could be charged with false accusation.
At most, a little girl saying this can be characterized as ignorance and fearlessness.
No one else dared to speak up.
Good heavens, by opening his mouth, he might become an accomplice in a plot to usurp the throne. Who wants to get themselves into trouble for no reason?
Yanran observed the various expressions on everyone's faces, but none of them spoke. In her heart, she silently gave Cui Xiaoqiu a thumbs up.
Before she came, Cui Xiaoqiu told her that if anyone bullied her, she should escalate the situation as much as possible.
Judging from her performance on the spot, she didn't disappoint.
Perhaps Father will have a legitimate reason to act in the future—look, the maternal relatives are bullying the imperial family, shouldn't we "purge the court of corrupt officials"?
Give them a good beating, and they're done!
Zidu.
Sure enough, when it comes to bad ideas, you have to ask Cui Xiaoqiu.
Consort De's enduring power over the years is not solely due to luck.
She quickly realized Yanran's intentions and said coldly, "You don't need to make trouble here. You started it today, so you can't escape punishment no matter what you say."
Yanran stepped forward and said loudly, "Yes, you are right. To uphold the dignity of the royal family, I will accept punishment. Who told me to be a member of the Yuwen Family? I swear to defend the dignity of the Yuwen Family with my life. Just name the punishment you need. If I even blink, I will be letting down the ancestors of the Yuwen Family."
The constant references to the Yuwen Family provoked Consort De.
Consort De looked at her face, which was exactly the same as Xiao Wu's, and sneered inwardly. She dared to do that.
Doesn't she know her own surname?
Even so, having said all that, she could no longer punish Yanran.
Otherwise, if word got out, she would be accused of disrespecting her ancestors, or at the very least, of allowing outsiders to insult the imperial family.
Yanran, in turn, became the image of someone steadfast and unyielding.
Don't even think about it.
Thinking of this, Consort De swallowed her anger, relying on the self-control she had learned over the past twenty years.
"Alright, Wuji. You two have fun, don't let it ruin your relationship. Someone, take Shuang'er to change her clothes."
Yanran, having gained an advantage, feigned innocence and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, Consort De, is indeed wise and righteous. The ancestors of the Yuwen Family, if they are watching from beyond the grave, will bless you with the birth of a son soon."
Everyone's expressions turned sour again, and they all lowered their eyes, none of them wanting to be the first to stick their necks out.
She still wants to have a son soon; Consort De is already over forty.
He was pampered when he was young but still couldn't have a child; now he's expecting a son?
This is practically deliberately stabbing someone in the back.
Yanran spoke with such sincerity that it was impossible to find fault with her.
Consort De, her hands adorned with gold and jeweled armor, rested on her legs beneath her sleeves, gripping her skirt tightly with difficulty as she struggled to suppress her anger.
This isn't to celebrate her birthday, it's to upset her!
Fortunately, other people came in to pay their respects, which temporarily distracted Consort De.
Yanran winked at Meng Yulan, then returned to her seat and earnestly ate the snack in front of her.
If Consort De dares to say another "no" to her today, she'll kill her!
She scared her to death with the mention of the Yuwen Family's ancestors! She crushed her with the accusation of tolerating a usurper's plot!
Wuji; age is their best weapon.
Looking at her, an old woman of considerable age, how could she possibly continue to provoke a confrontation?
As for a fool like Lang Shuang, there's no need to even consider her.
Yanran took a bite of the pastry, found it delicious, and casually handed it to Jiang'er next to her.
It was Jiang'er's first time entering the palace, and she didn't know what to do with her hands and feet. When Yanran offered her some snacks, she didn't dare to take them and shrank back timidly.
Yanran mocked her, "What are you afraid of? There's no tiger around."
Jiang'er knelt behind her and whispered, "This servant isn't afraid of tigers at all."
The people in the palace are more terrifying than tigers.
Yanran said, "Don't be afraid of people. I'll need your help later, so cheer up and don't give up."
Jiang'er was almost in tears, and whispered even more, "No, miss, my hands are shaking."
"Don't shake," Yanran stuffed a pastry into her mouth, "Stand up straight!"
Jiang'er nodded.
Seeing Lang Shuang dressed in new clothes and helped out again, Yanran licked her back teeth and gave her a playful smile.
Lang Shuang shuddered involuntarily.
But she quickly regained her proud demeanor.
--Just now, my elder sister, who is also the Consort of Prince of Ding, secretly went out and told her not to provoke her with words, but not to be afraid of Yanran.
Yanran is just good with words and a bit reckless.
The older sister also said that although she also lost face, she successfully exposed Yanran's "true colors" and that she should keep up the good work.
--All of Yanran's bad deeds will ultimately be attributed to Prince of Jin.
Lang Shuang actually had some doubts.
That is, with the Prince of Jin's reputation already so bad, what is there to be afraid of?
But since her sister had already said so, she decided to come back for "revenge."