SFS Chapter 878 Demoted to a concubine!
Chapter 878 Demoted to a concubine!
Duanmu Qing's big eyes were filled with astonishment.
"This? This was a gift from Her Majesty the Empress?"
"That's right. But, uh, I'm still not used to it. Last time I went to the palace, I called him 'sister' and 'brother-in-law,' and he didn't seem unhappy, so I forgot to change my address."
“You know, your cousin is the emperor now. In private, it wouldn’t be wrong for you to call him brother-in-law. But when there are other people around, you should still be more careful.”
Mu Qingxuan was delighted, took her small hand, and smiled, "You're the one who cares about me the most."
Duanmu Qing glanced at him, naturally delighted to have met such a thoughtful fiancé.
Princess Su didn't know that Mu Qingxuan had sent her two female guards until she came to see her in the evening.
"I heard that Qingxuan brought two maids with him, and I thought it was Madam Mu sending someone to deliver something. I didn't expect that they were actually two female guards that she got from the Empress. You are a lucky child."
Duanmu Qing's pretty face flushed red. "Mother."
"Alright, there's no need to be embarrassed. I heard that when Qingxuan came last time, he intended to get married sooner. However, your father didn't agree."
Upon hearing the words "father," Duanmu Qing's expression stiffened slightly.
"Forget it, don't think about the deceased anymore. Your father's intention is to prepare your dowry, and he's too busy in such a short time. This time, I've only just discovered some clues. That person should slip up soon. Your father promised he wouldn't interfere, but I want to see if he'll still protect that slut this time!"
"Mother, was it indeed done by someone from our Prince Su's residence?"
"Don't worry, your mother already has some clues about this matter. Since the Empress has come forward to clear things up for you, it shows how much she values you. And think about the rumors circulating in the capital these days, don't you think it's all too coincidental?"
"What does Mother mean?"
“Last night, your brother told me that these days, Qingxuan has been running around everywhere after leaving our manor, and he hasn’t wasted any of his connections. The fact that he’s willing to go to such lengths to treat you shows that he’s a good person.”
How could Duanmu Qing not be moved upon hearing this?
If it were any other man, upon hearing that his fiancée's reputation was ruined, he would probably have rushed to her door to break off the engagement long ago.
However, Mu Qingxuan not only never mentioned the words "break up the engagement," but also tried very hard to clear her name.
Even Madam Mu and the third young lady of the Mu family frequently came to visit, demonstrating the Mu family's stance.
At the same time, her reputation gradually recovered because of their performance.
If she had truly lost her innocence, why would her future mother-in-law have come to visit her in person?
Therefore, this time, Duanmu Qing truly developed a certain degree of goodwill towards the Mu family.
At the same time, she felt even more hatred towards the person who had secretly framed her.
This incident wasn't entirely a bad thing for her. At least it showed her the wickedness of those who manipulate people and made her realize that the inner quarters of the household weren't as prosperous and glamorous as they seemed.
The investigation eventually led to the identification of Consort Zhuang.
This Consort Zhuang was originally a close confidante of Prince Su in his youth, and she also came from a prestigious family.
It was only because Prince Su had already married his principal wife that she was made a concubine out of necessity.
Over the years, although the Princess Consort has received the respect due to Prince Su, Consort Zhuang has received a level of favor that no other woman in the household has ever received.
No matter how many beauties surrounded Prince Su, he would never forget to come to her courtyard to sit and rest for a few days.
Therefore, Consort Zhuang was the real favorite in Prince Su's mansion.
Of all the concubines Prince Su had, only Consort Zhuang had the opportunity to bear him a son and a daughter born out of wedlock.
However, this time, things escalated too much, even daring to bully the Empress. Even Prince Su couldn't protect her.
When Prince Su learned the truth, he no longer had any intention of protecting his former confidante.
Think about all these years, hasn't he been good enough to her?
Why would someone go to such lengths to harm their own daughter?
If she were targeting other concubines or beauties, Prince Su would certainly have spoken up for her, but this time, she crossed his line!
Even if Prince Su is absurd and unreliable, he would not allow other women to harm his daughter.
What's more, this time, she was directly targeted by the Empress.
In the silent hall, Prince Su coldly looked at the mother and her two children kneeling on the ground, then turned and took a deep breath. "Consort Zhuang is vicious and has violated the virtues of a woman. From today onwards, she is demoted to a concubine. She dared to frame the legitimate princess, which is truly unforgivable. Drag her away and give her twenty strokes of the cane, then send her to the servants' quarters."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Princess Su was somewhat surprised by his treatment.
Unexpectedly, this time he was so direct, without even thinking, and immediately gave such a severe punishment.
Previously, she was worried that the prince might be biased, so when she found out the results, the princess reported it directly to the empress.
"Your Highness, is this appropriate? Her Majesty previously gave an order, so I have already sent someone to report the results of the investigation to Her Majesty. Should we let Her Majesty make the final decision?"
"Do as I say first, and then do whatever the Empress commands."
This time, Princess Consort Su and Duanmu Qing truly had to look at Prince Su in a different light.
Has he truly stopped being infatuated with her beauty?
In fact, Consort Zhuang's ability to remain favored for so many years was not solely due to her beauty, but also to her wisdom and virtue.
But now, this so-called wisdom has become a conspiracy, and the so-called virtue has become filth, which is naturally unacceptable to Prince Su.
Consort Zhuang also seemed unable to accept this outcome, looking at Prince Su with a sorrowful expression.
"Your Highness, are you really so heartless? Even if I have done something wrong, why should you be so cruel? Even if you don't care about our years of marriage, shouldn't you at least think about our children?"
Duanmu Ya cried from the side, "Father, Mother knows she was wrong, please forgive her."
"Husband and wife? You're nothing but a concubine, yet you dare to call yourself a wife?"
Unexpectedly, what Prince Su said next was even harsher!
"Zhuang, I originally thought you were a good person, but I never expected you to be such a vicious person. If I were to tolerate you any longer, wouldn't I be a muddle-headed fool who can't distinguish right from wrong?"
Prince Su snorted heavily, "Guards, drag him away and beat him!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Hearing the wails coming from outside, Duanmu Ya was too frightened to utter a single word.
"Your Highness, the imperial decree has arrived."