Chapter 19: Xīn Bǎo Unleashes His Power

  The second lady heard this and was already boiling with excitement inside, delightedly saying: "If it can be like this, then it would be perfect."

  "Speaking of which, with a hopeful heart, he looked at Chu Yu Yao: "The eldest princess, since the Princess of Jiu Yang is willing to show up, why not go and inform the Crown Prince about this matter?"

  Chu Yu Yao was in a difficult situation, gritting her teeth and biting down so hard that her gums were sore.

  An imperial edict for marriage? Then wouldn't she have to make Chu Yue Xing an ancestor later on? She herself had angered Chu Yi An in the past and wasn't able to get an imperial edict for marriage, isn't this just letting that useless thing Chu Yue Xing climb over her head?

  Even if she knew it was Chu Yunyang who was provoking her to reveal her true nature, Chu Yuexiang couldn't help but fall into his trap. She coldly laughed and said: "Second Madam, have you lost your mind? Just now, I was just joking with Second Sister, what's this about going to the Pingguo Duke's residence to be a concubine? If you really want Second Sister to become the Young Master's concubine, wouldn't people outside start rumors that I, as her older sister, am not treating her well?"

  Is this going to be regretted?

  The second lady was suddenly stunned, her voice off-key and shouting, "Just now it was clearly said that we would ask the emperor to grant a marriage with equal status, but you can't go back on your word!"

  "What's with the wife? These words were spoken by Chu Xunyang, I still don't need her to take charge of my Pingguo Gongfu family matters!" Chu Yuexiao said, and as she spoke, she glared at Chu Xunyang with hatred.

  After this incident, she and the second lady became sworn enemies, but even so, she couldn't bring fire to her own body and let her husband marry a concubine.

  "You——" The second lady's face turned red with rage, her eyes wide with anger, but restrained by her status, she didn't dare to lash out at Chu Yuexiao.

  Chu Yu Yao let out a cold snort and sat back down in her chair.

  The second lady's heart was in a flurry, and she hastily kneeled down to grab the hem of Chu Mianyang's skirt, pleading, "Young Mistress, being a wife or concubine is not much different. I'm just relying on having you as the great young mistress above to protect Xiner somewhat. Please don't intervene in this matter; it's also possible for me to be a concubine."

  How can a daughter's marriage be taken as a joke? Today's commotion has ruined Chu Yuexin's reputation, now how can Chu Yuyao take it back?

  This second wife is really muddle-headed!

  Chu Youyang heard this and couldn't help but laugh. After laughing, his expression on his face froze in an instant, making the second madam's scalp numb.

  "Are you just forgetting your own identity, or have you also forgotten the identity of your father?" Chu Jinyang said, raising his hand to point in the direction of the imperial palace, his tone cold and severe. "Father is the current crown prince, the heir to the throne. What does this identity mean? You don't know? We are the royal family, the heavenly household. Even if Second Sister was born out of wedlock, what of it? If this matter had occurred in another imperial household, I wouldn't say anything. But our Eastern Palace..."

  Chu Nanyang's words were halfway through, when suddenly the tone changed, and several more points of arrogance and domineering air were added, "Sending Father's own daughter to be someone's concubine? Lian Shi, are you going to slap our entire Western Yue imperial family in the face?"

  Chu Yi'an is the crown prince, and for now, his position seems quite stable. Although Chu Youyang didn't say it outright, the implication was already very clear.

  At present in the East Palace, Chu Yuexin is indeed a status of illegitimate birth, but when Chu Yi'an ascends to the throne as Emperor one day, even if she is an illegitimate child, Chu Yuexin will still be a noble princess of the imperial family.

  Throughout history, who dares to call a princess of the imperial family down to marry a minister as a concubine? It's like slapping the entire royal family in the face.

  These women had never thought of this before and just handled it as a usual practice for official families.

  At this time, after hearing Chu Nianyang's words, let alone the second lady who directly fainted on the ground, even Lei Ce Fei was also sweating profusely.

  Yes, the crown prince will ascend to the throne in the future. Although Chu Yuexin is currently unremarkable, once her status changes, her actions today would be enough for the imperial censor to impeach her on charges of "disrespecting the royal family and harboring ulterior motives". At that time, it's not just her own position and glory that will be at stake, but possibly even her entire maternal family will be implicated.

  At this thought, Leixi's heart was filled with lingering fear.

  "Did you hear that, Lian Shi, from Jiangyang?" After calming herself down, Lei Ce Fei suddenly raised an eyebrow and gave a sidelong glance to the second madam with the corner of her eye, saying in a cold tone, "It's fine if you're usually careless, but on such a big matter, you still have such a shallow understanding. Don't you fear death for yourself, or bringing disaster to your family?"

  The idea was hers, but now it means that the second lady has to take on this responsibility herself.

  "Sister!" The second lady was startled, her heart bitter and resentful, but she didn't dare to confront Lady Lei directly, so she could only show weakness and say, "Yes, sister is right to scold me, it's all my fault. I will definitely remember your teachings, sister, and won't make the same mistake again."

  This matter is quite a serious responsibility, it can't be settled with just a few words, it's necessary to take real action.

  Lei Ce Fei did not respond with a yes or no, but instead shifted her gaze and gave Chu Mo Yang an inquiring look.

  This dead girl wants to look for trouble and lose face, so why not fulfill her wish? The second lady is a concubine, but she is also the concubine of Chu Yi'an. Does Chu Nanyang want to teach her a lesson? She wants to see how big this dead girl's appetite is!

  The Second Mistress scolded Chu Nanyang, who was her stepmother. She had only reprimanded him a couple of times and that was it. If she really made Chu Nanyang take action against her, the matter would spread and damage Chu Nanyang's reputation.

  Qing Luan knew at a glance that Lei Ce Fei was up to no good by throwing out this hot potato, and her heart was worried, so she wanted to remind him.

  Chu Sunyang's sharp perception caught her intention to move forward, and he subtly shook his head, indicating that she should restrain herself.

  Then she walked over, as if unintentionally, and also as if it was a matter of course, and sat shoulder to shoulder with Lei Ce Fei in the main seat.

  Lei Ce Fei is currently the highest-ranking woman in the East Palace, and this is also her own place. How could Chu Nian Yang sit on an equal footing with her?

  The two women stared at each other in a daze.

  A flash of thunder seemed to flicker in Leixi's eyes for an instant, but it didn't erupt.

  Her generation is high, but in terms of status, she is on the same level as Zhu Mo Yang, let alone that Zhu Yi An dotes on this little maid, and she doesn't dare to find trouble.

  Today, things have already gotten to this point, and Chu Youyang isn't afraid of offending the Second Madam even more severely. It's also a good opportunity to give people like Lei Ce Fei a warning.

  So after sitting down, she hooked the corner of her mouth and said: "Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. The dignity and face of our Tianjia cannot be lost. Qing Luan, take Lian Shi to the Buddhist hall to kneel, and then bring the family rules and ancestral teachings for her to copy."

  She was punished but no deadline was set, perhaps Second Madam would never be able to return for the rest of her life!

  Digression

  They are all called Junzhu, but the ranks are also different. So my family's Xinbao is really not arrogant to smash the scene, this is really a strong foundation!

  As for why her status is so high, I might explain it in the next chapter, but there's also a possibility that it'll be dragged out later, depending on the plot progression~