Chapter 207: Being Fiery Is Not a Crime

Kneel down before you speak to this Lord.

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Yu Bowen also cared about his Face, and his voice trembled slightly with anger, “Duke of Chu County, do not bully others too much! As a dignified Founding Baron, you twist black and white, and are you only capable of engaging in verbal sparring with women in the back residence here?”

Upon hearing this, Ding Suian instead became interested and invited him, “I also do not wish to waste breath on women. If Brother Yu wishes to vent anger for your younger sister, why not challenge me to a spar and beat me up?”

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Yu Bowen, a weak scholar, ‘beating up’ a Martial Artist in the Hua Gang Realm?

Ding Suian, like a salesman eager to sell himself, said enthusiastically, “I can promise you not to use Protective Aura, let’s just stop at a light touch!”

But Yu Bowen did not believe a single word.

Last time, the person who believed his’stop at a light touch’ was Qin Liu, the adopted son of Qin Shou, who was publicly beheaded at the small parade ground.

He couldn’t win in an argument.

And he couldn’t fight.

Yu Bowen’s Face turned pale and livid. He suddenly turned to Princess Xingguo and bowed deeply, “Your Highness, please discern the truth. My younger sister has been insulted, and the Duke of Chu County is bullying the weak. I ask Your Highness to uphold justice for our Yu Clan!”

Ding Suian also turned around, bowed, and cupped his hands, “Your Highness, Madam Zhang of the Yu family openly roared at me with disrespect, showing contempt for the laws of the imperial court! I ask Your Highness to uphold justice for me!”

Princess Xingguo’s previously furrowed brows now quietly relaxed. She first looked at Ding Suian, her tone gentle yet definitive, “Duke of Chu County, Madam Yu loves her daughter deeply, so her words were a bit intense. Although she is a commoner, the Yu family has always had a clean reputation. You are young, so be more open-minded. Give this Palace some Face and do not haggle over it, how about that?”

Without waiting for Ding Suian to respond, she turned to Madam Zhang, “Madam Yu, this Palace knows you are distressed for your daughter. But Young Miss Jiang and Young Miss Yu are, after all, cousins. Being young, it is inevitable to have some bumps and scrapes while playing. What Madam Yu said earlier about ‘master and servant, offending superiors’ was a bit alarmist.”

She paused slightly, “How about this, this Palace will make the decision. Young Miss Jiang, Ruan Ruan, and Zhao Yan will be confined in the Princesss Residence for ten days to reflect on their mistakes. What does Madam Yu think?”

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It looked like a punishment, but what the hell was a ten-day confinement?

But with Ding Suian pestering and seizing upon Madam Zhang’s ‘disrespect’ as an excuse, now that Your Highness had spoken, Madam Zhang could only hold her nose and accept it, “Your Highness’s handling is fair, this commoner has no objections.”

Princess Xingguo nodded with satisfaction, turned her gaze to Ding Suian, and said calmly, “Duke of Chu County, Young Miss Yu has been frightened, you should see off Madam Yu’s family on behalf of this Palace.”

This instruction was understated, but its significance was extraordinary.

Normally, Ding Suian was also a guest; there was no reason for a guest to see off other guests.

This was a clear political stance. The Duke of Chu County was one of Princess Xingguo’s own people, whom she had personally promoted and intended to use heavily.

Ding Suian was straightforward and cupped his hands in response, “I obey the order.”

The group silently walked through the corridors of the Princesss Residence.

Madam Zhang’s Face was as gloomy as water, and Yu Bowen pursed his lips tightly. Not until they walked out of the gate of the Princesss Residence did Yu Ruiyan lift her Face, which had bruises on it, with tears in her eyes, “Little Lord, are you really willing to offend our Central Heaven Yu Clan just to protect that Southern Zhao woman of unknown origin?”

She looked pitiful, but why did those words sound a bit threatening?

Ding Suian stood on the steps, looking down at Yu Ruiyan’s weak posture, and laughed, “She is my person? If I don’t protect her, should I rely on society’s care?”

After speaking, he cupped his hands, “Safe travels, everyone.”

Returning to Wangqiu Hall.

Ruan Guofan and his wife, and Lin Fuyao, were just coming out of the hall.

The expressions of the three were clearly relaxed. Ruan Guofan naturally knew that his daughter would not suffer any grievances staying here in the Princesss Residence for ten days.

Lin Fuyao also felt that with her younger sister in the Princesss Residence, Jiang Yuan would most likely live well with good food and drinks for ten days before returning home.

Furthermore, among the noble families of Central Heaven, there was no one who did not want to get closer to Princess Xingguo.

The three young ones, by a stroke of luck, staying in the residence, might even have some Opportunity.

After all, this was the Princesss Residence, so it was inconvenient to say too much. Both sides exchanged a look, tacitly understanding, and exchanged greetings before parting.

Ding Suian stepped into Wangqiu Hall.

Inside the hall, Princess Xingguo was still sitting in the same place, as if she had been waiting specifically for him to return.

“Eunuch He, take the three of them down to settle them in, find a quiet courtyard, and without this Palace’s orders, they are not allowed to come and go at will.”

First, send the three young ones away.

“Yes.”

Eunuch He received the order, extended his arm to lead the way, “Three young ladies, please this way.”

Jiang Yuan kept her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart, lowering her head to follow Eunuch He.

Zhao Yan, however, had no realization of being confined. Well, it made sense; the three had already become quite familiar with each other while studying the Law Talisman.

Now that they were locked up together, eating and living together every day, whispering at night, and playing ‘fighting the mother-in-law’ during the day.

Just thinking about it made one feel happy.

Zhao Yan was a bit carried away for a moment, secretly winking at Ruan Ruan and Jiang Yuan.

This little action, however, did not escape Princess Xingguo’s eyes.

“Wait a moment~”

Princess Xingguo suddenly added another sentence, “Each person must copy five thousand large characters every day to calm the mind and cultivate one’s nature, and submit them to this Palace for inspection at night.”

“Ah?”

Zhao Yan, who was making a Face at Ruan Ruan, had her shoulders slump, instantly dumbfounded.

Jiang Yuan and Ruan Ruan obediently replied ‘Yes’.

The three young ones obediently followed Eunuch He and left.

In Wangqiu Hall, only Princess Xingguo, Lin Hansu, and Ding Suian remained.

He wanted to make excuses for Zhao Yan, “Your Highness, my Zhao Yan is well-behaved, kind, gentle, innocent, and knowledgeable of propriety. Today’s matter is not her fault.”

Teacher, my Zihan did nothing wrong!

Princess Xingguo glanced at him and said calmly, “Today, she was the one who cursed the filthiest and struck the hardest~”

Apparently, the teacher did not agree with Ding Suian’s point of view.

Immediately after, Princess Xingguo looked at Lin Hansu, her voice not loud, but unexpectedly, “Hansu, kneel.”

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Ding Suian was stunned, but Lin Hansu did not say a word and obediently knelt down.

“Your Highness.”

“Duke of Chu County, you also want to meddle in matters within this Palace’s residence?”

Princess Xingguo directly interrupted Ding Suian. Lin Hansu, probably worried that he would speak inappropriately, quickly preempted him, “I accept the punishment, I am convinced and submit.”

Her attitude made Princess Xingguo’s expression slightly clear, and she just calmly said, “Then tell me, why am I punishing you?”

“I am guilty. I failed to discipline Zhao Yan well, causing her to have a fiery temper. Today, she even clashed with noble relatives in Your Highness’s residence, causing a disturbance and bringing trouble to Your Highness. It is all because I failed in my discipline.”

Zhao Yan was a person from Ding Suian’s residence, but Lin Hansu claimed she failed to discipline her. This was equivalent to honestly admitting her role as the head wife of the Ding Family in front of Princess Xingguo.

Upon hearing this, Princess Xingguo did not show any special expression, as if she had tacitly accepted it.

Yet she said, “You only said half of it correctly.”

“Your Highness.”

Lin Hansu looked up, her Phoenix eyes slightly confused.

Princess Xingguo’s tone slowed down, her gaze lingering on Ding Suian and Lin Hansu for a moment, and then, like teaching a younger generation, she earnestly said, “As a First-Rank Princess Consort, what is the problem with being fiery? It should be so! If your character is always soft and only knows how to retreat, how can you manage the affairs of a residence and suppress the hearts of those inside and outside? And how can you support a stable home for those around you when the storm comes?”

Princess Xingguo deliberately paused, seemingly giving Lin Hansu time to think, and then her tone turned serious, “I am punishing you today not because they hit people, but because they acted without strategy. Since you knew the other party’s identity, before acting in public, you should have thought it through, figured out how to end it, and how to control the pros and cons in your own hands. Acting recklessly like this, only seeking momentary satisfaction, how is it different from a shrew in the marketplace? You didn’t teach them well, so I have to punish you.”

Ding Suian, who was standing, and Lin Hansu, who was kneeling, felt a huge sense of strangeness in their hearts at the same time.

Ding Suian tilted his head slightly to look at her, but Lin Hansu dared not make such small movements in front of Princess Xingguo, only bowing her head and saying, “I will remember Your Highness’s teachings.”

The reason it was strange was that this woman, who held the greatest power in Great Wu, was rambling on and breaking things down, and these words sounded so much like a mother-in-law teaching her daughter-in-law how to manage a household!

Moreover, she specifically let Ding Suian listen to it on the side.

Could it be, this is some kind of hint?

Just as he was pondering the deeper meaning of these words, he heard Princess Xingguo say again, “Zhao Yan is lively and clever, which is certainly an advantage, but a fox demon does not understand human affairs. If you indulge her blindly, she will sooner or later cause trouble.”

“!”

Ding Suian suddenly looked up. This time, even Lin Hansu looked at him in shock, her silent eyes meaning: I didn’t tell Her Highness.