Moreover, she was such a beautiful woman. Miss Zheng was quite confident in her own appearance. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, ideals are beautiful while reality is harsh. The moment Yuan Yuhan opened his mouth, Miss Zheng's sweet dream was shattered.
"I have plenty of people willing to toil for me. What do I need a good - for - nothing pig's head like you for? To waste the rice in my mansion?"
Hearing Yuan Yuhan's words, the surrounding maids and eunuchs burst into laughter. But they quickly covered their mouths. However, their shoulders still trembled, showing that they were struggling hard to hold back their laughter.
The Regent's tongue was truly venomous. Not only did the eunuchs and maids think so, but Miss Zheng also held the same opinion. After hearing Yuan Yuhan's words, she was completely stunned.
Why did the Regent say such things? Shouldn't he have said that he would take her into the mansion and take good care of her as the princess? Why?
"My lord..." Lord Zheng was about to speak when he was interrupted by Jing Xinche.
"Lord Zheng, think carefully before you speak. Don't say the wrong thing again, or His Highness the Marquis and I won't have the patience to waste time with you." Jing Xinche looked at Lord Zheng and said calmly.
Did they think they could get away with bullying his Qier? They were daydreaming.
Hearing Jing Xinche's words, Lord Zheng immediately shut his mouth, fearing that another word might displease the two of them. It seemed that his wife was doomed today.
"Your Highness, although my mother was wrong, it was all because she was unaware of the situation." Miss Zheng Er stubbornly looked at Jing Xinche. If Mu Fengqie had revealed her identity at the beginning, they wouldn't have bothered her, and none of these things would have happened.
"Are you saying it's all Qier's fault?" Jing Xinche's cold gaze landed on Miss Zheng Er.
Miss Zheng Er froze under Jing Xinche's gaze, but she quickly composed herself. She fearlessly looked back at Jing Xinche. She wanted him to know that she was also capable of being his marquis's wife.
She was far superior to that Mu Fengqie.
Jing Xinche frowned at Miss Zheng Er's gaze. He disliked this look very much; it made him feel nauseous. He turned his head away, not wanting to see her. Out of sight, out of mind.
Seeing Jing Xinche turn his head, Miss Zheng Er was so angry that her face turned red. Damn it! She was no less beautiful than Mu Fengqie. Why didn't the Marquis of Zhongning take a fancy to her? Miss Zheng Er clenched her fists tightly, filled with unwillingness.
At this moment, Mu Fengqie came out of the room. Hearing the movement behind them, Jing Xinche and Yuan Yuhan immediately turned around.
"Qier, why did you come out?"
"Is Aru in trouble?" Yuan Yuhan, who had just been calm, instantly changed his expression. He tried to push Mu Fengqie aside and rush into the room.
"My lord, calm down. Aru is fine. I just came out to convey a message." Mu Fengqie looked at Yuan Yuhan helplessly but was also somewhat comforted.
"What message?" Knowing that Aru was okay, Yuan Yuhan calmed down again. As long as Aru was safe, everything else was negotiable.
"Aru said that it's enough to just teach Lady Zheng a lesson."
"Just let this matter go like this?" Yuan Yuhan clearly wasn't willing. Jing Xinche beside him also didn't want to let this matter slide. How could they let those who had bullied their people off easily without giving them a profound lesson?
"This is Aru's intention and also mine." This was what she and Aru had discussed while chatting in the room.
Although the new emperor had been on the throne for three years, the court was still not completely stable. Everyone had been in a panic because of Prime Minister Feng's incident a few days ago. If they took drastic measures, there might be those in the court who would be dissatisfied.
Jing Xinche thought for a while and understood what Mu Fengqie meant. He nodded in agreement. Although he agreed, he would never let Lady Zheng and her family off easily.
"Okay, we understand. Qier, don't worry." Jing Xinche stroked Mu Fengqie's head and let her go back into the room. Then he turned to look at Lady Zheng's family.
At this moment, Lady Zheng and her family were no longer as scared as before. They had clearly heard what Mu Fengqie had said, so their lives were saved. As long as they kept their lives, everything else was negotiable.
Seeing the relieved Zheng family, Jing Xinche sneered sarcastically. He had indeed promised Qier to spare their lives, but although the death penalty could be commuted, the living penalty was inescapable. Sometimes, living was more painful than dying.
"My lord, the princess has said that she will spare our lives." Lady Zheng looked at Yuan Yuhan and Jing Xinche happily. It seemed that the Regent's princess was still quite wary of them.
"I'm not deaf, Lady Zheng. Don't be too happy too soon. Have you ever heard the saying that although the death penalty can be commuted, the living penalty is inescapable, and sometimes living is worse than dying?" Yuan Yuhan looked at Lady Zheng sinisterly.
These words immediately raised Lady Zheng's heart that had just been put at ease. She looked at Yuan Yuhan in shock. She didn't expect the Regent to take advantage of this saying.
She had thought that the Regent would let them go, but now it seemed that she had thought too much. However, it was already a great blessing to have picked up a life.
"I understand, my lady. I am willing to accept whatever punishment His Highness deems fit." Lady Zheng knelt on the ground obediently.
Seeing Lady Zheng's relieved look, Yuan Yuhan laughed. "Since Lady Zheng has such a good attitude of admitting her mistakes, I won't make things difficult for you. Lady Zheng injured the princess. Although it was unintentional, she almost caused the princess to have a miscarriage. So, I'll punish Lady Zheng's family to apologize to the princess with five hundred taels of gold. You have ten days to deliver it to the Regent's mansion."
Hearing this, the entire Zheng family was stunned. "My lord, I don't have that much money." Five hundred taels of gold, not silver! Where could he find so much money?
"I don't care. I've already said that although the death penalty can be commuted, the living penalty is inescapable. I've been very merciful. If it weren't for the princess's sake, do you think you would still be alive to talk here?" Yuan Yuhan looked at Lord Zheng and his family sarcastically. Want to live? Fine, then use these five hundred taels of gold to buy your family's lives.
Lord Zheng had no way to refute and could only grit his teeth and agree. Just as he was about to get up and leave, he was called back by Jing Xinche. Lord Zheng had a feeling that the Marquis of Zhongning calling him now definitely meant no good.
Sure enough...
"Lord Zheng, don't leave in such a hurry. The Regent's matter has been settled, but my matter hasn't been resolved yet." Jing Xinche looked at Lord Zheng and his family, who were supporting each other and about to leave, and calmly spoke.
He hadn't even settled his score yet. How could they leave?
"I wonder what else Your Highness wants." Now, Lord Zheng was truly afraid of the two of them. He wished he could leave their sight immediately and never see them again.
But that was impossible.