Even though Pang Yan loved Consort Lian dearly and doted on her, no matter how much he argued, Consort Lian was still just a concubine. She might have had some standing within the inner chambers, but outside, she was merely a servant.
A mere servant dared to attend the banquet at Prince Rong's mansion and offend so many distinguished guests. It would have been acceptable even if she were beaten to death.
Those outside wouldn't care whose orders she followed. They would only know that the Jinxiang Bo Manor lacked proper etiquette. If they thought deeper, they might even suspect the Jinxiang Bo Manor harbored dissatisfaction towards Prince Rong and Prince Ding'an, thus intending to insult them in such a manner.
Indeed, in the eyes of ancient people, sharing a table with a servant was an insult.
Pang Yan still had the audacity to complain to Wang Qingyao?
He was truly an imbecile.
While Pang Yan felt sorry for Consort Lian, the Jinxiang Bo did not. He immediately gave orders for Consort Lian to be dragged over to kowtow to Wang Qingzhu and apologize.
Pang Yan almost jumped up. "Father, how can Consort Lian be moved in her condition?" he pleaded. "Wait a few days until she recovers a bit..."
The Jinxiang Bo glanced at Wang Qingyao's expression and showed hesitation.
Wang Qingyao said indifferently, "The Marquis has no legitimate son, and Young Master Pang has no legitimate son. The path to requesting a title is long..."
The Jinxiang Bo no longer hesitated. His tone of command became even more severe.
Pang Yan wanted to intervene, his hands moved slightly, but he ultimately retracted them.
See, as long as one's own interests were involved, any talk of true love could be cast aside.
Wang Qingyao stood up. "I'll go check on Zhu'er, lest she be startled when she sees Consort Lian later. A woman in confinement cannot afford to be frightened."
Naturally, no one stopped her.
Wang Qingzhu was lying in the adjacent room. The maids who had been eavesdropping on everything that happened here reported it all to her.
Wang Qingzhu listened, feeling both happy and sad, crying and laughing intermittently.
The maids listened with satisfaction and couldn't help but exclaim, "Princess Ding'an is truly formidable!"
Another maid said, "Madam, you have such a capable cousin. What do you have to fear from Consort Lian?"
Wang Qingzhu wasn't afraid of Consort Lian; she still harbored illusions about Pang Yan.
After hearing Wang Qingyao's words today, she seemed to be coming to terms with things...
Wang Qingyao entered with Wang Qingzhen and Bai Junya.
"Second Sister..." Wang Qingzhu choked out, calling her name gratefully.
Wang Qingyao said, "Did you hear everything? Learn from it, be a bit more assertive. When necessary, we can bully others with our status. We have the power to do so!"
Bai Junya: Where did Princess Ding'an pick up this accent?
"When Consort Lian comes later, you will forgive her..."
"Forgive her?" Before Wang Qingzhu could speak, Wang Qingzhen interjected with dissatisfaction. "After all this talk, it's just to forgive her? Not to thoroughly humiliate her?"
Wang Qingyao said, "Humiliating her can wait. Her leg was just broken, and Pang Yan is worried about her! Act a little like a 'green tea' so Pang Yan thinks you are magnanimous and possess the demeanor of a proper wife..."
"Green tea?" Wang Qingzhu was confused.
Wang Qingyao explained, "It means pretending to be pitiful, acting harmless." She even demonstrated, "Oh dear, is Sister angry with me because I'm too fierce? It must be something I've done wrong that made you upset."
Wang Qingzhu was dumbfounded. "Isn't that just like Consort Lian?"
"Pretty much. Consort Lian isn't entirely useless; at least she has Pang Yan completely wrapped around her finger. So, you should tread her path, leaving her with no way out!"
"Of course," Wang Qingyao reminded her. "You are the legitimate wife. A legitimate wife should be dignified and generous, not preoccupied with vying for favor. A legitimate wife naturally has her advantages; you must learn to use them."
Wang Qingzhu seemed to understand, yet not entirely.
At this moment, several wet nurses carried Consort Lian in.
The Jinxiang Bo had said to drag her, but the wet nurses dared not truly drag her.
After all, they had all witnessed how much Pang Yan doted on Consort Lian.
Not to mention that Consort Lian was the birth mother of Pang Yan's only son.
This household would eventually belong to Pang Yan, and consequently to Consort Lian and her son.
The servants dared not be too presumptuous. They had thoughtfully prepared a bamboo chair, covered it with soft felt, and when asked, they said the Marquis had ordered her to go over. They then carefully carried her over.
Consort Lian did not yet know she was being brought over to apologize.
She thought Pang Yan had stood up for her and would demand an explanation from Wang Qingzhu.
Thus, upon arriving in Wang Qingzhu's room, she maintained her airs, enduring the pain in her leg bones, and looked imperiously at Wang Qingzhu, who was half-reclining on the bed.
Wang Qingyao let out a cold laugh.
The Jinxiang Bo gave Pang Yan a look. Even though Pang Yan was unwilling, thinking of his title, he hardened his heart and said, "Consort Lian, for your rashness that caused Madam to lose her child, and considering you have given birth to a son and daughter for the Pang family, we will not drive you out of the manor. You will kowtow to Madam, apologize, and beg for her forgiveness."
Whether Consort Lian would be sent to the estate was still undecided.
Pang Yan harbored a small thought. By saying this now, and seeing that Wang Qingyao showed no reaction, he couldn't help but feel relieved.
Consort Lian's face was filled with shock. She thought she had misheard.
Make her kowtow and apologize to Wang Qingzhu?
She instinctively looked at Pang Yan. Pang Yan guiltily averted his gaze, not daring to meet hers.
She then looked at Wang Qingzhu. Wang Qingzhu's face was expressionless, but the corners of her lips were slightly upturned, as if she were in a good mood.
Everyone else watched her coldly.
She panicked. How could this be?
Didn't Pang Yan go to stand up for her?
Why was she the one being asked to kowtow and apologize to Wang Qingzhu?
She opened her mouth, her voice hoarse, "I didn't do it on purpose..."
How could she kowtow and apologize to Wang Qingzhu?
How would she maintain her authority over the maids and servants after this?
When her son inherited the Jinxiang Bo manor, she would become the old matriarch!
Enduring the pain in her leg and heart, she looked at Pang Yan with tear-filled eyes. "Cousin, you promised you would protect me, you said..."
Heh, Wang Qingyao curled her lips, giving the Jinxiang Bo a mocking glance.
A concubine dared to seduce her husband in front of so many masters?
"The rules of the Jinxiang Bo Manor are truly remarkable," Wang Qingyao commented with feigned admiration.
"Slap!" The Jinxiang Bo slapped Consort Lian across the face, knocking her off the chair and onto the ground.
Pang Yan let out a soft cry of concern, his body involuntarily leaning forward, his arm also extending.
However, he ultimately took no further action. Thinking of something, he forcefully retracted it.
Consort Lian was completely stunned.
She was injured, and this fall intensified her pain, turning her face pale.
The Jinxiang Bo said sternly, "When a master is speaking, what right do you have to interrupt? If you are told to kowtow and apologize, then kowtow and apologize. What's with all this nonsense?"
Consort Lian bit her lip lightly, tears welling up in her eyes.
Her leg was broken, and she couldn't kneel. She could only lie there.
The wise know when to adapt. She understood that her status was an insurmountable obstacle.
She had no other recourse.
Before kowtowing, she cast a desperate yet affectionate glance at Pang Yan, her expression full of brokenness. Pang Yan's eyes also reddened.
Consort Lian looked at Wang Qingzhu, her fingernails digging deeply into her flesh.
She kowtowed, "Madam, it was my fault. Please forgive me."
Tears slid from her eyes.
She vowed that the humiliation she suffered today would be repaid tenfold in the future.
When she looked up again, her expression had changed.
She looked at Wang Qingzhu, speaking words of apology, but her eyes were filled with pity and provocation.
It was as if she were saying: As the legitimate wife, unable to gain your husband's favor, you could only force me to apologize like this.
She was trying to provoke Wang Qingzhu.
In the past, Wang Qingzhu would have coldly dismissed her with disdain.
But today, having just received Wang Qingyao's guidance, her mind was clear.
Facing Consort Lian's provocation, she simply nodded faintly. "I know you didn't do it intentionally. The child is gone, and you must also be feeling bad. After all, it was your husband's legitimate son. Forget it. You may get up now, just be more careful in the future."
Consort Lian was taken aback. Wang Qingzhu actually didn't fall for her trick!
Consort Lian's leg was broken; how could she get up?
No one thought to help her up. She remained lying on the ground, helpless and vulnerable.
Wang Qingzhu reminded Pang Yan, "Husband, why don't you help Consort Lian up? The ground is cold, and she is injured..."
Pang Yan looked at Wang Qingzhu gratefully. Only then did he pick up Consort Lian and place her on the bamboo chair, then had the wet nurses carry her back.
The matter concluded perfectly.
After everyone else had left, Wang Qingzhu said, whether out of sadness or sorrow, "He has never looked at me with such an expression. Today, I spoke a word for his beloved concubine, and he was actually grateful to me... He truly loves Consort Lian!"
Wang Qingyao sneered, "Perhaps not. Wait and see. How many days can he love this broken-legged Consort Lian?"
Before leaving, Wang Qingyao gave Wang Qingzhu another piece of advice. "Your mother-in-law is a formidable character. She has no children now. After you give birth, you can let her raise the child."
Wang Qingzhu was startled, her face filled with reluctance. But upon careful consideration, what Wang Qingyao said made a lot of sense, so she nodded.
"Thank you, Second Sister."
"We are sisters; there's no need for thanks."