The guards beside Feng Xiwu subconsciously wanted to save the person.
Lu Qingwan swept them a look. Not only did no one from Feng Xiwu's side move to help, but the guards also blocked all the Lu family members who tried to rush out to save them.
Then, a group of people watched as the old woman stopped awkwardly in front of the tallow tree.
Glaring at her juniors with disappointment, the old woman then took out her handkerchief and started crying dramatically.
Lu Qingwan even felt embarrassed for her acting skills.
Lu Qingwan couldn't help but laugh, "It seems I have no choice but to welcome you all respectfully into my home today, don't I?"
Hearing this, the old woman revealed a smug smile before resuming her fake crying.
Lu Qingwan turned her head, "Does Your Highness have any interest in watching a good show?"
Feng Xiwu played along, "The Princess Consort is watching the show; this King will naturally be a spectator."
Lu Qingwan smiled, "Aunt Lan Yin, please fetch a table and chairs, along with some tea and pastries. This Princess Consort wishes to treat His Highness to a wonderful show!"
With Feng Xiwu present, Aunt Lan Yin had no choice but to cooperate.
The table, chairs, and tea were set. Li Qing also returned.
Holding the old ledger in her hands, Lu Qingwan asked with a smile, "Do you want to know what this is?"
"Who knows what that is? Lu Qingwan, I am your grandmother.
I brought our clan relatives back on your return visit to give you face, yet you blocked us at the door. Are you great just because you're the Princess Consort, and can you be so disrespectful to your elders?"
The crying, dramatically acting old woman was the Old Madam Zhang of the Marquis Wenchang's estate.
The Marquis Wenchang's estate was in decline. To support its daily expenses, she married Zhang Shi, who came from a merchant family.
Zhang Shi knew her humble background and was not without her insecurities when she was young.
But later, when she found that no matter how hard she tried, the ladies from noble families still looked down on her, she found a different approach and utilized her identity as a merchant's daughter.
Whenever there was trouble, she would throw a tantrum. After all, she was a merchant's daughter, ignorant of propriety, right?
Even if she made a mistake, a mere apology would suffice, and the other party, wanting to save face, wouldn't dare to pursue it.
Lu Qingwan was the first person, besides Princess Anyang, who did not fall for her act.
She cursed inwardly that the daughter born of that vixen Anyang was also troublesome, but outwardly she refused to give up, determined to enter the Marquis Zhaolie's estate before Lu Zhenting's funeral.
The noble title of Marquis Wenchang was precarious. She needed to have Lu Zhenting adopt someone from the younger generation of the Marquis Wenchang's estate to inherit Lu Zhenting's title.
It would be too late to adopt someone after Lu Zhenting's funeral.
"You're truly sorry then. Being the Princess Consort is indeed great, allowing you to be disrespectful to elders like yourself!"
Lu Qingwan flicked the ledger in her hand, "I, this Princess Consort, did not wish to fall out with you on such a joyous occasion as your return visit.
But I suddenly realized that being polite to people like you is an insult to myself, so it's better to tear down the pretense!"
Zhang Shi was clueless. The man who claimed to be Lu Zhenting's cousin had a bad premonition but refused to believe that Lu Qingwan, this useless person, could actually do anything to them, so he remained silent.
Then, Lu Qingwan began to read out the list of offenses as if reciting a menu.
"In the 27th year of Jianyuan, on your return visit, you took advantage of my absence from the estate and had someone push my father into the lotus pond.
Fortunately, my father was a good swimmer and barely survived. He was only seven years old that year."
In the 32nd year of Jianyuan, the late Emperor passed away. You deliberately gave my father fermented glutinous rice balls, got him drunk, and then had maids dance and sing in his room. This was witnessed by palace eunuchs, and my father was disqualified from participating in the imperial examinations.
In the first year of Jingyou, His Majesty ascended the throne and granted a general amnesty. My father finally had a chance to participate in the imperial examinations. He meticulously prepared a policy paper to participate in the provincial examinations.
You had someone replace it with a seditious text criticizing His Majesty and the court, an act of great disrespect. The old steward seemed to have stolen that seditious text, and for his own safety, my father joined the army alone, thinking he could escape your schemes this way.
But when you learned that my father was going to marry the Princess of Xiliang, fearing that he would retaliate if he gained power, you schemed to have my father and that venomous woman Lan Yurou consummate their marriage before my parents' wedding, nearly ruining his marriage.
Fortunately, my mother was understanding and did not blame my father, so they did not miss each other.
...
I have many more such charges, all with complete evidence. Do you still want to hear them?"
Zhang Shi was dumbfounded. She never expected that Lu Qingwan, at such a young age, would possess so much evidence of her crimes.
After a moment of stunned silence, she decisively lunged at Lu Qingwan, snatching the ledger from her hands and anxiously exclaiming, "Slander! This is all slander!
You little slut, don't you dare slander me like your short-lived mother!
Your mother couldn't outplay me, so what are you?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Zhang Shi realized her slip of the tongue. Her vulgar tirade came to an abrupt halt.
However, it was too late to shut up.
Lu Qingwan grabbed her collar and pulled her up, "What do you mean my mother couldn't outplay you? What did you do to her?
Was my mother's disappearance your doing?"
"I didn't, I didn't say anything!"
Zhang Shi displayed the full extent of her shrewish nature. Despite saying it in full view of everyone, she now vehemently denied it.
But how could Lu Qingwan let her off easily?
"It doesn't matter if you don't admit it. I have all the evidence of you, Lu Zhenshan, and Lu Wenting plotting to harm my father. We'll see each other in the Hall of the Ministry of Justice."
She threw Zhang Shi away, "Also, you'd better think clearly about where the news of my father's death in battle came from.
Otherwise, I fear that if the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate jointly impeach you, your Marquis Wenchang's estate won't be able to handle it!"
As her voice fell, she handed the ledger to Li Qing, "Immediately make a copy of this ledger and submit it to the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate.
I want to see who this old woman is, whom my mother couldn't outplay?!"
Li Qing looked to Feng Xiwu for confirmation. The latter waved his hand decisively, "Zhang Shi is suspected of plotting against Princess Anyang. Arrest her immediately.
This concerns diplomatic relations between the two countries. Send her to the Ministry of Justice to investigate thoroughly.
Tell them that if no results are obtained before the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, I will personally oversee the case at the Ministry of Justice."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The guards quickly stepped forward and dragged Zhang Shi away.
None of the other Lu family members stepped forward to plead for her.
Lu Qingwan sneered, "Still not leaving? Are you waiting for this Princess Consort and the Regent King to treat you to a meal?"
The group instantly scrambled to their feet and fled as if chased by dogs.
Everyone had come to witness Lu Qingwan's misfortune. After all, a useless ugly woman marrying the high and mighty Regent King, everyone wanted to see the useless woman continue to be neglected.
Ideally, she would return home alone and then be ostracized by the Lu family; this was the outcome everyone expected for the useless, ugly woman.
But no one expected Lu Qingwan to be like a changed person. Not only was she not bullied, but she also taught a great lesson to those who tried to bully her.
With Princess Anyang implicated, not only would the Old Madam of the Marquis Wenchang's estate suffer, but the entire Marquis Wenchang's estate would likely be implicated.
What was even more unexpected was that the Regent King allowed Lu Qingwan to act as she pleased. Everyone immediately understood that Lu Qingwan was likely highly favored by the Regent King.
In an instant, who knew how many noble ladies' hearts were broken.
As for the parties involved, Lu Qingwan and Feng Xiwu had already elegantly entered the Marquis Zhaolie's estate, leaving all the turmoil outside.