Chapter 63-Part 2

Concubine Cao’s expression soured as she observed the scene.

She sternly said, “Young master Jiang, this is the inner courtyard. As an advisor, you shouldn’t be barging in here so carelessly. Even though your quarters are close to the Crown Prince’s, there is still a wall separating the outer and inner courtyards. Did you notify the steward of your stroll through the garden? Did anyone make arrangements for us women to avoid suspicion?”

Concubine Cao’s words were actually reasonable.

Jiang Xiurun, although disguised as a man, occasionally overlooked such details.

Now that the Crown Prince was married, she, as a male advisor, should have notified the servants and had an attendant escort her into the inner courtyard.

However, when she entered earlier, the guards hadn’t stopped her, and she had completely forgotten her male identity in her haste.

All she could think about was delivering the grilled fish she’d ordered through Qian’er before it got cold, hoping to pacify the Crown Prince and avoid further accusations about her drinking and socializing with her old classmates.

In her rush, she ended up bumping into the two concubines.

Although she was at fault, Concubine Tian’s maid had deliberately tried to trip her, and Concubine Tian’s fall was greatly exaggerated, as though she had been knocked down by a buffalo. This was clearly an attempt to stir up trouble.

Not wanting to escalate the situation, Jiang Xiurun handed the grilled fish to Qian’er behind her and softly said to the two women on the ground, “It was my fault for being careless and bumping into Concubine Tian. Can Concubine Tian get up, or should I call for a physician?”

Of the two, the one truly hurt was the maid, Jiaoyue.

Her leg had been twisted when Jiang Xiurun had countered her move, and tears were welling up in her eyes from the pain.

As Jiang Xiurun stepped forward to help, the maid suddenly raised her hand and slapped her, shouting, “You dog! How dare you bump into the Crown Prince’s consort!”

Although Jiang Xiurun dodged slightly, the maid’s long fingernails scratched her face, leaving painful marks that stung.

How could Qian’er let her young master suffer?

Anyone who dared to touch her young master would be slapped in the face with her big foot!

Before Jiang Xiurun could issue an order, Qian’er rushed forward and kicked the maid, sending her flying into the nearby pond.

The maid splashed and gulped down water, crying out for help.

It wasn’t until the guards fished her out, soaking wet and gasping for air, that the Crown Prince arrived and saw the commotion in the garden.

Feng Liwu, who always preferred peace and quiet, could not tolerate the piercing shrieks that disrupted his favorite garden.

With a frown, his attendant immediately shouted, “This is the Crown Prince’s quiet garden! Who dares to make such a ruckus? Whoever is crying out, silence her!”

Before Jiaoyue could spit out the water in her mouth, a hemp rope was shoved between her lips, and she could only look tearfully at her mistress, Concubine Tian.

Concubine Tian believed she was in the right today, but she knew it wasn’t wise to approach the Crown Prince directly to complain.

Instead, she allowed the maids to help her up, glancing tearfully at the Crown Prince, swallowing her sobs in a way that made her appear even more pitiable.

Concubine Cao, standing to the side, recounted the events fairly, but as she neared the end, her words faltered.

The Crown Prince’s expression grew darker as he fixed his gaze on the kneeling Jiang Xiurun.

Seeing this, Concubine Tian was secretly delighted.

Previously, when the Crown Prince had shown leniency towards Jiang Xiurun over the Taoist temple incident, it could be understood as favoritism toward talent, especially since Concubine Tian had not yet married him at the time, making punishment impractical.

But now things were different.

She was officially part of the Crown Prince’s household, and they had already shared intimate nights together.

Concubine Tian had once doubted whether the Crown Prince even liked women, but the lingering affection from that night told her otherwise.

Surely, he wouldn’t fail to cherish her now.

This time, Jiang Xiurun had entered the garden without prior notice, knocked over her and her maid, and even allowed her servant to assault someone! One was the Crown Prince’s newly favored concubine, the other a servant with no respect for rules or authority.

Who would the Crown Prince side with?

The answer was obvious!

Concubine Tian felt a rush of satisfaction at the thought that her long-held grievances were about to be resolved.

If the Crown Prince severely punished Jiang Xiurun, then Jiang Xiuyao, that seductive woman, would also lose her influence.

How could the Jiang siblings continue to flaunt themselves before her then?