Lin Qinghe entered the Xu family's courtyard. Just as she was about to sit down, Lin Yuyan scolded her impatiently, "Lin Qinghe, do you really think you've become a phoenix just because you married into Prince Rong's manor? Mother is still here... When is it your turn to sit down?!"
Lin Qinghe glanced at Lin Yuyan, then slowly sat down, calmly picked up her teacup, took a sip, and put it down.
Before Lin Qinghe could speak, Nanny Xu narrowed her eyes and said, "How dare you! Even if the Princess Consort was once a young lady of your Prime Minister's manor, she is now Prince Rong's Princess Consort. You should all kneel and kowtow to her. Why can't she sit?!"
Lin Yuyan was dismissive, never having taken Lin Qinghe or the foolish Prince seriously. She sneered, "When did a mere servant like you get to interrupt when our master is speaking! You have no manners. I don't mind teaching you a lesson on Lin Qinghe's behalf!"
As Lin Yuyan raised her hand to slap Nanny Xu, Nanny Xu moved faster. She grabbed Lin Yuyan's raised arm and struck Lin Yuyan across the face.
Madam Xu cried out in alarm and quickly helped Lin Yuyan up, otherwise, the slap would have sent her to the ground.
"Yan'er, are you alright?" Madam Xu looked up and glared furiously at the calm Lin Qinghe, shouting, "Lin Qinghe! Although you are now Prince Rong's Princess Consort, the Prime Minister's manor is where you were raised. I am your mother. Are you rebelling by disrespecting your elders like this!"
Lin Qinghe raised her eyes slightly and said calmly, "Mother, where have I disrespected you? Don't forget, from the moment I entered this household, it was Eldest Sister who has been provoking and disrespecting me."
"You!" Lin Yuyan, clutching her stinging half of her face, glared at Lin Qinghe with bitter hatred.
She couldn't openly harm Lin Qinghe, but she would never let the slutty maid who hit her go!
Lin Yuyan then pointed at Nanny Xu and said chillingly, "This slut dared to hit me. She is insubordinate! Guards! Drag her away and teach her a good lesson!"
Lin Qinghe remained unmoved, and Nanny Xu showed no fear. Facing the maids from the Prime Minister's manor who were closing in, she did not flinch and kept her back straight.
Lin Qinghe narrowed her eyes and said with a half-smile, "Eldest Sister, if you intend to teach Nanny Xu a lesson, I advise you to first go to the palace and ask the Empress Dowager. Nanny Xu is not a servant of Prince Rong's manor. She was sent by Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress Dowager, to take care of His Highness."
Upon hearing this, the maids who had surrounded them, ready to act, were all stunned and dared not move.
Lin Yuyan's eyes darkened, and she gritted her teeth, "Don't spout nonsense! Do you think I'd believe your lies! Guards! Drag this insubordinate slut away!"
The Emperor had never cared much for that fool. Why would he send someone from the palace to look after him! Lin Qinghe must have made it up herself!
Madam Xu, unlike Lin Yuyan, was not ignorant of the ways of the world. She had often heard that the Empress Dowager doted on You Rong, and even after he became foolish, her affection for him never waned.
Madam Xu quickly stopped Lin Yuyan and said, "Yan'er, that's enough. What happened just now was a misunderstanding. I hope the Princess Consort will not take offense with Yan'er. She has just married into the manor, and she hasn't quite adjusted. She still thinks of you as she did when you were at home, acting out of good intentions to teach you proper etiquette. After all, in noble families, children must adhere to etiquette before their parents, lest they become a laughingstock."
Lin Qinghe did not speak. Nanny Xu then said coldly, "This servant believes that Miss Lin should be the one to learn about etiquette. Let alone that the wife of the Prime Minister is here today, even if the Prime Minister himself were here, he would have to bow to the Princess Consort. Where does the notion that the Princess Consort cannot sit come from!"
"You!"
Madam Xu pulled at the furious and dark-faced Lin Yuyan and forced a stiff smile, "Yes, this Nanny is right. We were indeed impolite today."
Lin Qinghe wore a faint smile, her eyebrows subtly arching without anyone noticing.
As expected of someone from the Empress Dowager's side, who had seen much in the palace, she easily rendered this mother and daughter speechless, and Lin Qinghe found herself at ease.
Lin Qinghe thought to herself: If I had known, I shouldn't have listened to Prime Minister Lin and left directly with You Rong.
After the exchange, Madam Xu realized that Lin Qinghe was not to be trifled with. No matter how dissatisfied Lin Yuyan was, she had to stop her from provoking Lin Qinghe. If it were to reach the Empress Dowager's ears, they would suffer more losses than gains.
After staying for nearly a quarter of an hour, Lin Qinghe, bored, was about to get up and leave when she heard shouts from outside, followed by You Rong's panicked cries for her.
"Princess Consort, *wuwu*... Go away, this Prince wants the Princess Consort, this Prince wants to see the Princess Consort..."
"This is the women's quarters ahead. If you imbecile dare to barge in again, this young master will make you pay. Stop..."
" *Wuwu*, it hurts... Princess Consort, this Prince wants the Princess Consort..."
Lin Qinghe's heart tightened. Without a word, she strode out. As soon as she left the courtyard, she saw You Rong being blocked and pulled by a group of young servants, and in the scuffle, he was roughly thrown to the ground.
Lin Qinghe's face darkened, and she shouted angrily, "Stop! What are you doing!"
Lin Qinghe quickly walked over, helped up You Rong, who was crying on the ground, and asked urgently, "How is His Highness? Where is he injured?"
You Rong sobbed a few times, then threw his arms around Lin Qinghe, burying his face in her neck and crying, "Princess Consort, they hit this Prince. That person... *wuwu*, I don't want to be here anymore. Let's leave quickly, *wuwu*..."
Lin Qinghe gently patted You Rong's back, "Your Highness, stop crying. Let me see where they hit you first? Is it seriously injured?"
Lin Qinghe pushed You Rong away slightly. You Rong sniffled and pointed at a young master in luxurious clothes with a disdainful expression, "He... it was him! The servants brought this Prince to find the Princess Consort, and he stopped me from going, called me an idiot, and kicked me. It hurts so much..."
The young man was the third young master of the Prime Minister's manor, Lin Qingyuan. He remained indifferent to You Rong's accusations, saying disdainfully, "Sixth younger sister, I was only kindly telling him that this is the women's quarters ahead and men cannot go there rashly. He then claimed I hit him, but forget it... He's just an idiot, I won't bicker with him!"
"You! You're lying... It was you who started by cursing, and then told them to hit this Prince, you..."
Lin Qinghe took You Rong's hand, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped away his tears. She smiled softly and coaxed, "Good boy, Your Highness, don't cry. I'll buy you delicious food when we go out later, okay?"
You Rong sniffled, his mouth pouting aggrievedly, "Okay... okay, this Prince promised to listen to the Princess Consort, I won't cry anymore."
Lin Qinghe smiled, "Yes, Your Highness is so good."
After comforting You Rong, Lin Qinghe lowered her eyes, a cold glint flashing in their depths, so quickly that no one noticed.