Chapter 138 – Interfere in Affairs

Miantang stared for a moment at the seal of the capital official on it. She also asked what happened to the escort agency in the neighboring store.

 

The people in the store were all shrinking their necks and timidly saying they didn’t know. Because Miantang had not been to the escort agency much before, the people around her did not recognize the renowned Huaiyang Princess Consort in the capital.

 

Miantang thought for a moment and personally went to a cosmetics store next door. After buying more than ten boxes of rouge and powder, she became familiar with the landlady and said that there was her distant cousin in the next-door escort agency. She couldn’t find anyone and was very anxious.

 

The landlady looked at Miantang’s delicate appearance, and the red circles around her eyes were so pitiful. She looked like she was looking for her unsuspecting cousin. So she softened her heart for a moment and said, “The leader of the escort agency is said to have been caught as a bandit. Although he was later released, the cargo ship was seized the next day, and the brothers were coaxed out of the capital. When they left, they were in a mess, like a dog being coaxed out of the city, all of them were taken into the carriage and pulled out of the city.”

 

Miantang stared with big eyes. After listening to the landlady’s words, she thanked her and turned to head straight for the government office in the capital city.

 

On the carriage, Miantang asked the four girls around her, “During the days when she was going to give birth, did anyone from the escort agency come to look for her?”

 

To be honest, all four girls have not seen or heard any of that. Miantang pursed her lips, feeling that they had been quietly coaxed away, but couldn’t find a way to sneak into the city and greet her. This was not like the way the four brothers behaved.

 

When they arrived at the government, the magistrate heard that the Huaiyang Princess Consort had come to inquire about the matter and only trotted all the way to greet them.

 

Miantang kindly thanked the governor for taking care of many of her stores and then asked what the escort agency had done and was sealed.

 

The magistrate blinked and thought for a moment, then asked the senior master to bring the copy for investigation. After a long time of investigation, he said, “Princess Consort, in the goods escorted by the escort agency, we have repeatedly searched for prohibited items. Although it is your escort agency, we must comply with the royal law. I have no choice but to seal the agency.”

 

After listening, Miantang said, “The escort from the escort agency was arrested by an adult…”

 

The magistrate looked puzzled and said, “I just fined silver and didn’t arrest anyone. This case has been going on for too long, and I really can’t remember.”

 

At this moment, a servant pretended to be panting and reported, “Your Excellency… Madam is sick, we need you to go back to the mansion to take a look.”

 

Upon hearing that his wife was ill, the magistrate couldn’t conceal his surprise from the corners of his eyes. With relief, he said, “I will go back to the mansion right away.”

 

After finishing speaking, he turned around and continued to look at Liu Miantang with a puzzled expression on his face.

 

At this moment, Liu Miantang was also not interested in watching the poor performance of the magistrate. After politely saying goodbye to the magistrate, he got on the carriage and ordered, “Go back to the residence.”

 

When she returned to the residence, Cui Xingzhou had not yet returned.

 

There was a palace banquet in the palace tonight. Miantang declined this banquet because she had been personally breastfeeding her child and could not drink alcohol.

 

So after the princess consort changed her clothes, the remaining time was used to trial the residence gatekeeper.

 

In the beginning, these gatekeepers were still stiff-lipped, stating that no escort agencies were looking for the princess consort.

 

But when the princess consort’s face turned bad, took out the evil spirit of the mountain king, prepared to shave their bones with a curved knife, and looked like she was about to peel off the skin and torture, someone finally couldn’t help but say, “A while ago, the former outer court guard Lu Yi did come to search for you, but the prince instructed that such miscellaneous matters should not be used to disturb your pregnancy, so we directly reported to the prince. The prince asked someone to tie Lu Yi and then threw him out of the city.”

 

After a trial, Liu Miantang finally understood that it was indeed Prince Huaiyang who sent someone to seal the escort agency and coax the four brothers out of the capital.

 

Bicao knew that the princess consort was angry looking at her tense eyebrows and eyes. She only whispered to persuade her, “If the prince doesn’t tell you, he is afraid of you being distracted. As I see, after you met those four brothers, you are always cleaning up their mess. It’s good if they leave, it saves you a lot of trouble.”

 

Halfway through her words, Bi Cao saw Miantang staring at her coldly and was too scared to speak again.

 

At nightfall, the slightly tipsy Prince Huaiyang finally returned to the residence. When he got off the carriage, someone immediately reported the princess consort’s inquiry about the escort agency.

 

When Prince Huaiyang returned to the house, Xiaoyi’er had just finished his milk and was sleeping soundly with his face bulging. Miantang was wearing a wide robe with a loose collar, her long hair streaming down her shoulder. Her slender arms were holding the chubby baby, and in the dim light, she exuded a charming and alluring look.

 

Unfortunately, the beauty was stunning, but the eyes staring at him were cold.

 

Prince Huaiyang calmly allowed the maid to undress and clean his hands, rinse his mouth, and change his clothes. After sitting next to Miantang, he carefully took his sleeping son and handed him over to the wet nurse. He then turned around and grabbed Miantang and said, “I heard that you have a trial today and you were about to torture them? The gatekeeper was so scared by you, it is said that they had wet their pants at that time.”

 

Miantang held back her anger and said, “Let me ask you, did you let the governor seal the escort agency and didn’t let the brothers from the agency come to find me?”

 

The matter has come to an end, and Cui Xingzhou didn’t deny it, only nodding to acknowledge it.

 

“You are now the princess consort of the royal residence, and the past of the Mountain of Yang has nothing to do with you. Raising them will implicate you. They are healthy, and do they still need someone to support them?”

 

Liu Miantang slowly straightened her body and said, “Then let me ask you again, whether it’s in the court or the military camp, have I ever interfered and arbitrated in your affairs?”

 

Cui Xingzhou squinted and said, “What do you mean?”

 

“I have never interfered in the affairs of your military department. Why should Your Highness take care of my brothers?”

 

She always thought that the matter of the Mountain of Yang being a bandit was over. She just didn’t expect that although Cui Xingzhou had forgiven the fact that she used to be Lu Wen, he still despised her experience in his heart, and even dismissed the Mountain of Yang’s old team without telling her.

 

For a moment, Liu Miantang’s chest was about to explode with anger and she stared straight at Cui Xingzhou.

 

Prince Huaiyang drank some wine today, slightly tipsy, and only frowned, saying, “You admitted that you are young, ignorant, and have gone the wrong path. Then you must break it clean. Do you think I don’t know what Lu Yi means, and what was his feelings? Every time he looks straight into you. It was only for your sake that I spared their dog’s life. It’s already an act of mercy… Come, massage my head for me.”

 

Liu Miantang habitually reached out her hand to massage him, but halfway through, she awkwardly retracted, “They were released, which is the emperor’s amnesty, which means their previous sins have been forgiven. Where else should your highness show mercy? Lu Yi is my brother, and his gaze at me is much more respectful than the gaze of your close friend, Marquis Zhao, at me.”

 

These words are particularly unpleasant for Cui Xingzhou to hear.

 

To be honest, his princess consort’s temper has become increasingly prominent. When she was in the courtyard on North Street before, she was respectful to her husband. Later on, they went to the Northwest and she was still adhering to women’s ethics.

 

But later on, after he deceived her and his flaws fell into her hands, the big girl of the Liu family started to look at him with her nostrils facing upwards.

 

Later on, she concealed her shortcomings as a bandit and was caught by him. It was only then that she regained the humility of the Cui Mansion on North Street and flirted for a while.

 

But now, was she still his princess consort who blows her beard and glares at him? She seems like the big boss who speaks on the Mountain of Yang and was going to hold him accountable.

 

He can go her way and dotes on her no matter how small things are. But why was she still raising those Mountain of Yang remaining evils?

 

Just like the divorce note sandwiched in the ledger, does she want to keep a backhand for herself and always rebel against him again?

 

Thinking of this, Cui Xingzhou suddenly got up and raised his voice, saying, “Liu Miantang! Look what are you saying? They’re just a few former bandits. Are they worth arguing with me?”

 

Liu Miantang remained silent for a moment. She half lowered her head, her beautiful hair pouring down like a waterfall, looking delicate and charming.

 

Prince Huaiyang softened his heart at the sight of her heartbroken state. He felt that he shouldn’t have spoken to her loudly. Just as he was about to comfort her, Liu Miantang spoke up, “They weren’t just my former brothers, but also the memory I lost… I don’t want to realize when I look back on that past moment that I mistreated them and let others down on me.”

 

They both secretly refused to mention the memory that Miantang had lost.

 

But now Miantang has spoken such words. Cui Xingzhou’s lips slowly tightened and said, “In that memory, it wasn’t just them who treated you well, but also the emperor today. If you remember, do you also want to think of repaying the emperor for deep affection?”

 

Miantang doesn’t like to mention the past, just afraid that Cui Xingzhou will be jealous. The prince, who looked cold and elegant, had a small heart like the eyes of a needle.

 

If at ordinary times, Miantang heard this, she would definitely coax him, roll up his hair, and then hug and kiss to soothe the situation.

 

But today Cui Xingzhou really touched Miantang’s limits, so seeing him being jealous again, Miantang half lifted her head, as if trying to recall that memory hidden in the mist. After a while, she said, “How could I know what would happen if I remembered it? Otherwise, why not ask Marquis Zhao to give me another shot? Maybe after a few shots, I would remember everything.”

 

Before she could finish speaking, Cui Xingzhou had a gloomy face and kicked the door with a bang, then strode out of the room.

 

Bicao and Fangxie rested outside the door, looking at each other with bitter expressions in their hearts. They looked inside with their heads.

 

The princess consort didn’t even descend to the ground. Just as if nothing had happened, she lay down with her hair folded, and then commanded them, “Turn off the lights and close the door again. I’m going to sleep now.”

 

In the past, the prince also had arguments with the princess consort, sleeping in the study. However, at that time, the princess consort would always call them to send some soup and food to the prince, or else, send some clothes and quilts.

 

So this time, Fangxie cautiously asked, “The kitchen is cooking awakening wine soup. Later, we will bring it to the prince, saying it was ordered by the princess consort…”

 

Miantang turned halfway and calmly looked at the two maids, saying, “The servants and maids next to him are not dead! Tell all the maids in my yard, remember that half a grain of rice is not allowed to be delivered.”

 

Fangxie was dumbfounded by the sound, and only closed the door with a promise, still looking at Bicao with some disbelief.

 

She… She was not willing to step a step back for the prince, how can the two masters reconcile?

 

After all, Bicao understood the county mayor better and sighed helplessly, “The prince has stabbed the princess consort in the lungs. The princess consort is going to confront the prince head-on.”

TL/ Notes: Thank you for the ko-fi support🥰 Here’s the extra 2 chapters + the regular 1 chapter for your read, enjoy❤️