You expect me to serve your mistress? The mistress is driving this scumbag and his entire family cra

Chapter 98 Even the Empress Dowager dares to be fooled

Liang Jiang took a few steps back and knelt on both sides of the passageway. She saw a bright yellow dragon robe sway before her eyes, and a pair of black boots embroidered with gold dragons paused slightly in front of her before she walked over with the Empress Dowager.

Following behind, a fragrant breeze wafted by, and the trailing phoenix robes embroidered with gold and silver threads glided across the polished bluestone ground, while embroidered shoes adorned with various gemstones and pearls made each step seem like a lotus blossom.

Later on, Liang Jiang could no longer distinguish her identity.

It probably included the little princesses and princes from various palaces, as well as palace servants and eunuchs.

Only after the Empress Dowager and others took their seats at the golden dragon table at the front did the Emperor grant them permission to rise and dispense with formalities.

Liang Jiang stood up, still keeping her head down.

The Empress Dowager suddenly asked, "What was all that commotion in the hall just now? What were they arguing about?"

It turned out that Liang Jiang and Liang Su had just been engaged in a heated debate, and the guards and eunuchs outside the hall were craning their necks to watch. The emperor, empress dowager, and others had all walked outside the hall, but they had not yet been informed.

Lady Liang stepped forward, feigning malice: "Your Majesty, Lady Liang of the Duke's Mansion, was scolding my ignorant granddaughter. I disturbed Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

"The Duke of Liang's Mansion?" The Empress Dowager thought for a moment: "Are you referring to Princess Heya? I heard that she and her daughter have returned to the capital and are safe and sound."

Liang Jiang immediately stepped forward, knelt down and paid her respects: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I kowtow to you and wish Your Majesty a long and healthy life."

The Empress Dowager beckoned: "Come to me and let me take a look."

Liang Jiang stood up, took a few steps forward, and slightly raised her face.

The Empress Dowager beamed: "Look at this well-behaved little thing, you probably have no bones at all. I wonder what wrong you did that your grandmother could bear to scold you."

Lady Liangwen said with a serious expression, "She drank with a man yesterday and didn't return until after the night watch. Today, she dared to be so negligent in wishing you a happy birthday, arriving late. Naturally, I must teach her some manners."

The Empress Dowager frowned in displeasure and looked at Liang Jiang: "Really?"

Liang Jiang lowered her head and said, "Your subject did have some wine with someone yesterday, but I was late for the palace today because of some unexpected trouble at home that prevented me from leaving. It was by no means an intentional act of disrespect."

The Empress Dowager admonished: "I have heard that you were married during the two years you were away from the capital. Now that you have divorced and returned to your family, you should be even more careful in your words and deeds, keep yourself pure, and set a good example for women."

Your grandmother scolded you for the sake of your reputation, to prevent further damage and disgrace, which would make it difficult for you to remarry in the future.

Liang Jiang stopped arguing and respectfully agreed.

With the Empress Dowager's support, Lady Liangwen became even more smug: "Your Majesty's admonition is absolutely right. Liangjiang has lacked discipline since childhood, and her behavior is unrestrained and lacks self-control. I will definitely discipline her strictly after I return to my residence."

"Madam Liang is mistaken!"

A person slowly walked out from among the guests, leaning on a cane symbolizing good fortune, prosperity, and longevity. With a full head of silver hair and a dignified appearance, she was none other than the Dowager Lady of the Marquis of Huaiyuan's residence.

The old matriarch, who had witnessed everything, finally couldn't hold back any longer. She stepped out from the crowd and said in a deep voice:

“Princess Heya merely shared a few drinks with my grandson. Why must you repeatedly use this as an excuse to berate him, even going so far as to bring up his character? Haven’t you heard the saying that one should not discipline one’s son in front of the family? Besides, this is the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet!”

Everyone was stunned.

Lady Liangwen was even more astonished: "The man she drank with last night was actually your young master?"

"That's right!" the old lady said firmly. "A few days ago, my grandson failed in his duties and lost the longevity talisman. Thanks to Princess Heya for her selfless help and tireless efforts over several days, the longevity talisman was found."

My entire Huaiyuan Marquis's mansion is deeply grateful. We sent Fu Bai to personally express our thanks, offered Princess Heya a few cups of wine, and personally escorted her back to the Duke's mansion. Unexpectedly, our lack of consideration led to servants making unfounded accusations, causing Princess Heya such great distress.”

Upon hearing this, a murmur of discussion immediately filled the hall.

"The birthday gift was actually found by Princess Heya? I heard that the thieves who stole it were no ordinary people. More than a hundred elite guards were no match for them." "Indeed, Princess Heya has such ability? She is truly a daughter of a military family."

The emperor sat at the head of the table, remaining silent until he heard the old lady's words. He immediately turned his gaze to Liang Jiang, looked at her with surprise, and his eyes darkened.

"It seems that Princess Heya is hiding her true strength. My hundred elite troops are no match for a delicate little girl like you."

Liang Jiang never expected that the old lady of the Marquis of Huaiyuan's mansion would take the initiative to stand up for her.

Peeking up, she immediately saw Gu Xizhi sitting behind the long table, head bowed, casually playing with a string of jade beads in her hand. She seemed indifferent to everything.

With sword-like eyebrows that reach his temples and a profile as beautiful as jade, his black robe exudes composure, restraint, nobility, and domineering presence.

Upon hearing the emperor's generous praise, Liang Jiang hurriedly looked away and lowered her head, saying, "Your Majesty flatters me. I have no such ability. I merely used my sect's reputation to ask someone for a favor."

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. It seems you grew up on Yuhua Mountain, didn't you?"

Liang Jiang respectfully replied, "Yes."

The Emperor nodded slightly: "A disciple personally taught by the two sages, Wen and Wu, is naturally of excellent character and ability. No wonder he was able to single-handedly massacre the Black Wind Temple and rid the people of a scourge; he has quite the flair of the Duke of Liang back then. Tell me, what reward do you want?"

Liang Jiang suppressed the urge to speak out for her father, which almost escaped her lips.

"This humble woman dares not claim credit. I have come to the palace today to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday and have carefully prepared a gift. If the Empress Dowager is pleased, I would be grateful if she would bestow upon me a longevity peach to grant me blessings and long life. I am already overwhelmed with gratitude."

A smile crept across the emperor's tense face: "You have quite the cleverness and wit to it. In this respect, neither the Duke of Liang nor his wife can match you."

His tone was light and teasing, and everyone joined in with laughter.

The Empress Dowager's earlier displeasure vanished: "What birthday gifts have you prepared for me? Quickly present them to me so I can see them."

Liang Jiang smiled, took the box from Yu Ma's hand, and respectfully presented it: "I heard that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager likes Madam Liu's embroidery, so I specially requested a painting of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix for you, wishing Her Majesty good health and a long and worry-free life."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager immediately became interested.

"It's kind of you to be so thoughtful. Someone, bring it here quickly so I can take a look."

A palace maid stepped forward, took the gift box from Liang Jiang's hand, turned around and respectfully presented it to the Empress Dowager, then opened it.

The Empress Dowager was taken aback: "This, how come this is empty? Where is the embroidery?"

The emperor turned slightly to the side, glanced at her, and looked surprised: "Princess Heya, do you know that this is a crime of deceiving the emperor?"

Liang Jiang looked puzzled, not understanding what it meant, until the palace maid showed her the empty box, and she was immediately speechless.

Inside the main hall, a great deal of discussion arose.

"The box is empty! What happened? She actually used an empty box to fool the Empress Dowager."

"I've long heard that Princess Heya is extremely audacious, but I never imagined she would even dare to deceive the Empress Dowager. Her crime deserves to be punished!"

Seeing that the time was right, Lady Liangwen immediately stepped forward and knelt down: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Your Majesty, please forgive me. I never expected that Liangjiang would be so disrespectful and lawless. It is my fault for not disciplining her properly. I am guilty."

Liang Jiang was completely bewildered: "How could it be empty? I put it in this gift box myself. Could it have been stolen?"

"Alright, stop spouting nonsense in front of the Empress Dowager! How could you possibly beg for Lady Liu's embroidery?" Lady Liangwen scolded.

(End of this chapter)