The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Consort Zheng tossed and turned in bed until dawn before finally falling into a deep sleep.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, she got up, and a maid brought in water to help her wash up.

After washing up, she instructed her maid, "Go and wake the second young lady up, have her get dressed, and I will escort her back to her residence."

The maidservant was taken aback: "Your Highness, aren't you going to have breakfast?"

Consort Zheng shook her head: "I can't eat anymore, I'm not eating."

The maid sighed, acknowledged, and left.

Consort Zheng slowly washed and dressed, looked at herself in the mirror, took a deep breath, and went out.

Zheng Jie was already standing in the courtyard waiting, her eyes red and swollen, her face pale, and she kept her head down, not daring to look at her.

Consort Zheng glanced at her and said indifferently, "Let's go. I'll escort you back to your residence."

Zheng Jie didn't dare to say anything more and obediently followed behind into the carriage.

The carriage slowly drove out of the First Prince's residence. Consort Zheng leaned against the carriage wall, her eyes closed, and remained silent.

Zheng Jie sat opposite her, glancing up at her every now and then. After the carriage had been moving for a while, she finally mustered her courage and hesitantly spoke, "Sister, I really just made a mistake for a moment. I don't want to marry the Prince of Zhennan, please help me... I'll even be willing to be His Highness's concubine..."

Before she could finish speaking, Consort Zheng suddenly opened her eyes, raised her hand, and slapped him across the face. Gritting her teeth, she hissed, "Do you know what you're saying? Become His Highness's concubine? Are you insane? The Zheng sisters, one becoming His Highness's concubine, the other his maidservant—what will people think of you?"

Zheng Jie covered her face, looking at her with teary eyes: "Then what should I do? Sister, I really don't want to marry that old man..."

Consort Zheng took a deep breath, closed her eyes briefly, and said coldly, "Shut up. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at in the street? We'll talk about it when we get back!"

Zheng Jie dared not utter another sound, her head lowered, tears falling silently down her face.

The carriage stopped in front of the Zheng residence.

Consort Zheng got out of the carriage and walked inside without looking back.

Zheng Jie followed behind, head down, like a thief.

Madam Zheng and Minister Zheng were discussing matters in the main courtyard. Although Madam Zheng was also unwilling to let Zheng Jie marry the Prince of Zhennan, she felt helpless when she heard her husband talk about his situation.

Between her husband's career and her daughter's marriage, she could only choose her husband's career.

As the two were talking, Consort Zheng walked in with a cold face, followed by Zheng Jie with red eyes.

Madam Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly stood up to greet her: "What's wrong? Jie'er, did you make your sister angry?"

She then turned to look at Consort Zheng, "Yu'er, what's wrong? Why did Jie'er come back crying?"

Consort Zheng sat down in the chair and gave Zheng Jie a cold glance: "Ask her."

Madam Zheng turned to look at Zheng Jie, took her hand, and asked anxiously, "Jie'er, what exactly did you do?"

Zheng Jie lowered her head, not daring to look at her mother, and said with difficulty, "It's nothing..."

Consort Zheng sneered and said sarcastically, "What, you know it's shameful, but you're too scared to say anything?"

Madam Zheng grew even more anxious, grabbing Zheng Jie's hand and urgently asking, "What happened? Tell me!"

Zheng Jie bit her lip, tears streaming down her face, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Minister Zheng's gaze swept over the two men's faces, and he frowned as he asked, "What exactly happened?"

Consort Zheng looked at her father and said, word by word, "Father, Mother, you should know how hard it has been for me to get to where I am today. I finally managed to gain a foothold in the First Prince's residence, but now, because of this face, His Highness hasn't come to my courtyard for several days. I've been on guard against this person and that person in the residence, but I never expected..."

She paused, her gaze falling on Zheng Jie, her voice cold and deep, "You couldn't guard against your own sister."

Madam Zheng's face turned pale instantly, and she asked in a trembling voice, "Jie'er... what exactly did you do?"

Zheng Jie raised her head and looked at Consort Zheng with pleading eyes, hoping that she would not speak.

Consort Zheng ignored her and continued, "Consort Zheng, my dear sister, in the dead of night, she was found disheveled and lying next to the First Prince's bed. If I hadn't discovered her in time, she would have already slept with him!"

Madam Zheng gasped, staring at Zheng Jie in disbelief: "Jie'er, how...how could you do such a thing?"

Zheng Jie knelt down with a thud, crying, "Mother, I don't want to marry the Prince of Zhennan... I don't want to marry him..."

Minister Zheng's face flushed red with anger, and veins bulged on his forehead. He rushed over and slapped Zheng Jie hard across the face.

Zheng Jie was knocked to the side by the blow, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. She lay on the ground, covering her face, trembling all over.

Minister Zheng pointed at her and roared, "If you don't want to marry, then die! That's a marriage arranged by the Eldest Princess; the betrothal papers have already been changed! Do you think that by causing this trouble, the Eldest Princess will retract her decision? Do you think the First Prince dares to offend the Eldest Princess? You're endangering our whole family!"

Madam Zheng felt sorry for her daughter and wanted to help her up, but Minister Zheng pushed her away.

He was panting heavily, paced back and forth in the room a few times, then suddenly stopped and shouted outside, "Someone come here!"

Two old women answered and came in.

Minister Zheng pointed at Zheng Jie, who was still lying on the ground, his voice filled with anger and disappointment: "Take the Second Miss away! From this day forward, without my permission, she is not allowed to leave the courtyard! Anyone who dares to let her out will have their life taken!"

Two old women rushed forward, one on each side, and dragged Zheng Jie out.

Zheng Jie struggled, crying out, "Father, Mother, Sister, I was wrong... I really know I was wrong..."

But no one answered her. Her voice grew fainter and fainter, eventually fading away outside the door.

The room fell silent.

Zheng Shilang slumped into his chair, as if all his strength had been drained away.

Madam Zheng covered her face and wept silently.

Consort Zheng stood aside, looking at her parents' aged faces. After a moment of silence, she said softly, "Father, Mother, please don't let Jie'er come to me anymore. Fortunately, the guards found her in time yesterday and knocked her unconscious. His Highness also slept elsewhere because he had been drinking. Otherwise... you know the result without me saying it."

I've already ordered this matter to be kept quiet; it won't get out. I'm going back now. When Jie'er gets married, I'll prepare a generous dowry for her.

Vice Minister Zheng waved his hand without saying a word.

Consort Zheng bowed, turned and left.

Zheng Jie was thus confined to the mansion, and her wedding preparations began.

Zheng Jie didn't want to get married, but she couldn't bear to commit suicide either. She waited for her wedding in such agonizing days. The princess, fearing that something might go wrong, specially issued a decree to set their wedding for two months later.

……

After hearing Dongxue recount Zheng Jie's story, Yun Jin snorted coldly, "Serves her right! She brought it on herself."

She should have known this day would come when she instigated Ya-min to deal with her. If you want to use someone else to do your dirty work, you should at least consider whether you have the power to back it up.

Dongxue looked at her, then hesitated before speaking, "By the way, Miss, today... His Highness was reprimanded by His Majesty."