After swapping bodies with the princess, this prince slaughtered his way through the court and becam

The concubines, princesses, and ladies of noble birth present were all stunned.

Can you really get a reward just by sending two salt certificates?

Has His Majesty gone mad with anger?

Moreover, the fourteenth princess was the only one at the banquet to receive a reward for giving gifts.

Is there some trick to these salt tickets?

Then, everyone turned their attention to Consort Ming.

No sooner had Consort Hua opened her mouth to criticize someone than the Fourteenth Princess was bestowed the title of Princess Filial Piety by His Majesty.

This slap in the face came too fast and too loudly!

Consort Ming was stunned.

She stood there, feeling the gazes around her.

The fiery, mocking gaze slapped her across the face like a harsh blow.

Consort Mingfei was unsure whether to stand or sit.

The elegantly dressed Consort Hua subtly shifted her position on the chair, moving away from Consort Ming to indicate her distance.

At this moment, Ren Jingxing ignored Consort Ming because a new development had occurred in the "Empress's Development Record".

An ancient scroll slowly unfurled:

[First conferment of title: The Fourteenth Princess was granted the title of Princess, which is the first step for the princess to begin participating in politics in the future!]

Receive item rewards: a secret letter between the Fourth Prince and the Western Qiang!

The struggle for the throne among the eldest, second, fourth, and seventh princes is fierce. The more radical fourth prince, under the influence of his mother, Consort Hua, makes a dangerous choice...

After reviewing the changes in the Empress's development record, Ren Jingxing turned to Consort Ming and then said loudly:

"Isn't Consort Ming referring to Marquis Anren in a veiled way to the Empress?"

And do you know that the reason why Marquis Anren gave up eating smuggled salt was thanks to the Empress!

Are you implying that Her Majesty the Empress doesn't actually want to give up the smuggled salt?

Consort Ming was greatly alarmed and immediately rebuked:

"How dare you! I didn't mean that!"

"Your Majesty, I absolutely did not mean that. Please understand!"

The punishment for Consort Ming was finally announced to the public through the eunuchs:

"Consort Ming's words and actions were disrespectful; she is hereby confined for three days as a warning to others!"

Consort Ming's face turned pale instantly, and her body swayed.

She was actually fined because of two salt coupons!

Confinement for three days is not a very serious punishment.

The problem is that on the Empress's birthday, in front of so many people, a fourteenth princess was punished.

This is far more humiliating than receiving a severe punishment in private.

The concubines, princesses, and ladies-in-waiting present whispered among themselves.

They inquired about the identity of the Fourteenth Princess.

How could two salt certificates actually make the emperor punish Consort Ming in public to support her?

Some princesses and concubines who had grudges against Consort Ming showed joy on their faces.

Some people, however, have some concerns.

This fourteenth princess is so eloquent that she is no less sharp-tongued than the imperial censors in the court!

The ceremony of offering congratulations in the palace finally came to an end, and the birthday celebration entered into a formal banquet.

On his way to his seat, Ren Jingxing saw his mother, Lady Li, the wife of the Marquis of Xuanwei.

Mr. Li's seat was at a table in the third row.

This refers to favored concubines or ladies of high status.

At least Consort Ming was still in the third row or further back.

However, this prominent position made Li feel somewhat awkward.

Because Renhou is currently only the Minister of Agriculture, which is not a high-ranking official position.

The reason why Lady Li was able to sit in the front row was entirely because Marquis Ren had previously supported the salt administration.

Moreover, the Ren family had been in dire straits for a long time, and apart from wearing the official robes, Li only had an ordinary silver hairpin in her hair.

Compared to the glittering ladies around them, it looked far too shabby.

The ladies of high rank surrounding her also subtly excluded Li.

Because of their different social statuses.

The interests involved are also completely different.

At this moment, Lady Changxin was sitting at the same table as Lady Li.

However, because Huaiyu was born out of wedlock, and despite the fact that Xuanwei Marquis and Changxin Marquis were bound by interests, Changxin Marquis's wife deliberately distanced herself from Li.

Ren Jingxing looked at his somewhat embarrassed mother and thought to himself that he must find an opportunity to support her!

As the banquet progressed, the atmosphere became increasingly joyful.

People began to leave their seats to chat with others and make connections.

The women around him were chatting enthusiastically, but the tables around Ren Jingxing were unusually calm and serious.

Because these people were often from the lowest rungs of the palace, no one was destined to come and strike up a conversation with them.

They used to be at the bottom of the table, chatting and keeping each other company.

But today is a little different.

Today, a filial princess has emerged from their crowd!

A nobody in the palace, with just two worthless salt certificates, suddenly became a princess with a title!

Given the Fourteenth Princess's current status, they are no longer worthy of dining at the same table.

During this time, some people at the same table deliberately flattered him.

But Ren Jingxing wasn't in the mood, so he just gave a few perfunctory words and no one came after that.

Everyone silently set a new standard for Wei Xinyan.

This princess is not as weak and easily manipulated as the rumors suggest!

We should be more polite and respectful when we meet in the future!

Ren Jingxing's gaze remained fixed on Li Shi.

The people at the table were deliberately ignoring Li, and occasionally someone would strike up a conversation with them and ask about her.

Li could only awkwardly smile and even had to get up to offer tea.

The people here are all noble ladies and concubines whom the Marquis of Xuanwei's household cannot afford to offend.

If someone says the wrong thing, it will not only affect their master, but it could also very likely affect their son's imperial examination and future prospects!

Ren Jingxing couldn't sit still any longer. He had never seen his mother so humble!

Ren Jingxing then took the initiative to leave his seat and went to talk to his mother, Li.

At this moment, Lady Li, the wife of the Marquis of Xuanwei, was enduring the ordeal with great difficulty.

Suddenly, a beautiful woman approached her.

Li looked up and saw that it was Princess Xiaoqin, who had just made a great show of herself!

The newly crowned Princess Xiaoqin picked up her teacup and respectfully offered it to Madam Li.

"I, Xiaoqin, have met with the Lady of Xuanwei Marquis."

Upon hearing this, Li hurriedly returned the greeting, then looked somewhat puzzled.

Why did this princess suddenly decide to come and pay her respects?

The princess put down her teacup and immediately began praising Ren Jingxing:

"I heard that the young master of the manor opened a salt mine and sold salt, and then he led people to buy salt tickets from the Marquis of Anren."

Only then could he lead the nobles to force the reform of the private salt industry in the imperial court.

"The young master of this household is so capable; it's probably all thanks to the excellent upbringing of Lady Xuanwei!"

Ren Jingxing, using Wei Xinyan's appearance, praised himself without batting an eye.

Upon hearing that the Fourteenth Princess was praising her son, Lady Li was overjoyed.

For Li, who longed for her son to succeed, praising her was useless; praising her son would make her happy.

She was so happy that she didn't even notice anything unusual.

How could a princess living in the palace have such detailed knowledge of things happening outside the palace?

It should be noted that even the common people in the capital were unaware of some of the details involved.

At this moment, a lady standing nearby suddenly spoke up:

"It's just because of the influence of Marquis Changxin and Marquis Anren that they dare to take all the credit and claim it all as their own?"

If the Ren family were truly so useful, how could His Majesty have only bestowed upon them a minor official position in the Ministry of Agriculture?

The woman spoke with a disdainful expression, rolling her eyes.

One of the ladies even put on airs and offered her support:

"Madam Wang, please say less. After all, Marquis Ren has at least received an official position!"

Jingxing squinted at the elegantly dressed lady.

This woman was also a Lady of Imperial Decree, surnamed Wang, and she was none other than Liu Ruyin's mother!

Upon hearing this, Li was immediately enraged, but then found herself in a predicament.

She couldn't just hurl insults at him, otherwise it might jeopardize her husband's career.

If they don't speak up, it will make the Marquis of Xuanwei's mansion seem incompetent.

Just as Li was in a dilemma, Ren Jingxing spoke up.