Having received confirmation from Zhou Ruyuan, Bai Qingling triumphantly led her people into the main courtyard.
"The King has decreed that from this day forward, the Wangfei will not take a single step outside the back courtyard!"
Shen Lanxi had already received word from Nu Bai and was waiting in the courtyard.
"Some people are truly born to be cheap, so eager to label themselves as such!"
Bai Qingling glared at Shen Lanxi, who was sitting comfortably in the courtyard, enjoying tea. A venomous look flashed in her eyes, quickly replaced by smugness.
Arrogant, aren't you? Let's see how long you can keep it up!
"History is always written by the victors. The more arrogant you are, Shen, the more the King will despise you. No matter what you say, I won't be angry because the more you act like this, the more the King will hate you!" And the sooner you'll die!
A look of vindictive pleasure spread across Bai Qingling's face as she sneered at Shen Lanxi and issued orders to the servants in the courtyard.
"From now on, the lot of you are in charge of this courtyard. Any mistakes, and you'll be executed!"
Shen Lanxi's cold eyes were like ice: "Without an imperial edict, Zhou Ruyuan dares to imprison me, going against His Majesty's orders? Does Zhou Ruyuan's power now reach a point where he can cover the sky with one hand?"
Bai Qingling's face immediately showed anxiety. If these words were spread, it would be tantamount to treason.
"You're talking nonsense! Your Shen family committed a crime punishable by confiscation of assets and extermination of the clan. The King anticipated your accusations, which is why he had you confined!"
Shen Lanxi was unhurried, as if toying with a mouse: "This morning, Zhou Ruyuan openly defied the imperial edict for you. What exactly are you? Without any official status, you've already implicated the King in the crime of defying the edict. And yet you have the gall to accuse me of false accusations? Even a woman in the inner quarters understands that harm does not extend to a married woman. It's a wonder that the King, a military commander, doesn't even understand such a simple principle. I really don't know how he's won those battles!"
Bai Qingling couldn't bear to see Zhou Ruyuan being slandered like this and lunged forward.
Shen Lanxi's gaze was as sharp as a blade, freezing her in place.
"Until the imperial edict is issued, I am still the King of Zhennan's wife. No matter how great his power is, it cannot surpass my maternal uncle, His Majesty. My maternal uncle, His Majesty, hasn't done anything to me, yet you've come here to be so insolent? Do you think you are greater than His Majesty?"
Bai Qingling's face turned pale. She frantically looked around, immediately trying to accuse her: "You're mad! Your Shen family has caused trouble, and now you want to drag the entire Zhennan King's Mansion down with you. How cruel!"
Shen Lanxi laughed, her eyes filled with disdain as she looked at Bai Qingling.
"I never argue with a lowly person, but you've broken that rule!" She stood up and walked towards Bai Qingling.
Bai Qingling was shocked by Shen Lanxi's sudden increase in momentum and instinctively took two steps back.
Shen Lanxi, seemingly unhurried, pressed forward step by step, forcing Bai Qingling to retreat all the way out of the back garden.
"See, I said you're only capable of impotent rage, and you wouldn't admit it. I'm offering myself up to be hit, and you don't even dare to raise a hand. You don't even dare to retort when I insult you. With such a lack of courage, you still dare to come and flaunt yourself in front of me? Are you just naturally looking for a beating?"
Bai Qingling's expression immediately changed. So many servants were watching, and Shen Lanxi, that vile woman, was humiliating her again!
"Go back and tell Zhou Ruyuan to provide me with good food and drink these few days, or don't blame me when His Majesty and the Empress Dowager summon me, and I report his wrongdoings!"
Bai Qingling clenched her teeth, her body stiff, and glared at her viciously.
"Yes, yes, that's the look! I just love it when people glare at me with hatred, but can't do a thing about it!"
Bai Qingling's teeth were practically grinding together: "Shen Lanxi, you just wait and see!"
"Some people love to talk tough, but do the most cowardly things, and then they like to come and humiliate themselves!" Shen Lanxi turned and walked back, her tone light and cheerful.
"I have a soft heart, and I love to help others. Bitch, come find me anytime you want to act like a bitch again. I love nothing more than to deal with bitches!"
Bai Qingling was about to explode with rage. At the same time, she was startled. Given the Emperor's favor towards Shen Lanxi, she might really be summoned to the palace.
Annoyed, she stomped her little foot and turned to leave.
His Majesty was always suspicious. The imperial edict hadn't been issued yet; she didn't know what he was planning.
The dinner's quality hadn't been lowered, so her warning must have worked. She would have to stay at Zhennan King's Mansion for at least another eight or nine days. She didn't want to suffer.
"Nu Bai, scan for poison?"
"Master, it's not poisoned, you can eat it with confidence!"
Shen Lanxi didn't eat it, putting it directly into her space. Although those people didn't have the guts to poison her, they dared to disgust her, like spitting in her food!
She had plenty to eat in her space; there was no need for her to be bothered by a few meals.
Evening
"Master, there are a total of seventy-six people watching nearby!"
"It's okay. These seventy-six people are the ones keeping watch, and they are also protecting me. Rest easy!" The person who poisoned her hadn't appeared yet. This kind of one-time deal definitely wasn't done by people from the King's Mansion! With these guards, she couldn't get out, and those who wanted to harm her shouldn't even think about getting in!
Six days passed in a blink of an eye, and the verdict for the Shen family came down: the entire family was exiled to Dongchuan, and they would depart in two days! Another day passed, and Wang Bao came to the King's Mansion with people to announce the imperial decree! Bai Qingling's face was hard to hide her joy; it was definitely a decree to deal with that bitch Shen Lanxi! She quickly brought her servants to receive the decree. As soon as she went up, she was pushed aside by the guards Wang Bao brought.
Wang Bao held his head high, lifting the imperial decree and letting out a cold snort. He didn't even glance at Bai Qingling, and with an air of disdain, he entered the King's Mansion.
Bai Qingling's face was contorted, and she cursed inwardly, dead eunuch, dog eunuch! "By imperial decree! The King of Zhennan's Consort, receive the decree!"
Bai Qingling's expression shifted, and she instructed someone to fetch Shen Lanxi.
"What a lack of decorum! Where's the incense table? Are you expecting this old servant to just announce the decree like this?" Wang Bao's eyes swept across the people of Zhennan King's Mansion with a menacing gaze.
"Who's in charge here? If word of this gets out, Zhennan King's Mansion will be the laughingstock of the realm!"
Bai Qingling had never received a decree before and was unaware of the formalities involved. She quickly looked at the person in charge, signaling him to handle the situation.
The person in charge immediately sent people to prepare, and at the same time, withdrew five thousand taels of silver from the mansion's accounts.
"Eunuch, this is a small token from our king. Please, buy a cup of tea to soothe your throat!"
Wang Bao glanced down at the silver, but didn't accept it.
The person in charge understood; it wasn't enough. He quickly went back to the accounts and withdrew another five thousand taels.
This time, Wang Bao accepted when it was stuffed over.
"This old one still needs to return to the palace to serve His Majesty with his writing. There's no time to wait for the Wangfei. Where is the Wangfei's courtyard? Quickly lead this old one there!"
The steward quickly led the way.
Bai Qingling was already displeased when she saw the steward stuffing money to Wang Bao. She didn't expect that the eunuch would think it was too little. Those thick bank notes were probably worth several thousand taels of silver. She was thinking that after Wang Bao left, she would certainly punish the steward severely.
Now, hearing that Wang Bao was there to serve His Majesty, she didn't have any thoughts about it. She even felt that the steward had given too little.