These two are all working so hard. What will people think of me, the Crown Prince's wife, if word gets out?
Third Sister gave Huaping and Yinping a wink.
The two nodded and, along with their maids and servants, helped the wet nurse, Xiao Cui, and Li Shi. If they were all disfigured, even if Third Sister was in the right, it would be their injustice.
"I never knew that in your eyes I was such a fool." Third Sister sneered, "Do you think I could wrongly accuse an innocent person without being able to distinguish right from wrong?"
Seeing that Third Sister didn't even give them a chance to beg, the three of them felt a chill in their hearts.
"Of course, I will not let any person with evil intentions go unpunished." Third Sister's voice struck them hard.
Third Sister has already figured out how to deal with Li.
Indeed, if the wet nurse takes all the blame, it will be difficult to definitively prove that Li Shi had malicious intentions. If no concrete evidence is found and Dong Ge'er is taken away, Li Shi will probably not let it go. If she then brings up the Grand Princess of Lin'an, the Princess Consort will be in a difficult position.
“If that’s the case, then take the wet nurse and Xiao Cui away and deal with them according to the rules of the Prince’s Mansion.” Third Sister said calmly, “As for the crime, it’s betraying the master and conspiring with others to frame the master.”
Li felt a chill in her heart. This crime was too serious. If the wet nurse and Xiao Cui were to leave, they would be half-dead, if not dead, let alone ever return to her side.
Just like the wet nurse said, at least we can save Xiao Cui...
"Madam, Madam! Xiao Cui is innocent!" the wet nurse cried out hoarsely. "Xiao Cui was bewitched by me, she—"
Third Sister sneered as if she had heard a joke, "You make it sound so easy. Bewitched by you? Who knows if she'll be bewitched by someone else tomorrow and try to harm Dong-ge'er again?"
Yun Shen, on the other hand, was much more straightforward.
"Huaping, call Mosong in," Yun Shen said to her. "Have Mosong find a servant to take the man away directly."
Hua Ping was secretly delighted, but she didn't show it on her face. She bowed steadily and went to agree.
Li collapsed to the ground in despair.
“Your Highness, Xiao Cui and the wet nurse have been by my side since I was a child. They were just confused for a moment and made a mistake—” she couldn’t help but make a final attempt to explain. “Especially Xiao Cui, she has always been reliable and hardworking in taking care of me. Even if she hasn’t done anything particularly meritorious, she has certainly put in a lot of effort—”
Her pleas were completely ineffective in front of Yun Shen.
"Madam, please have mercy!" Madam Li gritted her teeth and went to Third Sister again. "Madam, you are a magnanimous woman, please spare her!"
Third Sister also ignored her.
As they were talking, Mo Song had already entered with four servants.
"Take him away." Yun Shen uttered only two words coldly, refusing to say anything more.
Xiao Cui and her nanny were taken away crying. As soon as they stepped out the door, their mouths were covered, and they were forbidden to make any more noise.
Seeing Yun Shen's actions, San Niang felt a warmth in her heart. He had his men take Xiao Cui and the other two away to protect her reputation. Although she was in the right, there would inevitably be gossip outside that this concubine had only recently risen to prominence, and the Crown Prince's wife was already intolerant of her, even calling for the concubine's personal servants to be beaten and killed.
It would be different if Yun Shen were to make the move.
"Remember this, I'm the one who had them dealt with today." Yun Shen stared at Li Shi, her once gentle and tender gaze completely gone, replaced by coldness and cruelty. "The Crown Princess's will is my will. If you don't respect the Crown Princess from now on, you're not putting me in your eyes."
Li Shi gasped for breath; the Crown Prince was actually protecting his wife like this!
"As for Dongge'er—" Third Sister paused, and after appreciating Li's terrified expression, she said slowly, "Since he is your life, and you would be willing to die without him, then let him stay by your side for now."
Li stared wide-eyed in disbelief, seemingly not expecting that Third Sister would forgive her so easily.
"Third Sister—" Yun Shen glanced at Third Sister with disapproval. "Isn't this inappropriate?"
Seeing the opportunity, Madam Li quickly said, "Thank you for your kindness, Madam! Thank you, Madam! I will definitely take good care of Dong-ge'er and live up to your trust—" At least she would keep Dong-ge'er by her side. Fortunately, Third Sister still didn't like Dong-ge'er...
“Master, don’t worry. Dong’er is also my son. How could I abandon him?” Third Sister ignored Li Shi and smiled gently at Yun Shen, saying, “From now on, I will personally arrange the people serving Dong’er, and such a thing will never happen again.”
Li's heart, which had been somewhat relieved, was now filled with anxiety again.
Is Third Sister planning to take this opportunity to replace everyone around her? Won't she be all alone in the Prince's mansion from now on?
A chill ran through her, and she knelt on the ground, speechless. Her face was pale, and her lips trembled as she said, "I'm afraid Dong-ge'er won't be used to a different wet nurse..."
"Don't worry." Third Sister smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "I've never given birth, and the people around me don't know how to take care of children, so I won't put anyone in here. I'll ask Mother to send some experienced mothers over, and they'll definitely be able to take good care of Dong-ge'er."
Li was in utter despair.
The people around the Princess Consort are even more difficult to deal with and harder to find a weakness or breakthrough than the people around Third Sister!
Upon hearing San Niang's words, Yun Shen thought of the miscarried child and felt even more pity for San Niang. He coldly said to Li Shi, "This is a favor from the Crown Princess; why don't you hurry up and thank her?"
Li knelt on the ground, distraught, and kowtowed in a daze.
"Mother Sun, Mother Qian, I'm afraid you'll have to take good care of me these days." Third Sister stood up and said politely to them, "Tomorrow I will go to my mother's place to ask for more people to come and help you."
They had already received instructions from the Princess Consort, so they were naturally extremely respectful and cooperative towards Third Sister.
"Master, Ninth Sister's injuries are not only on her body, but also on her face. I am really worried about her." Third Sister curtsied to Yun Shen, her face showing genuine anxiety. "If you have anything to instruct Li Shi, I will take my leave first."
Upon hearing this, Yun Shen also got up and walked outside.
"I suppose Mother Consort has already summoned the imperial physician for Ninth Sister, so you don't need to worry too much." Yun Shen comforted her, "Ninth Sister is a blessed person, she will surely be fine. It's a pity that Ninth Sister suffered such an injustice in our mansion. I will accompany you back to the mansion another day to apologize to Grandmother, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law."
Third Sister smiled and shook her head, saying, "I'm sorry for bothering you, Young Master. Ninth Sister is a sensible child; she won't hold these things against her."
Li knelt on the ground, watching helplessly as Yun Shen's gentle gaze fell only on San Niang, and he even helped San Niang walk out side by side.
She stared intently, hoping that Yun Shen would turn around and look at her one more time.
Perhaps heaven heard her prayers, for Yun Shen actually stopped and turned to look at her.