CHAPTER 240: CHAPTER 240: THE EMPEROR’S BENEVOLENCE

"You... You stop spewing nonsense, who slandered you?"

Mrs. Liu Wang’s petty schemes were exposed, leaving her speechless with fury, and she could only glare daggers.

Early in the morning, everyone was preparing to head back, but Long Yue’s place was the main entry, ensuring everyone passed by here; thus, it was soon crowded with people.

Long Yue glanced at the gathered crowd and chuckled softly, "Mrs. Liu, you’re sitting on the ground just fine, yet you shout that I’m trying to kill you. You flip right and wrong, smear others, and claim you’re not slandering anyone? Ha, are you treating everyone as blind?"

After she spoke, Long Yue scanned the crowd to see who might stand up to help Mrs. Liu Wang give her a hard time.

She had made her point very clear earlier; even though the Emperor punished Li Qingmu, he did not demote him nor mention imprisonment. Anyone with a semblance of sanity could sense some ambiguity in the situation.

As expected, those noblewomen dared not meet her gaze, choosing silence instead. A few who wished to speak were held back by those next to them.

This is a muddy pool; whoever gets involved will be unlucky.

"You, you, I didn’t..."

Seeing no one stepping in to support her, even her close circle of lady friends wore expressions of helplessness, Mrs. Liu Wang was frantic, wanting to speak but baffled at what to say.

After all, she was indeed sitting there, uninjured, claiming Long Yue wanted to kill her seemed a bit far-fetched.

"These are merely passersby; sister, why drag everyone into it?"

Just as Mrs. Liu Wang felt isolated and helpless, a light voice echoed from the side.

Pang Shuangyue approached, wearing a luxurious Zhi Jin dress, supported by her maid Zhu Cui, stepping gracefully, arriving slowly.

She smiled warmly, her behavior dignified, embodying grace and poise.

Long Yue and Pang Shuangyue’s affair had already caused a stir at the wedding feast; the noblewoman circle had long turned it into a joke for idle chatter. They cared little for right or wrong, merely how much amusement the matter brought them.

Now, seeing these adversaries confront each other again, the noblewomen quickly parted to make way, seemingly waiting for a showdown.

The thrill of watching a fight among women is delightful!

Long Yue glanced indifferently at Pang Shuangyue, her hypocritical smile was utterly detestable!

"I remember your maid was expelled not long ago for being overbearing, how come she’s back?"

Long Yue did not initially answer Pang Shuangyue’s inquiry but instead focused on Zhu Cui.

Pang Shuangyue anticipated this question from Long Yue, sighed softly, "Ah, the maids around me are mostly incompetent, still I’m used to Zhu Cui, so called her back. I see there never are maids by your side; perhaps you can’t even find a competent one, right?"

The remark was a sarcastic jab at Long Yue’s lack of companions, belittling her?

Long Yue laughed, "Indeed, without servants who can bite, it’s very inconvenient, perhaps I should seek advice from sister?"

"How can it be? Sister can educate them herself!"

Pang Shuangyue’s smile was wearing thin, was this a denouncement of her teaching dogs how to bite?

This vile woman, her verbal sparring has grown ever sharper compared to before!

"Mrs. Pei, you must uphold justice for me, she... she hit me!"

Mrs. Liu Wang, aware of the grudge between the Long Yue sisters, hurriedly turned to Pang Shuangyue for help.

Pang Shuangyue gave her a reassuring nod before turning to Long Yue, "Sister, you haven’t answered my question yet?"

"What question?" Long Yue seemed momentarily lost, acting oblivious before realizing, "Oh, I remember, sister was right, I shouldn’t involve everyone, should find a place with no one around to settle scores with Mrs. Liu peacefully."

Pang Shuangyue’s smile faltered; was this an indirect accusation of her instructing Pang Longyue to secretly beat up Mrs. Liu?

Pang Shuangyue felt she shouldn’t continue this back-and-forth with Long Yue, or risk getting infuriated.

She asked Mrs. Liu Wang, "Why did you argue?"

Mrs. Liu Wang quickly stood up, using a handkerchief to cover half her face, appearing pitiful, replied:

"Mrs. Pei, I was simply being kind, noticing Mrs. Li looking for a carriage, offering mine, yet she turned it around, bringing up my husband, how can someone be this domineering and malicious? Boo hoo ho..."

"Of course I’m domineering and malicious, do you have a problem with that?"

Long Yue retorted coldly, by this point if she couldn’t discern something, she’d have lived her life in vain. Mrs. Liu Wang was paving the way for someone!

"Sister Yue, come over to me, stop arguing!"

Yang Zhuoya was about to leave, yet seeing the commotion, rushed to intervene, pulling Long Yue.

Pang Shuangyue glared at Yang Zhuoya, her gaze cold, "Mrs. Su, are you associating with a criminal, disregarding your husband’s future?"

The same tactic as always, Long Yue knew everything this morning was Pang Shuangyue’s doing!

"Mrs. Pei, Imperial Censor Li is gravely injured, truly unfit for travel, I was merely... assisting a little..."

"Oh really?"

Pang Shuangyue sneered, suddenly spun around, sternly declared, "The Empress decrees, traitor Li Qingmu openly disgraced the Emperor, atrocious behavior, and is dissatisfied with the penalty, he deserves severe punishment! Henceforth, he shall not ride in a carriage nor on horseback, anyone daring to assist shall be dealt with accordingly!"

"What? It’s still over seventy miles to the Imperial City, walking back step by step, is it even possible? He’d likely perish halfway there!"

"Indeed, looks like Imperial Censor Li truly angered the Emperor this time!"

"He deserves it, daringly insulting the Emperor, well... that’s self-destructive!"

"..."

The onlooking ladies exploded with discussions, many gaze at Long Yue with sympathy, thinking she is soon to be a widow; some harboring schadenfreude as well.

Long Yue’s face was expressionless, coldly asked, "Sister, is this the Emperor’s intention?"

Pang Shuangyue was taken aback, "Naturally it is!"

"Ridiculous, the Emperor’s commands, even if verbal, should be relayed by the eunuchs, since when do you have the turn? I reckon, this is the Empress’s instruction, amazing indeed, since when can the Empress usurp the Emperor’s authority? Haha, shall we, in future, address the Empress with ’ten thousand years’?"

"Insolence!"

A sharp voice suddenly rang out, focusing, it was none other than Eunuch Xiao Chen!

The same Eunuch Xiao Chen who was beside Li Qingmu during the Wang Ren incident, responsible for relaying messages and warnings!

Long Yue had indeed gone too far, Eunuch Xiao Chen angrily approached her.

Long Yue hurriedly bowed, wearing an innocent expression, "Eunuch Xiao Chen, I meant no offense, it’s merely that the Emperor governs, my husband is a courtier, dealing with the courtiers, only the Emperor holds the authority, since when has the harem started intervening? Moreover, relaying the Emperor’s words should exclusively be your duty, anyone else doesn’t have this qualification?"

This flattery was expertly delivered, pleasing Eunuch Xiao Chen, his eyes squinting slightly, he spoke crisply, "The Holy Emperor decrees, Imperial Censor Li has shown remorse, thus, a carriage is permitted to send him home to recuperate!"

Long Yue rejoiced, immediately knelt with gratitude, "As the Minister’s Wife, I thank the Emperor on behalf of my husband for his benevolence, the Emperor is truly compassionate!"