Li Man'er stood up, smiling faintly. "This Madam looks unfamiliar. May I ask who you are?"
Madam Yang said triumphantly, "I am the Princess Royal's sister-in-law." She had always looked down on this eldest daughter of the Li family, finding her alluring and seductive, a natural source of trouble.
"Oh, you are the wife of Second Master Tong! I've heard much about you."
"Since you know me, I'll say a few words to you." Madam Yang adopted an air of superiority, lecturing her like a sage. "You are a young lady. Although you come from a family of generals, you are still a lady of a prestigious family. You should watch your words and actions. Don't always trail behind men; it's unbecoming. Previously, when you were engaged to our young master, your conduct was already outrageous. Now that this engagement is no longer valid, you should reflect on why you were jilted. If you ask me, someone like you should disfigure yourself, cut your hair, and become a nun, lest you bring shame upon the Li family by doing something unspeakable at home."
Just as Madam Yang was basking in her own triumph, she heard Li Man'er say, "I've heard of you, Madam Yang, 'The Foul-Mouthed.' Your reputation precedes you. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your name. You are indeed foul-mouthed."
Madam Yang froze, her plump face a mask of disbelief. The surrounding people were caught completely off guard by Li Man'er's bluntness. Some even burst into laughter.
Madam Yang's face flushed red, then pale, then red again, like a theatrical performer. "How dare you insult me?"
"It's not I who wish to insult you; you've brought it upon yourself! You're ugly, but you think beautifully. The imperial decree from the Empress Dowager to call off the engagement was something I worked hard to obtain. Everyone in the world knows it! Yet you pretend to be ignorant and blame me. Disfigure yourself and become a nun? Why don't you suggest that Tong Qiao enter the palace to become a eunuch!"
These words were quite vicious, tantamount to slapping the Princess Royal in the face.
"Presumptuous!" The Princess Royal was furious, her voice tinged with anger. "Li Man'er, watch your words and actions!"
"Oh, an old acquaintance! Has the Princess Royal's heart condition improved?" Li Man'er smiled faintly. "With your esteemed status, you are a figure on a divine altar. Why must you descend yourself? Although I was mischievous in the past, it was merely minor, trifling absurdities. As royalty, you cannot bully others with your status, can you? You are allowed to scheme against me, but I am not allowed to retaliate?"
A flicker of light seemed to flash in Li Man'er's eyes, but it was too quick to be noticed.
Madam Cui, who always stood with Madam Yang, could not help but speak up. "Li Man'er, how dare you affront Her Highness the Princess Royal! Are you tired of living? Why don't you kneel at once?"
Others chimed in, "What audacity! You dare to mock Her Highness."
"She should be arrested and thrown into the imperial prison to be punished."
Amidst the accusations, many joined in to condemn her. Even Madam Qian, Madam Xu, had a sharp glint in her eyes.
The Qian family and Li Man'er had a long-standing feud. Before, they couldn't defeat her and had to retreat, bearing their grievances. Now, with such a golden opportunity, how could Madam Qian let it pass!
"Miss Li, the majesty of the imperial family is not to be slandered by you," Madam Qian said. "If you are wise, you will immediately kneel and beg for forgiveness. Perhaps the Princess Royal will spare your life."
Not far away, Li Zhaor, already sporting the hairstyle of a married woman, watched Li Man'er with a smile.
It was Li Man'er who had pushed her into the fire pit!
Since her marriage, she had lived cautiously in the Liang family, but even so, she could not escape her husband's beatings. That Liang fellow, with his outwardly respectable appearance, was in reality a pervert who tormented her every few days, making her wish for death.
She endured all this solely to witness Li Man'er's downfall and to seek revenge.
Indeed, karma exists. Now that Li Man'er had become meat on a chopping block, she felt immense satisfaction. Even the wounds on her body didn't seem to hurt as much.
"Spare my life?" Li Man'er sneered. "What crime have I committed? I know very well why all of you are here."
Old Guo had a good saying: those who curse you know better than you how unjust you are. They are fabricating charges; how can they not find fault?
Before the Princess Royal could lash out, Li Man'er added, "To tell you all the truth, I went on a trip some days ago. I went to Mobei to have a look. The scenery at the border was beautiful, and the people were quite interesting."
She extended her hands, allowing everyone to see the numerous scars of various sizes. "If you wish to subdue me, I fear it will be incredibly difficult. These hands of mine, I'm afraid, will not agree."
What did that mean?
Many did not know the inside story of Li Man'er's trip to Mobei and couldn't immediately grasp her meaning. Just then, Madam Cui, supported by wet nurse Du, walked out.
This old shrew cried as she walked, looking pitiful. "Your Highness the Princess Royal, you must uphold justice for this humble subject."
Everyone exclaimed, "How has the Old Madam become like this?"
"She's become so thin! More than half her hair has turned white."
Li Man'er merely watched their act, showing no intention of stopping Madam Cui.
"Old Madam, what is this..." The Princess Royal was greatly surprised. She hadn't seen Madam Cui in some time and was shocked by how thin she had become, looking withered and as if she had aged over twenty years.
Madam Cui knelt with a thud before the Princess Royal, weeping, "Your Highness the Princess Royal, although family shame should not be aired, this wicked child is truly disobedient and unfilial. Not only did she talk back to this humble subject and kill the servants attending her quarters, but she also laid hands on the heir. It is a pity that the heir's arm was almost crippled by her. I implore Your Highness to uphold justice for this humble subject."
Everyone's eyes gleamed with gossip, and their faces wore expressions of schadenfreude. These women, having more or less grievances with Li Man'er, naturally wished to see her come to a bad end.
The Princess Royal seemed to have been waiting for this moment and asked excitedly, "Old Madam, is what you say true?"
Madam Cui kowtowed to the ground. "Every word is true. If there is half a lie, may I die a terrible death."
The crowd was in an uproar, all condemning Li Man'er.
Madam Yang immediately jumped out. "Li Man'er, what do you have to say for yourself? It is already an extraordinary act of grace from Her Highness to spare your wretched life, a person of such disloyalty and injustice. What are you all standing around for? Arrest her at once!"
Servant women, who had been waiting nearby, were about to rush forward. Madam Cui, knowing Li Man'er's martial arts skills, had even hired several martial arts instructors to disguise themselves as maids to apprehend Li Man'er.
Just as Madam Cui's poisonous scheme was about to succeed, someone suddenly rushed in, shouting loudly, "Old Madam, there is an imperial decree! The imperial edict has arrived!"