Inside the Songhe Hall, Granny Wang dismissed the maids and attendants serving in the room, leaving only the mistresses of the Li family.
Granny Wang closed the door and returned to Madam Cui's side.
Li Man'er knew that Granny Wang was a smiling tiger and one of Madam Cui's most capable individuals. Others might not be privy to certain words, but Granny Wang could.
"Don't kneel anymore, stand up and speak!"
Granny Wang stepped forward and helped Li Man'er up. "Eldest Miss, the old servant is the only outsider in the room at this moment. If Eldest Miss feels there are things difficult to say, then this old servant can leave."
Li Man'er said, "Granny, what are you saying? Who in the entire household doesn't know you are the most trusted by Grandmother? I am young and may not see things clearly. It would be good if Granny could help me consider it."
Granny Wang was slightly startled. These were not words Eldest Miss would normally utter! She raised her eyes to look at Madam Cui, only to see a slight strangeness in Madam Cui's eyes. She realized it was not her imagination.
"Eldest Miss might as well explain today's events. What exactly happened at the Grand Princess's manor, and why did it involve the Consort?"
Li Man'er said unhurriedly, "Everything was going smoothly at the Grand Princess's manor. I didn't expect Granny Xu to secretly resort to foul play and knock me unconscious."
"Nonsense, utter rubbish!" Li Zhao'er, with a guilty conscience, bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
Madam Guo cast a meaningful glance at her, signaling her to calm down. Li Man'er might just be waiting for her to reveal herself!
"Granny Xu?" Madam Cui was taken aback. "Isn't she your stewardess? Why would she hit you!?"
Li Man'er merely smiled faintly, showing no intention of responding.
Madam Cui was stunned for a moment before realizing that Li Man'er was the mistress and Granny Xu was the servant. A servant hitting a master was insubordination, deserving of death.
"You say Granny Xu knocked you unconscious, there must be a reason, right? She couldn't have committed such an offense for no reason!" Madam Cui's words clearly favored Granny Xu, as Granny Xu had come from her courtyard, later assigned to Madam Guo, and Madam Guo then assigned her to Li Man'er's courtyard as a stewardess.
In other households, a servant, no matter the reason, if they dared to lay a hand on their master, would be beaten to death on the spot!
Granny Wang quickly said, "Old Madam means, how could Granny Xu possibly have the audacity to lay hands on Miss? Is there some misunderstanding here?"
Li Man'er shook her head. "She knocked me unconscious and threw me into the side room. Immediately after, Li Zhao'er brought the Grand Princess and ladies from various households to the side room to smear my name, claiming I was meeting an unrelated man."
"Nonsense!" Li Zhao'er's face turned pale with anger. She couldn't stand Li Man'er's imperious demeanor.
"Am I talking nonsense? At the Grand Princess's manor, your maid Chunzhi explicitly stated that I was changing clothes in the side room, and that some Young Master Geng San was also there! The Grand Princess and other ladies all heard this with their own ears. Grandmother can find out with a simple inquiry."
Madam Guo smiled. "Eldest Miss, please don't be angry. You sisters are from the same household. What benefit would it bring Zhao'er to slander you? Her reputation would also be damaged!"
Madam Cui nodded. "What your mother said is correct! Perhaps someone else wanted to harm you."
Li Man'er had a bad temper and had offended many people. The ladies in the capital generally disliked her.
This was blatant favoritism.
"Someone else wanted to harm me? Then why not drug my tea to embarrass me in public? Why not push me into the pond to embarrass me in public? Why specifically put me in a room with an unrelated man? Grandmother, it is clearly someone who covets my engagement and wants to take my place. Granny Xu is Mother's person, and Chunzhi is your maid. I'm not blind, can't I see that? Or do you think I am truly foolish?"
Spot on!
Li Zhao'er didn't even dare to meet Li Man'er's eyes. "What, what do you mean?"
"If Sister likes the Young Duke, you could have simply told me. Who in the capital doesn't know the Grand Princess dislikes me? I wouldn't mind giving this marriage to you! You have an open and legitimate path, yet you choose a devious one, tarnishing my reputation, which in turn tarnishes our Marquisate's reputation, and brings disrepute and resentment upon the Consort."
"You're talking nonsense!" Li Zhao'er stood up indignantly, pointing at Li Man'er. "You're spouting rubbish! When did I ever want to snatch your engagement, or tarnish your name! Or bring resentment upon the Consort!"
Madam Guo's eyelids twitched, and Madam Cui became even more anxious, not at all concerned with the squabble between the sisters. Her only thought was what negative impact this incident would have on Li Qingshu.
"Girl, how is this matter related to the Consort?" This was what Madam Cui cared about most.
"Grandmother! The Consort is honored as Consort Shu. 'Shu' is both her name and her title. Shu means clear and profound, good! It means purity and brightness. When Consort first entered the palace, His Majesty also said that Consort's person was like her name."
Madam Cui was extremely pleased with these words, nodding incessantly. "Indeed, you have a good memory, girl."
At this moment, Madam Guo and Li Zhao'er were completely stunned. Who could have imagined Li Man'er would utter such words?
"Since the Fourth Princess passed away, the Consort's health has been declining. To speak presumptuously, I fear the Consort's days in the palace are also difficult now. Her maternal family should be her pillar of support, her backing. If the Grand Princess truly caught me meeting an unrelated man, what would be the consequences? Has Grandmother considered this?"
Madam Cui's heart pounded with fear.
The Grand Princess was the Emperor's full sibling, and the Emperor held his elder sister in the highest regard. If he learned that his nephew's fiancée had behaved improperly, he would likely be enraged.
The Grand Princess had always been aloof and attached great importance to face. She was currently unable to grasp the full implications, only thinking of breaking off the engagement. But if Li Man'er had truly met an unrelated man, wouldn't that be equivalent to cuckolding the Young Duke? If the Grand Princess realized this, she would likely hate Li Zhao'er to death! This debt would naturally be settled upon the Iron Gallant Marquisate and the Consort.
"It's not as serious as you say! I think you just can't bear to part with this engagement from the Duke of Rong's manor."
Li Man'er smiled. Was Li Zhao'er's statement an unwitting confession?
"The engagement is a small matter, royal dignity is paramount! Li Zhao'er, use your brain!"
Madam Guo looked at Li Man'er with suspicion and tested, "The situation in Mobei is urgent, and His Majesty is in need of capable people. How could he blame us!"
Madam Cui seemed to have been reassured. "That makes sense."
"But precisely because of this, if His Majesty does not blame Father, he might transfer his anger to the Consort. Palace affairs are entirely at the Emperor's and Empress Dowager's discretion. Who knows if it won't affect others?"
Madam Cui became agitated again.
The fear in Madam Guo's eyes grew, her fingers gripping the chair until they turned white.
Li Man'er pretended not to see, sneering, "Li Zhao'er, if the Consort is reprimanded by the Empress Dowager because of this matter, or if her rank is reduced, then you will be the sinner of the Li family."
Madam Cui cried out, clutching her chest, "What is to be done!"
Granny Wang quickly stepped forward to soothe the old madam. "Old Madam, don't worry. It hasn't reached that point yet. Our Eldest Miss is very clever and hasn't been taken advantage of."
Madam Cui thought about it and then felt relieved. She then slammed the table forcefully and said angrily, "Kneel down!"