Zong Han shot Wu Yi another reproachful glance, which finally turned into a sigh of helplessness.
"My mother-in-law, you are speaking too harshly. Princess Rong is my sworn sister. After marrying General Wu, she has not been bullied. Moreover, the mansion is for my sworn sister alone. Of course, even if Wu Yi wanted to bully my sworn sister, I would not let him off. You can rest assured about this, mother-in-law!"
While saying this, Huangfu Wanrong remained silent.
"With your words, I can naturally be at ease. However, having such an arrogant and overbearing maid by her side truly makes one wonder if she was sent by Emperor Zong as a spy, or... by someone with ulterior motives?"
Zong Han felt a pang in his chest as this heavy accusation was leveled at him.
He had long known that Zhao Jiaqi was a difficult person to deal with, someone who was unreasonable. Over the years, he had felt that she had changed greatly, becoming tolerant and generous, not someone who would quibble over trivial matters.
Yet today, for the sake of Huangfu Wanrong, she had targeted Wu Yi at every turn and indirectly forced him to make a promise to her.
This mother-in-law... sigh!
Zong Han: "Mother-in-law, please be assured that if General Wu dares to spy on Princess Rong or do anything detrimental to her, I will be the first to not let him off!"
Zhao Jiaqi was finally satisfied, and a smile appeared on her face. She was a completely different person from the aggressive woman she was just moments ago.
She smiled and said, "My son-in-law understands his mother's heart!"
Zong Han: "......"
Everyone: "......"
Zhao Jiaqi did not care about their expressions. What she said was not wrong. She turned and spoke a few words to Huangfu Wanrong, then left with Fan Zehao to return to An Kang Palace.
Upon returning to their chambers, they dismissed the servants.
Fan Zehao helped her remove her heavy imperial robes and asked, "Aren't you afraid that Zong Han will resent your daughter after such a scene today?"
"Afraid!"
He frowned. "Since you are afraid, why did you do it?"
Zhao Jiaqi shed her cumbersome robes and felt much lighter. She glanced at him with a smile and sat down at the dressing table, letting him attend to her.
As she watched him carefully remove her hair ornaments in the bronze mirror, she said with a smile, "Jun Jun was a princess of the Yun Kingdom back then and voluntarily married here. Although it was not a marriage alliance in name, in the eyes of many, it was indeed a marriage alliance!"
Fan Zehao listened and nodded, "That is true."
"Firstly, Jun Jun is a princess, and this status will not change. Moreover, we still have the power to protect her now. I doubt the ministers of the Zong Sheng Kingdom would dare to cause any trouble for her!"
"Secondly, she is Zong Han's wife. If Zong Han treats her sincerely, just as you treat me, then tonight's events will not be blamed on her!"
Conversely, if he did blame her, it would prove that Zong Han was not sincere towards Jun Jun.
In that case, if she had made such a fuss for the sake of the Yun Kingdom's princess, then for her own child, wouldn't she have to cause him endless trouble?
This could also be considered a form of protection for Jun Jun.
Through his wife's words, Fan Zehao understood her painstaking efforts.
By using the matter of Huangfu Wanrong to admonish Wu Yi, she had also put some pressure on Zong Han. Killing two birds with one stone, as the saying goes.
Fan Zehao smiled and said, "Wife, you have always appeared to the public with an image of tolerance and generosity. The common people regard you as a living Bodhisattva, yet today you are so cruel. Aren't you afraid of damaging this image?"
Living Bodhisattva?
That's called a saint!
She was benevolent to the common people, but it was limited to kindness.
If others wanted to kill her, would she just extend her neck and offer herself to them?
That would be foolish, or even insane!
She sighed deeply, "An image is worthless in the face of righteousness!"
She only wanted to live according to what she believed was right. If she lived according to others' expectations, how exhausting would that be?
They talked for a long time that evening, and Fan Zehao was mostly captivated by the world she had described.
The next day, just after breakfast at An Kang Palace, Jun Jun arrived with Huangfu Wanrong.
This time, the maid attending Huangfu Wanrong was Xiao Yue, her personal maid since childhood. When she saw Zhao Jiaqi, her excited eyes could not help but sparkle.
With a thud and a series of bangs, before anyone could react, Xiao Yue deeply kowtowed three times to Zhao Jiaqi.
"Xiao Yue thanks the Empress Dowager, for saving this servant's life once again!"
Zhao Jiaqi was surprised. Once again? Saving her life?
What was she talking about? She had no idea!
Wanrong smiled and bowed to her, then said, "The first time was on my way to Zong Sheng Kingdom. The Consort inadvertently saved her life then. And yesterday, after killing Zi Yun, Wu Yi brought Xiao Yue from the laundry to serve me in the evening!"
"This girl never forgets your kindness. Today, upon learning that I was coming to pay my respects, she insisted on coming despite her own health, saying she must thank the Empress Dowager in person!"
So that's how it was!
This girl was indeed loyal. Zhao Jiaqi waved at her, "Get up and speak. Those who know me know that I dislike kneeling the most!"
Let alone making her kneel, even watching others kneel made her knees ache!
They would truly kneel anywhere, on any road, whenever they pleased. She truly admired their courage!
Xiao Yue thanked her happily, stood up, and dutifully stood to the side to serve. As soon as she was steady, Su Ya and Bai Lu pulled her away.
Only Jun Jun, Wanrong, and Zhao Jiaqi remained in the room.
With the noise gone, the room quieted down, and Zhao Jiaqi felt that the air in the room was no longer turbid.
Looking at Wanrong, whose complexion was a little better than last night, she asked, "After returning last night, did Wu Yi hit or scold you?"
Huangfu Wanrong shook her head and truthfully replied, "Replying to the Empress Dowager, he did not. After returning to the mansion, he sent someone to bring Xiao Yue to my room, and I have not seen him since!"
Had the villain turned over a new leaf?
Or was he mourning the loss of his devoted maid and in sorrow?
However, her next second guess was immediately dispelled!
"Wu Yi is a cruel man, but he is very good to his own people. Ever since I arrived here and discovered my pregnancy, he begged the Emperor Zong to marry me and promised not to hit or abuse me anymore. The Emperor Zong only agreed to let me marry after getting my consent!"
Hmm?
"On the boat, he treated you that way. Aren't you afraid he will go back on his word?" Zhao Jiaqi couldn't understand.
She absolutely could not tolerate domestic violence!
Wanrong smiled faintly, "But I am pregnant, and the child is Wu Yi's. If I don't marry him, who else can I marry? At least the child in my belly has a father and a mother. I have a foothold here, and something to look forward to, don't I?"
Wanrong's rhetorical question left Zhao Jiaqi speechless. Although she wanted to tell Wanrong that a woman could be well off even with a child.
But this place was still different from her original country.
A child without a father was considered a bastard, looked down upon, and would have to live their life with their head bowed. For the sake of her child, it was understandable that Wanrong would sacrifice this.