Princess Longzhu knew the Great Zhou Dynasty held women to strict standards, especially married women. The slightest stain on their reputation would invite public condemnation, and in severe cases, could even lead to divorce.

That was why she had deliberately arranged for someone to cause trouble for Madam He.

Even if it was later proven that the ruffian was spouting nonsense, the gossip would have already spread. Everyone would hear about Madam He getting into a public tussle with a strange man. Her reputation would be ruined regardless.

It was a truly bloodless strike.

Princess Longzhu was very pleased with her own cleverness.

Just as she was reveling in her scheme, the ruffian seemed to get too into his role, genuinely believing Madam He was his wife.

Seeing that she refused to go back with him no matter what, the ruffian raised his hand and landed a vicious slap across Madam He’s face.

Madam He was completely stunned by the blow.

In all her life, she had never been slapped.

Today was the first time!

Madam He absolutely snapped.

’Did he really mistake her for a helpless kitten?!’

She raised a hand, pulled the golden hairpin from her hair, and stabbed it viciously into the back of the ruffian’s hand!

The sharp pin pierced the back of his hand, and blood instantly gushed out.

The ruffian screamed in pain and violently threw Madam He off him.

He threw her with immense force.

Caught off guard, Madam He staggered backward.

It was still snowing, and the ground was wet and slippery.

Madam He’s foot slipped, and she fell straight backward, her head hitting the stone steps.

Her vision went black, and she fainted on the spot.

Her maidservant rushed to her side, crying out loud.

"Madam! Madam, what’s wrong!"

She helped her mistress up, only to feel fresh blood on the back of her head. Her face turned deathly pale, and she shrieked in terror.

"Help! Murder!"

The female manager of the embroidery shop heard the screams and ran out. When she saw that it was the madam from the Zhong’an Bo Mansion who was in trouble, her expression changed instantly.

She had her assistants help carry the woman into the shop while sending someone to notify the Zhong’an Bo Mansion.

As for the ruffian, he had seen that things were going badly and had long since slipped away.

Princess Longzhu had also left the scene.

She had only wanted to ruin Madam He’s reputation to get revenge on Princess Consort Zhao. She never expected things to escalate this far.

If something truly happened to Madam He, it would be impossible to contain the situation.

An agitated Princess Longzhu returned to the Honglu Temple.

When Zuo Ji saw she had finally returned, she hurried to greet her.

"Princess, the Saint has summoned you for an audience. Please come with me to the palace quickly, so as not to keep the Saint waiting."

Although Princess Longzhu didn’t know why the Emperor of Great Zhou was summoning her at this time, she thought it was a golden opportunity. As long as she was in the palace, even if the Zhong’an Bo Mansion’s investigation led to her, they wouldn’t be able to do anything to her for the time being.

She immediately changed her clothes and went to the palace with Zuo Ji.

「Time ticked by.」

Li Ji’s mood grew better and better.

’He would soon get a definite answer from Manman!’

During lunch, Li Ji was particularly attentive, constantly putting more food on Manman’s plate and urging her to eat more.

His behavior reminded Hua Manman of fattening up a pig.

Farmers would do everything they could to make their pigs eat more, so they would grow nice and plump. Then, by the end of the year, they could harvest a large amount of fragrant pork.

’Right now, in this dog of a man’s eyes, she was probably the pig waiting to be slaughtered.’

Just as Hua Manman was lost in her wild thoughts, she suddenly saw Gao Shan hurry in.

"Reporting to the Princess Consort, someone from the Zhong’an Bo Mansion just delivered a message.

They say that Madam Zhong’an has been injured, and her condition is critical.

The household doctor at the mansion has limited skills and cannot treat Madam Zhong’an’s injuries.

They hope you can find a way to ask for an Imperial Physician from the palace to take a look at her."

Hua Manman shot to her feet and asked urgently,

"How did my mother get hurt?"

Gao Shan said, "The messenger didn’t elaborate, so I don’t know the specifics."

Li Ji had also put down his bowl and chopsticks. He ordered Gao Shan,

"Prepare the carriage. We’re going to the Zhong’an Bo Mansion now."

"Yes, sir."

As it happened, Feihua Zhenren was staying at the Prince Zhao Mansion.

Without a second thought, Li Ji had his men bundle up Feihua Zhenren and stuff him into the carriage.

Even as the carriage started moving, Feihua Zhenren still had a look of utter confusion on his face.

He looked at Prince Zhao and his wife sitting across from him and asked blankly,

"What’s all the rush? Where are you taking me?"

Hua Manman said quickly, "My mother is injured. Her condition is critical, and we need your help."

Feihua Zhenren had freeloaded so many meals at the Prince Mansion. A small request like this was nothing to him, so he readily agreed.

When they arrived at the Zhong’an Bo Mansion, before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, Hua Manman impatiently jumped out.

Li Ji followed right behind her.

The chubby Feihua Zhenren was last, his medical kit carried by Chen Wangbei.

The gatekeeper of the Zhong’an Bo Mansion had already been notified. Seeing that people from the Prince Zhao Mansion had arrived, he immediately opened the main gates and respectfully welcomed them inside.

The group walked briskly through the front courtyard and arrived at the courtyard where Madam He lived.

Hua Dingzong, the Elder Zhong’an, was pacing anxiously, and his two sons were also frantic with worry.

Hearing that Prince Zhao had arrived, the father and sons hurried out to greet him.

Li Ji stopped them from bowing and asked directly,

"How is my mother-in-law?"

Hua Dingzong’s eyes were red, his voice hoarse.

"Your Highness, the household doctor said my wife suffered a severe blow to the back of her head, causing internal bleeding in her brain.

My wife has been unconscious ever since. We can’t even get her to take any medicine. We don’t know what to do."

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but choke up.

Although he and Madam He always bickered, and he sometimes found her too feisty and not at all gentle or considerate...

...they had been husband and wife for many years. How could he not be heartbroken seeing her life in danger?

Hua Manman was in no mood to comfort her father.

She pulled Feihua Zhenren into the room, urging him to quickly treat her mother.

Madam He was lying on her side on the bed. A piece of gauze was taped to the back of her head, and trickles of blood were seeping through it.

Her eyes were tightly shut, her face deathly pale.

She didn’t respond no matter how many times Hua Manman called her name.

Feihua Zhenren began his treatment.

Meanwhile, Li Ji stood at the door, questioning Hua Dingzong about the details of Madam He’s injury.

Afraid he might miss a detail, Hua Dingzong simply had Madam He’s personal maidservant brought over to recount the entire incident to Prince Zhao from beginning to end.

The maidservant had calmed down by now, but her eyes were still red, clear evidence that she had just been crying.

She carefully described how Madam He had been accosted and how she was pushed down and injured. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Li Ji asked in a low voice, "What did the ruffian look like?"

The maidservant answered without hesitation.

"I’ve seen that ruffian before. He often loiters around West Street. The people in that area should all know him."

Li Ji summoned Chen Wangbei and ordered him to take some men and arrest the ruffian.

Chen Wangbei was highly efficient.

In just four hours, he had seized the ruffian and brought him before Prince Zhao.

...

Two Chapters for now. The next one will be up tomorrow.