Chapter 501 Demoted to Beauty

Chapter 501: Lowered to Meiren Rank

The conflict between Xingxing and Yang Ruyuan ultimately ended badly.

However, Lady Qing'an firmly promised Xingxing, "Yang Ruyuan was a guest I invited. Since she acted this way, don’t worry, I will give you an explanation."

Xingxing replied, "Lady Qing'an, there’s no need to worry about this. This is a matter between me and Miss Yang. I will handle it well."

But Lady Qing'an ignored her and had already made up her mind.

The next day, Huya stayed behind at Daxisipo’s place for scar removal, while Xingxing returned to the residence of the General of the Western Garrison.

Xingxing sought out Grandfather Liu and recounted how Yang Ruyuan had hired guards to pose as bandits in an attempt to attack them.

"Grandfather, a certain lady told me that the Yang family is influential among civil officials and might affect my third brother’s future," Xingxing said with a frown. "I don’t think that’s right."

Upon hearing this, Grandfather Liu raged so furiously his beard bristled. "You’re absolutely right! If Yang Jujing dares to hinder Liu Ge'er’s career over his daughter’s disgraceful actions, then all those years he spent studying the classics were wasted!"

Grandfather Liu scolded angrily.

It was only then that Xingxing learned that Yang Jujing, the Minister of Rites, was actually once a student of Grandfather Liu.

"Wait here. I’m going to write him a letter and scold him!" Grandfather Liu declared indignantly.

However, before Grandfather Liu could finish the letter, the palace made a move first.

Yang Ruyuan’s elder sister, Consort Wanyi, who was pregnant with the Emperor’s child, had been placed under confinement for offending Noble Consort Rou.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a big deal.

Since Consort Wanyi was carrying the Emperor’s child, her confinement would likely be lifted in a few days—so the Yang family remained unconcerned.

Yet, at this very moment, news of Yang Ruyuan hiring guards to impersonate bandits and attempting to assault the Lady of Blessed Peace reached the palace.

Emperor Jiazheng and Empress Nie were enraged.

Empress Nie immediately issued a verbal edict to the Yang family, demanding they discipline their daughter properly.

The Lady of Blessed Peace had been personally honored with the title by her and the Emperor! Yang Ruyuan’s reckless behavior, showing utter disregard for imperial authority, landed Yang Jujing with accusations of failing to educate his daughter properly!

The day the Yang family received Empress Nie’s edict, the whole Yang family panicked.

For the first time in her life, Yang Ruyuan was struck across the face by her father.

Her mother held her, sobbing.

Her eldest daughter was under confinement while pregnant, and her youngest had drawn the Empress’s wrath over a trivial matter—who would dare marry her now?

Yang’s mother burned with resentment toward the Lady of Blessed Peace!

Furious, Yang Jujing scolded, "Spare the rod, spoil the child! Have you considered that if your daughter hadn’t committed such a vile act in the first place, the Empress’s edict would never have come down?!"

Yang’s mother could only sob while holding her daughter. "My poor child!"

Yang Jujing’s forehead vein throbbing, his head throbbed.

Meanwhile, Consort Wanyi, still under confinement, learned of her sister’s predicament. She immediately changed into simple robes, removed her hairpins, and went to plead for mercy. Since she was confined, she knelt at the entrance of her palace, appearing pitiful and sorrowful.

When Noble Consort Rou heard of this, she lazily twirled a hairpin in her hand and sneered, "I could hear Yang Wanyi’s calculations all the way from Fengjiang Palace."

Yang Wanyi had violated palace rules by offending her, and she showed remorse without defending herself; but now, kneeling at the palace gate to plead for forgiveness for her sister's mistake, she became a loving elder sister.

Yang Wanyi knew Emperor Jiazheng favored familial harmony and bet that he would probably spare her and her sister this time for the sake of the imperial heir in her womb.

Unfortunately, this fool apparently still didn’t understand just how much Emperor Jiazheng and Empress Nie valued that Lady of Blessed Peace.

Noble Consort Rou sneered mockingly, called for her sedan chair, and went to watch the spectacle outside Yang Wanyi’s palace gate, so entertained that she ate an extra helping that evening.

Some also spoke up for Yang Wanyi. Li Xiurong, who had a princess in her care, took the little princess to Empress Nie’s Zhaoyang Palace for a short audience.

Li Xiurong saw Empress Nie holding the little princess’s hand, asking what she had learned recently.

The little princess answered each question in turn, and Empress Nie appeared quite pleased.

Only then did Li Xiurong cautiously speak up: "...Your Majesty, when I came over, I saw Sister Wanyi still kneeling there, swaying unsteadily, looking truly pitiable."

Empress Nie paused slightly, her smile fading a little: "Very well, I take your meaning."

Her gaze fell on the obediently seated little princess, and she suddenly said, "Li Xiurong, if one day someone took against Mingyi and planned to have her tied up to make an example of her, what would you do?"

Li Xiurong’s expression changed, roughly understanding Empress Nie’s implication, but she mumbled incoherently without making any real reply.

Empress Nie understood perfectly well.

Li Xiurong must have thought that her Mingyi, as an imperial princess, would always have an entourage for protection when outside—how could such a thing possibly occur?

She had no capacity for empathy.

If Mingyi were just an ordinary little girl, what ruin might befall her?

Li Xiurong finally muttered, "I only meant... no matter what grave mistake Wanyi’s family committed, she still carries the imperial heir in her womb..."

Empress Nie smiled faintly, though her eyes remained cold, and said icily, "Indeed, Li Xiurong reminds me well. Yang Wanyi, despite bearing the imperial heir, still acts with such recklessness—it is truly unacceptable. As the head of the Six Palaces, I must teach her some discipline."

Li Xiurong was truly at a loss for words now.

She had only thought that Yang Wanyi, with the imperial heir in her womb, effectively held a saving grace. Bringing the little princess to plead on Yang Wanyi’s behalf was a safe way to gain favor.

Little did she expect she had instead made matters worse!

Soon after, Empress Nie issued an edict, declaring that Yang Wanyi, despite carrying the imperial heir, had still acted with such recklessness and was thus unworthy of her position.

Empress Nie decisively demoted Yang Wanyi from the rank of the Nine Concubines all the way down to Beauty!

Had Empress Nie not always disliked the practice of high-ranking consorts raising the children of lower-ranking ones, a Beauty wouldn’t even have the right to raise her own child!

Now, Yang Wanyi—no, Beauty Yang—was completely distraught.

Her health had been meticulously cared for by imperial physicians since her pregnancy, keeping her in perfect health. But upon hearing the edict, she nearly fainted.

When Emperor Jiazheng learned of this, he only smiled and commented that the Empress always showed good judgment.

When the news reached the Yang household, Beauty Yang didn’t faint—but her mother did.

Her father nearly collapsed as well.

It wasn’t the demotion from Xiurong to Beauty that distressed them, but what it revealed about Emperor Jiazheng and Empress Nie’s unyielding stance on the matter—

The conclusion was clear: that Lady of Blessed Peace was absolutely untouchable!

Even Yang Ruyuan became rather alarmed, though she still refused to humble herself and apologize to the Lady of Blessed Peace.

For the first time, the Minister of Rites struck Yang Ruyuan physically.