Chapter 138

Chapter 138

Consort Jiang's nature had not changed at all.

The more she spoke, the more arrogant she became, and she even began to criticize the Princess Consort again.

Everyone expected the Princess Consort to punish Consort Jiang.

Unexpectedly, the Princess Consort said nothing, only scolded the Main Kitchen a few times and sent someone to comfort Consort Jiang.

This was a big deal!

Prince Jing's earlier punishment had suppressed Consort Jiang's arrogance.

Now that the Princess Consort had taken the initiative to yield and show weakness, Consort Jiang truly became emboldened.

Her courage seemed to inflate like a balloon.

The next day, fearing more trouble, the Main Kitchen sent someone to deliver meals to Songya Courtyard.

But Consort Jiang showed no respect at all—she knocked everything over with a wave of her hand!

She waved grandly and sneered, "Despicable wretches, they really need a good lesson to know who their master is!"

"Yesterday you dared to question this Consort arrogantly, and today you're slinking around with your tails between your legs?"

"Too bad this Consort doesn't have such a good temper!"

With that, she blatantly ignored the confinement order left by Prince Jing and led her people to the Main Kitchen.

She said with an air of authority, "Where is Secondary Consort Xie's meal?"

No one dared to respond.

But everyone's gaze turned in one direction as if by unspoken agreement.

Consort Jiang smiled arrogantly, "Not talking?"

"Then smash it all!" She pointed in the direction everyone was looking. "Start smashing from there."

The people in the Main Kitchen were terrified out of their minds.

This mistress was truly ferocious—she was going to smash up the Main Kitchen for the second day in a row!

The steward hurriedly sent someone to raise the alarm.

A little maid from Chunshan Courtyard saw this scene and also rushed back to report.

Upon receiving the news, Xie Run heaved a deep sigh.

"I just wanted to be a slacker."

But if she didn't assert herself, Consort Jiang's blazing fire would burn her alive!

Xie Run simply said, "Post someone to keep an eye out. When Consort Jiang returns to Songya Courtyard, send me word."

"Yes!"

Xie Run then asked, "Is the private kitchen ready?"

Xiaoshu was raring to go: "Rest assured, mistress, it's been ready for a long time."

Over at the Main Kitchen, the commotion naturally caught the Princess Consort's attention.

The Princess Consort had let it slide once, but this time she couldn't.

However, the punishment was only a talking-to, along with mentioning confinement and copying scriptures—a slap on the wrist.

Consort Jiang was not afraid in the slightest. With her chest puffed out, she left smugly.

Of course, she had no intention of accepting the punishment.

Xie Run had already tipped off the Princess Consort about what she planned to do.

So the Princess Consort watched Consort Jiang's retreating figure and shook her head in disbelief, more than happy to watch the drama unfold.

When Consort Jiang returned to Songya Courtyard, Qingsong Courtyard suddenly sent word that a new shipment of fabric for spring clothes had arrived.

Each courtyard was to send four maids to pick some out.

Consort Jiang didn't think much of it and pointed to two Senior Maids and two junior maids by her side.

She sneered, "The Princess Consort is nothing much—a useless waste."

"With all the trouble I've caused, she's still falling over herself to send me gifts!"

With that thought, she became even more smug.

Just as Consort Jiang was feeling pleased, a little eunuch suddenly hurried in to report, "Mistress, Secondary Consort Xie has come with her people."

Consort Jiang frowned. "Xie is here to request an audience with this Consort?"

"Have her wait outside the door—this Consort doesn't want to see her right now!"

The little eunuch was at a loss for how to say it. "Mistress, she's not here to request an audience..."

Before he could finish, Xie Run had already appeared before Consort Jiang with the eunuchs and maids of Chunshan Courtyard.

Seeing the whole swarm of people following behind her, Consort Jiang immediately frowned and barked.

"Insolent! Who gave you permission to enter?!"

"Without this Consort's order, you dare to step into Songya Courtyard? You don't know your place at all!"

Xie Run smiled. "Consort Jiang, who exactly is being presumptuous?"

"Tormenting a concubine, stealing a Secondary Consort's things, leading people to smash the Main Kitchen, and disregarding the Princess Consort... You really are quite presumptuous!"

When enemies cross paths, their eyes blaze with fury.

Seeing Xie Run, Consort Jiang was reminded of being punished by Prince Jing last time because of her.

With old scores and new grievances to settle, Consort Jiang was filled with murderous intent.

She raged, "What do you think you are, daring to lecture me?!"

"I wouldn't dare." Xie Run drawled.

Consort Jiang grew even angrier at this. "Before, you relied on the child you're carrying, so I couldn't lay a finger on you."

"Now that you've come to me yourself, don't blame this Cefei for being impolite!"

Xie Run stared at her silently for a long moment, then spat out two words: "Idiot!"

Cefei Jiang's face flushed with anger, and she said in disbelief, "How dare you insult this Cefei?"

"Calling you an idiot is a compliment."

"Even now, you still can't read the room?"

That reminder made Cefei Jiang finally realize something was off.

Xie Run had more than a dozen people behind her, all gathered in the courtyard, some holding things.

Cefei Jiang demanded, "What are you all doing?!"

"Someone call the guards!"

Unfortunately, two of Jiang Baobao's trusted maids had been punished by Prince Jing, and the other two had just been called away to pick out fabrics.

The other young maids, seeing Xie Run's imposing manner, shrank back, too scared to speak, let alone step up to help Cefei Jiang.

Only an old nursemaid who had raised Cefei Jiang since childhood stepped forward.

"Shufei Xie, are you really going to defy your superior?"

"Don't get so full of yourself just because the Prince favors you..."

Xie Run slowly curled her lips into a smile.

She never fought a war she wasn't ready for.

And once she was ready, she didn't bother listening to others bark.

With an elegant wave of her hand, Xie Run said calmly, "Cefei Jiang loves stealing other people's food so much, she must have never eaten her fill in her whole life."

"This humble concubine feels sorry for you, so I had the small kitchen prepare a feast, just to fill your belly."

"That way, Cefei Jiang won't have to go hungry and steal from other concubines and shufei again."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zi Hu lunged forward and pinned down the old nursemaid.

Several maids rushed over and held Cefei Jiang down.

Just as Cefei Jiang was about to scream, someone grabbed her chin and jammed a specially made oil funnel into her mouth.

The people in Songya Courtyard watched, stunned, not understanding what Shufei Xie intended to do.

Then they watched as someone poured jar after jar of soup and broth into the funnel.

Four sturdy matrons pinned Cefei Jiang down, and she couldn't struggle at all.

Xie Run was still kind enough to let the food cool before force-feeding Cefei Jiang.

If it had been hot, one jar alone would have finished her.

Jar after jar of soup and medicinal broth went down, and Cefei Jiang's belly slowly swelled up.