Chapter 10: Do You Know Your Mistake?

Several burly maids promptly rushed in, but Ning Junru immediately stepped forward, firmly shielding Mistress Wei behind her.

“Unless you step over me, no one is taking her away!” Ning Junru’s slender brows shot up, her eyes blazing fiercely as she glared at them.

It was the first time anyone had seen the princess consort so fierce; the maids dared not advance recklessly.

“This is getting more and more outrageous!”

Consort Dowager Xu’s well-maintained cheeks bore the fatigue of the moment. She closed her eyes, waving her hand dismissively, “Enough, all of you leave.”

The maids bowed quickly and retreated.

Once they had gone, Consort Dowager Xu slowly opened her eyes. Maid Yanxiu hurried forward to massage her back and ease her tension.

“Speak, what exactly happened?” Consort Dowager Xu looked at her, removing the rosewood Buddhist bead bracelet from her wrist, slowly twirling it between her fingers.

Ning Junru could hardly believe that His Highness, Prince Liang, not only dared to shirk responsibility but could lie with eyes wide open.

She shot Zhao Shenxing a sharp glance, then composed herself and said calmly, “Then I shall speak honestly.”

Consort Dowager Xu nodded in approval, her gaze warning her son not to interrupt.

Over the years, despite her poor health, Ning Junru had tended to her with dedication and never uttered a complaint.

No matter how foolish Shen’er was, even as one concubine after another was brought into the household, she never showed jealousy.

Today, not only did he demand a divorce, but he also showed disrespect to the prince in front of her. Consort Dowager Xu thought to herself that he must have been greatly wronged.

“Mistress Wei, stay behind. Everyone else may leave,” Ning Junru decided to dismiss the servants, not wanting gossip.

Yanxiu immediately took the hint and led the maids and servants out.

“Don’t just stand there foolishly. Sit down and speak slowly.”

Once the servants had left, the Dowager sighed, “Others at my age are already enjoying the sweetness of grandchildren, yet here I am, constantly worrying about you all.”

Zhao Shenxing was about to sit but quickly lowered his head, standing silently to listen to the reprimand.

Ning Junru adjusted her skirt, then folded her hands over her abdomen and said, “What Mistress Wei said earlier was all true.”

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“The prince said the headdress was bought for Sister Chang; I should not have taken the liberty to give it to Concubine Xiao. Indeed, I was wrong to do so, and it is only right that the prince asked me to retrieve it.”

In the past two years, the prince had taken several concubines, but none had stirred such chaos as Mistress Chang did the moment she arrived.

Consort Dowager Xu replied coldly, “You did nothing wrong. What is Mistress Chang’s background? How could she be worthy of wearing the phoenix hairpin?”

In a past life, they had nearly missed meeting each other; now, after only one day since entering the household, the Dowager already despised her so much? Ning Junru felt a small surge of pride.

Still, she feigned grievance and said pitifully, “With over a hundred people in the household, the steward’s duties seem simple but are actually complicated. Setting aside all the hardships and grievances, consider only the several thousand taels of silver I have subsidized.

Mother, you know there have been almost no rewards these past two years. The four northwestern provinces are notoriously poor, and local taxes are minimal. The prince’s salary and the income from the Yongye estate barely cover the large household expenses.

The prince spends lavishly, and the number of women in the inner court has grown. Relying solely on the salary and estate income is insufficient, so I have had to use my dowry to cover the shortfall.

I hadn’t intended to tell you, but after today’s events, it truly breaks my heart. Though several thousand taels is not a great sum, I have worked hard with no thanks. Henceforth, I will never foolishly use my dowry to cover deficits again.”

Consort Dowager Xu sighed. After years of close contact, she knew better than anyone what kind of person the princess consort was.

Ning Junru’s tears began to fall as she continued, “The prince indulges in debauchery outside. I have never interfered, thinking the household’s heirs are few. But now, over such a trivial matter, he is ready to resort to violence. I fear that once the child is born, there will be no place for me in the household. I beg you, Consort Dowager, in consideration of old ties, to permit me to divorce the prince.”

“Kneel!”

The moment the Dowager spoke, Zhao Shenxing knelt before his mother with a thud.

“Do you acknowledge your mistakes?”

Seeing his mother’s icy expression, he did not hesitate, “I know my mistake!”

Indeed, Zhao Shenxing understood his error. As Prince Liang of Dayun, he had always assumed the household’s funds were inexhaustible. Over the years, he had spent extravagantly, never considering the household’s deficits, nor that his wife’s dowry was being used to cover them.

Before the princess consort entered, no concubines had been taken, and the inner household was managed by Consort Dowager Xu. She knew the prince was generous with money.

At first, she had been surprised to hear of the deficit, but recalling the several batches of new maids over the past two years, not to mention their monthly allowances and the cost of their upkeep, it was no small expense.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Ning Junru gestured to Mistress Wei to hand the ledgers to Consort Dowager Xu.

Consort Dowager Xu flipped through a few pages, frowning, “Why did you never mention such a serious matter before?”

“I thought the shop’s income was still acceptable. Besides, both the Dowager and the prince treated me sincerely, so I didn’t mind subsidizing with my dowry.”

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Ning Junru asked Mistress Wei for another ledger.

“For some unknown reason, the shop’s income sharply declined these past two years, and I have been running at a loss.”

Guided by Mistress Wei, Consort Dowager Xu examined the accounts carefully.

Seeing her brow knit in concern, Ning Junru settled herself seriously and said, “The prince never thought highly of me. Now that things have come to this, I have nothing left to hold onto. I beg you, Consort Dowager, to grant me my wish.”

The princess consort had always been excellent at managing accounts; every entry was clear, income and expenditure transparent.

The Ning family had always been steady. Today, she had asked twice—this was truly a matter of giving up on their marriage and seeking divorce!

The Dowager’s anger grew as she listened and she snapped the ledger shut.

“You have indeed worked hard these years. If you have any grievances or dissatisfaction in the future, come to me directly. I will reprimand the prince. Rest assured, such nonsense will never happen again. You and the prince were wed by the empress dowager’s decree. If you divorce, would it not disgrace her? Divorce is impossible. Do not speak such nonsense again.”

Ning Junru was speechless; it seemed divorce was out of the question.

The Dowager glared at her kneeling son in frustration, “What are you waiting for? Get up and apologize to the princess consort immediately!”

“I am not worthy!”

Ning Junru cast him a cold glance. “After causing such a commotion today, I am truly troubled and want to go out for some fresh air.”

The illustrious Prince Liang apologizing to a woman?

Zhao Shenxing could not afford such humiliation!

Seeing her son stubbornly refuse to speak, the Dowager sighed, “Going out for some fresh air is fine. It’s late today; take a few people with you tomorrow to stroll around.”

“No, I want to leave now.”

Ning Junru asked Mistress Wei to fetch the keys to the storeroom and handed them to the Dowager.

“The small courtyard at Ning’an Inn—I have never stayed there before. This time, I wish to stay a few days.”

Consort Dowager Xu twirled her Buddhist beads and fell silent for a long moment, before reluctantly replying, “Very well.”