Father, who is both a heir and a descendant, is still biased; the bound system has gone berserk.

Lady Cheng'en's expression flickered slightly as she said, "Your Majesty, I am innocent! How dare the Earl's family insult the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's family upon her coming-of-age ceremony?"

"It was the old lady of the Marquis of Weiyuan. She came to the Marquis's residence specifically to choose that concubine in order to remind her eldest daughter to be humble. I understand the old lady's good intentions, so I agreed."

"I see..." The Empress nodded slightly.

"How utterly ridiculous!" The old lady of the Duke of Zhenguo looked over with a stern face.

"I must ask the old lady of Marquis Weiyuan, what mistake did my granddaughter make?"

Even if Fu'er is truly at fault, as her grandmother, you should patiently advise and teach her, instead of using a proper coming-of-age ceremony to suppress and humiliate her by giving her a concubine from a brothel.

It is not that I look down on women from brothels; it is simply that the honored guests invited to a woman's coming-of-age ceremony are all highly respected elders.

Even though Grand Princess Huaxi had already declared that she would hold a hairpin ceremony for Fu'er, you secretly sent a letter to stop her.

Is this how you, as a grandmother, treat your own granddaughter?

"As a noblewoman of the imperial court, is this how you betray Princess Huaxi's kindness?"

The old lady of the Duke of Zhenguo looked at Old Lady Liu with a sharp gaze.

Old Lady Liu's expression changed drastically, and she couldn't help but glance at the Empress, only to find that the Empress was also looking at her.

"Madam Ying, you have not let Hua Xi down, have you?" The Empress asked gently.

"Your Majesty, how could I possibly disappoint Grand Princess Huaxi? It's just that Fu'er is but a lowly maid, unworthy of such a noble person as Grand Princess Huaxi!"

The Empress nodded: "It seems that Madam Ying meant well."

Ah Tang, this is just a misunderstanding. Hitting someone is wrong, after all. Why don't you apologize to Madam Chengen, and we can let this matter drop? What do you think?"

The Empress looked at Shangguan Tang, her eyes conveying the message, "Quickly, take my advice and back down."

In the past, Shangguan Tang would never have doubted her intentions and would have truly believed that she was doing it for her own good.

But now...

Shangguan Tang sneered inwardly, but said calmly, "Your Majesty, I have done nothing wrong. Why should I apologize to her?"

"Lady Cheng'en doesn't even understand the most basic propriety and shame; what kind of lady is she to be the mistress of the Earl's mansion?"

The Empress was taken aback.

She stared at Shangguan Tang with slightly wide eyes, her eyes filled with sadness.

"Ah Tang, are you going to make a big fuss about this?"

Shangguan Tang said, "Your Majesty, it is not that I want to make a big fuss; I only ask for fairness."

Just now, Madam Ying said that my daughter was not worthy of being the Grand Princess Huaxi as the main guest, but when Ying Hengzhi came of age, Madam Ying asked me to invite the Grand Princess Huaxi. Madam Ying's actions clearly showed favoritism.

As an elder, she acted unfairly and favored one side, which is extremely immoral. I did not agree to her actions, but she held a grudge and invited a concubine to humiliate my daughter.

I disagree with this decision.

Her gaze swept over Old Madam Liu like a knife. "May I ask, Madam Ying, since I, Shangguan Tang, married into the Marquis of Weiyuan's mansion, in what way have I wronged you?"

I am filial to my mother-in-law, respectful to my elder sister-in-law, and love my husband. I manage the household affairs and even use my dowry to help my husband's family. I have a clear conscience.

What wrong has my daughter done? Just because Grand Princess Huaxi refused to be Ying Hengzhi's principal wife, you treat my child like this?

"So Ying Hengzhi is your granddaughter, but Fu'er isn't?"

Old Liu was so angry that her face turned pale.

"Shangguan Tang, do you even respect me as your elder?" she shouted angrily.

In the past, whenever she threatened him like this, Shangguan Tang would give in.

To her surprise, Shangguan Tang only looked at her with disgust this time and said, "From the moment you smashed my private treasury and stole my dowry yesterday, I have severed all ties with your Marquis of Weiyuan's mansion."

As she spoke, she took out a divorce agreement.

"The divorce papers are here. Since Marquis Weiyuan cannot tolerate his daughter-in-law and granddaughter, then let's get a divorce."

Old Lady Liu stared wide-eyed at the divorce papers in Shangguan Tang's hand, her face filled with disbelief.

Shangguan Tang, she actually dared to do it for real!

They even brought out the divorce papers.

Don't even think about it!

The Empress's expression immediately changed.

Seeing this, Liu Xueyan immediately said, "Sister-in-law, don't be angry. Even if Mother shouldn't have made a mistake by inviting the concubine from the Marquis of Chengen's mansion, you shouldn't disrespect Mother because of this and even make a fuss about divorce."

Sister-in-law, you need to work on your temper sometimes. A woman should be gentle and reserved. Mother is only doing this for your and Fu'er's own good.

"Brother, you've already injured Lady Cheng'en. Just listen to Her Majesty the Empress, apologize to Lady Cheng'en, and this matter will be over."

"Really?" Shangguan Tang stared straight at her.

Liu Xueyan smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, if things get out of hand and ruin Her Majesty the Empress's chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, that would be terrible..."

Snapped!

Shangguan Tang stepped forward and slapped Liu Xueyan across the face.

Liu Xueyan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Shangguan Tang, you—"

"A woman should be gentle and reserved, Madam Liu, please don't get angry," Shangguan Tang said calmly.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have successfully proven someone wrong! System reward: 2 points! Current point balance: 979 points.]

"How dare you!" Old Madam Liu shouted angrily and stood up.

"You're the one who's being insolent!" The old lady of the Duke of Zhenguo stood up and said sternly, "Old Lady Liu, do you think the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has no one left?"

Today, even if I were to forfeit my title of a supreme noblewoman, I would still go to His Majesty to seek justice!

"Tang'er, Fu'er, come with me to see His Majesty!"

She was a noblewoman of the highest rank, and even had military merits. She also possessed the imperial whip bestowed by the late emperor, so no one could stop her from meeting His Majesty.

"Oh, dear grandmother!" Ying Yufu stepped forward to support her grandmother.

Feeling that she had been too happy, Ying Yufu lowered her head and coughed lightly.

When she looked up again, her eyes were red, and her voice was loud and aggrieved:

"In the past, my grandmother only told my mother and me to give way to my aunt and cousin in everything, but ever since the news of my maternal grandfather's accident at the border came back, my grandmother has become very fierce towards my mother and me."

Fortunately, I have my maternal grandmother who knows and loves me; otherwise, Fu'er would have been unjustly killed. Grandmother, let's go see His Majesty!

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Old Lady Liu with subtle expressions.

"Ying Yufu, what nonsense are you spouting?" Old Madam Liu roared in anger.

Ying Yufu looked at her, giving her a defiant look, still sounding aggrieved: "Waaah, Grandmother, now that something has happened to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, do you really not care about the bond between grandmother and granddaughter at all?"

Old Liu was so angry she almost fell backwards.

When the old lady of the Duke of Zhenguo was indeed going to see the emperor, the empress's expression finally changed.

She closed her eyes almost imperceptibly; she couldn't let them go to see His Majesty.

If they were to actually meet His Majesty, the matter would surely escalate, and might even implicate her son and Ying Hengzhi.

Then their entire plan would be exposed.

She dared not gamble in front of His Majesty.

"This matter is indeed the fault of the Marquis of Weiyuan's residence and the Earl of Chengen's residence."

The Empress stepped forward and grabbed Shangguan Tang's hand, but in reality, she was blocking the way for the old lady of the Duke of Zhenguo to leave.

"Ah Tang, I just found out that you and Fu'er have been wronged!"

As she spoke, the Empress turned and looked coldly at Lady Cheng'en.

"The Lady of Cheng'en has failed in her duties as head of the household and has indulged her concubines. Effective immediately, she shall return to her residence, kneel in the ancestral hall, copy the 'Admonitions for Women' one hundred times, and be confined to her quarters for three months!"