"What do you mean by that?"

"She doesn't seem like an ordinary boudoir lady at all."

"She's just a concubine - born daughter. Why should we care so much? His Highness asked us to keep an eye on He Jingheng, the heir of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion."

The man thought what he said made sense. A concubine - born daughter, after all, just knew some strange things. She couldn't stir up much trouble and wasn't worth fearing.

People were gulping down water from their bowls. Under normal circumstances, a person would go into shock after not drinking water for a few days. And they not only had no water to drink but also had to walk such a long way under the scorching sun. Their bodies had long reached their limits.

Now, with their fill of water, they lay on the ground of the post station, extremely content.

He Jinghe glanced at Shang Ruoyi. He didn't expect this woman to be quite capable, knowing so many things they had never even heard of.

"Hmph, she managed to steal the limelight again. A woman showing herself off all day long, doesn't she feel ashamed?" Zhang took a big sip of water, pursed her lips, and said, "He Jingheng can't even keep his wife in check. Hmph, well, he's already a disabled person. Who knows how many green hats he'll have on his head in the future!"

Although Zhang's voice was low, Shang Ruoyi heard it clearly, and so did most of the people around.

She walked straight up to Zhang, snatched the bowl from her hand, and threw it on the ground, shattering it into pieces.

"You little slut! How dare you break my bowl!" Zhang stood up and shouted angrily. "Do you have any respect for your elders? Do you know the proper order of seniority?"

"Respect for elders? Are you worthy?" Shang Ruoyi said coldly. "As the old saying goes, 'Don't forget the well - digger when you drink water.' Even pigs and dogs know how to be grateful. How come you, Second - aunt, don't understand such a simple truth? Are you even worse than pigs and dogs?"

"How dare you curse me!" Zhang rolled up her sleeves and raised her hand to hit Shang Ruoyi.

How could Zhang be a match for Shang Ruoyi? Before her hand could fall, Shang Ruoyi grabbed her wrist and flung her aside. "What? When you can't win an argument, you resort to violence? Is your mouth just for show? If I don't treat you like a human, you really stop acting like one, don't you!"

Zhang was trembling with anger. He Ning'an watched from the side without saying a word. As a man, he felt it would be beneath his dignity to step in when women were quarreling. He Jinghe looked and then turned his head away.

The other day, Zhang had embarrassed him in public. He wouldn't step forward. Besides, his mother couldn't control her mouth. Not only now, but also in the prince's mansion before, she often gathered with those gossipy women to talk about other families. As a man, he naturally disliked such things.

The surrounding prisoners were watching the scene. Zhang felt as if her wrist was broken.

"Ouch, it hurts! My wrist!" she shouted. "Sir, you must stand up for me!"

The guard had seen it all but didn't even turn his head, leaving Zhang shouting there.

"Second - aunt, I respect you as an elder and call you that. But don't think I'm easy to bully." With that, she picked up a stick as thick as an arm from the ground.

"What? Are you going to hit me?" Zhang took a few steps back, her back hitting the wall. She watched Shang Ruoyi approaching with the stick.

The other members of the second - branch just frowned and didn't seem to want to step in to help.

"What are you doing? I just said a few idle words. You didn't lose anything. Beating an elder, is this the upbringing of the Prime Minister's Mansion?" Zhang leaned against the wall, with no way to retreat. Shang Ruoyi raised the stick, her eyes cold.

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"I was wrong, I was wrong. I won't say it again!" Zhang crouched on the ground, covering her head.

"Crunch!" With a crisp sound, the wooden stick broke in two in her hands.

Zhang looked at her in horror. She didn't expect her to be so strong.

Shang Ruoyi's eyes were filled with coldness. "Second - aunt, you're right. This is the upbringing of the Prime Minister's Mansion." She threw the broken stick at Zhang's feet and said coldly, "If I hear anything else I shouldn't, I can't guarantee what my hands will do."

The prisoners who were watching quickly lowered their heads when Shang Ruoyi looked over, focusing their eyes on their noses and then their hearts, as if trying to show her that they weren't the ones watching just now.

Shang Ruoyi returned to her place. The old princess just sighed and didn't blame her. After all, no one would tolerate such slander.

He Yunyi sat beside her, looking at her with bright eyes, and whispered, "Sister - in - law, you're so amazing! You could break such a thick stick in two. I want to learn too!"

Cong Fangzhi, the wife of He Jingxi from the third - branch, also came over and said a bit shyly, "Sister - in - law, I had some misunderstandings about the Prime Minister's Mansion before. I thought the people there were all very hypocritical."

Shang Ruoyi shook her head. "You're not wrong."

Cong Fangzhi was stunned, thinking there was a rift between her and Shang Ruoyi, and she suddenly felt a bit awkward.

The next moment, she heard Shang Ruoyi say indifferently, "The people in the Prime Minister's Mansion are indeed hypocritical. You're absolutely right. From my father to my eldest sister, who is praised by everyone in the capital, they're all extremely hypocritical villains."

Her words stunned not only Cong Fangzhi but also Lin, who was sitting nearby.

It was the first time she had seen someone speak so poorly of their own maternal family. But the way Shang Ruoyi dealt with Zhang just now was really impressive. It was very much to her liking.

The two men in charge of watching the Dingguo Prince's Mansion family gasped.

"So this is the type the heir of the Dingguo Prince's Mansion likes. His taste is really unusual!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, I wouldn't dare to marry such a fierce wife."

After solving the water problem, everyone had a meal of coarse - grain cakes and then continued their journey.

After being threatened by Shang Ruoyi, Zhang became much more obedient. At least she didn't dare to spread idle gossip anymore. As for how she cursed Shang Ruoyi in her heart, Shang Ruoyi didn't care at all.

The drought had displaced many people, and a large number of refugees had flocked to the vicinity of the capital. During the morning court, ministers presented one memorial after another. For a while, the refugee problem in the capital was giving Emperor Tian Shun a severe headache.

He Lingsheng came to Consort Zhao's place. Coincidentally, Shang Yufu was also there.

"Sheng'er, you've been sighing since you came back from the court. Is something wrong?" Consort Zhao said with concern. "No matter how tiring court affairs are, there's always a way to figure them out. Don't exhaust yourself. In a few days, we'll discuss your marriage with your father. You can't put it off because of official business again."

He Lingsheng smiled and nodded. "Yes."

Hearing Consort Zhao's words, Shang Yufu's face lit up. Consort Zhao was talking about the Crown Prince's marriage in front of her. Didn't that mean she was going to be betrothed to the Crown Prince? It seemed that Consort Zhao was quite satisfied with her.