The princess regretted it.

Chapter 209 Discussion between the Three Zhang Family Grandparents and Grandchildren (1)

In the capital, at the Grand Tutor's Mansion, Zhang Chengde and Zhang Hengrui reappeared in the old Grand Tutor's study. Zhang Hengrui was reporting the news he had gathered to the old Grand Tutor: "Grandfather, Ji'er sent a message to me. This time, it was because my sister and Jiaoyu insulted Jin'an behind his back, and the emperor overheard them. The emperor was furious and severely punished my sister and Jiaoyu. Ji'er said he would take care of them and prevent them from being bullied. Grandfather, what should we do next?"

The old master still leaned on his crutches, closed his eyes and sat quietly on the master's chair. The wrinkles on his face were like ravines carved by time, each of which hid countless stories and schemes. He did not speak for a long time.

On his way to his father's courtyard, Zhang Chengde had already learned everything from Zhang Hengrui, and his brow had been furrowed ever since. At this moment, he couldn't help but speak again, his voice filled with worry: "Father, the harem has always been a place where the powerful are flattered and the weak are trampled upon. Xinrou has been in charge of the harem for many years. To maintain peace and stability, she has often had to resort to seemingly drastic measures. While this was also for the sake of the royal family, she must have offended many people in the process. Now that she has fallen from power, she's like a piece of fat meat falling among wolves. I wonder how many eyes are secretly watching. Ji'er may be kind, but he's still a child after all. No matter how smart he is, there are probably things he can't consider in this complex situation."

Upon hearing this, the old Grand Tutor slowly opened his eyes, a complex expression flashing across them. He sighed softly and spoke in a low, hoarse voice, "If it's true, as Ji'er said, that the Emperor was angry because he heard his sister and Jiaoyu insulting Jin'an, then this is a very difficult matter. After all, Jin'an is the Emperor's first wife's son. Although the Empress has passed away, have you ever noticed that the Emperor is considering appointing another concubine? Jin'an's behavior has become increasingly outrageous since the Empress's passing. Has the Emperor ever punished her? You should all be aware of her position in the Emperor's heart."

Zhang Chengde and Zhang Hengrui looked at each other and felt secretly anxious.

The old master's frown deepened as he continued slowly, "Hmph, Xinrou, how could she be so foolish? In the harem, every word and action must be cautious. How could she have acted so recklessly with Jiaoyu? Now, not only has she found herself in trouble, but she's also endangering the family. What kind of place is the harem? It's a place where every step is taken with extreme caution and treads on thin ice. The slightest mistake can lead to disaster. As the mistress of the harem, she should set an example and consider the family's interests. How could she have made such a blunder out of impulsiveness?"

Zhang Hengrui was a bit impatient and couldn't help but say, "But, Grandfather, it has already happened, and we should think of countermeasures first. In fact, my sister and Jiaoyu were also in an accident this time. At that time, Jiaoyu had a high fever and my sister was anxious and stayed up all night without closing her eyes. After Jiaoyu woke up, she learned that her condition worsened because she followed Jin'an to the Buddhist temple in the Imperial Garden and was frightened in the temple. My sister felt sorry for Jiaoyu and was furious for a while. She thought that there were her own people guarding outside the Jiaoyu Palace, so there would be no problems, so she didn't worry so much. She never expected that the emperor would come in directly after hearing the news without notifying her, and she was overheard." As he spoke, he kept rubbing his hands, his face full of anxiety and regret.

The old Grand Tutor snorted coldly, "Hmph, accident? There shouldn't be any accidents in the harem. Xinrou, as the head of the harem, should understand this principle even more. Since she has assumed this position, she should be responsible for her words and actions, and for the family. What's the point of saying this now? The most urgent task is to see how to minimize the damage to the family."

When Zhang Hengrui heard his grandfather's words, his heart suddenly tightened, thinking that his grandfather was going to give up on his sister. He became even more anxious, his face flushed, and he said desperately: "Grandfather, are we just going to ignore my sister? She is now isolated and helpless in the harem, and has suffered such severe punishment. How can we just watch and do nothing!" His voice was fast and urgent, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.

The old master remained silent, sitting there quietly. However, his normally cloudy eyes now shone with a sharp, cold light as he stared directly at Zhang Hengrui. That gaze, like a tangible ice knife, pierced Zhang Hengrui's heart. He had been so confident just moments before, but now he was instantly intimidated by it. The rest of his words were stuck in his throat, and he didn't continue, only stammering a few times.

Seeing that Zhang Hengrui had calmed down, the old tutor said slowly: "The emperor is angry now, what do you think we can do? You should understand that we are still his subjects! The emperor is the emperor, and if the emperor wants his subjects to die, then the subjects must die! This is an eternal truth. If we intervene now, do you believe that not only will we fail to save your sister and the others, but it will also arouse the emperor's suspicion and bring disaster to the family?" The old tutor's voice was low and hoarse, and every word seemed to carry a thousand pounds of force, hitting Zhang Hengrui's heart heavily.

Zhang Hengrui lowered his head slightly at his grandfather's words. Although he still felt a little worried, he also understood that his grandfather's words made sense. It was his own impatience that made him less thoughtful. No wonder his grandfather always looked at him with disappointment, but he...