Chapter 50: The Concubine’s Uprising
Han Lei looked towards the sound and saw a woman dressed in strikingly colorful attire with a seductive face, leaning against the doorframe, eating seeds with a disdainful look in her eyes.
Upon hearing these words, Han Lei’s delicate face showed a slight change in expression, but she quickly regained her composure.
"We’re here to welcome the future Princess Consort of the Prince Mansion. What are you, an aunt, doing out here? Go back inside immediately." The old lady’s expression turned stern, showing rare authority befitting the head of the household.
Zhao Ling’er rolled her eyes at her and took Han Lei’s arm to comfort her, saying, "That’s an aunt who doesn’t understand the rules. Don’t mind her, Han Lei."
"It’s okay." Han Lei gave her a slight smile.
Seeing this, Qin Yanran smirked coldly, seemingly unfazed by the old lady’s reprimand.
As she ate seeds, she continued her mockery, "Looks like the rumors about Zhao Zun losing his military authority are true. This Prince Mansion is becoming more and more downcast, resorting to choosing such an unremarkable girl as the Princess Consort. Just look at the quality of the fabric; it must be from some small, insignificant household, right?"
Though Han Lei felt turmoil in her heart, her expression remained calm. As the former concubine of the deceased Duke, she was considered part of Zhao Zun’s family. With Zhao Zun not at the Prince Mansion, she didn’t want to cause trouble over a few stray insults from a mad woman.
Her outfit, though not made of silk or embroidery, held emotional significance, representing Zhao Zun’s rare gentleness. She didn’t care if others belittled it; only her opinion mattered.
Han Lei remained silent, but the old lady was infuriated.
"You... you, get... get out!"
The old lady was so angry her chest heaved and her face flushed. Yet, as a true lady of the aristocracy, her upbringing only allowed her to say "get out" as she couldn’t utter more offensive words.
The old lady, though speechless with anger, feared that Han Lei, new to the Prince Mansion, would be treated poorly. She gently patted Han Lei’s hand, offering silent comfort.
Zhao Ling’er, Zhao Zun’s trusted aides, and the servants present were also enraged, glaring at Qin Yanran. However, due to her status, even Zhao Zun had to call her Aunt Qin; hence, no one but the old lady dared challenge her.
Qin Yanran sneered dismissively, her sharp and bitter remarks again targeting Han Lei.
"Tsk, did I say something wrong? If the Prince Mansion’s threshold was high enough, how could it let in such a lowly girl? Looking at her foxy demeanor, who knows how she hooked up with Zhao Zun?"
"You... you... you liar!"
The old lady was so angry she almost lost her dignity as the Duchess, wanting to slap her, yet Han Lei stopped her.
Han Lei finally understood; Aunt Qin was overstepping! Publicly provoking at every turn, with Zhao Zun often away, she’d likely trample over the old lady at home.
If Han Lei didn’t retaliate, the old lady might faint out of anger today.
Han Lei patted the old lady’s hand, gave a slight smile, then gracefully walked towards Qin Yanran.
Han Lei smiled sweetly, looking closely at Qin Yanran’s face, then innocently asked.
"Dear madam, by your looks, your parents must have passed away, right?"
Qin Yanran froze, "How do you know? Are you a fortune teller?"
"No need for fortune telling." Han Lei spoke, her aura changing sharply, her sweet smile vanishing. "If your parents were alive, you wouldn’t be so ill-mannered. I can tell at a glance you were born but not raised well."
"Whoa! Miss Han is mighty!"
"Miss Han is mighty!"
"Hahaha..."
The trusted aides burst into laughter, applauding heartily, feeling their spirits lifted. Though they couldn’t chastise Qin Yanran, they could cheer for Han Lei.
Hearing Qin Yanran being called ill-mannered, Zhao Ling’er and the old lady couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
Mr. Liu and several servants also covered their mouths, smiling quietly in approval.
For years, the old lady had been bullied by Aunt Qin openly and covertly, yet due to hierarchical differences, they felt helpless. Unexpectedly, today someone finally helped the old lady vent her grievances.
Qin Yanran, originally a courtesan, uneducated, took a while to comprehend Han Lei’s words.
"Audacious! You... you dare insult me?"
Qin Yanran was so angry that her thick face powder almost trembled off. She tossed away the seed shells, raised her hand to slap Han Lei, but Han Lei caught it firmly.
"Hmph!" Han Lei sneered coldly, "Insulting you? Why, I dare to hit you too!"
"Slap!"
As soon as Han Lei finished speaking, with a loud "slap," a resounding slap landed squarely on Qin Yanran’s seductive cheek.
Han Lei struck hard, her hand felt numb with impact, yet the crisp sound of the slap made her feel great.
As a modern woman, she was taught from a young age: when a situation becomes intolerable, there’s no need to tolerate further.
Thus, she felt no psychological burden hitting Qin Yanran, that so-called "bitch."
The atmosphere instantly froze, the silence so profound one could hear a pin drop.
After a while, Qin Yanran’s trembling yet angry voice broke the silence.
"You... you, you actually hit me?"
Qin Yanran’s hair adornment was disarrayed, her golden hairpin dangling, about to fall, her seductive image completely shattered.
She clutched her burning cheek with one hand, tremblingly pointed at Han Lei with the other, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Everyone present was stunned, unable to recover for a moment.
No one expected the previously delicate and sweet girl to verbally insult Qin Yanran; it already seemed fierce, yet she pushed boundaries further.
"You can’t believe it?" Han Lei ignored their stunned expressions, leaning her face closer to Qin Yanran’s, speaking each word with a chilling smile, "Look closely, remember me, I don’t respect the mistress, and a concubine like you wants to overturn things. What an eyesore you are!"
Deliberately emphasizing "concubine," Han Lei provoked Qin Yanran further.
This time, Qin Yanran trembled not only her hands but her whole body, as she looked at Han Lei like a devil, filled with fear.
How could she face such a situation?
Even as part of an illustrious family like the Duke’s, in the high-walled courtyard, she usually engaged in scheming and power struggles, using back-handed tactics. Where had she ever seen such a straightforward combative woman?
"I... I was hit, I actually got hit. Boo hoo..."
Qin Yanran mumbled to herself in astonishment, then realizing, she lost interest in continuing and ran back into the Prince Mansion, crying.
Defeated so easily?
Planning a comeback with such meager capability?
Han Lei snorted disdainfully, shaking her numb hands, then approached and took the old lady’s arm.
"Old lady, it’s alright now. She won’t dare disrespect you anymore." Han Lei displayed her sweetest smile, yet spoke harshly. "If she dares to disobey, I’ll hit her until she submits."
"Oh..." The old lady paused momentarily, then her eyes reddened. "Good! Good child. It’s cold outside, don’t stand here. Let’s go in. Remember, call me Aunt from now on."
The old lady clasped Han Lei’s hand, unwilling to let go, her eyes brimming with tears, slowly dispelling years of pent-up grievances.
Having someone to support and protect you felt wonderful!
This daughter-in-law was truly in line with her heart’s desire!