The Useless Heiress Is Actually A Bigshot
Chapter 689: Kneeling Punishment

Chapter 689: Chapter 689: Kneeling Punishment

Hearing the nanny’s words, Han An’s heart tightened, and she clenched her teeth but eventually knelt down.

She was very clear in her heart that any conflict between her and Noble Princess Consort Wan would undoubtedly be deemed her fault, no matter the reason.

Moreover, compared to Noble Princess Consort Wan, she had absolutely no advantages. Nearly everyone in Beijing now knew that her relationship with the State Preceptor had been severed. She no longer had any support backing her.

Noble Princess Consort Wan, who had been operating in the palace for many years, was deeply favored by the Emperor and was also the biological mother of Prince Yu, her mother-in-law. She had no capital to resist at all.

She did not know how long she had been kneeling; Han An felt her legs had gone numb, but she could only kneel rigidly in place.

Whenever she slightly moved because of the fatigue from kneeling, the nanny beside her would immediately come before her and suppress her with palace rules and etiquette. She had no ground to argue and could only obediently kneel there, even though her legs had become numb from the pain, not daring to move again.

Finally, when Han An was about to faint from exhaustion, the Senior Palace Maid by Noble Princess Consort Wan’s side came out, slightly bowed to Han An who was kneeling on the ground, and said, "Princess Consort, the Noble Princess Consort has sent this servant to bring you inside. Please follow this servant inside."

The maid’s curtsy was not even standard, and when she looked at Han An, there was not a hint of respect. It was evident that under her strict demeanor, Princess Consort Han An held no status.

Han An naturally noticed the perfunctory attitude of the palace maid, but at that moment, she had no choice but to drag her painful legs and follow the palace maid into the hall.

This guiding palace maid was a Senior Palace Maid who served closely beside Noble Princess Consort Wan. She was deeply trusted by the Noble Princess Consort, and many matters that couldn’t be seen in public were done by this maid. It could be said that this palace maid was the Noble Princess Consort Wan’s confidante.

Thus, even though her heart was filled with resentment and unwillingness, she could only swallow her bitterness and hatred.

Soon, she followed the palace maid into the main hall.

Noble Princess Consort Wan was lazily reclining on the Imperial Concubine’s chair, and even upon seeing Han An enter, she merely slightly lifted her eyes and looked indifferently at her.

"Daughter-in-law pays respects to Mother."

Han An promptly performed a curtsy, but after the curtsy, she had yet to receive a response from Noble Princess Consort Wan. She had to keep bowing slightly, waiting for Noble Princess Consort Wan to say she could rise.

She was very clear that all this was merely a tactic by Noble Princess Consort Wan to torment her. Even, such tactics could be considered somewhat disreputable.

But what of it? Though disreputable, they could torment people. She couldn’t resist, nor was she able to.

Before long, Han An’s whole body was swaying.

She had already knelt for a long time outside, and her knees were already swollen and painful. Now, bowing in this manner only increased the pain in her knees.

Finally, Han An couldn’t hold on any longer and collapsed directly to the ground.

Looking at Han An who had fallen to the ground, Noble Princess Consort Wan’s emotions still did not fluctuate greatly. She looked at Han An with a mocking smile and coldly scoffed, "It seems that you, as the Princess Consort Yu over these years, have truly been spoiled! You only stood for a while and already fell down. Truly pampered indeed!"

Startled, Han An immediately got up, then knelt there and quickly explained, "Mother, it was not intentional. The time I spent kneeling outside just now was perhaps too long, so my knees are a bit painful; that’s why this happened. Please forgive me, Mother."

"Oh?"

After hearing Han An’s words, Noble Princess Consort Wan’s expression grew even colder. "Are you accusing this palace?"

Kneeling below, Han An suddenly felt an icy aura assaulting her, it made her hairs stand on end.

"This daughter-in-law wouldn’t dare," Han An quickly lowered her head even further, "This daughter-in-law... just... just..."

Watching Han An kneel there, stammering without any explanation, Noble Princess Consort Wan sneered, "Ha, I thought you were capable of so much more!"

"However, Han An, you may not have much ability, but you certainly have great schemes! To think you could actually coax the State Preceptor into obtaining such a lifesaving decree for you. You must be trying to bind Chenyu and yourself together!"

"Mother, I genuinely didn’t know about this beforehand," Han An quickly started to explain. "I only found out about it when Prince returned to the residence with the Imperial Decree."

Noble Princess Consort Wan coldly watched Han An, who was desperately explaining, as if watching a jumping clown. "Speaking such words, probably only you would believe them!"

"Yet, you are bold indeed, daring to instigate the State Preceptor to secure such an Imperial Decree for you. Do you truly believe that with this decree, you can rest easy in the future?"

"I didn’t intend that," Han An looked up at Noble Princess Consort Wan, "Mother, the State Preceptor did this to drive a wedge between the Prince and me. She must still be holding a grudge over what happened back then."

Hearing Han An mention the past incident, Noble Princess Consort Wan’s face turned extremely ugly.

After Han An had told Chenyu about this matter in the past, Chenyu had immediately gone to the Emperor.

At that time, the Emperor was overwhelmed with the drought crisis; hearing Nolan Chenyu’s report, although he was conflicted.

However, ultimately for the sake of Lai Country’s citizens, the Emperor still sought the State Preceptor.

What transpired between the Emperor and the State Preceptor afterward was unknown to anyone.

But soon, the State Preceptor sacrificed herself to the heavens and resolved the drought.

However, thereafter, the Emperor seemed to live in continuous guilt.

This is also why, after Zhong Niangyao’s return, the Emperor’s attitude towards her was even more respectful than before. He had even handed the future candidates of Lai Country over to Zhong Niangyao.

Feeling irritated, Noble Princess Consort Wan directly grabbed a teacup from the small tea table next to her and hurled it at Han An.

Han An could have dodged the cup, but seeing the gloomy face of Noble Princess Consort Wan, she didn’t dare to avoid it and could only watch as the teacup hit her forehead.

Feeling intense pain at her forehead, and then a stream of bright red blood dripped down, almost staining her eyes red.

Watching Han An’s injured state, Noble Princess Consort Wan’s heart did not fluctuate; she merely shook her head, then turned to the Senior Palace Maid, "First, tend to her wound."