Lord Gregory looked at Elara's face, reading the helpless sorrow in her eyes. Her words carried a subtle threat, and the uneasy feeling in his chest finally sank cold.
This foolish princess had actually learned how to make threats, both openly and secretly. When had she learned that, and who taught her?
But there were spies all over the princess's residence, and no strange reports had come. No one inside the residence could've taught her. So... could it really be that idiot Yang Shu hurt her so badly she decided to go all in?
With her past cowardice, if she dared to do something, why only show it now?
Lord Gregory's thoughts ran deep, but his expression stayed cold as ever.
"Your Highness, what are you saying? How could I allow anyone to slander you so casually? If you're dissatisfied with today's handling, I'll have people investigate further. If the Princess truly was wronged, I will make sure justice is served."
No matter what Elara said earlier, she had been dismissed outright. But once she brought up the Regent, this old man finally stepped back slightly and agreed to a "re-investigation."
Back when Elara had been thinking how to climb out of the swamp that was the Plumera Kingdom, she had already considered using the Regent to hold the chaotic powers in check.
What she just said was only to test the waters.
And sure enough, just as she expected, Lord Gregory, the cunning head who controlled most of the corrupt forces in Plumera, was afraid of the Regent too.
But this tiny step of backing down wasn't enough for her.
She had System 92 remove her pain blocker earlier and endured so much pain. That couldn't be brushed aside with one simple "re-investigation."
Elara sighed and glanced at Yang Shu, who was glaring at her from behind Lord Gregory, and smiled.
"Lord Gregory, is there really a need to investigate again? What happened just now is very clear. Yang Shu falsely accused me and deceived you."
Yang Shu's eyes widened. He was about to argue, but the moment Elara mentioned the Regent, Lord Gregory no longer wanted to provoke her. He raised a hand to stop Yang Shu and stared at Elara.
"Then go on, Princess. Tell me how it's so clear."
"It's simple." Elara suddenly covered her lips and smiled. "The performer Yang Shu insisted was a prisoner, the one I held in my arms in the Jade Pavilion, was actually someone your son personally gave me at the west city gate earlier today."
"But Yang Shu ignored everything and directly said that person was a prisoner. Isn't that slandering me and lying to you?"
As soon as she said that, Yang Shu froze completely, and Lord Gregory's eyes turned dark.
"Today, my son met the Princess at the west city gate?"
"Of course." Elara smiled and stepped forward with Benedict, her expression calm and sweet.
"Not only did we meet, but we also spent a good while discussing those refugees. Your son said even though they're low-born, some look decent. He wanted to admire them together. I agreed, and we admired the group for quite some time. He even gave me a generous selection."
Elara turned her gaze to the frozen Yang Shu again. "Everyone in the west city saw it. If you don't believe me, ask around. I brought a few back today because I was in a good mood. But who would've thought Yang Shu would suddenly barge into the Jade Pavilion and accuse me? He claimed whoever he judged to be a prisoner must be one. If that's true, then the performer given to me by your son is a prisoner. That would mean your son tried to harm me, wouldn't it?"
"You..." Yang Shu glared at her, his chest rising and falling with fury. He couldn't believe the once-silly and spoiled princess had suddenly become so sharp and manipulative. How could that performer suddenly be someone Gregory's son had gifted?
Elara ignored his anger and looked back at Lord Gregory, still smiling. "And you just now said the wound on me was caused by that prisoner. But that prisoner was a gift from your son. So if we follow Yang Shu's reasoning, doesn't that mean your son was trying to kill me?"
The moment those words fell, Yang Shu's face turned red again. His eyes burned with hate, as if he wanted to tear her apart.
Elara didn't care one bit. She smiled right back at him, determined to return every ounce of arrogance and pride he had shown earlier.
Lord Gregory didn't speak after listening to her. He stared at her with cold eyes, but the words he said were aimed at Yang Shu, his voice icy.
"Lord Yang, is what the Princess said true?"
Yang Shu's face was already flushed. He wanted to lie, but seeing Lord Gregory's expression, remembering how many people saw what happened at the west gate, and recalling Elara's mention of the Regent, he could only clench his fists and speak lowly.
"…The servants reported that the young master did admire people with the Princess in the west city today, but the person the Princess held in the Jade Pavilion wasn't part of that group."
"Oh? How do you know that?" Elara cut him off softly before he could say more. "Yang Shu, do you have any proof that the person wasn't among the gifts from your young master? Or are you still being stubborn in front of Lord Gregory? You think whatever you say is the truth? Like how you judged the person my palace received as a criminal without any evidence? You just decided and said it out loud? Hah, isn't that still slandering me?"
She had already instructed Uno to withdraw in advance just for this moment.
There was no witness now. If they truly went to verify, Elara would just have someone bring out the little noble saved from Gregory's son.
No one had seen Uno's face when she held him. His body had been in the hot spring. Who would know the difference? She could say whatever she wanted.
"You…" Yang Shu's eyes turned red with frustration. In just a few seconds, he found himself unable to argue. He could only glare at Elara, filled with hate.
Lord Gregory listened but said nothing, his gaze growing darker and colder.
At this moment, the imperial physician finally arrived to treat Elara.
She called out in her mind: System 92, adjust my condition to reflect internal injuries.
System 92: [Got it, Master!]
It sounded thrilled, clearly enjoying this scene that Elara was starting to turn around.
Elara extended her wrist. The elderly physician examined her carefully, then trembled slightly as he reported.
"Her Highness shows clear signs of internal damage caused by martial force..."
"Royal Sister…" Benedict's frown deepened. As soon as the examination was done, he pulled Elara back into his arms, pressing his face against her neck. His whole body clung to hers.
He was now fully sober, but his mind was a mess. Although he sensed that his sister felt a bit different today, she was still his sister. No matter how she changed, she was still his.
He didn't understand why she was saying and doing these things today, but he could tell that in this moment, he couldn't act rashly.
The repressed anger in his chest made him uncomfortable. The faint unease he had always felt around Lord Gregory now grew into clear disgust.
Elara raised her hand to stroke the boy's head. After hearing the physician's confirmation, her smile shifted into a more delicate and "weak" expression. She glanced at Yang Shu, then at Lord Gregory's darkened face, and sighed.
"Sigh, how pitiful. I was seriously injured by martial force, yet no one believed me. I even needed a physician to prove it. So, Lord Gregory, I wasn't just speaking on impulse earlier. I wasn't making things up. It's just that no one in this capital is able to stand up for me anymore."
"That's why I had no choice but to ask for the Regent's return. Otherwise, if things go on like this, I might really be slandered to death one day without even knowing why."
As soon as she said that, a loud "smack!" rang through the room.
A heavy slap.
Elara lifted her gaze and saw Lord Gregory strike Yang Shu hard to the ground.
Yang Shu's eyes were still wide with disbelief after hearing the physician's words. That slap landed hard. Half of his face instantly swelled.
He held his cheek and stared at Lord Gregory in shock, but Lord Gregory had already turned to Elara, cupping his hands with a forced smile under his dark expression.
"It seems I was careless just now and nearly caused Your Highness to be wronged. But please don't worry. My word always stands. As long as I'm here, you and His Majesty will never be beneath anyone else. This capital will always belong to you both. Whatever you want to do here, you may do it. The rest, you never need to concern yourselves with."
Elara looked at the scene in front of her. Her face suddenly showed a trace of pain, like someone who had finally been cleared of false accusations. She couldn't wait to look at Lord Gregory and said,
"So, Lord Gregory finally believes me and knows it was Yang Shu who slandered me and lied to you?"
Lord Gregory stared at Elara. His gloomy face forced out a stiff smile as if trying to calm her, and he nodded.
"Of course, I always keep my word. So there's no need for the princess to worry. In Plumera Kingdom, there's nothing I can't take care of. I will always stand by the princess and His Majesty."
"Good. I knew Lord Gregory was upright and would stand on my and my brother's side." Elara's face showed even more comfort and emotion. But she quickly took the chance to point at Yang Shu, who was crouching on the ground covering his face.
"All of this today was because of this backstabbing dog. He deliberately slandered me and Lord Gregory to stir up trouble between us. That's why I had no choice but to say what I did earlier. So, what does Lord Gregory think the punishment for someone like him should be?"
This foolish princess, so blinded by hatred, was now climbing up by playing her part well. Lord Gregory's face turned even colder, but he had no choice except to follow her words.
"Yang Shu lied and twisted the truth. He nearly slandered the princess. I'll have him locked up in the punishment prison for a few days, and he'll also receive twenty strokes."
He then looked at Elara. "Princess, what do you think?"
Elara certainly didn't think much of it. That prison was Yang Shu's territory. Whether he suffered or enjoyed himself there was uncertain. And only twenty strokes? Ha. Did he really think that would satisfy her?
Elara looked at Lord Gregory. A hint of grievance appeared on her face.
"The punishment prison? If he goes there, I won't be able to see it. This dog has insulted me so badly today. I must watch him suffer with my own eyes. He needs to be put on display at the city gate of Plumera and be beaten in front of everyone. Otherwise, all kinds of filthy things might think I'm someone they can mess with."
"So Lord Gregory should forget the prison. Just move the punishment to the city gate. I want him flogged there in front of everyone in Plumera. And... twenty strokes is far too few. Make it fifty at least. That way, it might make up a bit for the humiliation I suffered today."