Huangfu Yue looked at Consort Dowager Zheng and nodded.
She said nothing, but her nod was a promise to her grandmother, an acceptance of her grandmother’s request.
In truth, she understood that helping Xuan’er secure a chance, relying on Xuan’er to help the Prince of Dai’s mansion rebound, return to the capital, and reclaim their former glory and wealth, or even reach greater heights, was incredibly difficult.
After all, they were aiming for that position!
That position undoubtedly had many people vying for it, and Xuan’er was by far the weakest candidate, in an extremely disadvantageous position, especially since they were currently branded as criminals and were to be exiled to Lingping. They held no power or influence in the imperial court!
They truly had nothing!
And they were burdened with nothing but problems!
But Xuan’er bore the surname Huangfu, and even if he entered the game, as long as he was in the game, there was a chance.
Even if it was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, it was still a chance.
She wanted to help Xuan’er, because helping Xuan’er was also helping the entire Prince of Dai’s mansion, and it was also helping herself.
Although she herself had no great ambition and was not particularly interested in enjoying luxury and wealth, having served as a soldier for so many years in her previous life, she was accustomed to hardship. Therefore, whether they could return to the capital, reclaim their former glory and wealth, or even reach greater heights, she personally did not care.
However, she did not want to live the rest of her life as a branded criminal, a prisoner in Lingping forever, unable to leave Lingping.
Although she believed that with her own abilities and the wealth in her space, she could live very well in Lingping, being a branded criminal was still being a branded criminal, a prisoner was still a prisoner, and ultimately, she could not live a normal life like ordinary people, nor could she have freedom. Therefore, she had to help Xuan’er.
Seeing her granddaughter nod and agree, Consort Dowager Zheng was overjoyed, her lips curving into the deepest of smiles.
“Seeing how you protected us in the Prince of Dai’s mansion today, how you subdued the escorts upon our departure from the capital, helped us remove our shackles, won over the guards, your generosity towards the mansion’s servants, and your consideration for the overall situation, your repeated forbearance towards your second sister-in-law, I know that although you are a woman and still young, you are capable of great things.”
Consort Dowager Zheng said, her face filled with admiration.
“Everything you took from the treasury, you may use as you please from now on, without asking me… Just remember to use the money and provisions in the treasury to foster good relationships, do good deeds, and win hearts.” Consort Dowager Zheng suddenly shifted her tone and brought up the mansion’s treasury.
“We have far too much money and provisions to ever use or consume. Compared to so much money and provisions, what is more useful to us is hearts; use it to win more hearts, for hearts are true wealth…
The more hearts we win, the higher Xuan’er’s chance of success will be in the future. There is a saying: ‘He who wins the hearts of the people, wins the world!’”
Huangfu Yue nodded again, smiling, “I know what to do. Thank you, grandmother, for your guidance and for showing me the way.”
This grandmother was truly not an ordinary old lady, truly worthy of being a Consort Dowager.
Compared to her, her few sisters-in-law were… truly not up to par!
“Have you spoken to Eldest Sister-in-law about Xuan’er’s matter?” Thinking of her sisters-in-law, Huangfu Yue asked.
Consort Dowager Zheng shook her head, “Xuan’er’s matter must be kept secret from your Eldest Sister-in-law and your other sisters-in-law until the time is right and the moment is ripe. They are all women of the inner chambers; saying it this way, you should understand my meaning, right?”
“Mm.” Huangfu Yue nodded and smiled again.
When her grandmother uttered the words “women of the inner chambers,” she understood.
Women of the inner chambers understood only matters of the inner chambers and knew nothing of the wider world.
When the time was not right, and the moment was not ripe, telling them would only bring harm and no benefit.
Consort Dowager Zheng and Huangfu Yue chatted for a while longer before she said she was tired and wanted to return to her room to rest.
“Grandmother, I’ll escort you.” Huangfu Yue immediately went to help Consort Dowager Zheng.
As Consort Dowager Zheng stood up and walked towards the door, she smiled, “When one is old, one cannot help but admit defeat…
Today, thanks to you, I had a carriage ride and it was very easy, yet I still feel fatigued. One is truly useless when old!”
Seeing the old lady show a look of helplessness and sigh, Huangfu Yue gently comforted her, “This is not because you are old and useless, this is called the fatigue of travel!
After sitting in a carriage all day, even young people would feel fatigued at this time, feel tired, and want to rest. So it’s not a problem of you being old!
Grandmother, you should not think about being old and useless. Isn’t there a saying that the older one gets, the stronger one becomes? Besides, grandmother, you don’t look old at all!
Grandmother, you have hardly any wrinkles on your face, you look quite young, like you are only forty. And it’s evident that when you were young, you must have been a beauty of unparalleled splendor. Look at your face shape, your eyes and brows are even more beautiful than your sisters-in-law, and your demeanor is extraordinary, you have a special temperament, and you are still captivatingly beautiful!”
Huangfu Yue showered the old lady with praise, making her beam with joy.
“You little girl, your mouth must have eaten a lot of honey; it’s too sweet, too good at saying pleasant things to coax and please me, this old person!” She playfully reached out and flicked her granddaughter’s pretty nose.
“Grandmother, please don’t think I’m deliberately saying nice things to coax you and please you. I’m speaking the truth, the real truth…
Grandmother, you truly don’t look old at all. In my heart, you are very young, and very beautiful, as beautiful as a celestial being, captivatingly beautiful!”
Huangfu Yue reached out and put her arm around the old lady’s shoulders, hugging her and acting like a spoiled child.
Consort Dowager Zheng’s heart was melting, her smile stretching from ear to ear.
“You are truly a treasure! You are my grandmother’s rare treasure!” She looked at her granddaughter with loving eyes and reached out to stroke her head.
Thinking of the rare treasure she had just mentioned, she suddenly recalled a dream she had many years ago.
“Xuan’er, you have always wanted the phoenix pearl for the imperial crown, and I cannot give it to you. Now, I will give you a divine pearl as compensation.”
She then thought of a letter her son had sent her many years ago…
“Mother, Zhenniang has given birth to a daughter for me. Zhenniang said that before giving birth, she dreamed that a radiant, lustrous, and as bright as white jade divine pearl fell from the heavens into her belly. So, I thought of naming this child ‘Yue.’ Mother, do you like this name?”
Consort Dowager Zheng’s eyes moistened slightly, and she instinctively reached out to hug her granddaughter who was still holding her.
Husband, son, thank you. Thank you for giving me this treasure, Yue’er!
“Grandmother, what’s wrong?” The sharp Huangfu Yue sensed Consort Dowager Zheng’s subtle change and immediately asked with concern.
Consort Dowager Zheng shook her head and smiled, “Nothing. I just feel it’s so good to have you, and I want to hug you!”
Huangfu Yue felt a warmth in her heart, as if a warm current was flowing into her heart, making it feel warm and toasty.
In her previous life, her bond with her family was shallow, and she was not close to her family, especially her elders, never experiencing anything like this.
She suddenly realized that having a family member and elder like Consort Dowager Zheng was truly wonderful!
Consort Dowager Zheng suddenly showed a very affectionate expression again and reached out to stroke her granddaughter’s head once more, “Yue’er, thank you!”
Huangfu Yue was slightly stunned, not understanding for a moment, “Thank me for what?”
“Thank you for being my grandmother’s granddaughter!” Consort Dowager Zheng smiled.
Huangfu Yue’s heart grew warmer and hotter, “I am very fortunate to be your granddaughter! Thank you for being my grandmother too… Grandmother, I like you so much!” She hugged the old lady again and acted like a spoiled child.
Consort Dowager Zheng’s eyes curved with laughter, and imitating her granddaughter’s tone, she said, “My precious granddaughter, grandmother also likes you very much!”
The grandmother and granddaughter exchanged a glance and both burst into laughter.