The Empress was weary and did not wish to repeat herself, so she gave Madam Li a meaningful look.
Madam Li drew Princess Wu aside and, in great detail, told her about the thefts at the Xiangyun Palace and the Eastern Palace.
“No wonder,” Xin Yao exclaimed, her face filled with disbelief. “I just visited Xiangyun Palace and thought Mother was planning to move, which was why it was so empty. To think it was actually robbed! But how could a thief empty out an entire palace overnight?”
Madam Li added, “Your Highness, it wasn’t just one palace, but two, and the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace as well.” Whether the masters believed in ghosts or not, she certainly did.
Princess Xin Yao’s eyes widened, and she opened and closed her lips several times, unable to speak.
Wasn’t the thief too greedy? They didn’t even spare the flowers and grass. And Mother’s shoes, they surely had a bit of a smell, didn't they?
She looked at the Empress, then at the Crown Prince, and asked in a deep voice, “Mother, Brother, have you discovered who… did this?”
Her mother sighed, “The Minister of Justice considers this the most challenging case, very likely to remain unsolved. How would your brother and I know who is responsible?”
Princess Xin Yao’s brow furrowed even deeper.
From a young age, she knew that everyone in the palace was full of schemes and intrigue. Only by holding a position of respect, only by being ruthless to others, could one establish a firm foothold.
The Empress Dowager had passed away early. Her mother was the Empress, and her full brother was the Crown Prince, the future Son of Heaven. She had always believed that their family, besides the Emperor, was the most powerful. They were the ones who bullied others, and others never dared to trifle with them.
Yet now, this thief dared to steal from her mother and brother. This was tantamount to defecating and urinating on them in broad daylight, trampling their dignity underfoot and ravaging it mercilessly!
The more Princess Xin Yao thought about it, the angrier she became. “Mother, Brother, I don’t believe in ghosts or spirits. This must be the work of humans. We must investigate this thoroughly and ensure that the thief dies without a burial place!”
The Empress looked at her daughter, who had never experienced hardship and had lived a life of luxury since childhood, with a weary expression. She said helplessly, “A thief who emptied two palaces overnight, and silently abducted over a thousand of your brother’s elite guards and personal soldiers, do you think it wasn’t a ghost or spirit? If it were an ordinary person, who would have such ability?”
Princess Xin Yao was shocked again. This thief even stole people? At this moment, she could no longer be certain whether ghosts and spirits existed in this world.
The Crown Prince leaned against the bed, his voice filled with despair, “How can a thorough investigation be easy? Now that Mother and I are penniless, we are constrained in everything we do. Yao’er, how much money do you have on hand? Hand it all over to Mother to manage.”
Xin Yao’s heart tightened. Although she was anxious about her mother and brother’s predicament, if she gave up all her money, she would have to wear tattered clothes, wear inferior jewelry, and eat unpalatable food…
More terrifyingly, she would be overshadowed by other princesses and noble ladies, enduring their contempt and ridicule…
She truly could not tolerate such a life!
“Brother, I’ve always been a big spender, so I don’t have much personal savings. However, I will try my best to gather some for Mother when I get back.”
The Crown Prince nodded.
The Empress looked at her daughter, who only knew how to enjoy herself, and had no expectations. “Forget it. I’ll be grateful if you don’t ask me for money from now on.”
Princess Xin Yao stomped her foot and pouted, “Mother, I really don’t have any money on hand. If I had money, why wouldn’t I help you and Brother?”
“Alright, alright, Mother believes you,” the Empress closed her eyes and nodded, humoring her daughter.
Thinking about their current situation, Xin Yao was also extremely annoyed. She twisted her body and sat to the side, sulking.
Madam Li looked at the three of them and breathed a silent sigh of relief. From now on, she would definitely burn more incense for Buddha every day, praying for her masters and for herself.
The Empress sat in silence for a moment, then suddenly remembered the words of Master Liu Shang, who had told her to lie low and accumulate strength, to prioritize important matters, and to never act impulsively, lest she invite disaster.
If the initial incident at the mine was due to the Jiang family’s poor management of their subordinates, offending that family called Hong Shenpo, ultimately leading to the Jiang family’s exile and Xian’er’s imprisonment in the宗人府.
But later, unable to suppress her anger, she repeatedly sought revenge against that family, causing her and Xian’er’s standing in the Emperor’s heart to decline further. Their loss of influence in court was her fault.
Indeed, she had been too arrogant. Years of being in a high position had led her to believe she was about to control everything, so she recklessly sought revenge against that peasant family.
How dare a mere lowly peasant bully her? So, she had been bent on dealing with that family that didn’t know its place.
The result, however, was that…
If, after the incident at the mine, she had kept a low profile, accumulated strength, not caused trouble, and only sought ways to mend her and Xian’er’s image in the Emperor’s heart, making winning the people’s favor her primary concern, perhaps today’s disaster would not have occurred.
She had truly played a winning hand terribly.
However, even though things had reached this point, it was not a dead end. They still had a great possibility of turning the situation around.
This time, she was determined to remain calm and endure what ordinary people could not!
The Empress raised her eyes and looked at her son and daughter before her. The deep despair in her heart transformed into resentment, and the resentment then transformed into strength. She took a deep breath, straightened her body, and said, “Xian’er, Yao’er, regardless of whether the person behind this is human or demon, our situation is now as it is, but it does not mean we have no hope of turning things around.
Outside the palace, I still have several shops and estates, and many high-ranking officials in court support Xian’er. We can still slowly accumulate strength.
However, from now on, you two must act with discretion and not be as arbitrary and overbearing as you were before. Remember, our most important task from now on is to do our utmost to win your father’s heart, the hearts of the ministers, and the hearts of the people of Great Xia.
Securing Xian’er’s position as Crown Prince is the most, most important matter.
I hope you two will help each other from now on. Especially Yao’er, you must do everything in your power to assist your brother in ascending that position. As long as Xian’er becomes the Emperor of Great Xia, the entire world will be at your fingertips.”
Xin Yao pursed her lips and nodded, a fierce look in her eyes. “Mother, Brother, in your opinion, which minister in court is most helpful for Brother to ascend to the throne?”
The Empress smirked and said, “Of course, it’s Prime Minister Dong.”
“And the Minister of Revenue, Zhou Yanqing,” the Crown Prince also sat up. After hearing his mother’s words, he had rekindled his hope.
As long as he lived, he would find every possible way to ascend to that position, and then make those who had bullied him have their entire clans wiped out!
“Good, then this princess will marry Zhou Qingyun!” Xin Yao said proudly.
Prime Minister Dong’s grandson was plain-looking. In comparison, Zhou Qingyun was more handsome. Since she had to get married, she might as well marry someone more attractive.