The Yanqing Palace was now desolate, a far cry from its former liveliness. Ever since Prince Han, Nangong Cheng, died, Yanqing Palace had become a cold, neglected place.
Only Consort Xian and a few maids from her maternal family now resided in Yanqing Palace. Those in the palace were accustomed to currying favor with the powerful and looking down on the less fortunate. Consort Xian, with her arrogant nature, had offended many in the past. Once she fell from grace, everyone began to bully her. In the beginning, Consort Xian would cry and make a scene, but when she realized it was useless and only made the Emperor even more displeased with her, she became calmer.
"Your Ladyship."
"How is it?" Consort Xian's palace attire was now old. Without her son and without the Emperor's favor, in a short time, she had gone from being one of the four consorts to an abandoned concubine in the cold palace. However, she had now accepted this reality.
"News from Changle Palace, she has been rescued."
A trace of hatred flickered in Consort Xian's eyes: "That slut is indeed lucky, not dying even after that."
"But I heard they were restless for most of the night. His Majesty and the Empress Dowager stayed in Changle Palace. The Protector of the Nation General even forced his way into the palace late at night. The Empress Dowager has fallen ill today." Cui'e sighed in her heart. Her Ladyship wanted to use the Empress Dowager's hand to eliminate Princess Yongning. The Empress Dowager was not foolish. If she truly killed Princess Yongning, would the Protector of the Nation General's estate let it go?
"Isn't that old hag the most fond of stirring up trouble? How could she not withstand it after just two days?" Consort Xian's expression was sinister. "That slut killed my son, and everyone in this palace bullies me. I will not let them go. One day, I will make them pay double."
"Your Ladyship, please calm yourself. His Majesty the Minister and the others will surely find a way." Cui'e glanced at Consort Xian cautiously.
"Them?" Consort Xian sneered. "I am an old woman who has lost the Emperor's favor and my son. They are now busy finding new masters to pledge allegiance to, how could they care about my life or death? Cui'e, only when one falls into the mud do they know who truly cares for them. You are good. Rest assured, I will not treat you poorly."
"This is what this servant should do."
"When I was one of the four consorts, which servant in this palace wasn't carefully fawning over me? Which noble lady didn't obediently kneel and bow? Even my own father would send good things to the palace, trying to please me. But once I fell into misfortune, all these people turned their backs on me." Hatred twisted Consort Xian's face. "The Emperor hasn't deposed me yet, and they are already stepping all over me!"
"Your Ladyship, please calm your anger."
"Calm my anger? How can you ask me to calm my anger?" Consort Xian looked at her hands. These hands should have been delicate, never having done any manual labor. But now, they were covered in scars, large and small, completely the hands of a servant, not the hands of an imperial concubine. "Xiao Man, I will absolutely not let you go!"
In Changle Palace, all the personal attendants serving Xiao Man had been replaced by her own maids. Once sure there were no outsiders, Yin Zhu finally spoke, "Miss, there are no outsiders."
Xiao Man opened her eyes and smiled affectionately at Xiao Zhen, who was sitting beside her, "Father."
Xiao Zhen gnashed his teeth fiercely, "Are you trying to kill your father!"
Xiao Man got up, hugged Xiao Zhen's arm, and acted spoiled, "Father, your daughter doesn't want to tease you. Who told them to bully us so much? Are the daughters of the General's household easily bullied? I want them to know that inviting a god is easy, but sending one away is hard. There's no way they can use me to threaten Father."
"What happened last night?"
Xiao Man frowned slightly, "I'm not sure if it was the Empress Dowager's idea to mix jasmine powder into the food, or if someone else did it. In any case, someone in this palace truly wants my life."
"Then what about your vomiting blood?" Xiao Zhen asked anxiously. When he saw her spitting out mouthfuls of blood, he was so frightened he could barely breathe, fearing Xiao Man would be in any danger.
"It was an act. I took medicine to create the illusion. I was only weak due to an allergy. Father, you don't need to worry."
Xiao Zhen said worriedly, "Why don't you come home with your father?"
"No hurry. Since I've entered the palace, how can I leave so easily? Father, don't worry, I will be fine."
Xiao Zhen remained uneasy. This palace was full of unseen dirty tricks, and he feared his daughter would suffer. "This palace is accustomed to using dirty tricks that kill without showing blood. Father is afraid you will suffer."
"Father, when have you ever seen me suffer a loss?" Xiao Man comforted him. "It's not easy to deal with your daughter. The Empress Dowager has insulted our General's household so much, I must return the favor."
Xiao Zhen knew he couldn't persuade Xiao Man. His daughter was grown up and had her own ideas. As her father, he could only protect her with all his might.
"Remember, no matter what, your life comes first!"
"Daughter remembers."
As Xiao Zhen came out of the palace, he saw the Prime Minister's carriage parked at the palace gate. He ignored it and walked directly towards the General's carriage. At this moment, a person alighted from the carriage, who was none other than Wen Mohan.
"Great General."
"Minister Wen, why didn't you go home after the court session?"
"General, how is Man'er... doing?" Wen Mohan asked with concern. "I heard there was trouble in Changle Palace last night."
"I don't know who was careless enough to put jasmine powder in the food, causing her to have a severe allergic reaction. After treatment by the imperial physicians, she is now fine." Xiao Zhen could glare at Prime Minister Wen, but he couldn't maintain a cold face with Wen Mohan.
"Does Man'er have anyone she trusts to serve her?"
"Her few maids have been sent into the palace to attend to her."
"That's good." Wen Mohan breathed a sigh of relief. "General, don't worry too much. I believe Man'er will be returning home soon."
Xiao Zhen nodded in agreement. Now, it wasn't that the Empress Dowager wouldn't let Xiao Man leave the palace, but that Xiao Man didn't want to leave. When she would leave likely depended on his daughter's mood!
The two boarded their respective carriages and departed. From a corner not far away, another carriage was parked. The curtain was lifted slightly, and after watching the General's carriage drive away, the person inside spoke.
"Your Highness, the Great General came out alone. Princess Yongning was not seen."
Nangong Yi took a deep breath and suppressed all his emotions. Xiao Man's allergic reaction to the food was a warning from the Empress Dowager, likely a punishment for his mistreatment of the Minister of War's daughter.
He had been too impulsive. He shouldn't have barged into the palace to beg his Imperial Grandmother to let Xiao Man out, revealing his feelings. He shouldn't have vented his anger on others, giving his Imperial Grandmother an excuse to deal with Xiao Man. Even though he wished he could fly to Xiao Man's side now, he had to restrain himself.
His Imperial Grandmother wanted him to be cold-hearted and ruthless. The more he cared, the more her actions would intensify. Even if he didn't care about himself, he couldn't implicate Xiao Man.
"Return to the residence."
Upon hearing the order to return, Zhou Kang breathed a sigh of relief. He truly feared his master would recklessly storm into the palace again, offending the Empress Dowager, and that his master would be the one to suffer.