From Cih An Palace, a trace of weariness flickered across the Empress's face. The accompanying eunuch Wei, seeing this, quickly offered his arm. "Your Majesty, it's not far from Cih An Palace."
The Empress immediately suppressed her fatigue, straightened her back, and with the dignity befitting an Empress, proceeded towards Feng Yi Palace. Sudian Novel Network.
Upon returning to Feng Yi Palace, the Empress slumped onto a chair, exhausted. Eunuch Wei hurried to pour a cup of cool tea and offered it to her. "Your Majesty, would you care for some cool tea?"
The Empress accepted it and took a sip. "The Empress Dowager returns at this time, I wonder what her intentions are."
"The Empress Dowager has always been fair. With her presence, it won't be easy for the other princes to stir up trouble," Eunuch Wei advised. "It's just that Your Majesty will have to work harder."
"It is of no consequence if I have to work harder, but I fear the Empress Dowager has returned because she heard some rumors." The Empress's expression grew grave. "Have the matters in Jiang Zhou been handled?"
"The Duke of Qin sent word, telling you to rest assured. The affairs in Jiang Zhou have been settled, and those who knew have been silenced. His Highness the Crown Prince will certainly not be implicated."
"Currently, Prince Qin's popularity in court is extremely high, subtly overshadowing the Crown Prince. And the Empress Dowager favors Prince Qin. I worry she will side with Prince Qin." The Empress furrowed her brows. "Prince Qin is no longer hiding his intentions; he has openly declared he wishes to marry Xiao Man."
"Your Majesty, Prince Qin doesn't truly want to marry Princess Yongning; he merely wants an excuse." Eunuch Wei fanned her as he spoke. "However, Prince Qin has always been cunning; we must indeed be wary of him."
"Alas, if only my daughter were still alive..." The Empress paused, her daughter was dead. Had she lived, she could have married into the General's mansion and secured their support for the Crown Prince.
"Your Majesty, now that the Empress Dowager has returned, perhaps you should take a good rest."
The Empress's mind stirred, and she instantly understood. "You are always so clever."
With the Empress Dowager's return, court ladies of rank came to the palace daily to pay their respects.
Old Madam Xiao visited the palace every few days to converse with the Empress Dowager, the two like old sisters, discussing everything under the sun.
One day, Old Madam Xiao emerged from the palace and encountered Old Madam He. Old Madam He offered a perfunctory greeting and was about to leave.
Old Madam Xiao immediately called out to her, "My dear sister, you are so distant now that you see me."
"What instruction does Old Madam Xiao have for me?"
Old Madam Xiao sneered. "Sister, you have truly raised a good daughter. When I first saw her, I thought her gentle and virtuous, a very good person. I never imagined she would be a wolf in sheep's clothing."
Old Madam He's face changed upon hearing this. "Old Madam Xiao, when my daughter was at home, she was gentle and virtuous, outstanding in her conduct. After marriage, outsiders also praised my daughter's noble character. Even the Emperor speaks highly of my younger daughter. Only you, Old Madam, find fault with my daughter in every way. In my view, the problem lies not with my daughter, but with you, Old Madam Xiao!"
"Insolent!"
Old Madam He scoffed. "Insolent? Old Madam Xiao, I advise you to behave yourself. Other old ladies of noble families protect their younger generations. You, however, are forcefully pushing your descendants into a fiery pit. When the General's mansion's lineage is cut off, only you will suffer the consequences. Others will merely watch your downfall!"
"Nonsense!"
"Nonsense?" Old Madam He stepped closer. "Do you truly believe your actions are unknown? The people in the General's mansion, out of respect for the family's reputation, are unwilling to air their dirty laundry. But if outsiders discover even a small crack, and tear it open, then the General's mansion, with its fine robes full of lice, will no longer be concealed."
"Are you threatening me?"
"I would not dare!" Old Madam He took a step back and bowed. "My daughter is now the mistress of the General's mansion. Old Madam, you are getting on in years. Perhaps you should worry less and focus on enjoying your retirement."
With that, Old Madam He left without looking back. Old Madam Xiao trembled with rage but could do nothing. Even though she was a lady of noble rank, she could not arbitrarily trouble the family members of court officials, especially not the mother of the General's mansion's mistress!
"Her character!" Old Madam Xiao fumed as she boarded her carriage. "I always wondered where He Qingyi got her arrogant disposition from; it turns out it's from her!"
Madam Xu remained silent. As servants, their duty was to listen less and speak less of their masters' affairs. Old Madam He and Old Madam Xiao were once close friends in their youth, but now, because of Madam, they had become enemies.
"Madam Xu, what do you think He Ling meant? Her daughter, whom she raised, has thrown the General's mansion into chaos, and yet one is not allowed to speak of it?"
Madam Xu lowered her eyes. "What Old Madam says is true."
"He Qingyi is inherently a devious person, pleasant in appearance but wicked in heart. Look at her attitude towards me; is that how a daughter-in-law should treat her mother-in-law? I haven't reported her to the Ministry of Rites, which is giving her face, what more does she want?"
"Old Madam is correct."
"And what is this talk about me pushing descendants into a fiery pit? It's clearly they who refuse to be cautious and jump into the fire themselves, and I couldn't stop them!"
"Old Madam is correct." Madam Xu nodded in agreement.
The Old Madam frowned unhappily at Madam Xu. "Is your perfunctory attitude an indication of dissatisfaction with me?"
"Old Madam is correct... no, Old Madam, you misunderstand. Your servant merely believes everything Old Madam says is right." Madam Xu quickly explained.
"Do you also think I am being unreasonable?"
Madam Xu fell silent. Old Madam had been unreasonable more than once or twice. In the past, she might have offered some advice, but now she had become detached. No matter how well she tried to advise Old Madam, Old Madam would not appreciate it and would instead become annoyed. She no longer wished to say anything more.
"Madam Xu, how many years have you been with me?"
"Your servant has been with Old Madam since she was sixteen, for forty-three years," Madam Xu replied without hesitation. "At that time, your servant was Old Madam's dowry maid."
"You are the only long-serving attendant I have left." Old Madam sighed. If Madam Xu hadn't coincidentally gone to Cangzhou, she wouldn't be here either.
Madam Xu remained silent. The people around Old Madam had not died at the hands of outsiders but had perished due to Old Madam's reckless actions. If she hadn't insisted on dealing with the eldest daughter, the General would not have been enraged and dealt with everyone around her.
"You blame me, don't you? You think I caused their deaths."
"Your servant dares not."
Old Madam fell silent. "I too was forced into it. If I had a choice, who would want to harm their own family?"
Madam Xu raised her eyes to look at Old Madam, then lowered them. She could not understand Old Madam's helplessness, and even less so her targeting of the eldest daughter.