Chapter 379: Boredom Strikes

Chapter 379: Boredom Strikes

True cowardice is rare in this world; often, it is nothing but a result of being cornered. Madam Wu endured years of tolerance for her child, putting up with Lord Wu and his second wife. Given the chance to strike back, she certainly would not miss it.

Meanwhile, Lord Wu was also preoccupied. He had a premonition that Xiao Yuming might reveal his secrets the very next day. An affair with his widowed sister-in-law—if word got out, not to mention the second Mrs. Wu could not live it down, he too would be subjected to great censure.

Thus, he had someone trace the whereabouts of Xiao Huai, learning that Xiao Huai had entered the palace after breakfast. He immediately set off in his carriage to wait at the palace gates, determined to face the embarrassment and plead with Xiao Huai to spare him.

After waiting for over an hour at the palace gate, he finally saw Xiao Huai emerge. He approached him immediately, greeting, "Duke Dingguo, I hope you are well."

Xiao Huai glanced at him and continued walking towards his horse without stopping. Lord Wu, jogging to keep up and forcing a smile, said, "Duke Dingguo, there seems to be some misunderstanding between us. Perhaps we could find a place to sit down and discuss this, to clear things up?"

Xiao Huai stopped beside his horse and looked at him, "What misunderstanding? Is it not that you spread rumors about my son, and my boy, unable to bear it, looked into your affairs and spoke the truth about them?"

Lord Wu was taken aback by Xiao Huai's directness, momentarily speechless, but eventually, he plucked up his courage and said, "Yes, it was my fault previously, and I apologize to you. What would it take for your second son to back down? Whatever terms you set, I shall comply."

Xiao Huai mounted his horse, glanced at him indifferently, and said, "It's too late."

Then, he flicked his riding crop and galloped away. Watching his retreating figure, Lord Wu clenched his fists. After composing himself for a moment, he turned and went back to the palace gate, presenting his visiting card to request an audience with the Empress Dowager.

The eunuch guarding the gate immediately went in to report, first to Li Jingyi, who did not object. The Wu family was hardly in a position to cause further trouble.

The eunuch then informed the Empress, who was actually keen to see the Wu family. She promptly had her attendant fetch them. In no time, Lord Wu arrived at the Empress's private chambers, saying, "Your Majesty, there has been a grave development."

Hearing his words, the Empress's face tightened like the lid of a coffin, "What has happened now?"

Lord Wu glanced at the palace servants around them, and the Empress waved them off. Drawing closer, he recounted the events to her and then said, "Please think of something quickly. My affairs might be exposed by tomorrow."

"What incident about you could possibly come to light?" the Empress asked.

"It's... it's the matter with Yuru," Lord Wu said, his face a mask of gloom.

"You have not yet severed ties?" the Empress demanded, fury etched upon her face.

The Empress was well aware of the scandal between Lord Wu and Lady Wu the Second. Originally, when Lady Wu had uncovered their affair, there was a huge commotion. Yet, it resolved nothing at home; instead, Lady Wu the Second seized control of the household.

Infuriated, Lady Wu then took her grievances to the Empress. Naturally, the Empress was angered upon hearing the news, but family disgraces are not to be aired publicly. After reprimanding Lord Wu and Lady Wu the Second, the matter was put to rest. This was one of the reasons Lady Wu had swallowed her pride and tolerated the situation for years—there was simply no one in the Wu family to support her.

Neither the Empress nor Lord Wu had anticipated that their family issues would one day become known to others. The Empress gripped the handkerchief in her hand tightly and questioned further: "How did Lord Xiao the Second come to know so much about our household affairs?"

Lord Wu shook his head, "I am investigating. I suspect there's a traitor among us."

The Empress glared at him fiercely, "You expect me to figure out a solution? What can I possibly do from within the palace walls?"

Lord Wu pleaded with a despondent face, "Your status is different after all. If you could plead with the young Emperor, or maybe humble yourself before Lady Xiao, the issue might just blow over."

"I refuse. I will not clean up the mess you've made. I haven't begged anyone for anything in all my years as Empress," she declared without a second thought.

"Your Majesty," Lord Wu now spoke sternly, "why is Lord Xiao targeting us now? Isn't it all because of the rumors about his son that you had spread?"

The Empress, of course, would not admit to this accusation, retorting, "It is your incompetence that led to this mess, failing at such a simple task and letting others gain leverage over us."

"I am incompetent? Who has been supporting you all these years?"

"You call that support? You were only ever helping yourself. Without me, would the Wu family ever have risen to glory?"

"Are you suggesting a break with the Wu family?"

……

This statement fell heavily in the room, leaving a silence you could cut with a knife as the siblings glared at each other with eyes ablaze. After a moment, the Empress lowered her gaze and with a long sigh, she conceded, "Fine, I'll summon Lady Xiao later and speak to her."

Seeing that the Empress was no longer confrontational, Lord Wu's countenance softened considerably, "I was rash in my words earlier in the heat of anger. We're family after all. Don't take it to heart."

The Empress responded with a noncommittal hum, then added, "And end things with your second wife, will you? At your age..."

Lord Wu frowned deeply and sighed, "After so many years, it's not something that can be simply ended at will."

A harsh and cold look came over the Empress's face, "If she refuses to end it, then she can go to her death."

Master Wu clenched his fists, "After all, she is our cousin."

The Empress snorted, "Cousin, you say when it suits you, but isn't she just a fallen noble? Initially, she tried to ensnare you and, failing that, moved on to the second brother. With the second brother gone, she's back to pestering you. Are all the men in the Wu family to be toyed with by her?"

Master Wu's face darkened, and he remained silent, finding the Empress's words too harsh. He hadn't married his cousin back then because the family objected, looking down on her lowly background. But now, needing the Empress, he held back his retort.

After conversing a bit more, Master Wu left. The Empress instructed her chief eunuch to summon Tang Shuyi from the Duke's residence. Though she would soon move out of the palace and no longer be Empress, while she still held the title, she could command the Duke's wife to speak with her in the palace directly.

Upon hearing the steward's report, Tang Shuyi smiled and said, "Good, I was just getting bored. Let's go see her."

After changing her attire, she took a carriage to the palace. As soon as she entered, the newly appointed chief eunuch at Li Jingyi's side hurried over, bowing with a smile, "His Majesty has been informed of your arrival and has sent me to invite you to his presence."

Tang Shuyi nodded with a smile, "Please lead the way, eunuch."

The eunuch gestured, and several junior eunuchs brought over a finely-crafted sedan chair. Tang Shuyi boarded the sedan chair, heading for the Imperial Study. Upon arrival, she saw Li Jingyi waiting to greet her on the veranda.

Tang Shuyi stepped down from the sedan and curtsied, "Your subject pays respect to Your Majesty."