Chapter 289

Chapter 0289: Backstabbing

This was true, another person might hesitate and not dare to take such actions.

Even though Zheng Xiao Yi had come, she didn't rush to leave, even after Yun Li made it clear she wasn't needed, she still stayed a while longer.

She also revealed some news: "The other day, Ning Xiu Yuan visited Ci An Palace and stayed for about an hour. That's not unusual, but upon leaving, one of my people overheard Ning Xiu Yuan's servant asking her, 'You've been kneeling so long, are your knees alright? Let's soak them in hot water when we return.'"

Zheng Xiaoyi and Yu Meiren's Yi Hua Xuan is right in front of Ci An Palace, a necessary pass for Yong An Palace.

"Oh? I'll remember this news. Thank you," Yun Li said with a smile.

Having done what she intended, Zheng Xiaoyi excused herself first.

Back home, Yu Meiren laughed, "They ignored you, didn't they?"

"Yes, they ignored me, but who succeeds in defection at the first attempt? Let's take it slow. I've come to realize that hoping for favoritism won't get me ahead," Zheng Xiaoyi replied.

"Everyone has their path," Yu Meiren sighed.

"But what's going on with Ning Xiuyuan?" Yu Meiren asked.

"I don't know, but it's none of our concern," Zheng Xiaoyi replied.

At this time, Zhu Yu also asked Yun Li, "If kneeling causes knee pain, how long must one have knelt? How could she kneel in the Ci'an Palace?" That's the Empress Dowager's own niece.

"Indeed, why is that?" Yun Li lightly twirled her hair, "Surely Zheng Xiaoyi wouldn't lie to us, right?"

"Certainly, she has no reason to lie," Zhu Yu said.

"In that case, tell Zhu Xian to keep an eye out. Could it be that the aunt and niece are not on good terms? They've been too low-key these years. The Empress Dowager's reluctance to show any favoritism is frustrating. Now, if there's a slip-up, it might not necessarily be a bad thing," Yun Li said.

"Yes, I've felt she's been too low-key over the years. It's one thing for the Empress Dowager to afford to be low-key, given her status. But Ning Xiuyuan's constant low profile seems fake, as if she's not that type of person yet forces herself to act the part," Zhu Yu said.

"Indeed, I feel the same," Lu Wei added.

"Once in the Imperial Garden, I went to pick flowers for you. By chance, she came to admire the flowers. I was standing in a secluded spot. Her maid said something to her, I didn't hear it clearly, but I distinctly saw her face change. She got angry in an instant. She looked around and didn't say anything," Lu Wei recalled, "At the time, I didn't think much of it, assuming her maid said something offensive. But now, thinking back, isn't it normal for people to have tempers?"

"You're right. Go tell Zhu Ding to leave the palace and speak with his family. Focus on investigating this girl from the Lin family," Yun Li instructed.

"Yes."

The Empress Dowager is the legitimate second daughter of the Old Duke of Shou.

She has two older brothers and one older sister, all of legitimate birth, with other children from concubines now being marginal figures.

The Empress Dowager's father passed away a few years ago, and her mother had died earlier.

Now, the Lin family's title is inherited by Lin Xin, the eldest son, and his eldest son is the heir.

Ning Xiuyuan is the legitimate eldest daughter from the second branch but is ranked as the fifth daughter.

Her four sisters married well, thanks to the Empress Dowager. It was known that the Lin family did not contribute to He Jingxin's ascent to the throne. Plus, she always appeared weak in front of the previous emperor.

Thus, she never mentioned offering a Lin lady to He Jingxin.

Thus, the four daughters of the eldest branch all married outside the family.

Until Lin Wanyi, the fifth daughter, was personally selected by He Jingxin.

Perhaps He Jingxin anticipated the day when doubts would arise about whether the Empress Dowager was his biological mother, which would lead to gossip. Hence, he chose Lin Wanyi.

Or maybe it was simply to win over the Lin family, showing the court he hadn't forgotten his maternal relatives.

Regardless, Lin Wanyi became Ning Xiuyuan.

However, she indeed wasn't favored.

Initially, upon entering the palace, she occasionally shared the emperor's bed. But since giving birth to the fifth prince, she's lucky to see the emperor alone once every year or half.

This minimal attention is probably just the emperor paying lip service to the Empress Dowager.

Men always subconsciously expect women to comply with arrangements. When you're not favored, it's best you remain unnoticed.

But Ning Xiuyuan wasn't content to live her life in such obscurity.

She wasn't satisfied, and neither was the Lin family.

The Empress Dowager could afford to be indifferent, but the men of the Lin family truly lacked distinction.

Although now holding the title of a duke, the men in the family are in insignificant positions, none too remarkable.

That means if Ning Xiuyuan doesn't ascend to a higher status to support the fifth prince after the Empress Dowager's death, the Lin family's glory won't last long.

The Lin family originally held minor official positions. When choosing his successor, the previous emperor deliberately selected someone unentangled with court factions.

This meant the Lin family was entirely unsupported.

Yet, they transitioned from minor officials to ducal ranks, becoming royal relatives too quickly. After the former emperor died, they climbed even higher, becoming the Empress Dowager's maternal family and the emperor's maternal relatives.

But if the crown prince and empress do not come from the Lin bloodline, the Lin family is bound to decline after the Empress Dowager's death. How could they accept this?

They were stable with the Old Duke of Shou around.

But with the Old Duke of Shou's death and the emperor's lineage revealed,

Even if it's unspoken, how can the Lin family not feel insecure?

Feeling insecure, they naturally think, though the Empress Dowager isn't the emperor's biological mother, the Fifth Prince is indeed his son.

Between the Empress Dowager Lin, not the emperor's biological mother, and Ning Xiuyuan, who bore the emperor's son, whom to trust?

The answer is obvious without further thought.

The Empress Dowager didn't lose sleep over this realization, but rather, it left her heart cold.

Come morning, the Empress Dowager fell ill.

She refused to summon the imperial physician.

Fan Guigu, heartbroken, lamented: "Why torment yourself? They're not worth it."

"I've planned for their sake all these years, and this is how they repay me. Do you think if this affair were exposed, she'd already have her escape plan ready? In that scenario, only I could be blamed. She's untouchable, the mother of the Fifth Prince," the Empress Dowager scoffed coldly.

"How dare she!" Fan Guigu's eyes reddened with anger.

"Why wouldn't she dare? My initial impression of her was exactly because she was decisive and ruthless. If she needs me dead, she'd probably dare to act," the Empress Dowager sneered. "I've always considered myself somewhat clever, never expecting to be outwitted by my own kin."

"It's precisely because they're kin that you weren't on guard, and they've harbored ill will. Without you, there are many princes. What's so special about the Fifth Prince?" Fan Guigu argued.

"Dan Qing, what should I do?" the Empress Dowager asked Fan Gu Gu, showing rare vulnerability.

It was seldom for her to appear so fragile.

Tears fell again from Fan Gu Gu, who alone knew the hardships of the Second Miss's life. Has she ever truly enjoyed life?

Even as the Empress, even as the Empress Dowager, wasn't it all just enduring?

"Forget about them. Since entering the palace, you've carried the burden of your family. If they cared for you, it would be one thing. But have they really cared about you these years? Let go," Fan Gu Gu advised.