Chapter 81

Chapter 81

◎Second Update◎

After returning home, De Yin lived in a small courtyard with three rooms in front of Elder Madame Xu. The family members were polite to her, but no one actively sought her out for conversation or to form a closer relationship.

In this family, apart from her grandmother, everyone else was distant toward her.

Her grandmother said that after her mother returned to the Xu family, she no longer wished to come to the capital. De Yin felt truly ashamed. After her experience in the palace, not only was she physically and mentally exhausted and fearful of marriage, but her mother also had to avoid her sharpness.

"Miss, the elder Madame has asked you to come over," said a young maid at the door.

After leaving the palace with nothing, it was clear how greedy Huiyin had been. On the surface, she gave them dowries, but in reality, they weren’t allowed to take their dowries out. As for De Yin herself, her dowry was very generous, but now it was all locked in the palace. But who dared to ask for it back?

Everyone still had to praise the Emperor and Empress Dowager as wise and enlightened.

Looking at the young maid standing at the door, who had been newly assigned to her, De Yin saw some traces of Lianzhi in the child. Unfortunately, Lianzhi had been beaten to death by that brute Li Heng.

She came to Elder Madame Xu, where several new bolts of silk were placed on the table. "Grandmother, have you just made some new clothes? Are you going to make more clothes again?"

Elder Madame Xu smiled, "The clothes I made before are for everyday wear, but you need a few sets for when you go out."

Go out? De Yin quickly objected, "Grandmother, let’s not bother. As a widow, I shouldn't go out."

"A widow? Why should you mourn for that Crown Prince? You're still young and full of life. In a while, we can discuss finding you a good match—it would be better than anything else. Look at your second sister; she married into a good family and became the mother of a nation." Elder Madame Xu was actually very old, and the long journey had been exhausting. If not for De Yin, she wouldn't have held on this long.

But De Yin was very resistant. In her previous life, she had married the Prince of Huaiyin, who had a beloved and treated her poorly. The Crown Prince, whom she married, tormented her even more. She didn't want to marry any man in the world.

"Grandmother, I'll just stay with you. I don't want to marry."

The short years of marriage had been like hell.

Elder Madame Xu chided her, "If you don't marry, how can you stay in this family? Your sister-in-law is running the household now, and she’s not exactly easy to deal with. Once I’m gone, how will you manage in this family?"

"I only eat a small portion of food. Won’t they still accommodate me?" De Yin truly didn't want to marry.

Elder Madame Xu shook her head, "Do you really want to spend your life catering to your sister-in-law or even your nephew? Those days won't be easy either. Marrying someone and having a child will give you everything you need for the rest of your life. By the way, I've found a doctor to check your pulse and regulate your health in a few days."

De Yin wanted to say something but ultimately didn't. She knew her grandmother was right.

Now in the Zheng family, wasn't she also living under someone else's roof? These good days only lasted as long as her grandmother was alive. Once her grandmother passed away, she would be left without support.

...

Unlike De Yin, who could easily be persuaded, Huiyin kept herself busy by inspecting servants and reorganizing palace affairs.

So much so that when she went to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, she was almost late.

Although Grand Dowager Wu had been elevated to Empress Dowager, her personality remained stubborn. Now living with the Princess Wei and Yin Lifang, she had started to have some thoughts again.

"You’re working yourself to exhaustion instead of using the help available," the Empress Dowager said, nodding toward the Princess Wei.

Her feelings towards the Princess Wei and Yin Lifang were different. The Princess Wei was also a widow without a son. When she lived in the Prince of Wei’s mansion, the Princess Wei had always treated her kindly, so she naturally felt some sympathy.

But before Huiyin could speak, the Princess Wei immediately said, "Ancestor, our Empress manages everything so well. There's no one as capable as her."

The Empress Dowager smiled, "Empress, your aunt is quite remarkable."

Huiyin gently but firmly pushed back, "As you say, Your Majesty, how could I dare to trouble my aunt? My aunt is a person who enjoys blessings. The Emperor said that once the palace outside is renovated, he will have the two aunts move out to live, allowing the Prince of Yuzhang to care for them. We can't have you being honored by the Emperor and still have my aunt work for me."

"That's true," the Empress Dowager mused, either giving herself an out or finally grasping the situation.

After finishing her greetings, Huiyin came out and descended the jade steps with Fugui's support. "I asked about the time when Empress He was still in the palace. These palace servants lacked food and clothing. Apart from those serving at the top, most of them had little money. This time, we'll give everyone double the usual reward and let them enjoy themselves."

Fugui said, "That's a large expense."

"It has to be spent." That’s why Huiyin didn’t let them take anything out of the palace. For the family members of enemy soldiers, giving them dowries and sending them home as free people was already generous. Taking everything from the palace was impossible.

Now that Li Cheng had just ascended the throne, taxes had not yet been collected. Where would the funds for the entire palace come from?

Within three days, everyone in the palace received double the usual reward. Additionally, the new Empress had the Imperial Wardrobe Department rush to make winter coats for them. Even the frugality measures of Empress He were removed. The palace maids were given an extra meal every five days, with at least two meat dishes.

The new Empress wielded both discipline and rewards. She strictly punished eunuchs who mistreated the maids or engaged in improper behavior, while generously rewarding those who performed their duties well.

Everyone's lives were noticeably better.

When Madame Ji brought Cui Yuehua into the palace, they heard Huiyin mention the double rewards that had just been given out. Madame Ji quickly said, "Do you need more money, Your Highness? I still have some—"

"Mother, what are you talking about? You’ve already given me all your money, and my sister-in-law is right here." Huiyin smiled and shook her head.

Cui Yuehua dared not say much and only said, "Anything that concerns you concerns the Zheng family."

Huiyin looked at her and said, "You are sensible, but it's really not necessary. It’s better for Wuheng to focus on assisting the Emperor with his duties. By the way, the army will march tomorrow."

If not for this, the Zheng family would not have submitted a request to enter the palace.

Madame Ji smiled and said, "Indeed."

Military families yearned for chances to earn glory. In peacetime, however, there were few opportunities for soldiers to advance.

"Since you're here, I have another task for you. These are some suspicious people in the palace. Please help me find out where they originally came from and see if we can keep them under control." She then handed a stack of information she had prepared earlier to Madame Ji and Cui Yuehua.

Cui Yuehua immediately felt a surge of enthusiasm and was ready to take action as soon as she left the palace.

After they left, Nanny Nan remarked, "When have you ever asked your eldest daughter-in-law to do anything?"

"That was to fool her. You don't know, enemies are often found among peers, and the same goes for sisters-in-law. I discovered their discord in Xuzhou. Whether they are harmonious or not is none of my concern. I only need to use the conflict to get our own things done." Huiyin said with a smile.

The Boling Cui clan and the Qinghe Cui clan weren’t far from each other. Sometimes even official inspectors couldn't find them, but they were easily accessible to local magnates.