Chapter 158

Chapter 161: Sudden Change (Part 2)

The elder madam's weeping left the Empress stunned.

The elder madam cried even more sorrowfully: "Your Majesty, as a mother, you can weep openly. But as a father, no matter how much pain one feels, it cannot be spoken of. I remember when my eldest son passed away, the old Marquis didn't touch a morsel for three days..."

Before she could finish, the Empress covered her face and burst into tears.

Everyone in the room joined in the weeping.

The elder madam couldn't help but walk to the bedside: "Please, try to hold back your grief!"

Suddenly, the Empress rose and embraced the elder madam: "Mother... my fifth child, he, he..."

A maid in a purple round-necked narrow-sleeved jacket and a red embroidered skirt with small sunflower patterns and a golden belt looked visibly alarmed. Eleven Miss immediately realized that the Empress had acted improperly.

She stepped forward and whispered to the maid, "Perhaps Her Majesty wishes to speak privately with the elder madam."

The maid had already caught on and was signaling to the other maids and eunuchs. Hearing Eleven Miss's words, she immediately responded, "Madam is right." Then, exchanging a glance with Eleven Miss, she led the way out.

The maids and eunuchs serving in the hall quickly and quietly withdrew, standing far in the center of the courtyard. The maid carefully closed the hall doors and walked down the steps with Eleven Miss, curtsying to her: "I, Huang Xianying, greet you, Madam."

Eleven Miss quickly returned the courtesy, "Miss Huang, there's no need for such formality!"

Her eyes glanced over.

She appeared to be in her early twenties, petite, with a dignified and elegant appearance. Her demeanor was cautious yet confident, befitting her authority.

It seemed she was a prominent female official in the Kuning Palace. Eleven Miss handed over a pouch: "Please accept this as a token of our first meeting, Miss Huang."

Miss Huang was slightly taken aback, smiled, accepted it, thanked her, and excused herself: "I must attend to Her Majesty, so I must take my leave."

Eleven Miss nodded slightly, "Miss Huang, please go ahead. I'll wait out here."

With that, she walked to the side of a western crabapple tree.

Miss Huang smiled and went to the side hall to wait.

Eleven Miss stood for a while when she heard a commotion outside.

"I merely wish to see Her Majesty..." The voice was soft and pitiful.

"Imperial Consort, I beg your forgiveness," Eunuch Lei's voice was neither humble nor overbearing. "Her Majesty is deeply grieving and requires rest. This is His Majesty's order, and this humble servant dares not disobey. Please come another day."

The soft voice pleaded desperately, but Eunuch Lei stood firm. Eventually, the pitiful Imperial Consort left with regret.

Eleven Miss felt a stir in her heart.

The eunuchs in the palace were all eyes and ears. Eunuch Lei's boldness in standing up to an Imperial Consort suggested he had powerful backing.

The Great Unity Kingdom, now a century old, was in an era of peace and prosperity. She doubted Lord Xu's influence extended that far. Thus, Eunuch Lei's backing had to be from the Emperor or the Empress...

Eleven Miss gazed thoughtfully at the eastern warm chamber.

Soon after the Imperial Consort departed, the Virtuous Consort, Quiet Consort, and Ladies Zhang, Song, Yang, and Yu all arrived, only to be turned away at the door by Eunuch Lei.

As the sky darkened, a chilly wind began to blow. A young maid handed her a hand warmer: "Madam, to keep the cold at bay."

Eleven Miss smiled and thanked her, rewarding her with two silver coins, feigning curiosity, "I've heard Lady Song is quite beautiful—is that true?"

The little maid nodded and whispered, "She and Yang Shi were originally palace musicians."

In other words, they came from humble beginnings, using their beauty to serve others.

Eleven Miss gave a slight smile.

Yang Shi really went all out to slander her!

However, such tactics were too obvious, making it clear to anyone.

No wonder Lady Zhou paid her no mind!

As she pondered, Aunt Huang quietly lifted the curtain of the main hall and nodded to her, "The Empress requests your presence, Madam." She then called a few maids, "Go and fetch hot water for the elder madam to freshen up!"

Eleven Miss sensed that both women inside had calmed down, so she followed Aunt Huang into the east warm chamber.

The Empress was reclining against a large pillow, and the elder madam was sitting on a stool by the bed. Both had red eyes and noses, still dabbing at their eyes with handkerchiefs.

Eleven Miss stepped forward and curtsied to the Empress, then silently stood behind the elder madam. The maids had already brought in basins of hot water. Aunt Huang, along with five or six maids, tended to the Empress's face, while Eleven Miss, with the help of a little maid, attended to the elder madam's face. No one spoke. The room was silent, save for the sounds of water and the wringing of cloths.

After a while, both the Empress and the elder madam were neatly groomed. The elder madam stood up to take her leave, "Your Majesty, please take care of yourself. This old lady will return to see you again tomorrow."

The Empress looked at her mother, tears glistening in the corners of her eyes, "It's late, elder madam, do take care on your way."

The two had reverted to the formal and distant relationship of ruler and subject.

The elder madam expressed her gratitude, and Eleven Miss stepped forward to support her as they left the hall.

They ran into Eunuch Lei at the entrance. Seeing the elder madam and Eleven Miss, he bowed and said, "The Emperor and the Third Prince are here!" Without waiting for the elder madam to speak, he hurried into the main hall.

The elder madam took a deep breath and guided Eleven Miss out of the Kunning Palace. At the palace gate, they encountered the Emperor, surrounded by attendants and seated in a warm sedan chair. The two quickly stepped aside to the wall.

But the sedan chair halted, and the Emperor stepped out, greeting the elder madam, "Elder madam!"

The elder madam quickly knelt down, and Eleven Miss, not caring that the ground was the cold, wind-swept bluestone, also knelt down—her knees soon felt the icy chill.

"Elder madam, please stand!" The Emperor's voice was gentle. A young man in bright yellow with a dragon pattern hurried over to help the elder madam up and said to Eleven Miss, "Lady of Yongping Marquis, please rise!"

"This old lady is grateful to the Third Prince," the elder madam thanked the young man, trembling as she stood up.

Eleven Miss also said, "Thank you, Third Prince," and then stood up to support the elder madam on the other side.

The young man referred to as the Third Prince curiously glanced at Eleven Miss.

Eleven Miss also took the opportunity to glance at the Third Prince.

He was only about eleven or twelve years old, with fair skin and phoenix eyes exactly like Lord Xu's.

The nephew resembles the uncle!

For some reason, this phrase suddenly popped into Eleven Miss's mind.

"It's late," the Emperor instructed his attendants, "Use my warm sedan chair to escort the elder madam out of the palace."

The elder madam was about to kneel again to decline.

The Emperor had already said, "Tai'er, escort the elder madam out of the palace!"

The Third Prince immediately bowed and responded, "Yes."

The Emperor strode into Kunning Palace with his head held high.

The third prince summoned the eunuchs to bring the heated sedan chair.

The elder madam grasped the third prince's hand: "No need, just walk with me."

The third prince whispered, "Madam, it's best to heed Father's wishes. Sometimes excessive caution only makes Father uneasy."

Eleven Miss's heart skipped a beat at his words.

She hadn’t expected the third prince, so young, to possess such insight. Are royal children especially precocious? Her thoughts turned to Xu Siyu...

She couldn’t resist glancing at the third prince.

The third prince happened to look up, and their eyes met.

Eleven Miss nodded calmly at the third prince, while the third prince, with a calm demeanor, slightly nodded back, focusing on supporting the elder madam: "Please wait here, the heated sedan chair will be here soon. It's getting late, and the palace gates will soon be secured. Moreover, the Ministry of Rites has petitioned Father to grant the fifth prince a funeral befitting a prince. Tomorrow, he will be encoffined, and all the princes, ministers, officials, and ladies of rank above the fourth grade in the capital will assemble to pay their respects. The weather is harsh, and Mother still relies on your counsel. There is much to be done, so please take care of your health."

At this, the elder madam’s eyes brimmed with tears: "The third prince is right, the third prince is right. I will take care of my health, please rest assured."

The third prince offered a few additional words of comfort. The eunuchs brought the heated sedan chair, and the third prince personally helped the elder madam into it. Then, he and Eleven Miss escorted the elder madam to the east gate, one on each side.

The Xu family’s carriage was already waiting at the east gate, with Lord Xu and the fifth master waiting beside it. When they saw the third prince, they stepped forward to bow.

The third prince looked at Lord Xu, his eyes reddening as he called out, "Marquis."

For a moment, he seemed like a child again.

Lord Xu was taken aback and murmured, "Why is the third prince here?"

The third prince replied, "Father and I visited Mother and happened upon the elder madam, so I was tasked with escorting her."

Lord Xu pondered and said, "The third prince ought to return promptly. The Emperor is usually swamped, and such chances are few." As he spoke, he gave the third prince a deep look.

The third prince, upon hearing this, immediately said, "Marquis, take care. I will return to the palace now!" He bowed to Lord Xu, then nodded to the elder madam and the fifth master, and quickly headed back to Kunning Palace with the eunuchs and maids.

Lord Xu assisted the elder madam into the carriage, saying, "We’ll discuss this further at home."

The elder madam nodded and got into the carriage with Eleven Miss. Lord Xu took the front carriage, and the fifth master took the rear carriage, disappearing into the night.

Everyone of note in the Xu family was aware of the fifth prince’s passing, and everyone was on edge. The atmosphere at home became very somber.

At dinner, everyone was in attendance, including the fifth madam from the back garden. They ate dinner in silence. Xu Siqin and his brother exchanged glances and immediately stood up to take their leave.

Eleven Miss, noticing this, swiftly picked up Chun Ge and murmured to Zhenjie, "Help me put him to sleep."

Lord Xu glanced at Chun Ge, who was obediently nestled in Eleven Miss's arms, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Noticing Eleven Miss using this as a pretext to leave, the third madam also stood up and took Xu Sijian's hand: "Jian Ge has to go to school early tomorrow."

The elder madam nodded and was about to say something when Lord Xu calmly said, "Eleven Miss, stay. Zhenjie, take Chun Ge to rest."

Except for the elder madam, everyone else, including Eleven Miss herself, showed expressions of surprise.

Zhenjie, upon hearing this, perked up and immediately took Chun Ge, but being small and weak, Chun Ge slipped to the ground. If it weren't for the wet nurse catching him, he would have fallen.

Fortunately, Chun Ge was always close to Zhenjie and didn't feel the absence of Eleven Miss. Happily, he took Zhenjie's hand and left.

The third madam smiled somewhat awkwardly and left with Jian Ge.

The fifth master looked at the fifth madam and whispered, "You go back first."

The fifth madam’s eyes flickered with annoyance, but she nodded with a forced smile and departed, surrounded by young maids and older women.