Chapter 115 Chapter 115

Chapter 115

Shoukang Palace.

By now, Empress Dowager had already learned about the events that had taken place in the Huangji Hall.

She had been preoccupied these past few days and had not been sleeping well.

She had been sitting in the hall, eyes closed, letting Danfeng massage her temples to relieve her headache, when suddenly, a faint rustling sound drifted in from outside.

The hall was quiet. So quiet that even the hushed voices outside reached her ears.

She was about to call Danfeng out to scold them, but then she caught a few words.

Prince Nan'an, mourning clothes, Seal Keeper Cao...

The combination of these three strange words seemed even more peculiar.

Yet, a sudden thought crossed Empress Dowager's mind, and her scolding turned into an order for Danfeng to bring them in for questioning.

At this moment,

Empress Dowager leaned back on her couch, staring down at the two palace maids kneeling before her, and asked in a deep voice, "What were you talking about outside? What about Prince Nan'an? What mourning clothes?"

The two palace maids dared not hide anything.

They repeated everything they had heard from outside, word for word.

"The servants also heard from the palace cleaners outside that Prince Nan'an entered the palace today in mourning attire, and that Seal Keeper Cao followed him. They said the Battle of Changye was mentioned in the Hall of Supreme Harmony."

When Danfeng heard this last part, she immediately widened her eyes in shock and almost instantly turned to look behind her.

Seeing the Empress Dowager's face suddenly turn grim, Danfeng's heart sank as well.

The Empress Dowager remained silent with a dark expression after hearing this.

Danfeng knew that the Empress Dowager must be displeased, so she took the initiative to have the two palace attendants leave.

After they left, Danfeng hesitated, unsure of what to say.

Then, the voice of Empress Dowager Zhaoyu came from in front of her: "...Cao Da was right after all. For all these years, we've been deceived by that boy."

Though she had suspected it.

To learn that the young man from the Xie family had been pretending and deceiving them all these years, how could Empress Dowager Zhaoyu not be angry?

She was already suffering from a headache and in a bad mood.

Now, with this news, her mood worsened even more.

With a dark face and a heavy aura, she asked, "What about the person you placed in Prince Nan'an's mansion? With such a significant event, why didn't she detect anything beforehand? What has she been eating!"

At this moment,

Danfeng naturally dared not say much. She could only try to soothe the Empress Dowager's emotions to prevent her still unhealed headache from worsening due to this matter.

"Your health hasn't fully recovered. Let me handle Xuefu's matter."

Danfeng gently soothed her back and softly said, "I'll send someone to find her and ask what she has been doing lately."

Empress Dowager leaned against the pillow.

Her fingertips pressed against her temples, and she neither agreed nor disagreed with Danfeng's words. Instead, she coldly said, "Bring her to the palace. I want to question her myself."

Danfeng frowned slightly.

Seeing her obviously poor complexion, she wanted to say more, but before she could speak, Empress Dowager issued another order: "Send someone to the Huangji Hall to see what the situation is now."

She was deeply troubled.

After speaking, she snapped at Danfeng, "Go now!"

Danfeng had no choice but to rise and give the orders, though she still felt some worry in her heart... This worry, of course, was not for Xuefu.

But for Her Highness.

Her Highness had returned to the palace yesterday. Did she know about today's events?

If she didn't know.

How would she cope with this situation going forward?

If she did know...

The mere thought of this made Danfeng's heart sink again.

She glanced back at the Empress Dowager behind her.

Even with her eyes closed, her irritation and low mood were palpable.

Danfeng could only look away and, with a heavy heart, went to give the orders.

Yi Hua.

Anyone sent to the Huangji Hall just had to be clever and quick-witted. It didn't matter who went; using the Shoukang Palace's name would ensure no one stopped them.

But the person sent to Nan'an Prince's residence.

Danfeng specifically summoned Yingxue.

Yingxue, busy in the kitchen, was hastily summoned, not knowing what had happened. But seeing Danfeng's troubled expression, she felt a sudden tightness in her chest.

"Auntie, what's the matter?"

After approaching, she first asked in a hushed voice.

Danfeng whispered, "Go to the prince's residence, find Her Highness, and ask her for someone named Xuefu. Tell her the Empress Dowager wants to taste her sweet soup and needs her in the palace for a few days."

Yingxue had served in the palace for many years.

In the Shoukang Palace, she was second only to Danfeng in status among the servants.

Besides, she was young.

Normally, she naturally had more access to the palace servants who served the Empress Dowager than Danfeng.

She also knew Xuefu, who had followed the princess into Prince Nan'an's mansion when she married.

But when did she learn to make sweet soup? How did she not know about it?

The Empress Dowager actually mentioned wanting to eat the sweet soup she made? No matter how you looked at it, this seemed quite strange.

But Yingxue, having reached her current position, was certainly not a foolish person.

Even though she felt something was off, she didn't dare to ask further, just softly responded with a "Yes."

"I will leave the palace now."

After saying that, she prepared to bow and take her leave, but Danfeng suddenly grabbed her arm.

Under Yingxue's questioning gaze, Danfeng first looked around, then whispered to her, "Also tell the princess that the Empress Dowager was very unhappy after learning that Prince Nan'an entered the palace in such a manner today."

Although Yingxue had been busy in the kitchen earlier, she had heard about it.

After all, the manner in which Prince Nan'an entered the palace today was truly remarkable...

It had already spread throughout the palace.

She hadn't thought much about it when she first heard, but seeing Danfeng's expression now, although she still didn't fully understand, she vaguely guessed something...

It seemed that her errand today was because of Prince Nan'an.

She dared not ask more.

She softly responded again, then bowed and took her leave once more.

This time Danfeng didn't stop her, just watched her retreating figure, sighed deeply, and then went back inside to return to her duties.

...

Xu Duanyi received the news a little over an hour later.

Today, Zhang Ning and Ping'an did not go to school.

Xu Duanyi knew that even if she forced them to go today, they wouldn't be able to concentrate, so she decided it wasn't necessary, and thus sent messages to the Qu family and Ping'an's school, requesting a leave of absence.

At this moment, the siblings were still in the Linfeng Pavilion.

Xu Duanyi was sitting aside, flipping through the recent household accounts of the mansion, while Zhang Ning and Ping'an were sitting on the window seat, playing chess.

But the three of them were clearly not very focused, occasionally glancing outside.

Amid the tense and worried atmosphere, suddenly someone hurried over from outside. The usually calm Xie Ping'an couldn't contain himself, put down the chess piece in his hand, and immediately stood up.

Next was Xie Zhangning, then Xu Duanyi...

The three of them headed towards the door together.

Bixi and the others were also waiting outside at this time.

Like the three masters inside, those who knew something about the situation were also very worried.

When she saw someone approaching from outside, Bixi quickly put down what she was holding and went to ask what was happening.

After hearing the visitor's message, Bixi's expression suddenly changed.

Without thinking, she turned her head to glance behind her.

"Sister-in-law, has something happened to brother?" Xie Zhangning, seeing the expression on Bixi's face, nervously grabbed Xu Duanyi's arm.

Her delicate face also showed tension and worry.

Xie Pingan didn’t say anything, but his face mirrored hers, tense and worried.

Xu Duanyi was equally worried.

Seeing Bixi send someone over with a serious look, Xu Duanyi's already uneasy heart began to race.

"Sister-in-law..."

Zhang Ning's voice, trembling with tension, reached her ears.

Though nervous herself, Xu Duanyi took her hand and reassured her: "Don’t worry, everything will be fine."

By then, Bixi had reached them.

"What is it?"

Xu Duanyi asked her.

Bixi glanced first at Zhang Ning and Pingan.

Seeing her expression, Zhang Ning grew even more worried.

Xie Pingan clenched his fists and said hoarsely, "Sister Bixi, just tell us. We can handle it."

Bixi looked at Xu Duanyi again, clearly seeking her approval.

If Zhang Ning and Pingan weren’t here, Xu Duanyi would have tried to keep bad news from them to spare them worry.

But now, hiding it was pointless—the unknown would only make things worse.

"Go ahead."

She said to Bixi in a deep voice.

Bixi hesitated no longer and softly relayed the message from outside: "...Miss Yingxue has arrived. She wants to take Xuefu to the palace. The Empress Dowager said she wants to taste the sweet soup Xuefu makes."

She finished.

Bixi’s voice was hoarse as she finished.

She knew the real reason—the Empress Dowager’s summons had nothing to do with sweet soup.

It must be that Empress Dowager found out about Prince Nan'an entering the palace.

If Xuefu is really sent to the palace—

Then our master's previous actions will naturally come to light...

Sure enough.

She noticed the master's face turn pale immediately after hearing her words.

But how could Xie Pingan and Xie Zhangning possibly grasp such nuances? Hearing this suddenly, Xie Pingan couldn't help but frown and say, "Sister Bixi, you don't have to keep it from us, is it Xie Qingya who..."

"Did something happen?"

He spoke the last few words very softly, his voice growing hoarser.

His hands at his sides clenched involuntarily, but his eyes stayed locked on Bixi, unwavering.

"Sister Bixi, just tell us. We can take it," Xie Zhangning chimed in.

She did her best to act like everything was fine.

But her voice still cracked, her eyes reddening, though she fought back tears.

"She's not lying to you," Xu Duanyi said, the first to regain her composure.

It was expected, so Xu Duanyi wasn't too shocked.

With Xie Qingya entering the palace like this, word would inevitably reach her aunt, and her sending someone with a message was just a matter of time.

So Xu Duanyi only faltered for a moment before pulling herself together.

Seeing her expression return to normal, Bixi looked away and, following her master's lead, said to the siblings, "Third Young Master, Miss, I'm not lying to you."

Seeing the siblings, especially Xie Pingan, still frowning and skeptical.

Bixi forced a smile and said helplessly, "It's true, but Miss Yingxue, the messenger, also said the Empress Dowager is furious about the prince entering the palace like this. That's all I was worried about earlier."

"Is that all?"

Pingan, ever sharp and perceptive, still had his doubts.

He felt Bixi's earlier expression suggested something serious had happened, not just displeasure.

Bixi sighed helplessly.

"If Third Young Master doesn't believe me, just call the messenger back and ask her yourself."

At this.

The siblings finally eased up.

But hearing Empress Dowager Zhaoyu was angry, they couldn't help but worry.

"Sis..."

They both turned to Xu Duanyi beside them.

From a time they could hardly recall, Xu Duanyi had already become the rock in their lives.

Not just Xie Zhangning, but even Xie Pingan as well.

At this moment, both of them were looking at Xu Duanyi, wanting to see what their sister-in-law would say.

Xu Duanyi had already collected herself earlier, and now, as the siblings looked at her, she simply raised her hand and patted Xie Zhangning's head.

Then, looking at Xie Pingan, she said, "It's alright."

"The Dowager Empress just thinks it's inappropriate for the prince to enter the palace in mourning attire, which might draw criticism. I'll head to the palace and have a word with her. She won't be angry with the prince."

"Sister-in-law, are you going to the palace now?"

Xie Pingan caught the key point and frowned as he asked her.

Xu Duanyi smiled and said, "I was meant to go to the palace yesterday to keep her company, but I missed you all, so I put it off for a day."

She explained to them, "The Dowager Empress has been having headaches lately and hasn't been feeling well. That's why Xuefu was called to the palace to care for her."

"When I was still in the palace, it was always me who took care of her."

"You two stay home and be good. It's better for me to go to the palace and find out more."

"So when will you be back, sister-in-law?" Xie Zhangning looked reluctant, her hand still tightly gripping Xu Duanyi's arm, unwilling to let go.

Xu Duanyi looked at her and smiled.

Stroking her head, Xu Duanyi said softly, "I'll come back once the Empress Dowager's head ailment is almost better. I might even return with the prince later, you never know."

Before the siblings could say anything more, Xu Duanyi continued to instruct them, "Behave well at home. If I don't return today, don't bother your brother. He's been quite tired lately, let him rest well. Tomorrow, you should go to school as usual, understand?"

The more time she spent with them, the more she took on the role of a sister-in-law.

There were many things Xie Qingya couldn't say or didn't dare to say, but she had no such reservations.

Both Xie Zhangning and Xie Pingan obeyed her well.

As it was now—

Although the siblings were reluctant, they nodded under Xu Duanyi's gaze and only said, "Then come back soon, sister-in-law."

After Xu Duanyi smiled and nodded at them.

Xie Pingan then gave a respectful bow to Xu Duanyi and led Xie Zhangning back.

Xu Duanyi watched them go.

Only after they were far away did the smile on her face slowly fade.

"Are you really planning to go to the palace, mistress?" Bixi asked with a furrowed brow.

Shiyu and Xiu Yu also gathered around.

"Xuefu can't hold her tongue. If the Empress Dowager asks, she definitely won't cover for you. Why don't I quietly make her faint and later just tell Sister Yingxue that she's not feeling well," Shiyu suggested.

"We can't do that, and we still have to take her to the palace."

Xiu Yu didn’t speak, but her eyes, fixed on Xu Danyi, were filled with worry.

Her body was also on guard.

It seemed as if she was ready to act the moment Xu Danyi said anything.

Xu Danyi’s gaze slowly swept over the three faces before her, and the lingering tension and unease in her heart gradually subsided under this warmth.

She smiled again and spoke to them.

“Alright, don’t be so tense. It’s not a big deal, Aunt wouldn’t punish me for something like this.”

Seeing the three of them frown and about to speak,

Xu Danyi didn’t wait for them to open their mouths and continued, “I had planned to visit the palace today anyway. Even if Yingxue hadn’t come, I would still have gone.”

At this point,

Xu Danyi couldn’t help but think back to that morning when she had promised Xie Qingya that she would wait for him at home.

And they would go together next time to apologize to Aunt.

A pang of guilt flashed through her mind.

But from the beginning, she hadn’t intended to wait for him to go to the palace.

The wrongs she had done to Aunt, the lies she had told, needed to be addressed by her first.

Otherwise, if she brought Xie Qingya to the palace, Aunt would only become even angrier…

Aunt has not been in good health lately, and Xu Duanyi naturally doesn’t want her to get upset over them, as it could worsen her health.

“We don’t have much time, so I’ll keep it short.”

“This time, I’m going to the palace alone. None of you need to come with me.” The moment Xu Duanyi said this, their expressions changed, and they were about to protest.

But Xu Duanyi had already made her decision and wasn’t about to let them talk her out of it.

She quickly added, “Once I enter the palace, it won’t be easy for me to leave anytime soon. If you come with me, you’ll only end up being punished.”

“We are not afraid!”

The three of them said in unison.

Xu Duanyi’s heart softened as she looked at their fearless faces, but her words remained decisive and without hesitation: “I know you’re not afraid, but there’s no reason to put yourselves through that.”

“If you come with me, I’ll just end up worrying about you.”

“Aunt won’t harm me, but she won’t hesitate to go after you. Do you want to see me fight with Aunt over you, or have her use you to pressure me into doing things I don’t want to do?”

Her words made the initially resolute three gradually hesitate.

They weren’t afraid of punishment or even death, but they didn’t want to be a burden to their mistress.

Seeing that they were already wavering, Xu Duanyi softened her tone: “Besides, I already promised Zhang Ning and the others that everything would be fine. If you all stay here, they will feel reassured, and so will the prince.”

“Aunt won’t punish me. At most, she’ll scold me a bit, and I’ll stay with her for a while. That’s all.”

“But…”

Shiyu looked at her, still not reassured.

Bixi noticed the look from her mistress. Although she was also worried, she knew that once her mistress had made a decision, it would not and could not be changed.

"I understand, my lady."

"I will stay at the palace and await your early return," she said, bowing to Xu Duanyi.

Seeing her do this, Xiu Yu and Shiyu hesitated for a moment but ultimately said nothing more.

Like her,

they also took a step back and bowed to Xu Duanyi.

...

Yingxue was patiently waiting in the carriage.

Thinking that if Your Highness summoned her, she would go in to pay her respects; if not, she would directly take the people back to the palace to report.

But she was also wondering, what did the Empress Dowager want from Xuefu by summoning her to the palace?

This Xuefu was not a very prominent person in the palace before, and she could hardly remember her.

It was truly surprising that the Empress Dowager still remembered her.

And what was Aunt Danfeng trying to warn Your Highness about earlier?

Her thoughts were in disarray.

Yingxue shook her head, thinking it was none of her business, and decided not to overthink it. Just as she was about to have a sip of tea, she suddenly heard a commotion outside.

At first, Yingxue thought she had heard wrong.

Until the driver outside, Xiao Dezi, also called out "Your Highness," Yingxue quickly pulled back the carriage curtain to look out.

Sure enough, she saw Your Highness walking towards them from the main gate.

Yingxue's face changed slightly, and she hurriedly stood up and bowed to go out.

"Why did Your Highness come out yourself? If you have any orders, you could have summoned me," Yingxue said as she walked over to pay her respects.

Xu Duanyi reached out to steady her and said, "I was just about to go to the palace, so I'll go with you."

Naturally, Yingxue was delighted that Your Highness was going to the palace.

She immediately took Your Highness's arm and smiled, "That's even better. The Empress Dowager will surely be happy to know you're coming to the palace."

Yingxue did not notice the brief look of guilt and regret on Xu Duanyi's face.

She continued to escort the princess as they walked towards the carriage.

After a few steps, she suddenly sensed something amiss. It was too quiet behind her. She looked back and found that the usual attendants were not there.

And Xuefu, who was supposed to accompany her, was also missing.

"Are Bixi and Shiyu not coming with Your Highness to the palace this time?" she asked Xu Duanyi.

Xu Duanyi acknowledged with a hum, "They have other duties to attend to."

But it still didn't seem right for the princess to enter the palace alone...

Yingxue sensed something was amiss, but seeing the princess's indifferent expression, as if she didn't want to discuss it further, she naturally refrained from prying.

She could only ask, "What about Xuefu..."

"It's alright, I can also prepare the sweet soup she makes. I'll make it for the Empress Dowager when I enter the palace."

"This is..."

Yingxue hesitated, thinking that perhaps the Empress Dowager's summoning of Xuefu wasn't solely for sweet soup.

But seeing that the princess had already reached the carriage and was about to board, she had to suppress her thoughts and first help her into the carriage.

The carriage made its way toward the imperial city.

Xu Duanyi reclined against the carriage, her eyes closed in silence.

This behavior made Yingxue grow increasingly anxious.

But a servant like her had no place commenting on the masters' affairs. Although the day's events seemed peculiar, she dared not speak more, only waiting for the newly brewed tea to be ready before pouring another cup for her.

As the sound of water pouring echoed.

Yingxue suddenly heard the princess's inquiry beside her ear, "When you came, was there any result from the morning court?"

The suddenness of the question nearly startled Yingxue. She looked up to see the princess still sitting with her eyes closed, the steam from the tea misting her beautiful face, making it somewhat unclear what her expression was at the moment.

Not daring to look any longer.

Yingxue set the teacup on the small table before her and responded, "When I left, I heard that the people from the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice had already escorted Seal Keeper Cao..."

Seeing the princess, who had kept her eyes closed since boarding, suddenly open them and look at her.

Yingxue felt inexplicably nervous.

After swallowing, she finished her previous sentence, "They escorted him away."

"Did he resist?" Xu Duanyi asked her.

I don't know; I only overheard it from the palace servants on the palace path as I was leaving," Yingxue replied truthfully.

Xu Duanyi, seeing this, asked no more and simply nodded, saying, "I understand."

Though Yingxue wasn't as knowledgeable as Danfeng, she knew that Seal Keeper Cao was on the same side as their Empress Dowager, but today's court situation... even she could see something was amiss.

What she had previously been afraid to consider was now slowly becoming apparent.

Yingxue, capable of maintaining her position in Shoukang Palace, was no fool.

She suddenly grasped the reason behind the princess's solitary entry into the palace.

If it were anyone else today, Yingxue wouldn't have said a word.

But it was Xu Duanyi.

Almost everyone in Shoukang Palace had received her kindness.

Yingxue was no exception.

Her hands tightly clasped, her eyes fixed on Xu Duanyi, she softly asked, "Your Highness, you know why the Empress Dowager called for you, don't you?"

Xu Duanyi's face showed a hint of surprise at these words.

Clearly, she hadn't expected Yingxue to ask such a question, but soon, she quickly regained her composure and replied, "Yes."

Yingxue tensed up immediately.

"Then..."

"It's fine."

Xu Duanyi gently reassured her.

With just two words, Yingxue was momentarily speechless.

She stared at Xu Duanyi, her red lips parting and then closing.

Xu Duanyi could see her concern.

She added softly, "Don't worry, nothing will happen."

After saying this,

Xu Duanyi didn't look at Yingxue anymore but instead looked out through the carriage curtains.

The carriage had already entered the Palace.

Looking at the passing red walls and yellow tiles,

Xu Duanyi's mood wasn't as calm as her earlier tone implied.

She truly had no idea what would happen.

Even if her aunt wouldn't punish her, she would definitely be upset.

From childhood to adulthood, she had never displeased her aunt, and now, unexpectedly, she had caused such a big issue.

She couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

She just hoped her aunt wouldn't remain upset for long and would think about the partnership between her cousin and Xie Qingya.

And just as she was heading to Shoukang Palace, Xie Qingya had also heard she was entering the Palace.