Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Tang Shi was momentarily stunned by Old Madam Ming's words, but she still refused to back down verbally. She pressed on, "Even if Chu'er went to the palace to report on his duties, what about Princess Zhaoyang? What business did she have going there?"

Wasn't it to complain to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor about Sheng'er and his wife?

"You're asking me?"

Old Madam Ming shot her a cold look, brushing aside the maidservant who had stepped forward with tea in a slightly impatient manner. She said with annoyance, "Princess Zhaoyang is your daughter-in-law. If you don't know what she's going to do, then your eldest branch's affairs could have been settled behind closed doors. But instead, you insist on making a public spectacle that's hard to contain."

"Over the years, is there a single matter you've handled that hasn't turned out this muddle-headed? Setting aside more distant matters, take Mei Jie'er's marriage last year—how did you, as her legitimate mother, handle it?"

"In the end, Princess Rongqin had to come knocking on our door, hinting in no uncertain terms that our family mistreats our concubine-born daughters. I had to swallow a great deal of pride and add to Mei Jie'er's dowry before that disaster was settled, so that our Duke Su household wouldn't lose all face in the capital."

Tang Shi's face flushed with embarrassment. Being scolded like this by her mother-in-law in front of her daughter-in-law was truly humiliating, but since everything Old Madam Ming said was true, she had no face to talk back.

Nanny You brought over some calming tea and waited until Old Madam Ming had finished her tirade against Tang Shi before stepping forward to advise, "Grand Lady, don't be angry. Have some tea first, and take your time."

Old Madam Ming accepted the tea and caught her breath, then said sternly with a grim expression, "I'm not here today to rehash old grievances and embarrass you. But now that Xi'er and Meng Shi have both passed, you are the one who speaks for the eldest branch. The third and fourth daughters-in-law are juniors after all—there are things they're not in a position to say, so this old crone has to be the one to play the bad guy."

"Grandmother, those words are too harsh for us to bear." Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Zhou Shi quickly forced a smile and said, "You are the matriarch of our Duke Su household, and we naturally respect you deeply."

"Enough. A person's worth lies in matching words with deeds."

Old Madam Ming ignored Zhou Shi and fixed her slightly hazy eyes on Tang Shi, asking, "You just asked me what Princess Zhaoyang went to the palace for. Let me first ask you—today, when Yue Jie'er fell into the water, did you, as her grandmother, go to Brocade Garden to check on her?"

Tang Shi's lips trembled, but for a long while, she couldn't utter a single word.

"Did you send anything over?"

Tang Shi still remained silent, her head hanging even lower.

Even Zhou Shi was somewhat taken aback, never imagining that her mother-in-law hadn't even done the bare minimum to keep up appearances. When she herself had heard the news, she'd immediately sent over two ginseng roots.

Old Madam Ming laughed coldly. "If you had gone to check on her, then you wouldn't need to ask me, nor would you need to come rushing over to Ronghe Hall."

"Chu Ge and the Princess may only be Yue Jie'er's uncle and aunt, strictly speaking, but they've shown far more concern than you, her muddle-headed grandmother. They even thought of Yue Jie'er's reputation and hurried to the palace to come up with a solution."

Tang Shi was stunned, clearly not yet catching on. Zhou Shi's mind was somewhat quicker than her mother-in-law's, and after thinking for a moment, she understood Old Madam Ming's meaning. Her eyes lit up as she said, "Grandmother, are you saying that Princess Zhaoyang went to the palace to ask the Empress Dowager to intercede with Princess Qinghe?"

Old Madam Ming sighed. "When the old Duke was still alive, he often said that a harmonious family prospers. I've pondered that saying my whole life and only now have I begun to understand its meaning. From today on, you should also return to your courtyard and think carefully about those five words, so that you stop doing such disgraceful things."

Tang Shi hung her head dejectedly. "Yes, I understand."

"Enough. Since you've come all this way today, I'll grant your wish, lest you go around claiming later that I favor the western branch." Old Madam Ming looked at Nanny You and instructed, "Go to the western branch and summon the eldest daughter-in-law and Yun Qing. Today we'll settle this properly—one-on-one, two-on-two."

Yun Qing was the given name of Ming Shi, the eldest daughter-in-law of the western branch.

Nanny You nodded in acknowledgment and hurried off to the western branch to summon them.

...

Qin Chu and Pei Yun, this pair of newlyweds who had married halfway through life, had little to say to each other when alone. They rode in silence all the way to the palace gate, where they alighted from the carriage and parted ways—Pei Yun heading to Ci'an Palace to see the Empress Dowager, and Qin Chu going to Zichen Hall to meet with Emperor Qing'an.

The imperial palace was quite familiar to Pei Yun. She made her way to Ci'an Palace with ease, only to find her imperial uncle's imperial carriage parked outside. Pei Yun thought that since Emperor Qing'an was at Ci'an Palace, she should have had Qin Chu come with her.

Pei Yun hesitated for a moment over whether to go in, when Nanny Su Shui, who served the Empress Dowager, happened to emerge from the hall and walk to the corridor. Looking up, she spotted Pei Yun standing at the palace entrance.

"What brings the Princess here?"

Nanny Su Shui smiled and stepped forward to greet Pei Yun, then scolded the palace attendants nearby, "You foolish things! Princess Zhaoyang has arrived and you didn't announce her? How can you leave the Princess standing out here?"

The afternoon sun was warm at this hour, and the two young eunuchs at the gate had been dozing off, not noticing Pei Yun's arrival. They knelt down in a panic to apologize.

"Auntie, don't blame them. I only just arrived," Pei Yun said with a smile. "I'd only just stopped walking when you came out."

"Then that means this servant and the Princess are of one mind." Nanny Su Shui smiled and led Pei Yun inside. "You've come at a fortunate time today—His Majesty also just arrived to offer his greetings to the Empress Dowager."

Pei Yun followed Nanny Su Shui past the spirit wall toward the main hall, nodding in acknowledgment. "I saw the imperial carriage outside, so indeed, it's quite a coincidence."

As they spoke, they reached the main hall's entrance, where two maidservants in green robes curtsied and ushered Pei Yun inside.

The Empress Dowager loved flowers, and the courtyard they passed through was filled with all sorts of blooms. Now, inside the hall, a wave of floral fragrance greeted them. Flowers were arranged on the tables, the lamp stands, and the curio shelves—arranged beautifully and artfully.

The art of flower arrangement was a skill unto itself. When Pei Yun had studied it in the past, she'd never quite gotten the hang of it and could never master it. In the end, her mother had no choice but to hold her nose and let it go.

Nanny Su Shui led Pei Yun past the screen with ladies painted on it and into the inner chamber, where Pei Yun saw the Empress Dowager sitting on a couch by the window, speaking with Emperor Qing'an.

"Empress Dowager, look who's here!" Nanny Su Shui said with a smile.

The Empress Dowager had been sitting sideways, talking with Emperor Qing'an. At the sound, she turned her head, and her eyes lit up with pleasant surprise.

"Oh, Yun Niang is here!"

Pei Yun smiled and stepped forward to bow in greeting. "Zhao Yang pays her respects to Grandmother Empress and to His Majesty."

"Rise, come to your grandmother." The Empress Dowager beamed and beckoned Pei Yun over.

The Empress Dowager was now in her sixties, with a few silver strands at her temples, but her spirits were high and her health was quite good. Emperor Qing'an beside her was in the prime of life at thirty. Though fine lines had crept up at the corners of his forehead and eyes, he carried himself with a commanding presence—broad face, square ears, thick brows, and piercing eyes, radiating the full majesty of a Son of Heaven.

"What made you think of me today?" The Empress Dowager studied this granddaughter carefully, teasing, "You've married, and your complexion has improved greatly. Clearly, the Duke Su household has been treating you well."

Pei Yun sat beside the Empress Dowager, smiling softly.

Emperor Qing'an also studied Pei Yun for a moment, his expression softening slightly. "Zhao Yang has indeed grown up. You look more and more like your mother."

"I still remember when you were first born—your elder brother always loved carrying you around the palace to show you off to everyone. Now, in the blink of an eye, you've grown up so much."

The Empress Dowager paused, then pulled Pei Yun close and asked, "I heard that Marquis Qin also returned to the capital today. Why didn't he come with you?"

"The Marquis has also entered the palace, but he went to Zichen Hall, saying he needed to report to Your Majesty." Pei Yun blinked and said, "If I had known Your Majesty was here, I would have had him come along."

The Empress Dowager nodded, then looked back at Emperor Qing'an and said, "In that case, state affairs take priority. I won't keep you."

Emperor Qing'an rose and bowed with clasped hands. "Then I shall take my leave."

The Empress Dowager nodded, watching Emperor Qing'an depart before taking Pei Yun's hand and asking, "What's wrong? Has something happened in the household?"

Author's Note:

None