The child spoke these words so naturally that even if they hadn’t been said numerous times behind her back, she must have heard them countless times.

Old Madam Wang knew well that this family had no blood relation to her. For the sake of the Wang family, she had always devoted her heart and soul to this family, sometimes even indulging them in coercing her birth daughter. When her daughter came to complain, she could only steel her heart and tell her daughter never to care about her again. Yet they still weren’t satisfied.

They wanted A’Jue to marry their daughter, but didn’t they think… how much the current Emperor cared about her younger brother? Now that A’Jue was Prince Zhongguo, how could it be possible to presumptuously arrange a marriage for A’Jue before he even returned?

After all, once a marriage was decreed, it couldn’t be revoked. The Emperor’s word was golden and absolute. His Majesty was such a cautious person in thought – she would never issue an edict for a marriage.

“Master… His Majesty has sent Eunuch Wei from his side!” The Wang family steward ran over hurriedly and called out loudly from outside the door, “Master, please go quickly to receive him!”

Nanny Qin was startled. She hadn’t expected the matter to reach Bai Qingyan’s ears. She knew her young mistress had always fiercely protected her own, and since she had sent someone, there would surely be action. But…

Nanny Qin’s gaze fell on Fourth Madam, who was worriedly holding Old Madam Wang’s hand. She feared that if Bai Qingyan took action, accidentally harming Old Madam Wang would make Fourth Madam suffer.

Hearing that the current Emperor had sent someone, Wang Dingkun’s spine stiffened. Only now did he understand that his daughter had probably caused enormous trouble.

Since Nanny Qin from the Empress Dowager’s side was here, Wang Dingkun quickly kowtowed to Old Madam Wang, saying: “Mother, your son will go to the front to meet Eunuch Wei from His Majesty’s side first, then return to ask mother’s forgiveness!”

After speaking, Wang Dingkun kowtowed to Old Madam Wang, instructed Wang Liu Shi to take good care of the old madam, then lifted his robe hem and hurried out.

Wang Dingkun ran to the front hall dripping with sweat and saw Wei Zhong sitting steadily in the front hall with his legs crossed, drinking tea. He quickly approached: “Oh, Eunuch Wei, you’re so busy… how did you personally come? Nanny Qin from the Empress Dowager’s side is also here. My mother’s sudden illness has truly worried His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. It’s this official’s fault.”

Wei Zhong looked at the bowing and scraping Wang Dingkun with a half-smile, lowered his eyes and casually set his teacup aside, then stood up deliberately: “Old Madam Wang is the maternal grandmother of our Emperor’s younger brother, Prince Zhongguo. The old madam was angered to coughing blood, and since His Majesty couldn’t get away, naturally he had to send this old slave to take a look!”

Hearing these words, Wang Dingkun’s spine stiffened and his throat went dry. He could only maintain a smiling face: “It’s all because the daughter at home doesn’t understand propriety and was spoiled by her mother. Please rest assured, Your Majesty and Eunuch. After mother recovers… I will severely punish this unfilial wretch!”

“Whether to punish or not is Master Wang’s family matter – this old slave doesn’t care!” Wei Zhong flicked his whisk and smiled, “This old slave came to convey His Majesty’s words…”

Hearing this, Wang Dingkun quickly lifted his robe hem, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed.

“Master Wang, listen carefully!” Wei Zhong glanced at the respectfully postured Wang Dingkun and spoke: “His Majesty said: ‘Old Madam Wang is my younger brother’s maternal grandmother. My younger brother is fighting and bleeding for the country abroad. If anyone has thoughts of using the old madam, I will not sit by and ignore it. Since they are adopted heirs, if they are unfilial and harbor improper greed, then I will take charge and choose someone else with clear eyes and a bright heart to adopt anew – it’s not a difficult matter…'”

Wang Dingkun’s head buzzed, and he sweated profusely. Did this mean His Majesty already knew about their plans?

Choose someone else to adopt! If His Majesty took charge of choosing someone new to adopt into the Wang family, not only would he lose his share of the Wang family’s vast fortune, but his career would also be finished!

Wang Dingkun wasn’t unaware that his current idle position in the Ministry of Rites was entirely due to Fourth Madam Wang Shi of the Bai family. If he weren’t a Wang family heir, if he weren’t Fourth Madam Wang Shi’s younger brother, he probably couldn’t even keep his official position.

Wang Dingkun couldn’t help but blame his wife and daughter in his heart – these foolish women had harmed him! When Wang Liu Shi had wanted to marry their daughter to Prince Zhongguo, he had hesitated. But unable to withstand his wife and daughter’s entreaties, he had agreed to let this foolish woman approach Wang Shi. He hadn’t expected it would bring him such catastrophic trouble.

Thinking of Bai Qingyan’s fierce methods when dealing with the Bai clan, Wang Dingkun’s legs became even more weak as mud. The Bai clan shared the same lineage as Bai Qingyan, yet when it was time to act, Bai Qingyan showed no mercy whatsoever. How much more so for someone like him who was originally just an adopted heir of the Wang family?

Seeing Wang Dingkun’s completely rigid appearance, Wei Zhong maintained his smiling demeanor and asked: “Master Wang, did you hear clearly what His Majesty said?”

Wang Dingkun kowtowed repeatedly: “This subject… this subject heard clearly!”

“Since Master Wang heard clearly, please trouble Master Wang to have someone lead the way. This old slave must go see the old madam on His Majesty’s behalf.” Wei Zhong said.

“This subject… this subject will lead the way for Eunuch Wei! Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Wei!” Wang Dingkun tried to stand but his legs were so weak he nearly stumbled and fell. The steward secretly glanced at the kind-faced, smiling Eunuch Wei and boldly stepped forward to help Wang Dingkun up.

Wang Dingkun leaned almost his entire weight on the steward and led Wei Zhong through walls, corridors, pink walls, and red pillars. After winding around for a long time, they reached the old madam’s Changsong Courtyard. Wang Dingkun stood at the entrance and respectfully gestured for Wei Zhong to enter.

Wei Zhong smiled and followed Wang Dingkun into the main room, where Fourth Madam Wang Shi was sitting red-eyed on an embroidered stool, feeding medicine to Old Madam Wang.

Perhaps knowing that Wei Zhong was coming, Old Madam Wang had been helped by Wang Shi to change into fresh clothes. She wore an embroidered headband with phoenixes and peonies, weakly leaning against a ginger-yellow pillow embroidered with longevity patterns.

Seeing Wei Zhong enter, the old madam quickly pushed aside the brocade quilt to rise and greet him.

“Old Madam must not move! Must not move!” Wei Zhong quickly stepped forward to stop the old madam’s movement to rise, bowed to both Wang Shi and the old madam with an attitude respectful beyond measure. “This old slave comes on His Majesty’s orders to visit the old madam. If this troubles the old madam, it would be this old slave’s fault, and His Majesty would probably punish this old slave upon my return!”

Old Madam Wang was not one who didn’t understand propriety. Knowing that Bai Qingyan was giving her face, and indeed feeling quite weak, she didn’t force herself to get out of bed. She said respectfully, “State affairs are a thousand complications, yet His Majesty still worries about this old body in his busy schedule. It’s this old body’s fault!”

“His Majesty had this old slave bring many practical medicinal materials for the old madam, and specially ordered Imperial Physician Fang from the Imperial Medical Academy to come daily to take the old madam’s pulse until she recovers.” Wei Zhong saw that the medicine bowl in Wang Shi’s hands was empty, so he used a handkerchief to wipe the corners of Old Madam Wang’s mouth before smiling and saying, “His Majesty has a few words for this old slave to convey privately to Old Madam Wang. I wonder if it’s convenient?”