Eunuch Lu knew that if he showed even the slightest defiance today, he would truly offend this future Empress to death. Therefore, for matters that His Majesty hadn’t explicitly required and which remained ambiguous, Eunuch Lu absolutely didn’t want to create any more difficulties.
While waiting for Ji Yun and Bingtang, Eunuch Lu was extremely patient, not daring to show even a trace of impatience.
Soon, Ji Yun and Bingtang returned, but they were accompanied by the Old Madam, Sun Shi, and Second Madam.
Qin Huaiyuan had just returned to the mansion and met with Qin Yining—the family still didn’t know the news from outside.
When Ji Yun and Bingtang went to fetch items just now, they took the opportunity to inform the Old Madam.
With the new Emperor’s ascension, their family’s young lady was entering the palace! Such wonderful news immediately made the Old Madam so overjoyed that tears fell from her eyes.
The Qin family had been living such bitter days recently, with no good news for far too long.
Now that Qin Huaiyuan was restored to his original position and Qin Yining had received imperial grace to enter the palace, these people could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
“Yi’er, you’re leaving for the selection now?” Sun Shi frowned. “This timing is far too rushed.”
She felt that once Qin Yining entered the palace, she would most likely be selected directly, making it difficult to return home in the future.
“It’s His Majesty’s edict—we simply must obey.” Qin Yining smiled as she glanced at Eunuch Lu, then bowed to the Old Madam, Second Madam, and Sun Shi. “Old Madam, Mother, Second Aunt, this matter arose suddenly with no time for detailed discussion. His Majesty ordered Eunuch Lu to return quickly, and I shouldn’t delay the appointed time lest I make things difficult for Eunuch Lu.”
Qin Yining’s consideration made Eunuch Lu’s cheeks burn with shame.
Sun Shi then stepped forward and presented a large red envelope. “In this sweltering heat, we’ve troubled Eunuch to make this trip. This is for Eunuch’s tea—it’s a small token, please don’t think it inadequate.”
“Madam speaks too kindly, this truly overwhelms this slave.” Though Eunuch Lu was quite pleased, he didn’t dare act presumptuously and hurriedly bowed to the Qin family’s female relatives. These were the future Empress’s natal family—he absolutely mustn’t slight them!
Qin Yining held the fluffy Er’Bai in her uninjured hand. After Bingtang placed several of her belongings on the carriage, she smiled and said: “Eunuch Lu, shall we depart then?”
Eunuch Lu hurriedly said with relief: “Yes.”
Qin Yining smiled as she bowed once more to the female relatives at home, then boarded the carriage under their concerned gazes.
Eunuch Lu followed behind with Nanny Zhan and the palace maids and eunuchs, and the carriage thus departed through the ceremonial gate, going directly out through the open main door.
The Old Madam dazedly grasped Qin Huaiyuan’s hand. “Meng’er, I’m not dreaming, am I? Our Yi’er is going to become an imperial consort?”
Before Qin Huaiyuan could respond, Second Madam had already said: “This truly is wonderful news.”
Though it was good news, everyone’s joy wasn’t as fervent as it might have been before.
Having an imperial consort in the palace brought many benefits to the family, and what the female relatives most commonly thought of was the help it would provide for the marriages of the other sisters in the household. But among the currently living girls in the family, there was only Eighth Miss, a concubine’s daughter from the third branch, and Qin Huining, who couldn’t even be counted as a Qin family daughter.
Therefore, though they were pleasantly surprised, once their emotions settled, everyone inevitably felt sad.
Second Madam felt especially regretful. Though Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss were both born of concubines, they still called her mother. Two girls beautiful as flowers and jade were gone just like that—their fate was truly too bitter. Otherwise, with an imperial consort in the family now, wouldn’t their future prospects have been limitless?
Everyone harbored their own thoughts.
Only Qin Huaiyuan and Sun Shi truly worried for Qin Yining’s safety.
“Master, that place in the palace is extremely complex. Never mind a young girl like Yi’er—even if I went there, I’d feel dizzy and confused, afraid that the slightest misstep would bring disaster. Yi’er is still so young, and she’s injured too. I saw her complexion wasn’t good—how can anyone feel at ease with her going like this?”
How could Qin Huaiyuan possibly feel at ease? But some things were better known only by those directly involved—speaking about them would only make the entire family worry along with them.
Therefore, Qin Huaiyuan only offered Sun Shi a few words of comfort, then escorted the Old Madam and other female relatives back to Cixiao Garden first. The Qin mansion was still unrepaired—Qin Yining, Eighth Miss, and Qin Huining, the three unmarried girls, lived in Shuo Ren Study, while everyone else still resided in Cixiao Garden.
After placating the Old Madam, Qin Huaiyuan ordered someone to summon Mu Jinghu.
Actually, Mu Jinghu had been hesitating whether he, as a bodyguard, should follow Qin Yining into the palace. But since they wouldn’t even allow Qin Yining to bring attendants—not even maids—how much less a grown man like him? Just as he was torn about whether to explore the palace by night, Qin Huaiyuan sent someone to summon him.
“Uncle.” Upon meeting Qin Huaiyuan, Mu Jinghu’s attitude remained the same as before, not becoming more respectful due to Qin Huaiyuan’s restoration to office. He maintained his close yet polite manner of address and performed the bow of a junior to an elder in the family.
Through observation during this period, Qin Huaiyuan had discovered that Mu Jinghu wasn’t someone with complex thoughts. Previously, he had wondered why Mu Jinghu would be so close to him, but now he understood—Mu Jinghu was simply an overly honest, somewhat naive child who didn’t understand worldly affairs. Presumably because he had a good relationship with that boy Pang Zhixi, Mu Jinghu treated him with the respect due to Pang Zhixi’s father-in-law.
Therefore, when speaking with Mu Jinghu, Qin Huaiyuan also abandoned his usual habit of leaving words half-spoken and said directly: “Young Master Mu, to be frank, His Majesty has taken a fancy to Yi’er and wants to marry her as Empress. We subjects cannot disobey imperial edicts. Palace people just came, and I could only grit my teeth and watch them take Yi’er away. As you know, Yi’er’s injuries haven’t healed, and she lost so much blood—she’s at her weakest right now…”
“If Miss Qin becomes Empress, won’t that fox’s wife be gone!” Mu Jinghu became anxious, his eyes widening like saucers.
Qin Huaiyuan was momentarily stunned by his manner of speaking. “I’m at a loss now. Currently, leaving the capital is easy but entering is difficult. My position is sensitive—now that I’m restored to office, who knows how many eyes are watching. I don’t dare rashly send people to Xihua City. So I wanted to ask Young Master Mu if you have a way to contact Young Prince Pang and inform him of this matter?”
Mu Jinghu said: “For me to secretly deliver a message couldn’t be easier. But Uncle, don’t you want Miss Qin to become Empress? Being Empress is a much higher position than being a princess consort.”
Qin Huaiyuan was stunned again and laughed: “It’s not calculated that way. Just like the demon empress who was recently executed—her ‘position’ was also high, but her life wasn’t necessarily comfortable.”
Mu Jinghu thought about it and sighed: “I understand too. Very well, Uncle, rest assured—I’ll find a way to inform him.”
“Then I thank you very much.”
“No need for courtesy.” Mu Jinghu smiled. “I’ll just need Uncle to provide travel provisions for the round trip.”
“Yes, you needn’t worry about any of that—I’ll prepare everything properly.”
Qin Huaiyuan also understood Mu Jinghu’s frugal and economical character, and couldn’t help but smile. He actually found this genuine temperament quite appealing.
Qin Yining didn’t know that Qin Huaiyuan’s method of informing Pang Xiao would actually be dispatching Mu Jinghu to report the news.
At this moment, she had already arrived in the palace, riding directly to the entrance of Yucui Palace.
Nanny Zhan helped her down from the carriage, and she immediately saw two other blue-canopied ornate carriages slowly coming to a stop. Nannies and palace servants stepped forward to lift the carriage curtains, and two elegantly dressed, magnificently adorned young ladies stepped down.