When she heard that Fourth Miss was requesting her presence, Old Woman Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. She didn’t dare say anything outwardly and obediently followed Aman to Haitang Residence.

“Miss, Mama Xiao has arrived,” Aman reported.

Hearing Aman’s announcement, Jiang Si put down her teacup and said, “Let her in.”

Old Woman Xiao entered with her head bowed and eyes lowered, curtsying to Jiang Si. “Greetings to Fourth Miss.”

For a moment, there was no response.

Old Woman Xiao’s heart pounded as she maintained her curtsy, not daring to move.

After what seemed like an eternity, a soft, cool voice spoke, “No need for such formality.”

Old Woman Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief and straightened up.

“Mama Xiao.”

“This old servant is here. What instructions does Fourth Miss have?”

Jiang Si looked at Old Woman Xiao, finding the situation rather amusing. Such subservience would never have been seen before from the Second Madam’s trusted servant. No wonder people always strive for higher positions.

After observing her for a moment, Jiang Si got straight to the point, “Mama Xiao, I don’t care about your schemes, but I must warn you about one thing: don’t extend your reach to the main branch of the family.”

Old Woman Xiao was shocked to her core and looked at Jiang Si in disbelief.

The young lady’s face showed little emotion, but her eyes, like black jewels, radiated an icy coldness.

Old Woman Xiao involuntarily shuddered.

“Fourth Miss, this old servant—”

Jiang Si coolly interrupted Old Woman Xiao’s words, “You’re not satisfied with Hongyue’s death.”

Old Woman Xiao stared at Jiang Si as if she had seen a ghost, her mind in turmoil.

How did Fourth Miss know? Even the masters of the household still didn’t know that she had long since learned the true cause of her daughter’s death. She had concealed it so well in front of Madam Xiao, regaining her trust, which allowed her to manipulate events leading Second Miss to a dead end. But how could Fourth Miss, far away in Haitang Residence, know her thoughts?

Old Woman Xiao found the beautiful young lady before her terrifying and mysterious, chilling her to the bone.

Jiang Si leaned back lazily in her chair and said with a half-smile, “Mama Xiao, don’t be curious about how I know your thoughts, just as I’m not curious about why Jiang Qian lost all reason and tried to harm me. You just need to remember that the main branch is not a place for you to meddle. If you don’t follow the rules, I’ll chop off your claws. Do you understand?”

Old Woman Xiao unconsciously took a step back, her face growing increasingly pale. A voice in her mind screamed: Fourth Miss knows about her instigation of Second Miss! Fourth Miss knows everything!

How does Fourth Miss know all this?

In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to ask anything. She knelt and kowtowed heavily to Jiang Si, “Fourth Miss, please rest assured. This old servant is the most rule-abiding person there is.”

Jiang Si smiled, “Very well. Mama Xiao, you may go now.”

Evil people will be dealt with by other evil people, she thought. She looked forward to seeing how Old Woman Xiao would deal with Second Madam.

Old Woman Xiao got up and fled in a panic.

While the Duke of Dongping’s household was enjoying a moment of triumph, the atmosphere in the imperial palace was rather tense.

The Empress Dowager had been unwell for several days.

Emperor Jingming finished his morning court session early and came to Cining Palace to visit the Empress Dowager.

A faint smell of medicine permeated Cining Palace. Emperor Jingming sniffed lightly, feeling somewhat guilty.

The Empress Dowager seemed to be angry.

“Your Majesty is busy with state affairs. Why have you come again?” The Empress Dowager was reclining against the bed’s headboard screen, resting. Seeing Emperor Jingming enter, she attempted to rise.

Emperor Jingming quickly walked over and gently pressed her down, “Mother, please rest easy. Are you feeling better today?”

The Empress Dowager still sat up straight and smiled, “There was nothing wrong to begin with. Your Majesty is making a fuss over nothing.”

Emperor Jingming hastily said, “It’s good if there’s nothing wrong. The weather is still changeable at this time of year, warm one moment and cold the next. Mother, you must take care of your health so that I can be at ease.”

The Empress Dowager was nearly seventy years old and couldn’t withstand much strain.

Thinking of this, Emperor Jingming became quite annoyed.

Who on earth had gossiped about the selection of brides for the princes to the Empress Dowager? If he found out, he would surely fly them alive!

Seeing Emperor Jingming’s eyes full of concern, the Empress Dowager finally spoke of what was troubling her, “Your Majesty, how could such an important matter as selecting brides for the princes be decided so hastily?”

Emperor Jingming rubbed his nose, looking very innocent, “Hasty? I thought about it seriously for an entire night.”

The Empress Dowager wanted to roll her eyes, but her age made her too lazy to do so. She said sternly, “You thought about it for one night and decided on the Duke of Dongping’s daughter for Seventh Prince? I’ve heard that this girl has broken off an engagement before.”

And she’s Su Ke’s daughter, the Empress Dowager thought. She still remembered that woman of unparalleled beauty.

“Mother, you even know that Seventh Brother’s wife-to-be has broken off an engagement before. You are truly wise.”

“You’re not a child anymore. Stop trying to sweet-talk me,” the Empress Dowager glared at Emperor Jingming and scolded, “There are so many women in the world. You shouldn’t have chosen a girl with a tarnished reputation as a princess consort, no matter what.”

“Mother, please don’t worry. I saw Seventh Brother’s future wife that day, and she seemed proper and well-mannered.”

Well, she was cold and reserved, so ‘proper and well-mannered’ could pass, he thought.

The Empress Dowager frowned even more, “Seventh Brother’s wife, Seventh Brother’s wife. The girl hasn’t even entered the imperial family yet. Is it appropriate for Your Majesty to keep calling her ‘Seventh Brother’s wife’?”

Emperor Jingming remained unperturbed, “I’ve already bestowed the marriage. This time, they won’t be able to break off the engagement.”

The Empress Dowager was left speechless.

Listening to the Emperor’s tone, it seemed he thought he had scored a great bargain.

“Alright, I’m tired. Your Majesty should go back now.”

Emperor Jingming felt that the old lady had probably come to terms with it and smiled, “Then you should rest well. I’ll take my leave and come to see you again tomorrow.”

“There’s no need,” the Empress Dowager closed her eyes, feeling even more vexed.

Emperor Jingming tried to persuade her once more, “Mother, don’t worry too much about the children’s affairs. Children have their fortune. Whether they can live well ultimately depends on themselves. If they don’t know how to behave, even marrying a celestial beauty won’t prevent things from becoming a mess.”

At this point, Emperor Jingming became annoyed with the Crown Prince.

That good-for-nothing! Even though the Crown Princess’s virtue, appearance, and abilities might not be top-notch, she was still quite good in all aspects. How could he neglect her every day?

Favoring concubines over the main wife might disrupt an ordinary household, but in the royal family, especially for the heir apparent, it could potentially lead to national calamity.

After leaving Cining Palace, Emperor Jingming immediately summoned the Crown Prince and gave him a severe scolding.

The Crown Prince was stunned.

What had he done?

Wasn’t his father overstepping? He was being scolded for not getting along with the Crown Princess?

Returning to the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince angrily overturned a table, pacing in circles with rage.

He had heard that Seventh Brother’s wife was as beautiful as a celestial maiden. If he had been given such a Crown Princess to marry, he wouldn’t find her annoying to look at!

It was his father who didn’t care about him, yet he always scrutinized his faults!

The more the Crown Prince thought about it, the more unfair it seemed. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him: Mother had been gone for so long, could it be that Father had listened to too much pillow talk from those bewitching consorts and was thinking of replacing him as Crown Prince?

In the Imperial Study, Pan Hai cautiously advised, “Your Majesty, please don’t let your anger harm your health. The Crown Prince will gradually understand your good intentions.”

“Gradually? I think he completely fails to understand his position!” Emperor Jingming fumed. With the Crown Prince behaving like this, how could he feel at ease about handing over the empire to that good-for-nothing in the future?