The Fourteenth Princess looked sickly, her cries heart-wrenching and pitiful.
“Father Emperor said Mother Consort fell ill suddenly, but I don’t believe it… Mother was taking care of me just moments before. After Father Emperor and Empress Mother came to see me, she never appeared again. It’s too strange…” She looked at Nursemaid Duo with pleading eyes, crying, “Nursemaid, I’m so upset. I know no one will tell me, but I’m still so distressed…”
Nursemaid Duo gently patted the Fourteenth Princess’s back while scanning the surroundings.
There were always those who sought to curry favor with the powerful by stepping on others.
Everyone, both inside and outside the palace, knew that Consort Chen had caused the death of the Fifteenth Princess. As a result, even though the Emperor and Empress hadn’t shown any dissatisfaction or blame toward the Fourteenth Princess, countless people were already acting based on what they assumed to be the imperial will.
For a princess of such noble birth, there was no need for harsh treatment. A little neglect was enough to make her life desolate.
At this moment, the Fourteenth Princess’s quarters were as cold and empty as a snow cave.
In the vast, silent room, Nursemaid Duo’s voice seemed somewhat out of place: “Does Your Highness want to know how the Consort passed away?”
The Fourteenth Princess’s quiet sobs suddenly stopped as she looked up sharply at Nursemaid Duo, her eyes bursting with hope: “Nursemaid, you know?”
Nursemaid Duo spoke with hesitation and unease: “If I tell Your Highness about this matter and someone finds out, this servant will have committed a great error—”
The Fourteenth Princess gripped Nursemaid Duo’s hand tightly: “Don’t worry, Nursemaid. I won’t tell anyone. You’re willing to tell me, to let me, as her daughter, know the truth about Mother Consort’s death instead of remaining in the dark. This is already a great kindness to me. How could I carelessly speak and harm you?”
Nursemaid Duo sighed, speaking very softly: “This servant couldn’t bear to see Your Highness kept in the dark. But once Your Highness knows, please keep it in your heart. Don’t let anyone notice any change in your behavior. In the end, it would be Your Highness who suffers…”
“Nursemaid, please tell me. I’m not a child anymore. I know how to be discreet.”
“Consort Chen… was ordered to die…”
“Ordered to die?” The Fourteenth Princess’s eyes suddenly went blank, and she tightened her grip on Nursemaid Duo’s hand. “Who… who ordered my mother’s death…”
Nursemaid Duo sighed softly: “Your Highness, who else could order a Consort’s death?”
The Fourteenth Princess blinked, tears falling rapidly: “Impossible. Father Emperor is so kind and generous. Why would he order my mother’s death?”
“In His Majesty’s view, if one does wrong, one must be punished.”
“What wrong did my mother do?” the Fourteenth Princess pressed.
Nursemaid Duo remained silent.
“Nursemaid, please tell me. I don’t believe my mother could have done anything so wrong to deserve death by imperial decree.”
“Ah, in truth, the Consort didn’t commit a grave error. Princess Fuqing’s eyes recovered, and coincidentally, Your Highness fell ill. Rumors were saying that Consort Chen believed Princess Fuqing and Your Highness were at odds, so when Princess Fuqing’s eyes healed, Your Highness fell ill…”
“And then?” The Fourteenth Princess asked, pursing her lips.
“The Empress said that Consort Chen had hidden a doll with Princess Fuqing’s birth date and name written on it, stabbing it with needles. His Majesty was greatly angered by this and ordered Consort Chen’s death…”
The Fourteenth Princess listened in a daze, suddenly becoming agitated: “Impossible! I was ill all those days, and Mother barely had time to care for me. How could she have time for such nonsense? This is all baseless speculation. Does the Empress have any evidence?”
The change in address from “Empress Mother” to “the Empress” made Nursemaid Duo’s eyes flash with amusement. She gently patted the Fourteenth Princess and sighed: “Your Highness, Princess Fuqing is the Empress’s most precious child. Mere speculation is enough. Where would evidence be needed?”
The Fourteenth Princess’s eyes widened, her face turning deathly pale: “Without evidence, they can just order the death of a living person?”
Nursemaid Duo curved her lips slightly: “Your Highness is truly naive. For those in high positions, if they want someone dead, they don’t even need speculation…”
The Fourteenth Princess collapsed onto Nursemaid Duo, crying bitterly.
Nursemaid Duo allowed the Fourteenth Princess to cry her fill before gently advising: “Your Highness should dry your tears. Otherwise, your eyes will be swollen tomorrow.”
The Fourteenth Princess laughed bitterly: “What does it matter if they’re swollen? I’m a motherless person now, left here to fend for myself.”
“Your Highness is mistaken. Today, the Empress Dowager sent this servant to visit you. When news reaches the Empress’s ears, she might personally come tomorrow.”
The Fourteenth Princess suddenly wiped her tears, a certain light flickering in her eyes: “The Empress will come tomorrow?”
The change in address from “Empress Mother” to “the Empress” once again prompted Nursemaid Duo to make a decision.
She spoke: “His Majesty is most filial to the Empress Dowager, so naturally, the Empress is filial as well. Seeing that the Empress Dowager sent this servant to visit Your Highness, how could she not show some gesture?”
“Perhaps she’ll just send palace maids…”
Nursemaid Duo smiled: “Your Highness must have heard that the Empress and His Majesty had some unpleasantness today. If the Empress comes personally tomorrow, it would show respect to the Empress Dowager and goodwill towards His Majesty. It’s killing two birds with one stone. Wouldn’t Your Highness do the same in her position?”
The Fourteenth Princess listened silently. The dim lamplight flickered across her face, giving her usually gentle and serene features an inexplicably chilling appearance.
“So, the Empress will come?” In the empty room, her voice was soft, accompanying the swaying lamplight.
Nursemaid Duo timely showed a look of concern: “Your Highness, when the Empress comes tomorrow, you must not show any dissatisfaction. It would not be good for you—”
The Fourteenth Princess covered her mouth with a handkerchief and began to cough. After a while, she lowered her eyes to stare at a spot of bright red on the handkerchief.
“Nursemaid, look—”
Nursemaid Duo’s eyes contracted when she saw the bloodstain on the handkerchief.
“I don’t have many days left. What does it matter if the Empress is satisfied with me or not?” the Fourteenth Princess murmured, gripping Nursemaid Duo’s hand tightly. “Nursemaid, you were willing to tell me the truth, which shows you pity me in your heart. Please help me. I want to seek justice for my mother—”
Nursemaid Duo showed hesitation on her face.
Her previous hesitation had been feigned, but this time it was genuine.
She had intended to plant the seed of hatred in the Fourteenth Princess’s heart, then make contact a few more times before taking action when the time was ripe. She hadn’t expected the Fourteenth Princess, knowing her days were numbered, to be unwilling to wait.
If she acted now, would it be too hasty?
But if she didn’t act, allowing the Fourteenth Princess to act recklessly and lose her life, wouldn’t it be a waste of a good chess piece?
Suddenly, the Fourteenth Princess struggled to her feet and bowed to Nursemaid Duo: “Please forget what I just said, Nursemaid. I’ve put you in a difficult position. I only ask that you don’t mention this to anyone else.”
The Fourteenth Princess’s action dispelled that last trace of hesitation in Nursemaid Duo.
“How does Your Highness plan to seek justice for your mother?” Nursemaid Duo asked in the room filled with the scent of medicine.
The Fourteenth Princess pursed her lips: “Nursemaid, you needn’t ask too much. Knowing too much isn’t good for you.”