Yuan Shi quickly entered.
On her back she carried a child—the already over two-year-old Xie Shikang, who still couldn’t walk. His eyes were somewhat vacant as he woodenly played with his own fingers.
“Greetings to Princess Consort Pingxi.” Yuan Shi knelt down to pay respects. Only after Yun Chu gave permission did she rise and sit constrainedly on a chair, her face full of worry. “Chu… Princess Consort, I’ve come to ask you, has that Concubine Wu from the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace died?”
Since learning that Ping’er had become the Crown Prince’s woman, although she worried, she was more happy, because as long as she had someone deliver messages to the palace, Ping’er would give some silver.
Five taels, ten taels, plus some jewelry—enough to sustain the family for several months and even hire physicians to treat Kang’er’s illness. Their household’s days had become much easier.
But these past two days, when she had someone deliver a message, that person said Concubine Wu had died.
She didn’t believe it and hurried to Chu’er to ask.
“She disappeared at the Imperial Mausoleum. It’s unknown whether she’s dead or not.” Yun Chu looked at her. “Why is Mrs. Xie asking about this?”
“No, nothing.” Yuan Shi mumbled. “Then, then can you help inquire about An’er’s whereabouts? He hasn’t returned for over a month.”
An’er hadn’t given the family any silver, and there was no more news from Ping’er either. She was just an old woman with three grandchildren—how was she supposed to get by?
Yun Chu’s fingers rubbed together.
So Xie Shi’an had returned to Jizhou without informing Yuan Shi.
She paused before speaking: “I also heard from servants who know Xie Shi’an that they seemed to see Xie Shi’an board a boat, apparently returning to Jizhou.”
Yuan Shi couldn’t believe it: “He never wanted to return to the old residence. Why would he go back alone? What for? Why didn’t he tell us to go back together?”
“That I don’t know.” Yun Chu said mildly. “Although the journey from the capital to Jizhou isn’t far, it still requires several days of traveling. With young children at home, it’s not easy to make the trip. Why doesn’t Mrs. Xie have Wei’er return to Jizhou first to take a look? If things are settled there, your whole family might really be able to return to Jizhou.”
Yuan Shi was from Jizhou and dreamed of returning.
But she was also afraid Yun Chu’s people had seen wrong, so she hurried home and told Xie Shiwei to quickly make a trip to Jizhou.
Xie Shiwei was already eleven, almost twelve, and had grown taller than Yuan Shi.
Upon hearing Yuan Shi say that Xie Shi’an had returned to Jizhou, he immediately said: “Elder Brother definitely wants to monopolize the farmland and estates back home. I’m also part of the Xie family—I can’t let him have his way. Grandmother, quickly give me travel money. I need to go see!”
Yuan Shi instructed: “Your elder brother is also thinking of the family’s livelihood. Don’t compete with him over everything. After you go, if things are settled there, write a letter and I’ll bring Yun’er and Kang’er back together…”
No matter what she said, Xie Shiwei just kept nodding.
Yuan Shi hurried to the broker’s office, planning that once matters in Jizhou were settled, she would sell the Xie family residence in the capital…
In the blink of an eye, it was the sunny month of March.
The assassination incident from the end of last year had passed, and the capital had returned to its former prosperity and liveliness.
Changes in the court situation also affected the inner palace. With the Empress deceased and the six palaces without a master, the Emperor had given the phoenix seal to Consort Yun, who now managed the inner palace.
Rumors circulated among the common people that the Emperor intended to make Consort Yun the Empress.
First, Consort Yun came from the Yun family and was the legitimate eldest daughter—her family background wasn’t inferior.
Second, Consort Yun had borne the Eighth Prince. With a mother’s status elevated by her son, she could bear the position of Empress.
Third, within the inner palace, there truly wasn’t a second woman who could be worthy of the Empress position.
Every spring, the Empress would arrange a flower-viewing banquet. Consort Yun followed the old system and also held a flower-viewing banquet.
Yun Chu brought Changsheng along to enter the palace to view flowers.
As soon as they entered the banquet hall, Changsheng was called away by Miss Qiu. The two chatted with faces full of smiles.
Yun Chu’s face was full of gratification. That little girl who couldn’t speak and feared strangers had now established her own connections in this circle.
She was now very comfortable with Changsheng socializing with others. Without staying by her side, she stepped away to speak with Consort Yun.
“Why does Aunt look even more haggard?”
Consort Yun said: “There are many women in the inner palace, and many disputes. Every day it’s either this matter or that matter. I truly admire Empress Mother somewhat.”
Since taking the phoenix seal, her days hadn’t been peaceful. There were always people coming to her with disputes. At first she had the patience to listen, but later she simply gave both parties fifty strokes each. These past few days, those seeking her had finally decreased somewhat.
Yun Chu asked in a low voice: “Does Aunt have designs on the Empress position?”
Consort Yun smiled calmly: “Although I don’t have this aspiration, whether for Lao Ba’s sake or for you and the Yun family, I must make an effort. If I can’t succeed myself, I won’t let anyone else succeed either.”
Becoming Empress would grant greater power. Perhaps one day if His Majesty traveled south, she could follow along to see Lao Ba.
If His Majesty died, she would become the Empress Dowager. The power of an Empress Dowager would be even greater. At that time, in the name of retirement, she could directly move to Lao Ba’s fief.
Furthermore, if she were the Empress Dowager, Consort Yin couldn’t become the Empress Dowager and would have no way to pressure Chu’er as a proper mother-in-law, forcing Chu’er to fill Chu Yi’s harem.
The Yun family might become more prosperous, but so what?
With a goal, the Yun family no longer feared overshadowing the sovereign with merit.
From every perspective, she had to compete for this Empress position.
Even if she couldn’t obtain it, it couldn’t fall into anyone else’s hands.
Consort Yun raised her eyes and saw someone entering. Her expression immediately cooled several degrees: “Madam Jin has arrived. I’ll go greet her.”
After Li Jingshu saved the Emperor last year and moved into the palace, she had remained in the palace all along. Regardless of what rumors spread outside, she still lived in Yangxin Hall as before.
“Consort Yun.” Li Jingshu smiled radiantly as she bowed. “The flowers blooming this spring are truly beautiful.”
Consort Yun spoke with a smile: “If Madam Jin likes them, after the flower banquet ends, you may select a few pots to take back.”
“Then many thanks to Consort Yun.”
Li Jingshu’s face was full of smiles, but deep in her eyes lurked chilling coldness.
Since the Empress’s death, His Majesty had shown her no more tenderness. Never mind the Empress position—it was even difficult to enter the inner palace.
A month ago, His Majesty proposed that she leave the palace and bestowed a grand mansion on her. She wept bitterly for a long time before making His Majesty withdraw the order.
This incident also made her realize that a man’s feelings for a woman don’t last long.
If she didn’t proactively do something, she would be driven out of the palace gates and become the greatest laughingstock in all the land.
She had specifically spent a great sum to seek out a Western Region witch and purchase two parasitic worms.
Male and female worms—consumed by a man and woman pair. As long as the man had even the slightest bit of affection for the woman, the worms would take effect.
His Majesty had taken the worm a month ago. It was time to test the worm’s power.
Li Jingshu sat down at her seat and leisurely sipped her tea.
Consort Yun was surrounded by a group of palace consorts.
“Elder Sister Consort Yun, that Madam Jin living in the palace isn’t proper.”
“She was initially in the palace to recover from injuries. Now that her injuries are healed, she should leave the palace. Elder Sister Consort Yun, speak to His Majesty about it.”
“Yes, Elder Sister Consort Yun, nowadays only elder sister can say a few words before His Majesty.”
“…”
Consort Yun only smiled without speaking.
Although she also disliked Madam Jin, she couldn’t possibly be the one to stick her neck out.
From His Majesty’s attitude, one could actually tell—His Majesty had no intention of letting Madam Jin enter the inner palace. After enough time passed, he would grow weary. Why bother speaking up and inviting resentment?