Chapter 28: The Former Court and the Harem

Yong'an Palace.

In the main hall, Madam Su looked at her daughter whom she had not seen for five years, tears streaming down her face.

The virtuous concubine came over and sat beside her mother. She reached out and wiped her tears and said, "Mother, I'm fine. Why are you crying?"

Madam Su pushed Concubine Xian's hand aside and scolded her, "You debt collector, you have been so stubborn and left-minded these years, staying in the palace and not leaving.

Do you know that your father and I worry about you every night and can’t sleep well? "

Xian Fei laughed and said, "Mother, don't worry about me. Don't you think I'm not doing well now?"

"If His Majesty hadn't remembered the friendship between you two, would you be able to come out now?

Don't act recklessly in the future. His Majesty may tolerate you once, but he will never tolerate you a second time.

The emperor's authority and patience are the most unchallengeable."

After hearing this, Concubine Xian said, "Mother, I understand. How is father?"

"Good, everything is fine at home. Your father is in good health and holds the position of Tutor to the Crown Prince. He occasionally teaches the Crown Prince and doesn't interfere much in court affairs.

You locked the palace door in the harem and there was no news at all.

On the contrary, your junior uncle is doing very well in the court, and no one is causing trouble for our family.

These past few years have been pretty smooth.”

Xian Fei nodded, then asked, "Speaking of Junior Master, why has he been taking so many leave from the morning court these past few days?"

"He, don't you know?

I went to the Cang River again the day before yesterday. I heard that I met a similar person by the river this time, but I lost him.

After returning home, he was very depressed and got drunk.

I took these two days off just to look for that person."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Xian looked sideways in surprise and said, "Still looking for it? After all these years, you haven't forgotten it yet?"

Mrs. Su heard this and said, "He has been wandering around the red-light districts these years, seemingly unrestrained and uninhibited, but in fact, he is thinking about her."

The virtuous concubine was speechless and said, "He is such a lovelorn child. After so many years, he might have married someone else. What's the point of finding him?"

Madam Su said, "Who says it's not true? Every time your father mentions his marriage, he runs away without saying a word. I wonder when he plans to find me."

After saying this, Madam Su sighed and said, "You two are the smartest in the family, but you are also the hardest to manage. You cause trouble for everyone in the family every day."

Xianfei said, "Mother, when you return, tell Junior Master that the Grand Princess of Jinyang wants to discuss an alliance with him. See what he thinks."

"Grand Princess of Jinyang?" Madam Su nodded and said, "Okay. I'll tell him when I get back."

Madam Su then continued, "The eldest princess suddenly returned to the palace. I heard that she has been accompanying His Majesty to the morning court these past two days. Your father asked me to ask you, this..."

The virtuous concubine waved her hand and said, "Mother, go back and tell father that he doesn't need to worry about the affairs of the court.

Just like when I closed the palace gates before, don't get involved.

As for the matter between me and Junior Master, please don't ask too much. It's best if you don't know anything."

Madam Su was shocked when she heard this: "You...you..."

The virtuous concubine quickly said, "Mother, it's not what you think. What I am doing now is what His Majesty wants.

However, the political situation in the court and the harem is so complicated that it cannot be explained in a few words.

Just remember to go back and tell your father what I said."

"Are you in danger? Will the Fourth Prince be implicated?" Madam Su was still worried.

The virtuous concubine smiled and said, "Don't worry, mother, there will be no danger for the time being. This is all His Majesty's wish.

If the three of us, Princess Jinyang, Junior Master, and Consort Shu join forces, then both the court and the harem will be at peace."

Madam Su held her chest and said, "That's good. As long as it's what Your Majesty wants."

Don't worry, I will definitely convey your words to your Junior Master when I return today."

The virtuous concubine nodded and said, "Tomorrow the imperial envoy will leave for Lingnan Road to provide disaster relief, and Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess will see him off.

After seeing the person off, I waited for my junior master uncle in room No. 2 of Chunshan Teahouse.

If Junior Master-Uncle is interested in forming an alliance, he can go there and join His Highness.

If you have no intention of forming an alliance, you don't need to go. Your Highness will leave on his own at noon."

Mrs. Su nodded after hearing this.

Then he stared at Concubine Xian's face for a long time and said, "You haven't changed much. You are fat and thin in the right way, and there are not even wrinkles at the corners of your eyes.

It seems you have lived a very comfortable life these years."

The virtuous concubine smiled and said, "Mother, although I have been confined to the palace, I am not unaware of the news outside.

With my father and Junior Master-Uncle around, no one in the palace dares to offend me, so I live a comfortable life."

Mrs. Su said angrily after hearing this: "You are relieved, but your father and I are not.

We are all redundant. You have never suffered any loss since you were a child.

When I was little, I only suffered a few losses at the hands of your grandfather, but after growing up, I became very cunning and shrewd."

Xianfei was displeased when she heard this. She pulled Madam Su aside and said, "Mother, how can you talk to your daughter like that?"

Madam Su rolled her eyes at her.

The atmosphere in the back hall was not so good.

The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo looked at her emaciated sister-in-law, and her tears fell like beads from a broken string.

"For so many years, your brother always thought you were sick and traveled all over the world to find precious medicinal herbs for you, but he never thought that you were actually poisoned.

When the news reached home yesterday, your brother was furious and wanted to call the Anping Marquis’s Mansion immediately.

He also clamored to ask His Majesty for permission to destroy Nan Liping.

Nan'er and I finally persuaded your brother to stay after much persuasion."

As the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo spoke, she wiped her tears with her handkerchief.

Concubine Shu smiled faintly and said, "Sister-in-law, don't cry.

The Grand Princess of Jinyang said that my poison can be cured, but I have been poisoned for too long and need to take it step by step.

"You gave me a detoxification pill yesterday, I'll take it first. I can start the medicinal baths and acupuncture after a few days."

The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo took Concubine Shu's hand and said, "This time, it is all thanks to Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess. Please take some time to ask your brother to thank Her Royal Highness formally."

"Thanks must be given. Now His Majesty relies on Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess in state affairs, so just ask brother to cooperate more." Concubine Shu said lightly.

After hearing this, the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo looked confused and asked tentatively:

"This... we have to take sides? Who will Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess choose? Is it our Second Prince?"

Concubine Shu shook her head and said, "No. Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess and His Majesty are one and the same. Her meaning is His Majesty's meaning.

Your Highness returned to the palace to help His Majesty clean up the mess in the harem of the previous dynasty.

I will help my sister, Concubine Xian, in the harem.

So, in the former court, I ask my brother to cooperate more, just like he cooperates with His Majesty. Don't listen to other people's instigation and target Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess."

After hearing this, the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That would be the best. Don't worry, I will definitely convey it."

Concubine Shu asked, "How's the investigation going at Wanhua Tower?"

The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo said, "We are investigating. The Duke heard that there are traces of people from Nanli here and he is very concerned.

This spring, he discovered traces of the Nanli people in the capital, but he never found their lair.

Your brother guessed that this group of people were hiding in Wenroufang, and he was investigating whether it was Wanhualou.

Don't worry, as soon as there's any news, I'll send someone to tell you."

Concubine Shu nodded after hearing this.

After the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo and Madam Su left.

The virtuous concubine and the virtuous concubine were chatting in the yard while basking in the sun.

"The imperial concubine went to Taiji Palace early in the morning, but His Majesty did not see her." said Concubine Shu.

The virtuous concubine sneered, "Humph! She won't be able to see Your Majesty in the near future."

"I heard that you were rude to her yesterday?" Concubine Shu asked curiously.

"Aunt Jinyang's plan is to force her to reveal her true intentions." said the virtuous concubine.