Chapter 729 Asking the Empress Dowager to Uphold Justice
Two days later, Madam Nguyen brought Nguyen Minh Tru to visit.
Madam Ruan is over fifty years old this year, but because she has studied martial arts, she is in very good health and does not look old at all.
"This girl insisted on going to the military camp early this morning. I told her I was coming to visit Lady Sui, and that's when she changed into women's clothes," Madam Ruan said helplessly. "After what happened last time, I've come to a realization. A person's life is only a few decades long. Before marriage, you can do what you want, but after marriage, you're no longer in control of your own life. Since my daughter is still by my side, let her do whatever she wants. She won't be so free in the future."
"Mother, you are so kind." Ruan Mingzhu hugged Madam Ruan's arm with a smile. "It seems that I should thank Princess Rongqing. If she hadn't sent people to kidnap me, I would never have been able to do what I like in my life."
Madam Ruan subconsciously looked left and right, afraid that someone might overhear her words.
Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "Everyone in the house is family, Madam Ruan, there's no need to worry."
"As soon as Xiaozhu got home, she said that the person who kidnapped her was Princess Rongqing. At first, I just thought she was talking nonsense, but after investigating, I found that this matter might actually be related to the princess." Madam Ruan said in a low voice, "This matter is being investigated by Prince Qin and her father together. The four men in black they tracked down two days ago all committed suicide, and the clues just went cold. They haven't found anything useful in the past two days... So, her father, on a whim, investigated the people around Princess Rongqing. As a result, four top imperial guards were missing from Princess Rongqing's side..."
“I did clearly hear the men in black mention Princess Rongqing, but there is no evidence,” Cheng Wanwan said. “The four men in black who kidnapped me and Miss Ruan are dead, and the four imperial bodyguards who were with Princess Rongqing have disappeared. These two things can be said to be related, or they can be said to be completely unrelated. Madam Ruan, do you think the Empress Dowager would convict Princess Rongqing because of such a coincidence?”
Before Madam Ruan could speak, Ruan Mingzhu said anxiously, "Then what should we do? Are we just going to let this go? What if she tries to do something again later?"
Madam Ruan nodded: "Princess Rongqing is deeply favored by the Empress Dowager and has many capable people around her. If she fails once, she will try a second or third time. Then Xiaozhu will always be in danger. I am too old to bear such frights."
“Madam Ruan, there’s no need to worry. Princess Rongqing is probably after me,” Cheng Wanwan said. “I’m sending people to investigate Princess Rongqing secretly to see if we can find any breakthrough.”
"Since Consort Sui is from out of town, why would Princess Rongqing bother with her?" Madam Ruan said with a wry smile. "My daughter has been spoiled since she was little. She must have offended the princess unknowingly at the palace banquet, and the princess must have held a grudge against her..."
Cheng Wanwan opened her lips slightly, but did not argue further.
After all, Princess Rongqing and Prince Qin were considered siblings by the common people. If she said that Rongqing liked Prince Qin, probably few people would believe her.
She began by asking, "Does Madam Ruan have any plans?"
“Little Pearl is the apple of our family’s eye. If this matter is not properly resolved in public, her father and several brothers might secretly target Princess Rongqing. If they are caught red-handed, our Ruan family will be going against the royal family. I can’t just stand by and watch that happen. But the anger in their hearts is also a hidden danger.” Madam Ruan sighed. “Therefore, I have no choice but to go and pay my respects to the Empress Dowager and ask her to uphold justice.”
Ruan Mingzhu said with a smile, "My mother's idea is that instead of going to great lengths to find evidence to convict Princess Rongqing, it would be better to let Princess Rongqing prove her innocence."
Cheng Wanwan's eyes lit up.
Madam Ruan is truly clever; she never even thought of that.
Given that General Ruan Jingwei was a rough and unruly man who was prone to offending people, his ability to maintain his position as a second-rank general must have been largely due to the efforts of his wife.
She stood up: "I will go to the palace with Madam Ruan."
Madam Ruan did not refuse; the more people there were, the better their chances of winning would be.
Cheng Wanwan changed her clothes and rode in a carriage with Ruan and her daughter to the palace.
Madam Ruan was a second-rank imperial consort, and Cheng Wanwan was a third-rank lady. After handing over their palace tokens and receiving a report from the palace servants, a palace maid led the three of them toward Renshou Palace.
Renshou Palace is located on the central axis of the palace, which is enough to show the Empress Dowager's status.
The side hall had been converted into a Buddhist shrine, where incense smoke curled and the sound of wooden fish drums echoed. The Empress Dowager and Rongqing knelt on prayer cushions, reciting scriptures with their eyes closed.
About half an hour later, the chanting ended, and the nanny immediately brought water to help the two wash their hands.
The palace maid reported softly, "The Empress Dowager, Madam Ruan, Miss Ruan, and Lady Sui Shu are already waiting in the side hall."
The Empress Dowager wiped her hands clean and nodded, saying, "Go to the side hall."
Rongqing immediately helped the elderly woman up and said softly, "I'll go with you."
The Empress Dowager patted the back of her hand and said with a smile, "You've spent half the day with me in the Buddhist hall, you must be tired. Go back and rest."
"It's Rongqing's blessing to be able to accompany the Empress Dowager, how could I be tired?" Rongqing nestled against the Empress Dowager. "Let's go, don't keep Madam Ruan and Consort Sui waiting."
The Empress Dowager did not refuse again, and the two left the Buddhist hall and entered a side hall.
As soon as Rong Qing stepped inside, he saw Cheng Wanwan waiting in the hall, and a chilling aura immediately welled up in the depths of her eyes.
Two attempts failed to kill this vile woman; it's unclear whether she was too merciful or simply too lucky.
This vile woman went to the palace with the Ruan family to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. Was she trying to file a complaint?
Oh!
She learned from her previous experience and handled the matter efficiently this time, leaving no evidence behind, so filing a complaint would be futile.
After entering, Rong Qing smiled gently and said, "I heard that Sui Shuren and Miss Ruan had some trouble while admiring the plum blossoms at Linxi Xishan. The Empress Dowager has mentioned it several times."
After Madam Ruan and her daughter paid their respects, the two suddenly knelt on the ground with a thud: "This humble woman has come to the palace to ask Your Majesty the Empress Dowager to seek justice for my daughter!"
Cheng Wanwan: "..."
He didn't even tell her before kneeling down, and she just stood there awkwardly.
She slowly knelt down and said, "This humble woman also wishes to ask Your Majesty the Empress Dowager to uphold justice for this humble woman!"
The Empress Dowager had just looked relaxed, thinking they had come to the palace for a casual chat, but the three of them immediately knelt on the ground, clearly indicating that they had suffered a great injustice.
After a little thought, I knew what the grievance was.
The Empress Dowager spoke up: "You must have come about Lin Xi's matter. The Sixth Prince has already spoken to me about this, and I have sent several people to assist him in investigating carefully. I will definitely give both of you an explanation."
"It's not that I don't trust the Prince of Qin, but his identity is special. Even if he finds out something, I dare not tell Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." Lady Ruan raised her head. "I only had this daughter when I was forty years old. I really don't want my daughter to be in danger again. That's why I came to the palace to ask Your Majesty the Empress Dowager to make a decision. What I'm about to say may be a bit disrespectful. Please forgive me, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!"
The Empress Dowager frowned deeply: "Madam Ruan has truly confused me. Speak your mind directly, and I will forgive you."
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