The Fourth Prince's decree arrived quickly, and Madam Chen, along with the Eighth Prince's two children, went to the Eighth Prince's residence. The Eighth Prince's wife leaned listlessly against the soft couch, her face gaunt and pale after just a few days, a far cry from her former haughty and radiant self. Madam Chen led the two children slowly inside, and the Eighth Prince's wife, snapping out of her reverie, looked at the three of them with an utterly bleak smile.
"Madam, I've come with the children to say goodbye to my sister!" Although Madam Chen was deeply saddened by this, she still spoke up for the sake of her two children.
As the Eighth Prince's wife raised her hand, her personal maid quickly stepped forward to steady her.
"His Majesty cares most about Consort Xi's words, and he has already issued an edict ordering you to take the children and leave this place so quickly," the Eighth Prince's wife said softly, her eyes filled with a despair that seemed to have been prepared all along.
Madam Chen pushed the two children forward. The children, timid and hesitant, dared not raise their heads, shrinking back and looking at Madam Chen with pleading eyes. Madam Chen said urgently, "Aren't you going to pay your respects to the Princess Consort?"
The two children then exchanged a glance, knelt down, and kowtowed, saying, "Greetings to the Madam..."
The Eighth Prince's wife had never given his two children a second glance, and was extremely harsh on them. The children, in turn, lived in constant fear and trepidation towards her. Looking at the children's terrified eyes, the Eighth Prince's wife felt a bitter pang in her heart and suddenly wanted to hug them. But as soon as she reached out, the children immediately panicked and trembled violently.
The Eighth Prince's wife's hand froze in mid-air. She silently withdrew it, a pang of sorrow in her heart. She nodded and said, "Get up!"
Madam Chen hurriedly bowed and said, "Please calm down, Your Highness. The children are ignorant and will not be angry. Please do not blame them!"
The Eighth Prince's wife nodded and sighed, "It's not their fault. I didn't treat them well, which is why they're not close to me."
Chen stood aside, trembling with fear, unsure of what to say. The Eighth Prince's wife smiled and beckoned to Chen, who slowly walked over with a bowed back. The Eighth Prince's wife took Chen's hand and carefully instructed her, "I am entrusting the Eighth Prince's children to you. You must take good care of them."
Chen felt a lump in her throat and tears welled up in her eyes. Although the Eighth Prince's Mansion had not left her with any good memories, she had lived there for so many years, and she was reluctant to leave so suddenly.
Madam Chen nodded softly, sobbing, and said indistinctly, "Don't worry, Madam, I will remember this and will never let the Eighth Prince's child suffer..."
The Eighth Prince's wife smiled with satisfaction, glancing affectionately at the two children. The children's features were so strikingly similar to the Eighth Prince's, as if they had been sculpted from his mold. The two children timidly stole glances at the Eighth Prince's wife, their brows furrowed in confusion. The Eighth Prince's wife murmured, "So good..."
Chen was taken aback, and asked through sobs, "What did you say, sister?"
The Eighth Prince's wife quickly snapped out of her daze, wiped away the tears that were about to spill from the corners of her eyes, and shook her head with a smile, "It's nothing..." Then, remembering something, she exclaimed, "Oh, right! Pingrui, come here!"
An older maid with red eyes walked over. Chen Shi recognized her immediately. Wasn't this the Eighth Prince's wife's dowry maid? The Eighth Prince's wife pointed at Ping Rui and said to Chen Shi, "You can't be without capable people to serve you. This is my dowry maid, Ping Rui. I'm letting her come with you so that you can look after each other."
Pingrui bowed obediently to Madam Chen and said in a hoarse voice, "Greetings, Princess."
Chen was suspicious. Pingrui had never left the Eighth Prince's wife, so why would she give it to her at this time? Just as she was about to ask out of curiosity, the Eighth Prince's wife called out to the outside, "Granny Yao!" Chen turned around. She recognized Granny Yao and had suffered a lot of torment from her before, so she was somewhat displeased.
Granny Yao was quick-witted; she entered and treated Madam Chen with utmost respect. The Eighth Prince's wife said to Madam Chen, "Granny Yao is an old woman; she can take care of everything for you. With her around, you won't be caught off guard!"
Before Chen could refuse, Granny Yao bowed to her and said, "Greetings, Your Highness. I was confused before and was somewhat rude to you. Please forgive me."
Seeing that Granny Yao had already said so, Madam Chen had no choice but to bite her lip, lower her head, and silently agree.
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