Ruan Niang was extremely shocked. The fact that Sheng Xiyan was picked up was a secret that few people knew when they were in Jiangnan. Why would someone suddenly ask about this?
"Auntie, it's raining heavily outside. Let's talk inside the shop."
In the pharmacy, Ruan Niang examined the old woman's leg. "Auntie, there's nothing wrong with it. Are you from Jiangnan? Why did you come to the capital? Are you seeking refuge with your children?"
Ruan Niang looked the old woman up and down, wondering if she was Sheng Xiyan's mother, and had come looking for her? It didn't look like it!
The old woman said excitedly, "Let me see Doctor Sheng and Madam Sheng. I have something important to ask."
Ruan Niang sighed and said, "My father passed away many years ago, so we and our family came to the capital."
Since this matter concerned Sheng Xiyan's life experience, Ruan Niang did not dare to delay, "Auntie, please come to our house and have a seat."
Raindrops dripped down the eaves, splashing tiny water droplets on the bluestone slabs.
The front hall of Sheng Mansion.
"Have some hot tea first." Mother Sheng handed over the celadon teacup and looked at the old woman's tattered clothes. "You said... you want to find the girl who was picked up that year?"
The old woman's skinny fingers suddenly grabbed Mother Sheng's wrist. "Madam! Is there a plum blossom-shaped mark on the right side of the child's shoulder?"
The pupils of Sheng's mother and Ruan Niang suddenly shrank - there was indeed a plum blossom mark on the back right shoulder of Sheng Xiyan, which would turn red during warming up.
"You... who are you? Are you her mother?" Mother Sheng's voice tightened.
Tears rolled down the old woman's eyes: "What a sin... That child should have been a daughter of a rich family..."
Thunder roared outside the window, illuminating the old woman's wrinkled face.
She trembled and took out a faded embroidered handkerchief from her bosom, on which were crookedly embroidered the words "Luan'er".
The old woman shook her head and said, "How could I be so lucky? The little girl is so pretty. Her mother is also beautiful, otherwise she would not have been brought into the palace to be a favorite concubine."
The teacup in Sheng's mother's hand paused. The more she listened, the more confused she became. What was going on?
How could Sheng Xiyan's biological mother enter the palace as a favorite concubine and be the concubine of the late emperor?
The old woman's cloudy eyes were full of stories. She wiped away her tears and snot several times before she spoke softly.
"Twenty years ago, I was a wet nurse for the Su family in Jiangnan. My baby girl was less than a month old. After a month or two, I gradually heard people in the mansion whispering that the child wasn't the daughter of the master and his wife, but the biological daughter of his wife's sister.
The lady's elder sister was a fairy-like person. After her husband died, she was brought to the capital by an official named Feng and became the emperor's concubine. So she entrusted her own daughter to her younger sister and brother-in-law.
I worked as a wet nurse for more than half a year, and Mrs. Su kept withholding my monthly salary, which led to the death of my little grandson who was waiting for medical treatment at home.
I was holding a grudge at that time, and sometimes I would secretly pinch Miss Luan'er to vent my anger. Anyway, Mrs. Su never cared about Miss Luan'er.
That day was the day for settling the money. Madam Su said that she would move her family to the capital and gave me a few copper coins, asking me to go with her to the capital to take care of the young lady. In a fit of anger, I threw Miss Luan'er onto the street.
But I felt guilty, so I hid in the dark and watched her being carried into the Sheng family pharmacy by your eldest son. I knew that you were a well-known good family, so I left with peace of mind.
For so many years, I have felt guilty about what happened back then. A few years ago, I heard that you had come to Beijing, and I thought of coming to look for you.
It took me three whole years to get from Jiangnan to the capital by begging.
Sheng's mother and Ruan Niang were overwhelmed with emotion after hearing this. They really wanted to scold the old woman. What if Sheng Xiyan was picked up by a bad person? What if she ended up in a bad family?
Ruan Niang said, "Auntie, you are so unkind. Because of your own affairs, you let such a little child wander on the streets, and caused the mother and daughter to be separated for so many years...
Hey, what do you call the Su family's favorite concubine? Have you found the family that owns her?
The old woman said, "A few days ago, I went to the Su Mansion and heard that Madam Su's eldest daughter had entered the palace as a concubine. I thought it was a bit strange, maybe..."
Ruan Niang was shocked and asked, "You said that Madam Su was afraid of being scolded by her sister, so she probably found a replacement baby?"
"Yes, otherwise what would she give to someone who wants a daughter?"
Mother Sheng murmured: "Su family, Su family, we do know one."
Ruan Niang slapped her forehead and said, "Madam Su's eldest daughter is the Jiafei in the palace, and Madam Su's sister is the Empress Dowager. It can't be their family, right?"
The old woman said, "It's the Su Mansion on Xinnan Old Street."
Ruan Niang said, "I don't know where their home is."
Mother Sheng ordered: "In that case, you can stay here first. What's your name?"
The old woman said, "My last name is Wang."
"Auntie Wang, please stay here first. We'll sort this out slowly. I'll have the maid take you to your room and bring you food."
Aunt Wang said hurriedly, "Sorry for the trouble."
At night, Sheng Jingheng came back and the family discussed at the dinner table.
Sheng Xitang said, "I know, the Su Mansion is on Xinnan Street."
Several people looked confused. The Sheng family and the Su family were really in a complicated relationship.
Ruan Niang asked, "How about taking Aunt Wang to see the Queen Mother?"
Sheng Jingheng shook his head: "No, how could the Queen Mother trust an old woman and not her own sister? If something goes wrong and the Su family bites back, our Sheng family will be guilty of deceiving the emperor, and it will not be good for Xiyan. Now the Queen Mother is vying to raise His Highness Yuchen.
This matter requires evidence, and it's best not to meet with the Queen Mother in the palace to clarify. I remember that the Queen Mother would leave the palace to worship Buddha on the first day of every month. Tomorrow I will make inquiries, and you can ask Aunt Wang if there is a token.
Mother Sheng said, "Jing Heng has considered everything carefully. Let's do it this way."
The next day, in the Cining Palace in the palace.
The Empress Dowager leaned on the carved rosewood couch and looked at Concubine Jia lovingly as she served her food.
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