Chapter 22 Stick your head out and you'll get stabbed; stick your head out and you'll still get sta
"Let's chat about everyday things? Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Shangguan Jin smiled and curtsied in the direction of the palace.
Eunuch Hu pinched the small purse at his waist again, thought for a moment, and then said, "Madam, there's no need to worry."
When I left, Her Majesty the Empress instructed me to have the lady finish her lunch before entering the palace, so we could chat a little longer.
Eunuch Hu dared not show any displeasure to Shangguan Jin now.
Before leaving, the Empress specifically told them to be friendly and not to frighten the Duchess of Dingguo.
Is there anything else that Eunuch Hu doesn't understand?
In just two days, the Duke of Dingguo's mansion seemed to have changed completely.
I heard that the Duchess of Dingguo made the Marquis of Wuding lose face on the spot!
The Marquis of Wuding's family were the Imperial Concubine's maternal relatives, which was tantamount to making the Imperial Concubine lose face, making the Prince of Qin, who was born to the Imperial Concubine, lose face, or rather, making the Duke of Anguo and the Empress Dowager lose face.
This... pleases Her Majesty the Empress greatly.
Over the years, the Imperial Concubine and the Empress have been locked in a fierce and tumultuous struggle within the palace, with both sides essentially exchanging blows.
The situation, which was initially somewhat deadlocked, was transformed by the interference of the Duchess of Dingguo, which showed the Empress a different path.
Although the imperial family has already appointed a crown prince.
Unfortunately, the Third Prince, the Prince of Qin, had strong support from his maternal family.
The Empress Dowager in the palace and the Duke of Anguo outside the palace were both formidable figures.
Although the Crown Prince has the support of Prime Minister Xu and the Duke of Qi, both sides are composed of civil officials.
For the Great Yu Dynasty, which conquered the world on horseback, things did not seem stable.
The crown prince's position is not secure!
As he pondered this, Eunuch Hu bowed respectfully to Shangguan Jin once more.
"Tomorrow at 1-3 PM, I will be waiting for you at the main gate of Fengyi Gate, Madam."
Shangguan Jin smiled and agreed, then watched as Steward Shen escorted Eunuch Hu out of the front hall.
Seeing the limping Eunuch Hu, Shangguan Jin knew what was going on.
At this moment, Shen Qingyue also followed Dongmai to the front hall.
Looking at the figures of Steward Shen and Eunuch Hu, Shen Qingyue thought for a moment and then spoke.
“I know this father-in-law. He mentioned him briefly before my father had his accident.”
It is said that a eunuch from the imperial household offended the Imperial Concubine and was punished by the Empress Dowager, forced to kneel in the snow for three hours.
Later, one of his legs was damaged. The Empress Dowager originally said that there should be no disabled servants in the imperial court, and wanted to send this eunuch Hu to the Cold Palace.
But the Empress intervened, saying that the person had been with the imperial family since childhood and there was some affection between them, so she took the person into her palace.
"Oh, so your leg is frostbitten?" Shangguan Jin understood.
"Well, it's not that bad, but I heard that the pain becomes unbearable on rainy days."
In the Imperial Medical Academy, the Consort had also given orders not to treat Eunuch Hu's leg.
This eunuch could only seek treatment from some doctors outside the palace, but he was never satisfied.
"I heard from my father before that Eunuch Hu had a small courtyard outside the palace to treat his leg!" Shen Qingyue continued.
Shangguan Jin nodded.
It seems this daughter knows quite a lot.
"Dongmai, when the Duke was alive, didn't he often use a kind of medicinal wine to rub his legs?"
It is said that when they were in the north, where it was freezing cold and covered in ice and snow, the soldiers would drink this medicinal wine every night before resting.
"Have Steward Shen discreetly inquire where that Eunuch Hu's courtyard is outside the palace, and send a pot of that medicinal wine to Eunuch Hu." Shangguan Jin suddenly said.
Dongmai immediately agreed.
Shen Qingyue, who was standing to the side, thought for a moment and then quickly stepped forward to help Shangguan Jin sit down.
"Mother? You think this Eunuch Hu is actually a member of the imperial family, right?" Shen Qingyue asked softly.
Shangguan Jin was taken aback; this girl was far too clever!
"Tell me, why do you think that way?" Shangguan Jin said with a smile.
Shen Qingyue smiled shyly.
"This eunuch Hu looks like he's from the Empress's palace, but in reality, he's a member of the imperial family."
Otherwise, the Empress wouldn't have suggested sending Eunuch Hu to invite her mother.
Eunuch Hu's position in the Empress's palace was second only to the Grand Eunuch, but this position was merely for show.
Because of her aunt, the Empress never took the initiative to summon her mother.
But it's unusual to invite you to chat about family matters after Grandmother's birthday banquet.
My father has always been a member of the imperial family; everyone in Da Yu knows that.
If Her Majesty the Empress truly only wanted to invite you for a casual chat, she could have easily sent someone to invite you.
But she sent Eunuch Hu instead.
Perhaps, the one who truly wants to see the mother is not the Empress, but... the Imperial Family! Shen Qingyue slowly analyzed.
The more Shangguan Jin looked at Shen Qingyue, the more she realized he was no ordinary person.
The little girl analyzed the situation clearly in just a few simple sentences.
“Sister Yao is right. Actually, it should be the Tian family who want to see me.”
For the past three years, the Duke of Dingguo's mansion has been stuck in the same old circle.
"You're all grown up now, the Duke's mansion can't continue like this." Shangguan Jin said with a smile.
Shen Qingyue nodded seriously.
“Mother is right, the Duke of Dingguo’s mansion can no longer be like it was before.”
Yao'er could understand her mother's intention in celebrating her grandmother's birthday this time.
That was to let all the nobles in the capital know that the Duke of Dingguo's mansion was still the same Duke's mansion, and not something to be bullied at will.
Actually, the palace summoned Mother probably to try and get some information from her!
Listening to Shen Qingyue's methodical analysis, Shangguan Jin suddenly felt a little guilty.
Actually, at first, she really just wanted to make some money.
"Alright, things have come to this. Since the imperial family wants to see me, I will go."
Actually, whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll get stabbed anyway, so you might as well go all out.
"By the way, Sister Yue, what did you put in that little purse you prepared for Eunuch Hu?" Shangguan Jin asked.
"Two fifty-tael silver notes, and four gold beans, all from your box," Shen Qingyue hurriedly said.
Shangguan Jin felt a pang of heartache upon hearing this.
But one has to admire how well Shen Qingyue prepared.
Given Eunuch Hu's rank, one hundred taels of silver was a fair amount. Eunuch Hu was the second-ranking eunuch in the Empress's palace, so he should have seen plenty of such fine things.
Shen Qingyue also packed four extra gold beans for Eunuch Hu to use as rewards for the eunuchs.
That's good, much more thoughtful than she thought of.
It seems that Shen Qingyue will also have to prepare those small purses for my trip to the palace tomorrow.
Before Shangguan Jin could even speak, a maid from Old Madam Shen's room came to invite her.
"Madam, the old lady requests your presence for a chat."
Shangguan Jin sighed.
Being the Duchess of a noble family isn't easy; she has to be involved in everything!
"Sister Yao, you can go back now! I'll go see your grandmother. Remember to bring Sister Yu to my room for breakfast tomorrow morning."
Winter Wheat, you should go back and rest too! You've been busy for days, take a good rest.
After Shangguan Jin finished speaking, she hurriedly led Lin's mother towards Old Madam Shen's courtyard.
Actually, nothing serious happened to Madam Shen. She had planned to lie down and rest when she suddenly heard that someone from the palace had come and that the Empress had summoned her daughter-in-law to the palace.
This made Old Madam Shen think a little too much.
Why would you summon your daughter-in-law to the palace for no reason?
It's been three years, and this is the first time they've invited a daughter-in-law into the palace!
Even when news of her son's disappearance reached them, there was no reaction from the palace!
Madam Shen was a little worried.
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