After the fifth day of the lunar new year, Song Yaozhu sent out invitations to several families in the capital, inviting a few ladies she was on good terms with to come and enjoy the plum blossoms together.
When Madam Zhai received the invitation, she was quite puzzled. She and this carefree Princess Consort had never been anything amiss, so why would she receive an invitation?
However, she did not underestimate the Prince's Mansion. After all, everyone now knew that Xie Liwei had saved the Emperor. This news was naturally spread by Xie Liwei himself; he wasn't stupid enough to refuse a reward.
Therefore, she specifically asked her husband that evening whether Zhai Xianjin was able to get into the cabinet not only because of his extensive knowledge, but also because of his smooth and tactful approach.
He thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness has not held office for many years. Now that you have been granted an official position, it is because you are eager to make friends. You should bring some gifts with you tomorrow. It will probably be a mutual test when you first meet, but nothing bad will happen."
Madam Zhai agreed and didn't take it to heart. As the wife of a high-ranking official, she had attended many banquets like this.
The next day she went to the Prince Xiaoyao's mansion. Yongle arrived early in the morning. She ate and drank at home and gained weight, making her already round face even more endearing.
"The food here is still the best." She popped a piece of milk cake into her mouth. "Granny Qin's cooking is truly excellent!"
"Aren't you afraid of upsetting Granny Feng by saying that?"
“That’s different. Granny Feng isn’t good at cooking. When your child grows up, I can lend you Granny Feng so your child can learn proper manners.”
Song Yaozhu: "......"
Granny Feng: "..." She just wanted to retire peacefully.
Not long after, Shen Qingyu arrived. She had returned to the Tzu Chi Foundation after the third year of junior high school and came from there.
"These are pastries that Madam Lu asked me to bring for you." Shen Qingyu placed the food box on the table, smiling gently and sweetly, but her smile held a great deal of magnanimity and brightness. "The children can't do without Madam Lu; she really can't get away from her duties."
Although Madam Lu's son was not well-liked, Madam Lu herself was quite nice. The women got along very well with her; Madam Lu was very knowledgeable, with interests ranging from cooking and needlework to classical texts and philosophical works.
When asked, she explained that she had taught herself some things to test her son's studies. This made them incredibly admire her; how could someone be so remarkable? Not only did they like her, but the children at the Tzu Chi Foundation also fawned over her. It seemed that in this world, apart from her own family, no one could dislike her.
"I think it's because Madam Lu can't live without those little brats!" Yongle stuck out his tongue, then started eating the pastries Madam Lu had made.
Before long, guests arrived one after another, and Yongle and Shen Qingyu got up to greet the guests in place of Song Yaozhu.
Madam Zhai arrived at a reasonable time. After handing the gifts to the gatekeeper, she went to pay her respects to the host family. On the way, she met several familiar ladies and exchanged greetings with them.
Madam Zhai entered the inner room and saw Song Yaozhu sitting at the head of the table. She greeted her with a smile and realized that she was alone in the room. She thought she would talk to Song Yaozhu for a bit and then leave, but Song Yaozhu's words made her stay.
"Madam Zhai, try this. It's a specialty of Xuzhou." Song Yaozhu said with a smile. "An old friend of mine sent it to me from Xuzhou. I suppose Princess Yong also sent you some?"
Madam Zhai sat upright, knowing that Song Yaozhu's purpose in summoning her today was not simple.
She held this plum blossom appreciation banquet so that she could talk to me about her daughter.
"I have never been to Xuzhou, and my daughter has never sent these things back. It is only here with the Princess that I have had a taste of something new."
"That's true. Madam has a large household to manage. She might not even know what the Princess sent back."
Madam Zhai found Song Yaozhu's words inexplicable. As the matriarch of the household, how could she not know whether her daughter had sent her anything?
"Madam Zhai has been in charge for so long, she must think that everyone below her is obedient enough. It is precisely because of this mentality that sometimes it is easy for servants to hide things from their masters."
Madam Zhai's face turned cold. "Princess, please speak your mind directly. There's no need for veiled attacks and beating around the bush."
Song Yaozhu looked at her, then slowly picked up her teacup and moistened her throat.
"So, you mean Madam was completely unaware of your daughter's plot to murder the prince?"
Madam Zhai's expression changed drastically, and she stood up from her chair in fright. She immediately realized her behavior was inappropriate and feigned anger, saying, "Your Highness, how can you rely on your status to spout such nonsense! How can you ruin someone's reputation without evidence!"
Song Yaozhu looked up at her, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Is that so? It seems Madam is unaware. In that case, I'll just hand this evidence over to Princess Xuan, since she'll be arriving soon anyway."
Madam Zhai glared at her; she knew this was blackmail, a deception. But she didn't know if Song Yaozhu had any evidence.
In her letter, her daughter said that she had handled the situation well, but everything leaves a trace. There's no guarantee that there won't be any oversights that her daughter might have overlooked, which could be used against her.
She just couldn't understand why anyone could threaten the Zhai family, but it had to be the Princess Consort of Xiaoyao.
The Carefree Prince has remained outside the power struggles for years, and the Xie family is now focused on teaching. How did they learn about this?
"Madam Zhai, have you thought this through? This is a heinous crime of harming a prince. Can your Zhai family bear the consequences?"
Madam Zhai gritted her teeth, and the nanny beside her held her tightly, afraid that she would faint from fright.
Madam Zhai also kept a close eye on Song Yaozhu, unsure whether she was trying to trick her.
"Your Highness, my daughter would never do such a thing!"
Song Yaozhu didn't expect her to admit it so quickly, and still smiled and said, "Madam, please don't be in a hurry, sit down and talk."
Madam Zhai sat down shakily, about to take a sip of tea to calm her nerves, when she heard Song Yaozhu ask, "I heard that your daughter recently met a master and received guidance from him?"
Madam Zhai's hand trembled violently; if the nanny hadn't been quick-witted, the teacup would have fallen to the ground.
Zhai Gewen did indeed know someone who suggested that she imprison Prince Yong and seize control of the palace.
It's better to be a princess who goes unnoticed than to die because of her involvement in a treason.
But her daughter never informed the family of any of this beforehand; she only informed them afterward using the family's secret method of communication. Just reading the contents of the letter terrified Madam Zhai.
Grand Secretary Zhai felt regretful, thinking that if it weren't for the fact that Prince Yong was incompetent, his daughter would have been a worthy empress.
"Your Highness, what exactly do you want to say!" Madam Zhai understood. This carefree princess knew everything. She had sent her here to blackmail their family with this matter.
But your Xie family hasn't produced a prince, so we can't expect them to support that baby who's still drinking milk, can we?
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