Chapter 049: The Source Of Calamity

Go find Yan Lin?

The Yongyi Marquis’s residence was about to have an incident, and he had already received the news from Zhou Yinzhi and was secretly preparing. He was still in hiding, and it was uncertain whether it was appropriate for him to enter the palace now. By the time he arrived, who knew if Shen Jie had already entered the palace and rescued Zheng Bao?

What would be her role then?

But right now, she had no status, hadn’t even met the Empress, and knew very few people in the palace. She couldn’t even think of a more indirect way to save someone.

Standing at the back of the group, Jiang Xuening already felt a headache coming on.

The others who had stopped in front were also showing signs of fear.

The young palace maid leading the way clearly hadn’t expected to encounter such a situation.

This was the shortest route to Kunning Palace.

Those who had served in the palace for a long time had seen palace maids and eunuchs being punished before. They usually just kept their heads down and walked past, but with this large group of companions, everyone seemed scared.

Xiao Shu frowned, not wanting to encounter any bad luck just after entering the palace, and said to the palace maid, “We are all new to the palace and not used to such scenes. Let’s take another route.”

The palace maid breathed a sigh of relief, “Miss Xiao is right.”

She stepped back, gestured, and led the group down another palace path, “Please follow me, companions.”

Jiang Xuening showed no expression, but she was anxious inside. She couldn’t think of a solution at the moment. Although she felt that this was a rare opportunity, she had no choice but to follow the others and leave by another path.

As they turned, she looked back.

Zheng Bao was still kneeling in front of Kunning Palace, his back straight, unlike the usual hunched posture of eunuchs. His lowered, delicate eyebrows showed a hint of determination. He clearly heard people approaching, but his actions didn’t stop, still gritting his teeth and slapping his own face.

*

Because they took a detour, they arrived at the gate of Kunning Palace later than expected. An experienced-looking nanny was waiting outside and asked, “Why are you so late? The princess has already arrived and is inside talking with the Empress Dowager.”

The young palace maid trembled with fear.

Jiang Xuening suddenly had an idea.

Xiao Shu glanced at the young palace maid and explained, “We took a detour past Kunning Palace, so we are late. Please don’t blame us, Nanny Xu.”

Nanny Xu didn’t blame the young palace maid.

In the palace, one could guess the reason for a detour. Since Xiao Shu spoke, she didn’t ask further. Her previously stern face even showed a smile, “I see. Please come in, companions. Miss Xiao, it’s been a while since you visited the palace. The Empress Dowager has mentioned you several times since hearing you were selected as a companion.”

After all, she was a nanny serving the old witch, possibly having watched Xiao Shu grow up, so she was naturally familiar and kind.

Jiang Xuening sneered inwardly.

Although she was here, her mind was still on Zheng Bao, thinking that she might miss the opportunity because she had to pay respects to the old witch. She added another mark to the grudge against this aunt and niece duo.

Although Kunning Palace had always been the residence of the Empress Dowager and not overly luxurious, it had changed under the current Empress Dowager. Many tributes from foreign countries and provinces were sent to Kunning Palace, said to be gifts from Shen Lang to Empress Dowager Xiao.

So now, Kunning Palace looked very splendid.

Following Nanny Xu into the palace, Jiang Xuening saw lotus flowers and koi in carved vats, climbed the steps, entered the main hall, and saw golden beams and bricks, gold and jade everywhere, even the floor covered with fine Persian carpets.

Shen Zhiyi had changed into a light pink palace dress after returning to the palace. She was now in Kunning Palace, nestled beside Empress Dowager Xiao, chatting, “You should have seen, Master Xie is so amazing…”

Empress Zheng sat awkwardly nearby.

Nanny Xu stepped forward, “Empress Dowager, Empress, the companions have arrived.”

Shen Zhiyi, who had been talking animatedly, immediately stopped and turned to look.

Led by Xiao Shu, the eight companions, including Jiang Xuening, didn’t dare to look up after entering the hall. After Nanny Xu finished speaking, they all bowed, “Greetings to the Empress Dowager and the Empress.”

Their etiquette had been strictly taught by Su Shangyi, and since this was their first time meeting the two most important women in the harem, they didn’t dare to be careless, so there were almost no mistakes.

Generally speaking, after the greeting, they would be told to rise.

Unexpectedly, the voice from above, filled with a smile, completely ignored the others and directly addressed Xiao Shu below, “Shu’er is here, come up and let your aunt take a look.”

Everyone was stunned.

Xiao Shu sighed inwardly but couldn’t say anything. She stood up, put on a smile, and called out, “Aunt.”

She walked forward.

Empress Dowager Xiao, now forty-five or forty-six years old, had two sons and a daughter with the late emperor. Her eldest son was the current emperor, Shen Lang, her second son was the current Prince of Linzi, Shen Jie, and her youngest daughter was Princess Leyang, Shen Zhiyi.

Women who lived comfortably in the palace were well-maintained.

So she didn’t look very old. Although there were fine lines at the corners of her eyes, she had the charm of an experienced woman. When she smiled, one could almost see her youthful appearance. She held Xiao Shu’s hand and said, “You ungrateful child, you didn’t come to see your aunt the last time you entered the palace.”

Xiao Shu replied, “Last time I entered the palace for Zhiyi’s companion selection. If I had come to see you then, people would have criticized me for relying on you to stay in the palace. It’s fine if they slander me, but if they think you are biased, it would be my fault. Now that I am staying in the palace as a companion, it will be convenient to visit you often and make amends.”

Empress Dowager Xiao then had her sit beside her, carefully looked her over, and became more satisfied, saying, “I told your father I wanted you to stay in the palace, but he insisted it wasn’t proper, leaving Zhiyi without a playmate and having to find companions from outside the palace. What a hassle! After all the trouble, aren’t you still staying in the palace? And living in Yangzhi Zhai is not as comfortable as Kunning Palace. Really…”

The other companions still kneeling in the hall kept their heads down, not daring to look up.

Jiang Xuening knew the old witch well and understood she was implying that the companions, except for Xiao Shu, were unnecessary and couldn’t compare to Xiao Shu.

But now she wasn’t the empress and couldn’t retort.

The aunt and niece chatted as if no one else was there.

Shen Zhiyi glanced at her mother and then at Jiang Xuening, still kneeling below. She wanted to speak but knew her mother’s temperament, understanding she wanted to give the companions a hard time, so she didn’t say anything.

Kneeling properly was exhausting.

Jiang Xuening’s knees began to hurt after a while, and she cursed the old witch a thousand times in her heart.

Fortunately, Empress Zheng was kind-hearted. Seeing the young girls below starting to wobble, she hesitated but then smiled and casually said, “Seeing Miss Xiao makes Mother happy. But while you’re enjoying your conversation, these young girls are still kneeling below. They look like they’re about to collapse.”

Empress Dowager Xiao, who had been talking to Xiao Shu, stopped.

Her eyes, filled with the authority of years of ruling the harem, glanced below and then back at Empress Zheng, smiling faintly, “You always play the good person.”

Empress Zheng’s face changed, and she stood to apologize.

Empress Dowager Xiao waved her hand, laughed, and said to the girls below, “The Empress is kind-hearted and can’t bear to see anyone suffer. Since she has spoken, if you continue kneeling, it would make me seem unkind. Stand up.”

“Thank you, Empress Dowager, Empress.”

Everyone was a bit frightened by her words, and after thanking her, they stood up cautiously.

Jiang Xuening took the opportunity to glance at Empress Zheng.

She was also a pitiful person.

After marrying Shen Lang, she hadn’t been empress for two years before being oppressed by Empress Dowager Xiao, having no dignity. After Shen Lang’s death, Shen Jie succeeded, and Empress Zheng, as the emperor’s sister-in-law, was made Empress Dowager and moved out, living a lonely life without children.

Shen Zhiyi, seeing Jiang Xuening stand up, felt slightly relieved and pouted, “Mother, you always scare people. They are supposed to play and study with me. If you scare them sick, who will play with me?”

Empress Dowager Xiao sighed, “I just forgot to tell them to stand up. How is that scaring them?”

Shen Zhiyi huffed, “Don’t I know you, Mother?”

Empress Dowager Xiao laughed, then suddenly remembered something and looked down, saying, “I remember Supervisor Su said one of the new companions is very likable to you. Is it Jiang Xuening? Step forward and let me see.”

Jiang Xuening’s heart skipped a beat when she heard the first part, and sure enough, her name was called. Although she didn’t want to be exposed to the old witch, she had no choice but to step forward, looking obedient, and greeted, “Your servant, Jiang Xuening, greets the Empress Dowager.”

Empress Dowager Xiao scrutinized her.

As she looked, her brows furrowed, and she said, “Too flamboyant, lacking in dignity, not enough decorum.”

“……”

Jiang Xuening had only one thought in her mind: Xie Wei should hurry up and rebel, chop this old witch into pieces, and feed her to the dogs!

I was born this beautiful.

Did I eat your family’s rice?

Although she thought this, she didn’t dare to say it.

Her life was at stake. She knew Empress Dowager Xiao’s temperament well and couldn’t argue with her, or she would suffer later. So she suppressed her anger and lowered her eyes, saying, “When I was young, my fate was troubled, so my parents sent me to the countryside to be raised in poverty. I only returned to the capital four years ago, so my knowledge is shallow, my manners are poor, and my behavior is frivolous. Today, seeing the Empress Dowager, I am very fearful and at a loss. I will strictly discipline myself in the future and will not slack off as the princess’s companion.”

Empress Dowager Xiao was taken aback, not expecting her to say this, and looked at her with new respect, “Your appearance is frivolous, but your words are steady.”

However, she still found her flamboyant appearance uncomfortable.

She waved her hand dismissively and said jokingly, “Enough, stand back. I heard you are the apple of the Yongyi Marquis’s eye. That family doesn’t look kindly on me. If I make things difficult for you, they will surely gossip.”

The Yongyi Marquis’s Yan family and the Duke Dingguo’s Xiao family had intermarried over twenty years ago, but now they seemed to avoid each other, even showing mutual hostility.

Everyone had heard rumors but didn’t know the reason.

But today, hearing it clearly from Empress Dowager Xiao, they were all a bit shocked.

Jiang Xuening, caught in the middle, sensed a hint of ominousness.

First, Xiao Shu publicly mentioned Yan Lin giving her a qin, and now Empress Dowager Xiao joked about the Xiao and Yan families’ relationship, as if they no longer regarded the Yongyi Marquis’s family as important.

She silently stepped back to her place.

At this moment, a palace servant announced that Eunuch Liu from the Ministry of Internal Affairs had arrived.

Empress Dowager Xiao raised her hand and called him in, asking, “What’s the matter?”

Eunuch Liu, with a fat head and big ears, looked very fawning. When he came in to salute, he almost bent to the ground, holding a brocade box high above his head, and said in a sharp voice, “The Empress Dowager mentioned breaking a jade ruyi the other day. The Emperor heard about it today and, thinking of you, specially ordered me to find the jade ruyi from last year’s Qinghai tribute and bring it to you.”

The jade ruyi from the Qinghai tribute?

Wait…

Jiang Xuening’s eyelid twitched, and she thought: Is this really happening now?!

“The Emperor is still so filial. Bring it here for me to see.”

Empress Dowager Xiao’s expression softened, and she raised her hand.

Eunuch Liu immediately bowed and presented the jade ruyi to Empress Dowager Xiao.

The jade ruyi was made of red jade, entirely crimson, with a snow-white head carved into an auspicious cloud pattern. It was a rare and exquisite piece.

Empress Dowager Xiao liked it very much.

But just as she said, “Not bad,” and turned the jade ruyi over, her expression froze, her smile vanished, and her eyes stared at the back of the jade ruyi, her face turning livid!

Because on the back were two lines of seal script:

Three hundred righteous children, what was their crime to die tragically?

The incompetent emperor, how dare he call himself the Son of Heaven!

“Audacious!”

Empress Dowager Xiao was furious.

The others didn’t know what had happened, but she had already smashed the jade ruyi to pieces!

The shattered red jade fell at Jiang Xuening’s feet, and she didn’t dare move, her scalp tingling—

This was the event.

The calamity that befell the Yongyi Marquis’s family…