Jinyi Spring

Chapter 217 Dirty Affairs

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, members of the imperial family, officials of the fourth rank and above, and their families entered the palace to pay New Year's respects to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Because they were still in mourning, Shui Chuchen and others could not show their faces.

Inside the Cining Palace, imperial concubines, princesses, and noblewomen entered the hall in turn to pay their respects. In addition to the imperial concubines and princesses who were given seats, several elderly and virtuous members of the imperial family and noblewomen were also granted seats.

With the help of Madam Ming, Old Madam Ming paid New Year's respects to Empress Dowager Xue.

Empress Dowager Xue accepted the greeting with a smile and offered her a seat. Then she sighed to Old Madam Ming, "I originally intended to bestow a marriage upon General Ming, but then that incident happened... After all, we grew up together, so let's wait a little longer."

A hint of reluctance appeared on her face.

Old Madam Ming knew she was being hypocritical, but she had no choice but to feign gratitude. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. Alas, that boy is here to collect a debt. Perhaps he'll be alright in a few years."

The women in the room continued to praise the Empress Dowager's kindness and benevolence.

Empress Dowager Xue smiled faintly, "General Ming is dedicated to defending the borders and has won the Emperor's favor. I know this in my heart."

Next, Madam Sun from the Zhenbei Marquis's residence, supported by her eldest daughter-in-law Madam Sun, stepped forward to offer New Year's greetings.

Old Madam Sun was over sixty years old, with a full head of white hair, but still in good spirits. Madam Sun the First was only in her twenties, and was beautiful and charming. The two women standing together were particularly eye-catching.

Empress Dowager Xue smiled and said, "Old Madam Sun is still in good health."

Madam Sun curtsied and smiled, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

In previous years, the two women, mother and daughter-in-law, would stand and exchange a few words before leaving the main hall.

For some reason, Empress Dowager Xue unusually granted the old lady a seat today.

Madam Sun was both surprised and honored, and quickly sat down.

Empress Dowager Xue's gaze lingered on Madam Sun's face for a moment, and she smiled, "I remember that before Madam Sun was married, she was the most beautiful of the four beauties in the capital."

Afterwards, he inquired in detail about the Sun family's children, and asked Sun Chengyu a few more questions.

The Sun family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were flattered and quickly answered their questions.

Sun Chengyu, the second grandson of the Marquis of Zhenbei, is twenty years old this year. He is tall and handsome, with delicate eyebrows and long eyes. He is outstanding in riding and archery and is known as "Little Zhao Yun". At a young age, he has already served as a fifth-rank general in the Left Guard of the Imperial Guard and is recognized as the most promising grandson to inherit the title.

But he has exceptionally high standards and is still unmarried at the age of twenty.

Many women who went to his house to propose marriage were rejected for various reasons.

In terms of family background, future prospects, appearance, and martial arts skills, he was an excellent candidate to become the emperor's son-in-law.

Everyone in the hall was shrewd; the Empress Dowager's question was clearly not just ordinary small talk.

Princess Yong'an is only two days younger than the Second Princess, and both should be seventeen this year. Yong'an is the eldest, so she might be chosen. However, the Second Princess is more closely related to Empress Dowager Xue, so such a fine young man might also be chosen for her.

Old Mrs. Ming's expression remained unchanged, but her heart sank. She picked up her teacup, using the moment of drinking tea to conceal the slight displeasure in her eyes.

She knew that the Empress Dowager must have intended to speak to Princess Yong'an. Princess Yong'an had barely returned home when she began to scheme about marriage.

When Empress Dowager Xue changed the subject, the Sun family mother and daughter-in-law tactfully took their leave, and the Ming family mother and daughter-in-law also took their leave.

After leaving the palace, the four men of the Ming family, spanning three generations and having paid their New Year's respects to the Emperor, were waiting for the old lady at the palace gate. Upon seeing her emerge, the old Duke and the old lady boarded the first carriage, Madam Ming boarded the second carriage, and the Duke, Ming Changqing, and Ming Shanyue each mounted their horses.

The old lady lifted the curtain and called out, "Shanyue, get in the carriage."

Ming Shanyue was slightly taken aback, then dismounted and got into the carriage. As soon as the carriage curtain was lowered, the old lady's face darkened.

The old Duke asked in a low voice, "Rong'er, what happened?"

The old lady said in a low voice, "Empress Dowager Xue intends to give Yong'an to Sun Chengyu of the Zhenbei Marquis's family. Now that Prince Qin has just been established as the crown prince, she is no longer willing to pretend."

The old Duke said angrily, "That old woman probably knows how fiercely the struggle for the heir apparent is in the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion—the old lady favors Sun Dalang, while the Zhenbei Marquis dotes on Sun Erlang, and the family is in complete chaos. Humph, the Emperor already knows about Shanyue and Yong'an's fates, and he will definitely not agree."

Ming Shanyue said in a deep voice, "Even if there is no such thing as destiny, Yong'an cannot make him a prince consort. When we were investigating another case, we unexpectedly discovered a dirty secret—there was an unclear relationship between Sun Chengyu and his stepmother, Madam Sun."

He spoke subtly, but the elderly couple understood immediately and looked at him in shock.

The old Duke was stunned for a moment, then his face turned ashen, and he cursed in a low voice, "You beast! Does the Empress Dowager know about this?"

Ming Shanyue said, "Those two were extremely cautious. It was my men who climbed onto their roof in the middle of the night and found out. However, it's also possible that Xue Jicheng, who was the deputy commander of the Flying Eagle Guard before, learned about this information by chance."

The old lady sneered, her eyes filled with frost. "No wonder Sun Erlang is still unmarried at such an old age. It must be Madam Sun who is interfering. Lord Sun seems shrewd, but he is betrayed by both his wife and his own son without even realizing it. He is a fool. The mess in his family is probably even worse than what is said outside."

She paused, her voice growing even colder, "Empress Dowager Xue is despicable, actually trying to force such a filthy and rotten man onto Yong'an. Does she really think Yong'an is an easy country girl to manipulate? Even if the Emperor loses his mind and agrees, this old woman will risk her life to never let them succeed."

Ming Shanyue's lips were pressed into a thin line, and suppressed anger surged in her eyes.

How could that old woman come up with such a vicious idea? Chenchen is such a pure and innocent girl, and she actually wants to associate her with that kind of dirty man.

We must tell Chenchen about this as soon as possible...

The carriage sped along the palace road, its wheels churning over the bluestone slabs with a dull thud. A few gusts of cold wind blew through the gaps in the curtains, casting flickering light on the faces of the people inside.

The group discussed the matter in hushed tones.

The second day of the Lunar New Year. According to palace rules, all imperial concubines with married daughters are allowed to send their daughters to the palace to visit their birth mothers today.

Princess Yanghe arrived first with Shangguan Ruyu. Shangguan Yunqi did not come, and even if he did, Empress Dowager Xue would not give him a warm welcome.

Upon entering the side hall of Cining Palace, Empress Dowager Xue was sitting on a soft couch with a sullen face.

Shangguan Ruyu knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Grandson kowtows to Grandmother Empress, wishing Grandmother Empress eternal life and all the best."

Empress Dowager Xue snorted and turned her face away.

Shangguan Ruyu crawled to her on her knees, grabbed her clothes and said coquettishly, "Grandmother, if you're unhappy, just give your grandson a few slaps. Please don't upset yourself, it will break your heart."

Empress Dowager Xue's eyes reddened instantly. She patted his back twice, her voice choked, "You naughty boy, why didn't you tell me about that matter sooner? If I had known earlier, I could have suppressed those two wretches, Xue Qinghe and Xue Jicheng, and Wan'er wouldn't have died so tragically."

She pounded her chest, tears streaming down her face, "Poor Wan'er, how painful must that kind of death have been?" (End of Chapter)