Chapter 623 - Chapter 623: Consort
Chapter 623: Consort
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The Empress continued to cut the branches. “We have to return the 354 blood debts of the Ning Residence one by one.”
Dan Hong lowered her head tightly.
Ever since the entire Ning Residence was executed back then, the Empress had lost her beloved son in a daze. After being sick for a long time, she was now very pitiful.
People thought she was mourning for the late emperor.
However, her curses and hatred for the emperor had never stopped.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager of the Longevity Palace also received a token from Old Madam Yu.
The Empress Dowager put down her teacup. “The last time I saw Old Madam Yu was two years ago. When King Li of Zhou died, Old Madam Yu entered the palace. At that time, Old Madam Yu was still weak, but she was in good spirits.”
Auntie Shen smiled and said, “Old Madam Yu is also blessed. Eldest Miss Yu has learned fragrance, medicine, and food from Auntie Xu and has nourished
Old Madam Yu’s health well.”
The Empress Dowager was clearly not unfamiliar with Yu Youyao. “Filial piety is the most important. I wasn’t wrong.”
Miss Shen hurriedly said, “How could the Empress Dowager be wrong? Eldest Miss Yu even opened two good halls in the capital. One is in the east) and the other is in the west. She has taken in many orphans and widows. It’s obvious that she’s really virtuous.”
The Empress Dowager also knew about this. She pondered for a moment.
“Fourth Brother isn’t young anymore, right?”
Auntie Shen lowered her eyes. “Fourth Prince is 17 years old, half a year younger than thw Third Prince.”
The Empress Dowager twirled the prayer beads on her wrist. “Second and Third Brothers will naturally be managed by thier mothers, so there’s no need for me to worry. Poor Fourth Brother…” At this point, her expression softened and she said, “What do you think about me giving Eldest Miss Yu to Fourth Brother as a concubine?”
Miss Shen even lowered her head. “I think the Empress Dowager has already made a decision.”
Since the Empress Dowager had mentioned it, there was no need for her to say anything else. No wonder the Empress Dowager had been paying a lot of attention to Eldest Miss Yu in the past few years. It turned out that she had such thoughts long ago.
The palace emphasized that a child’s status depended on its mother. The Fourth Prince’s status was a little low, but he was still a prince. He was more than worthy of Yu Youyao.
With the Empress Dowager’s decree, this marriage was suitable.
The Empress Dowager picked up her teacup again. When Old Madam Yu came over later, she could take the opportunity to ask her for her opinion.
After handing over the token asking to see the Empress Dowager, not long after, an eunuch from the Longevity Palace came over. “The Empress Dowager has invited Old Madam Yu over.”
“Thank you for leading the way, Eunuch.” Old Madam Yu quickly took the pouch she had prepared in advance and stuffed it into the eunuch’s hand.
After entering the palace, they had to follow the rules.
She had to make sure that all the palace servants she needed to interact with were clear.
The eunuch weighed it quietly and smiled more solicitously. “Matriarch’s health isn’t good. The Empress Dowager has specially allowed Matriarch to bring the servants into the palace to take care of her.”
Although the Empress Dowager allowed her to bring servants into the palace, Old Madam Yu was also sensible and only brought Nanny Liu along. Qing Xiu and Bai Kui stayed in the carriage.
Nanny Liu supported Old Madam Yu and followed behind the eunuch. Along the way, she lowered her eyes and took countless turns before finally arriving at the Longevity Palace.
Immediately, a nanny from the palace came over ana took Nanny LIU away.
The eunuch continued to lead Old Madam Yu into the outer hall. “Matriarch, please sit down for a moment.”
Old Madam Yu knew that he had to report to the Empress Dowager first, so she nodded. “Please go ahead.”
The eunuch lifted the bright yellow curtain and entered the inner hall.
Old Madam Yu sat in the outer hall and waited. The little palace maid cleverly served tea and snacks.
After rushing all the way here, Old Madam Yu happened to be a little thirsty. Before the Empress Dowager’s arrival was announced, she quickly picked up her tea and drank it.
After drinking a cup of warm tea, she remembered that there was still a tough battle to fight later. She forced herself to eat a few more snacks to fill her stomach and finally felt a little more energetic.
It took more than an hour to enter the palace from outside.
At this time, the figureheads in the palace would not summon them immediately. They would need time to rest and tidy up their clothes and appearances in order not to lose their manners in front of the nobles. After that, Old Madam Yu went to the side hall to tidy up her clothes.
Not long after, an eunuch led Old Madam Yu into the inner hall.
Old Madam Yu lowered her eyes until she saw a pair of bright yellow embroidered shoes. Then, she knelt on the ground and bowed. “Greetings, Empress Dowager. May you live a long and healthy life.”
The Empress Dowager looked at Old Madam Yu arrogantly. She was dressed in an imperial mandate dress. Clearly, she had long planned to enter the palace to seek an audience.
Thinking of the Flower Festival at Duke Rong’s Residence today, her gaze darkened slightly. “Get up!’
Old Madam Yu crawled on the ground without moving. “I beg the Empress Dowager to make a decision for me.”
The inner hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop!
The Empress Dowager looked at Old Madam Yu for a long time before saying, “If you have anything to say, sit down and talk.”
“Thank you, Empress Dowager.”
Auntie Shen gave the little palace maid a look, and the little palace maid
hurriedly went forward to help Old Madam Yu up.
The Empress Dowager’s heart skipped a beat. Old Madam Yu i s face was ashen, her lips were purple, and her eyes were swollen. When she stood up, her old body trembled.
She looked like she had suffered a huge blow.
The Empress Dowager frowned. “Go to the Imperial Hospital and call an imperial physician over to take a look at Old Madam Yu.”
Old Madam Yu was flattered and almost knelt on the ground to thank her.
Seeing that Old Madam Yu had settled down, the Empress Dowager asked, “If you have anything to say, say it slowly!’
When Old Madam Yu heard this, tears streamed down her face. She quickly wiped her tears with a handkerchief. “It turned out that the Duke Rong’s Residence was holding a flower festival today and had sent an invitation to our family. I brought my daughter-in-law along with a few older sisters in the family. Who knew that the Duke Rong’s Residence would lose their conscience and actually want to ruin our Eldest Miss’s reputation…”
An eunuch stood silently behind the bright yellow curtain of the outer hall.
In the inner hall, Old Madam Yu was crying to the Empress Dowager about what had happened at the Flower Festival in Duke Rong’s Residence. Towards the end, she was already sobbing uncontrollably.
Her low voice made anyone’s heart ache.
Old Madam Yu had been a widow in her early years, and her virtue had always made her a role model. Which family in the capital didn’t praise Old Madam Yu?
Even the Empress Dowager praised Old Madam Yu when she occasionally mentioned her.
However, such a role model was bullied by the imperial family. A young miss in the family almost ruined her reputation.
If Old Madam Yu had not reported about what the Duke Rong’s Residence did, this matter could have been reduced to a small matter. However, if Old Madam Yu reported it, they had to give an explanation.
In the past, they were relatives of the Great Zhou Dynasty who had humiliated external ministers and were punished and conferred titles.
The eunuch waited until there was no sound in the inner hall before raising his voice to report, “Your Highness, the Princess Consort of Duke Rong’s Residence is requesting an audience outside the palace.. i ‘