Chapter 71: Trivial News
“Father Emperor said, treat everyone impartially, and selected a young lady from Duke Ding’an’s Mansion for you as well.”
Princess Wuyang didn’t care at all which family’s young lady was selected; what she cared about was that sentence the Emperor said: treat everyone impartially.
Treat everyone impartially, ah.
In the Emperor’s eyes, they were the same as Princess Pingcheng!!
This was enough to make Princess Wuyang wild with joy; everything else was irrelevant.
Imperial Consort Li naturally didn’t think this way.
Besides, where would Duke Ding’an’s Mansion have so many young ladies from.
However, she didn’t say anything, sent off her overjoyed daughter, and immediately sent someone to inquire.
When nightfall enveloped the Imperial Palace, Imperial Consort Li dismissed the others and listened to the news brought by the palace maid.
“Today, before dawn, Marquis Yichun entered the palace to see His Majesty,” the confidante palace maid said in a low voice.
Imperial Consort Li pondered: “Marquis Yichun actually came in person? Last time it was only the Old Madam of Marquis Yichun who entered the palace to see the Empress.”
The palace maid said softly: “His Majesty arranged for the two princesses young ladies from relatives of Duke Ding’an.”
“No wonder,” Imperial Consort Li nodded. “Where would Duke Ding’an’s Mansion have so many young ladies? Turns out they are relatives…”
When she said the word “relatives,” the hand holding the teacup paused.
“What relatives? To actually involve Marquis Yichun coming forward.”
The palace maid shook her head and said softly: “When Marquis Yichun came, Her Majesty the Empress dismissed everyone.”
Although there were spies placed near the Emperor and Empress, they could only know promptly who appeared before the Emperor and Empress; as for what was said, it couldn’t be spied on yet.
“This servant will try again…”
Hearing the palace maid’s statement, Imperial Consort Li shook her head to stop her: “Absolutely do not act rashly. We must not show any impropriety before His Majesty. In the eyes of their husband and wife, we are already outsiders.”
The palace maid acknowledged, then said: “Your Ladyship, don’t say that. What outsiders and insiders? You have also borne a daughter and son for His Majesty. His Majesty is also gracious to you. The rewards from the past few days, besides the Empress, you also received a share.”
Imperial Consort Li touched her cheek, a faint smile at the corner of her mouth: “Precisely because of this, I must act even more cautiously, so as not to ruin the already shallow affection.”
With that, she stood up and paced in the room.
The palace maid saw her brows heavy and asked: “Is Your Ladyship worried that this lady-in-waiting will be unfavorable to the princess?”
Because the Empress controlled the rear palace, the palace maids and eunuchs around the princesses were all under the Empress’s authority. But after all, they were in the palace, so the imperial consort could keep an eye on them. Now that the Emperor had selected a young lady from outside to accompany the princess, the imperial consort had no way to keep an eye on her, and didn’t know that young lady’s conduct. What if she led the princess astray…
Imperial Consort Li shook her head: “I just feel that Duke Ding’an has no face to be selected twice…”
The palace maid showed a bit of disdain: “It must be because they shamelessly made a fuss with Marquis Yichun to get their family daughter selected.”
One leads to two, then three.
Under the night light, Imperial Consort Li’s delicate brows were somewhat grave: “Once is possible, but twice or three times, where does Duke Ding’an get such face before Marquis Yichun.”
The palace maid chuckled: “It can’t be because of that whatever relative of Duke Ding’an’s face, right?”
But Imperial Consort Li didn’t laugh at the joke. She looked at the palace maid, suddenly her expression surprised, eyes flickering.
“No way…” she murmured.
The palace maid hurriedly asked: “What has Your Ladyship thought of?”
Imperial Consort Li didn’t answer, but looked at the palace maid: “Tomorrow, have Maternal Uncle come once.”
The palace maid acknowledged. Though puzzled, she didn’t ask more. Imperial Consort Li acted cautiously, and they as maidservants must also be cautious: know what should be known, and don’t ask about what shouldn’t.
“Mother Consort, Mother Consort…”
A boy’s voice came from outside.
Immediately, a chorus of greetings rang out: “Prince Linhuai,” “Have seen Prince Linhuai.”
A smile instantly bloomed on Imperial Consort Li’s face. Raising her eyes, she saw an eight- or nine-year-old boy wearing prince’s ceremonial robes walk in.
A crisp, joyful, slightly childish child’s voice rang out in the hall.
“…Mother Consort, tomorrow I get to go learn horse riding. Master said I can learn horse riding now.”
“Good, listen to master, take it slow.”
“I will definitely learn well. Then I can also go to the temporary palace for hunting.”
“Before going to the temporary palace, ask Prince of Donghai. If he doesn’t want you to go, don’t go.”
“But Father Emperor said I can also go to the temporary palace to play.”
“Even if Father Emperor said it, it won’t do. You must listen to your Imperial Brother.”
“Alright.”
“Is the night snack prepared? Bring it up.”
The palace in the night gained a bit more liveliness because of the child’s voice.
……
…..
In the night, the Wei Clan’s old courtyard house became noisy as Seventh Master Wei and others stepped in.
“Why no lights?”
As soon as he entered the door, Seventh Master Wei felt that tonight’s night was thicker than usual.
No, it was that no lights were lit in the courtyard house.
Seventh Master Wei was about to curse the bought servants for being lazy and rule-breaking, then he saw the thick darkness move. He instinctively let out a low shout.
Firelight lit up, illuminating a row of Embroidered Uniform Guards.
Wei Jiao sat on the ground, hand propping his cheek, smiling at them.
This kid had come silently.
Clearly, people were left inside and outside the courtyard house, yet no warning at all…
The thought flashed in Seventh Master Wei’s mind, but whatever, after all, it wasn’t truly the Wei family’s territory; it was this kid’s territory.
“Seventh Uncle, you all are really carefree, going out to stroll every day,” Wei Jiao said displeased. “I see you have no intention of paying court audience to His Majesty.”
Wei Xu cursed inwardly about inverted accusation; clearly, he was the one blocking them from seeing His Majesty.
But his still-swollen face occasionally ached when he thought about it, so he didn’t speak.
Seventh Master Wei stepped forward with good words: “It’s just wanting to see the capital city’s scenery. After all, it’s my first time in the capital city.”
Wei Jiao stared at him and asked curiously: “You’re not looking for someone, are you?”
Wei Xu’s heart pounded wildly. Fortunately, he was standing in the back.
Seventh Master Wei’s expression unchanged, he smiled wryly: “Indeed, wanting to see if there are any other old connections that can speak for the Great General…”
“Found any?” Wei Jiao asked concernedly.
Seventh Master Wei shook his head: “No.”
Wei Jiao looked regretful: “If found, I could go ransack their home and add some merit.”
The atmosphere in the courtyard stiffened again.
Seventh Master Wei sighed: “Young Master, no matter what, the Great General is also your father. Back then, it wasn’t deliberate abandonment; it was really that traitor Zhao who was hateful…”
Wei Jiao also sighed: “So I still spoke good words for you multiple times before His Majesty. His Majesty finally agreed to see you.”
“His Majesty is His Majesty after all; you father and son are… eh?” Seventh Master Wei continued persuading, only reacting halfway.
“What did you say?” Wei Xu couldn’t hold back and squeezed forward from the back, looking at Wei Jiao. “His Majesty is granting court audience?”
Wei Jiao smiled and stood up. Though the man was smiling, Wei Xu couldn’t help shivering and instinctively shrank back.
“Yes, tomorrow morning, the eunuch from the palace will come to proclaim the imperial decree,” Wei Jiao said without rushing over to hit him. “Sigh, really, I went to all that trouble mediating, you all eat, drink, play, and enjoy yourselves carefree, and still get cursed by you for being unfilial.”
Seventh Master Wei hurriedly said, “Young Master has worked hard.” And hurriedly signaled to the others.
Wei Xu and the others hurriedly paid respects and shouted loudly, “Young Master has worked hard.”
Wei Jiao walked past them and out, tossing behind one sentence.
“Fulfilling filial duty to father is only natural.”
Accompanied by the drawn-out tone, hoofbeats raced swiftly, the dark mass disappearing into the night.
The courtyard remained utterly quiet.
After a moment, they exhaled.
“Real or fake?”
“He wouldn’t use this to deceive, right?”
“Hard to say, he has plenty of tricks to deceive at home.”
Everyone discussed animatedly.
Seventh Master Wei waved his hand: “No need to think about it. We’ll know tomorrow.”
He glanced outside again.
A few servants understood, dispersing into the courtyard. Moments later, they nodded to Seventh Master Wei.
At this moment, there was no espionage around.
“Alright, go rest,” Seventh Master Wei said. “Rest well, court audience tomorrow.”
Everyone acknowledged and dispersed.
Lights lit up in the courtyard, then quickly extinguished. Night deepened, wild birds cried out.
The not-fully-closed door was gently pushed open.
Seventh Master Wei, sitting in the dimness, looked at the newcomer and asked in a low voice: “How’s the investigation?”
The newcomer closed the door and said in a low voice: “Indeed, someone has seen a similar face.”
Seventh Master Wei abruptly stood, suppressing his excitement and asking in a low voice: “Really?”
The newcomer said in a low voice: “A clerk at the carriage rental company said there was once someone who rented a carriage, very similar to this portrait after disguise.”
