Chapter 123: Causing Trouble
When Mu Shuyun entered the Palace, she avoided Mu Chang and his wife, but after returning from the Palace, she completely changed from her previous dejection, not only resuming her makeup but also picking up the painting homework she had neglected for several days.
This was so unusual that Madam Mu naturally noticed it. She privately summoned the maidservant and asked, only to learn that she had actually gone alone to Zichen Hall to see the Emperor!
Madam Mu was greatly frightened; after all, he was the ruler of a nation, with the ancestral laws right there. If this girl did something outrageous and someone caught her handle, the Mu Family would be in serious trouble.
She immediately stopped looking at the pile of accounts in her hand and did not go to entertain the female guests who had arrived at the old lady’s side. She hurriedly went to Mu Shuyun’s room.
“Yun’er, what did you do in the Palace?”
She forcibly suppressed the turmoil in her heart and asked.
Mu Shuyun behind the painting table had exquisite makeup, her previously haggard face and dark eye sockets completely covered.
She calmly raised her head and opened the memorial personally annotated in vermilion by the Emperor from the drawer, placing it in front of Madam Mu.
“The Emperor has already promised me that the position of Empress is mine.”
Madam Mu was still surprised when she saw her take out the memorial, but when she heard her say this, her hands began to tremble. After quickly reading the contents of the memorial, she could no longer hold back and widened her eyes: “This is the Emperor’s approval?!”
Mu Shuyun leisurely rolled up the scroll painting: “It has vermilion annotations and the seal; your daughter couldn’t possibly have faked it.”
Madam Mu looked at the memorial again and again, then said: “But does this memorial count? Currently, with Prince Jingyang’s Mansion suppressing us, and the Shen Family opposing, Yue Tang is watching the excitement without minding the trouble. Achieving this won’t be that easy.”
“So what?” Mu Shuyun walked out, her face indifferent. “Yue Tang and Prince Jingyang blocking the way—isn’t it because the Shen Family can be used by them?
“Since she knows Father was once the mastermind behind murdering her, why wouldn’t she use the Shen Family at this point?
“She saw that we all want to compete for the position of Empress, so she borrows the momentum to make me fight with Shen Yizhu, allowing her to reap the fisherman’s profit.
“But what if Shen Yizhu died?”
Madam Mu held her breath and looked at her for a moment: “What do you mean by that?”
Mu Shuyun curled up the corner of her lips.
The maidservant walked in from outside the door, first curtsied to Madam Mu, then went to Mu Shuyun: “Reporting to the Eldest Young Lady, someone has been sent into the Palace to inquire, and news has come back. These past few days, Miss Shen is in the Buddha Hall of Yongfu Palace worshipping Buddha every chen hour, and at the end of the wu hour, she personally cooks meals for the Empress Dowager.
“In the remaining free time, she tends to flowers and plants in the garden, takes care of the parrot for the Empress Dowager, and occasionally reads books and plays the qin in the garden.”
“She certainly has leisure!” Mu Shuyun sneered. “Go inquire again; find out what she will do tomorrow. There will be a reward for detailed information.”
The maidservant agreed and left.
Hearing this, Madam Mu was terrified. “What are you going to do? That Shen Family girl is certainly detestable, but don’t ruin your own reputation again!”
“What do you take your daughter for, Mother?” Mu Shuyun laughed. “Having suffered once, isn’t that enough? To deal with someone, I don’t need to act personally.”
Madam Mu finally breathed a sigh of relief, but worried again: “Then why are you targeting Shen Yizhu? Extending your hand into the Palace—aren’t you afraid the Emperor will change his view of you?”
Madam Mu knew the Emperor could not do without the Mu Family, but she also knew that under the heavens, all land is the King’s. The Emperor was not a wooden post. The Mu Family had done him a favor, but they could not go too far.
“I’m afraid of him? What else should I fear?” Mu Shuyun giggled, her voice sharp and grating. “I originally didn’t believe he had second thoughts, but in the end, when he saw me come to him, he blamed me for entering without announcement.
“And blamed me for not staying calm.
“This absolutely never happened before.
“He knew I was upset, didn’t comfort me, and actually blamed me!”
She gritted her teeth, her eyes reddening: “Mother, I’ve seen it all clearly. You and Father were right; don’t expect true feelings from the Imperial Family.
“I know a forced melon isn’t sweet, but I can’t swallow this anger. He gave me thirteen years of hope; why should I give him a chance to back down?”
Madam Mu looked at her resentful face and couldn’t help saying: “But things have gotten even worse.
“I heard that Shen Yizhu, under Empress Dowager Shen’s instruction, has been sending soup and food to the Emperor.
“Yesterday, Empress Dowager Shen even issued an imperial decree praising Shen Yi and his wife, saying they taught their daughter well.
“The matter isn’t big, but it spread. Many people are comparing her. Her reputation for being cultured and reasonable has thus spread.
“Yun’er, why did the Emperor accept Shen Yizhu’s intentions? Do you know?”
In the end, that day Yue Tang’s words had cut off Mu Shuyun’s path to smoothly entering the central palace. At this critical moment, if the Emperor decided to follow that suggestion, the Mu Family rushing to clash head-on with them would be of no benefit.
Hearing this, Mu Shuyun’s nails coated with nail polish had already dug into the armrest crevices.
“What you said only makes me more determined to give up on the Emperor. But it also makes me even more unwilling!”
She stood up: “Those years accompanying him were mine, not some other woman’s!
“What has she, Shen Yizhu, done? How dare she compete for my position?
“I will fight her to the end!”
Madam Mu also stood up: “Then do you have confidence?”
“Yes.” She said slowly, “Does the Emperor want to marry Shen Yizhu? He doesn’t. He has no reason to willingly accept this choice.
“He and Empress Dowager Shen’s clan can never be on good terms.
“The Shen Family’s ambitions are clear. They have the Fourth Prince who was one step away from the throne. If the Emperor has any blood in him, he absolutely cannot leave them be.
“Why does the Shen Family insist on pushing Shen Yizhu to the Emperor’s side?
“Naturally to get some security, but isn’t it also to plant an informant in Zichen Hall?
“How could the Emperor willingly have such a Shen Family informant by his side?
“On this point alone, me dealing with Shen Yizhu aligns with his wishes; he has no reason to make things difficult for me.
“Even stepping back ten thousand steps, even if the Shen Family has opinions, does our Mu Family need to fear them?”
Madam Mu took a deep breath: “You’re right.”
Originally, the Shen Family were political enemies; even if they didn’t move, the Mu Family would eventually strike at them sooner or later.
Even if Mu Shuyun lost the competition, would the Mu Family just watch their own family member suffer a loss?
If Shen Yizhu fell victim to Mu Shuyun’s scheme, it would only prove she wasn’t qualified to rise.
She took Mu Shuyun’s hand: “With this ambition and determination of yours, it hasn’t been in vain for your father and me to raise and teach you from childhood.
“Our Mu Family has given so much to the Emperor; it’s only right for the Mu Family to produce an Empress.
“On this matter, he shouldn’t hesitate but should firmly follow the Mu Family’s wishes to not betray the Mu Family’s grace.”
Mu Shuyun leaned her head on her mother’s shoulder: “Your daughter won’t disappoint you, Mother.”
Madam Mu also contentedly patted her back lightly.
The mother and daughter stayed together for a moment; someone came from the old woman’s side to urge, and today’s guest was there to discuss marriage for the second branch’s young lady. Madam Mu really couldn’t delay, so she left first.
Mu Shuyun saw her out of the courtyard.
The maidservant who had gone out earlier also walked in at this time: “Miss, tomorrow is Wangri. The Palace says Empress Dowager Shen will summon several official families to Qixia Palace in the morning as usual. Miss Shen should also attend.
“Additionally, it’s heard that Empress Dowager Shen had some flowers and plants the Emperor likes prepared and handed them to Miss Shen to tend.
“Next, the Emperor will likely often encounter Miss Shen.”
Mu Shuyun looked through the door cave at the ladies in fine clothes and hair, chatting and laughing; her nails involuntarily curled up.
She was already sixteen years old.
The best time for marriage discussions had passed.
Originally, she could also have such glorious and exciting moments like her sisters.
But everyone automatically tied her to the Emperor, and almost no one came to propose marriage.
For this position of Empress, she had sacrificed too much.
Yet now the Emperor allowed others to approach.
Was he passive? Or deliberate?
She didn’t know.
Nor did she want to know.
She only confirmed she absolutely had no reason to admit defeat just like this.
“Wanhua,” she turned around inside the courtyard gate, “go to Teacher Lu and get me a pass token that Father recently used to enter the Palace. Say I have something to do and need to enter the Palace later.”
……
When Wei Zhang arrived at the Back Lake with a stack of flower name registers, Yue Tang was fishing by the lake.
Hua Lin sat beside her, chattering about A Li’s daily life these past few days. At his feet, in the bamboo basket he had woven by hand, there were already two large crucian carp.
“The Princess’s fishing skills have improved greatly. Looks like I need to tell Han Yi to stock a batch of fish fry before it gets cold.”
Wei Zhang stood by the shore with hands on hips, admiringly looked at the lake surface twice, then handed over the flower name registers in his hand.
“All the guards who followed the Former Emperor have been checked for whereabouts. Excluding those released from the Palace, retired due to illness, transferred to other yamens, or with unclean backgrounds, there are still 138 usable ones currently in the Imperial Guards.
Yue Tang put down the fishing rod, flipped through page by page, and said: “Are you sure all these people have no issues?”
“I dare not claim others, but this subordinate guarantees with my life that at least these people are all loyal to the Former Emperor.” Wei Zhang nodded.
“That’s fine then.” Yue Tang returned the booklet to him. “Send it to Prince Jingyang’s Mansion and have the Prince handle this matter in the next couple of days.”
Hearing this, Hua Lin interjected: “When can I bring the Young Heir Apparent back together?
“It’s not proper for our Prince Duan’s Mansion’s Heir Apparent to keep staying at someone else’s mansion!”
Yue Tang gave him a glance: “Your current task is to take my son and work hard to eat up Prince Jingyang’s Mansion’s grain!”
“Then I couldn’t finish it in ten lifetimes!”
Hua Lin rolled his eyes.
Wei Zhang laughed: “If Qin Niang goes to stay at Prince Jingyang’s Mansion too, you wouldn’t say that.”
Hearing this, Hua Lin’s eyes darted again: “Can I?”
“Do you think you can?”
Wei Zhang laughed again.
“Yo, so lively?”
A familiar voice came from the garden entrance.
Everyone turned back together and saw Han Yi bringing Jiang Shao over.
“Lord Jiang said he had important matters to see the Princess, so this minister brought him in.” Han Yi’s face was calm, but his words still carried three parts unease.
“Well done.” Yue Tang’s gaze passed over him, took back the booklet she had handed out, and gave it to Jiang Shao: “Perfect timing. Take these to your Prince. Also, tell me, what important matters?”
Jiang Shao curtsied, tucked away the booklet, and said: “This subordinate went to the Imperial Guard Camp today and unexpectedly heard from a few close guards that someone has been inquiring these past few days about the details in the alley where Chu Ying was executed that night.
“This subordinate followed the vine and checked, and found it was actually people from the Shen Family’s Eldest Young Master Shen Li.”
Yue Tang showed a trace of surprise: “What is he investigating this for?”
Thinking, she looked at Wei Zhang again: “Have you found Fang Ling and those guards originally from the Prince’s Mansion? Why no news yet?”
Wei Zhang hurriedly said: “This is exactly what I was about to report. Those few just returned to the mansion with this subordinate and are waiting in the gatehouse for summons.”
“Have them come in.”
Yue Tang instructed, then looked at Jiang Shao: “Did the Prince send you?”
Jiang Shao chuckled: “Our Prince happened to have matters on hand, and this subordinate missed the Princess, so I specially requested to come visit.”
“Smooth talker.” Yue Tang smiled. “In the entire Prince Jingyang’s Mansion, probably only your Prince has a venomous mouth.”
“The Prince only poisons us; he extremely respects the Princess.”
Yue Tang was pleased to hear this.
She casually picked up the bamboo basket: “Then these two fish for your dinner.
“Shen Li wouldn’t think of this for no reason; he might want to use it as leverage against the Mu Family. I remember last time the Prince caught that Imperial Guard commander; go tell your Prince, I want to see him too. Ask him to take me there when he has time.”
“This subordinate obeys!”
Jiang Shao took the basket and chuckled again: “Thanks for the Princess’s grace.”
He was certain their Prince had never received fish from the Princess; now he could go back and show off!
Hua Lin handed the bundle he brought to Yue Tang’s maidservant and stood up to return with Jiang Shao.
Yue Tang led them out of the garden, chatting family matters on the way, when He Meiqing approached with a guard: “Princess, today the guard went to the Imperial Household Department on Lord Han’s orders to collect the Prince’s Mansion’s monthly stipend and discovered Mu Shuyun lingering outside the Palace Gate during the trip.
“But today she didn’t go through the usual Great Palace Gate; she went to Anmen Gate near the western Yongfu Palace.”
Anmen Gate was the west Palace Gate, far from the Great Palace Gate. Now in the Palace, Empress Dowager Shen and the Emperor each held half the power, so Yongfu Palace side used Anmen Gate for daily entries and exits. Since it was still guarded by the Emperor-controlled Imperial Guards, no one picked faults.
Mu Shuyun wanting to enter the Palace wasn’t strange.
What was strange was that she went around to Yongfu Palace side? And lingered outside the Palace Gate?
Yue Tang stopped: “Shen Li is investigating the matter of Mu Chang killing Chu Ying in the alley. Mu Shuyun is targeting Yongfu Palace. Looks like both sides are preparing to clash. But the Shen Family was urgently seeking me before, yet quiet these two days—perhaps they have other plans?”
At this, she asked Jiang Shao and her own guard: “Do you know any movements from the Mu Family these two days?”
The brought guard stepped forward to report: “This subordinate has checked; the Mu Family is as usual. Their second young lady is still discussing marriage. Only Mu Shuyun has been privately sending people frequently to inquire in the Palace.”
“Is Mu Shuyun planning to directly target Shen Yizhu?” Yue Tang thought, then looked at him: “Have you been to the Imperial Household Department?”
The guard hurriedly said: “Not yet. This subordinate thought the Princess might need this news, so came back first.”
Yue Tang nodded: “Very good.” Then said: “What’s your name?”
“Replying to the Princess, this subordinate is surnamed Ye, single name Chuang.”
“I’ll go to the Imperial Household Department myself.” Yue Tang looked at Ye Chuang. “Come with me.”
Wei Zhang was already approaching with Fang Ling and those guards: “Princess…”
Yue Tang instructed: “I need people; pick two more guards to follow me. We’ll talk about the rest when I return. I’m going to see what mischief Mu Shuyun is up to!”
