Three

In his eyes, the home has always been peaceful; whenever there is an issue, it must be the second son who has caused the trouble

Xue Fujin knew the reason for her visit, and upon meeting her, she was particularly warm and friendly, taking her hand and saying: "I have truly been overwhelmed with busyness; I had intended to visit the residence, but I simply could not find the time."

After some contemplation, the side consort thought it over and concluded that this approach would indeed work. "By expressing our stance to the palace in this manner, we can show that we do not collude with the Xue family, which may help the Emperor to ease his vigilance towards your father. It is indeed quite a compromise for you, to have a proper and legitimate marriage conducted in such a covert manner, for fear that your in-laws might look down upon you."

Speak to the Emperor, saying that my daughter cannot accompany you, and that you should seek another partner. What does that imply, treating the sovereign of a nation in such a manner? The Emperor would merely smile and say that matters of the harem are entirely at the discretion of the Empress Dowager. And then? You will be forced to wear a pair of small shoes, and soon enough, you can expect to lose your official position and titles, returning home to eat pickled vegetables.

Even the noble lady could not bear to listen to this. "Is the Xue family really introducing her with good intentions at this moment? It was clearly stated that she is a foster daughter. Did you not hear the truth, Zhou?"

This time, it was the turn of the noble consort to be at a loss for words. She glared at the side consort, saying, "Look at this..."

What joy can there be? It is truly as bad as it can get. Who could have imagined that all the officials and scholars in the court know that Naxin and Xue Shangzhang are in cahoots! The Side Consort waited at home like she was rendering oil for seven days, and on the eighth day, she went directly to the Guoyong Duke's residence to pay a visit to the Duke's Consort

She heard it, turned around, and wore a light-colored spring robe over a pale pine-gray pipa-collared jacket. Her complexion, under the reflection of the plain brocade, was even warmer than the spring light of March outside

Matters of state are not for the women in our backyard to discuss, but our two families have long been on good terms, and the palace is already aware of it. We are like grasshoppers tied to the same rope; when one flourishes, we all flourish, and when one suffers, we all suffer. This is my thought: with the queen gone, if Yingming can enter the palace, wouldn't the wealth and nobility of our two families be secured forever

However, others are like this, with only one exception, that is Zhou Xingzu. Although Zhou Xingzu holds a low position in the Imperial Medical Institute, he is highly valued by the Emperor, being responsible for the daily pulse diagnosis at the Yangxin Hall. It can be said that he only treats the Emperor, serving as the Emperor's exclusive imperial physician. Now, the Empress Dowager unexpectedly wants to send him to treat Yingming, what does this signify? And that phrase, "You have deep blessings," when spoken by the Empress Dowager, carries immense weight! Now, the Empress Dowager unexpectedly wants to send him to treat Yingming, what does this signify? And that phrase, "You have deep blessings," when spoken by the Empress Dowager, carries immense weight!

Xue Fujin, however, stated that she was unaware of the Empress Dowager's summons. It was only later that someone came to invite her. After she entered the Cining Palace, it was not long before she heard the sound of weeping, and only then did she realize that the Empress Dowager intended to call her in for a conversation

Among the nobles and ministers in the capital, who does not have personal connections with the imperial pharmacy's physicians? Although these physicians serve in the palace, they also have their own families and residences outside the palace. For instance, if a certain prince suffers from an upset stomach or if a young lady or gentleman catches a cold and cough, they inevitably seek their assistance. Therefore, it is common for the physicians to attend to the emperor and empresses during their duty hours, and after their shifts, they are often invited to visit the residences to check on the patients' conditions and take their pulses.

Xue Fujin firmly asserted that it was a good thing, saying, "With this matter preceding, Yingming will definitely not become the second Shen Zhi, as the eyes of all the officials and scholars in the court are upon her." As she spoke, her eyes filled with tears, and she articulated each word, "Shen Zhi is the vanguard for Yingming; she can ensure Yingming's continuous rise. Yingming is your daughter, but in my eyes, she is also my daughter. As a mother, who does not wish for their child to thrive? Do you not want her to look down upon the world and be a mother to the nation?" Yingming is your daughter, but in my eyes, she is also my daughter. As a mother, who does not wish for their child to thrive? Do you not want her to look down upon the world and be a mother to the nation?"

The secondary consort spoke in a manner that was as tactful as possible, mentioning that the family had encountered sudden changes and imploring the lord and the primary consort to take care of themselves. After going around in circles for quite some time, she finally broached the subject of the day when the Empress Dowager summoned them, expressing her anxiety: "When the child returned and spoke, my heart became a tangled mess. I thought to myself, the Empress has just passed away, it is unlikely that at such a time we would be scrutinizing one another... Naturally, these are just my unfounded speculations as a mother, unable to make a decision, I could only come to you to inquire about the matter, to understand what exactly is being said, please enlighten me."

The side consort did not gain any advantage and returned home in a daze. Upon arriving home, she wept and went to bed without even having dinner. Yingming sat at her bedside, unsure of what to say, but she understood the intentions of Xue Fujin. Over the years, the two families had become increasingly intertwined; Xue knew that by remaining in the lower position, she would naturally protect the Qi family; conversely, if Qi Yingming were in the lower position, she too would have to safeguard the Xue family.

In any case, this matter hung over the family like a sword, and due to the queen's mourning period, there were no further actions taken in the palace. The side consort, ultimately worried, used money to discreetly inquire whether any other officials' families had been summoned to the Cining Palace afterward, and the result was negative. The second-in-command of the Cining Palace even wagged his tail at her, saying, "Congratulations to you."

The concubine cried to him, "Sir, I have served you diligently in your household for twenty years, never daring to be negligent or lazy. How can you be so indifferent to my child? Isn't Yingming your own? The lessons learned from Her Majesty the Empress are still fresh; have you forgotten them so quickly? This is sending my child to the guillotine, can't you see that?"

He was afraid that his breathless appearance would make her laugh at him, so he steadied himself and took a moment to calm down before stepping forward and calling out "Sister".

Now, Lord Na had nothing more to say. He sat in the armchair for half a day, and finally thought of a bold plan: "After all, I can often see the Emperor at the Grand Council. I will find an opportunity to hint at it in front of him, just say that Yingming has agreed to the marriage, and when the time comes, we will hold the wedding."

It is useless to hate, Xue Fujin said: "I am doing this for all of us. As long as our child is the Empress, we will have a layer of security. You may not believe it now, but you will naturally understand in the future"

It is said that Hai Yintai is her. Suddenly, her face brightened as if after a rainstorm. In a hurry, I followed the servant's guidance to meet her. From a distance, I saw someone wandering slowly and delicately along the embankment lined with willows, holding a cream-colored umbrella. She has a calm and unhurried temperament, treating others with a gentle and leisurely warmth. The fact that she is willing to set aside her pride to seek him out must indicate that there is something important at hand

Most of the young women from the Qi family are bold and take responsibility for their actions, but Yingming is different from those girls. Hai Yintai hopes it is her, yet anticipates it cannot be her, so she shakes her head and says: "I am very busy, please convey to your mistress that I truly cannot spare the time and ask for her understanding"

At this, the young servant became anxious and exclaimed, "Third Master, aren't you going to ask which young lady it is before you hurry off?"

Given the current situation, it is indeed not very favorable. The people in the palace speak in a way that is full of meaning, not directly revealing their thoughts, which requires you to ponder and reflect carefully.

The chirping sound was accompanied by a shake of the head, "The days are spent between Hai Yintai and me. If he agrees, then he can go back and prepare; if he does not agree, let us not create a tumultuous situation that drags the Hai family into it."

"Noble Consort, we are all on the same side. Yingming has grown up under your watchful eye, and you have always cared for her. Before the Empress's passing, she summoned Yingming to the palace, and the two sisters shared their innermost thoughts... Do you still think it is a good thing for Yingming to enter the palace?"

The secondary consort believes that the father and son must have been enemies in their previous life. Hou Po is indeed disliked by both people and dogs, yet he is blamed for everything, which seems rather unfair.

She gently patted the bedding on the side consort and said: "Grandmother, please do not cry. Things are not that bad yet. The Empress has just passed away, and within a hundred days, the Emperor will definitely not select a new consort or establish a new Empress. As long as there is no explicit decree from the palace, we can proceed with the arrangements with the Hai family after thirty days. I will speak with Hai Yintai; after the formalities, it will be fine without making a big fuss. If both families share a celebratory feast, then the marriage will be considered established. What do you think?"

She went to meet Hai Yintai, but did not go to the tea house, nor did she visit his residence. A young servant, tasked with waiting on the route he would take after his shift, saw him approaching and stepped forward to bow, saying: "Third Master, our young lady has asked me to convey a message, requesting that you step aside for a meeting."

The side consort pondered for a moment and said, "Let's discuss this with the consort tomorrow. We will send an invitation and invite the General of the State and the consort to our residence, so that we can openly deliberate on this matter."

She stood up in a daze and took the official hat from Lord Na, placing it on the hat stand. The Fujin recounted the events that had transpired in the palace today, and she gazed intently at Na Xin, hoping he could decipher some other meaning, even if it was just to reassure everyone. In the end, Lord Na was even more flustered than she was, striking his right fist against his left palm repeatedly, and with a long sigh, he exclaimed: "What a disaster!" However, his concern was not about his daughter entering the palace and living a life akin to that of a prisoner, possibly even following the tragic path of the late Empress. His worry was whether the pretense of illness would be exposed, as pretending to be ill for a short time was feasible, but to maintain such a charade for a lifetime was utterly fanciful.

Yingming has never fought for anything for herself, but this time, she wants to strive for her future. Fully aware of the dire consequences faced in the palace, she has observed every detail; it is not a good place. Given this, she cannot sit idly by, as each day of waiting increases the risk. It is imperative to finalize this matter before any actions are taken in the palace.

The family members sat in silence, unsure of what to do. After Lord Na and the various military officials concluded their discussions regarding the arrangements for the late Empress's funeral, they returned home to find everyone looking like drenched clay figures, hesitantly removing their hats and inquiring about what had happened, "Could it be that Hou Po has caused trouble again?"

Upon hearing this, the young servant smiled. This was a special instruction from his young lady, to see if the future son-in-law was someone worth meeting. Now it was evident that Master Hai San was a person of integrity, quite suitable for his young lady. He then continued to plant rice seedlings and said, "It is my negligence, I deserve to be punished. I am from the Zhi Yi Gongfu, and I have come at the behest of my young lady to request a moment of conversation with Master San."

This is taking someone else's child to fill a void, the side consort slowly shook her head, "Consort, I truly hate you... really, I hate you so much..."

Yingming said with a smile that it would not do, "They must observe the rites, and none can be omitted. Everyone understands the rule that the queen has just passed away, and no entertainment is permitted within a hundred days."

Lord Na listened sorrowfully to the words of the Concubine and then said with equal sorrow: "What can I do? Since the Empress Dowager has summoned her, it must be a done deal. In my opinion, even if she truly enters the palace, it is not a big deal; everyone has their own half of the sky. Just because the Emperor does not favor Xue Shangzhang's daughter, it does not mean he will not favor my daughter, Na Xin."

Although it is said so, very few families rush to hold wedding celebrations within these three months. Unless it is truly urgent, such as when an elder or parent in the family is in poor health and there is a fear of mourning if they wait another three years. Or if a young woman is with child, and there is concern that her pregnancy cannot be concealed if delayed, in any case, these are not auspicious circumstances

Xue Fujin smiled and said, "There is no marriage yet, just a small engagement, and it can be canceled. Who in this world is more noble than His Majesty the Emperor? Once the news spreads, I fear you won't need to worry; the Hai family will come to withdraw the engagement themselves."

In truth, from the bottom of my heart, if both families' elders were to sit down and discuss, it would be both honorable and dignified for her. However, the human heart is inherently unpredictable. Although the noble lady certainly cares for her, it is not with the same selflessness as she would for her own daughter. Even if we take a step back and consider sending her into the palace, it would be beneficial rather than harmful to the Qi family. Whether she lives well or poorly is a matter of concern only for herself and her biological mother

Hai Yintai frowned and said, "How can you take on such a task without reporting your background?"

The side consort was at a loss, "But... but she is already promised to someone else. Did you not report this up?"

The side consort stood there, unable to even cry. In the palace, investigating a young lady's background is effortless. The matter concerning the General of the State's Guard has already been known by nine-tenths of the people, and she has been summoned, all because Xue Shangzhang is in charge of the Six Banners' troops, and the Empress Dowager has no choice but to tolerate him for the time being. What will happen when these Six Banners troops are disbanded in the future? What will happen if the Emperor no longer remembers the great contributions of the Xue family from earlier years?

The heart of the secondary consort has turned cold; she had planned this so meticulously, yet she still dares to claim she was unaware beforehand