“Madam, please save the queen. She really was... really was murdered.” Xie Feng knelt down in front of Madam Ji, burst into tears, and begged.
Madam Ji had originally fallen asleep but was suddenly woken up. Although she was wrapped in thick clothes, she was still shivering and she hasn't warmed up yet.
Xiao also knelt down: "Mother, please save Youran. This time... I'm afraid Jingyu County Lord won't let her go."
She had just heard what Xie Feng said, and came over to wake up Madam Ji who had already gone to bed.
Mrs. Ji is old and doesn't want to take care of things on weekdays. Ever since she took charge in a strong way before, she has been very well behaved and has not done much. She usually stays in the backyard, which is very comfortable.
At this time, because he was cold, it took him a long time to react: "What happened to You Ran?"
Xiao looked at Madam Ji in annoyance, but had to repeat what she had just said. Then she wiped her tears with a handkerchief, "Mother, the only one we can rely on in the mansion now is Youran. If something happens to Youran this time, she might even be demoted. What should we do?"
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Ji understood much more clearly. She took a sip of the warm tea brought by the maid and glanced at Xie Feng who was kneeling beside her: "Tell me the details again."
Xie Feng immediately told the story again while crying. In her words, Ji Youran seemed to be the most innocent.
The prince had originally planned to go watch the lanterns with Ji Youran, but County Lady Jingyu backed out. Ji Youran had no choice but to go watch the lanterns alone with her maid. When they passed by a teahouse, they went in to rest. The private room that had been booked in advance was for the prince, so she could only find the hall at random and have someone put up a screen.
Unexpectedly, a servant bumped in and caused trouble. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince happened to see it and scolded his master. What's more, the fourth lady of the Qu Mansion and His Royal Highness the King of England were also there. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince felt very embarrassed and sent his master back directly, and said that he would punish him severely when he returned.
"Madam, please save our queen. Our queen did nothing wrong in this matter. It's just... it's just because the private room we booked was reserved for the crown prince and Princess Jingyu, and there was no room left after that, so this unexpected incident happened. Our queen has been wronged to this extent, but... but..."
Xie Feng cried inconsolably and kept speaking up for Ji Youran.
After hearing what she said, Madam Ji also felt a little annoyed. It sounded like Ji Youran had done nothing wrong in this matter, and was even trying to compromise.
Liu Jingyu and the prince have not yet married. If she wants to accompany the prince, her own granddaughter is not suitable. Now it is wrong to put her own granddaughter aside and take Liu Jingyu with her. When she saw her granddaughter said something, she stepped forward and reprimanded her without saying a word, and even took her back home to punish her.
Madam Ji felt that this was most likely instigated by Lady Jingyu. She didn't expect that a young lady who had not yet married into the Eastern Palace would be so powerful. Did she really think that she must be the number one in the Eastern Palace
Mrs. Ji was inexplicably angry and looked very unhappy. She waved her hand to signal Xiao to get up first.
Xiao held on to a maid's hand, stood up crying, and sat down on a chair beside her.
"Go back and tell your queen not to worry." Madam Ji said, "Just do as you normally would, serve the prince well, and don't let this happen again."
"Yes, I will go back and report right away!" Xie Feng nodded repeatedly, wiping away tears.
She stood up and left in a hurry. The queen was still waiting for her reply, so she couldn't stay here any longer.
"Mother, look..." Xiao looked at Madam Ji anxiously, "Should we go and invite Eunuch Defu now? I'm worried that You Ran will be punished tomorrow morning. If... if the Queen agrees, this time she might... might be demoted."
As Xiao spoke, tears started to flow again.
Demotion is what Madam Ji least wants to see. The Ling'an Marquis's Mansion is now in decline, and it is all supported by Ji Youran, the prince's concubine. If Ji Youran is demoted, it will be a bad thing for the entire Ling'an Marquis' Mansion.
"I wonder if Eunuch Defu is asleep?" Madam Ji hesitated. It happened that Eunuch Defu had just returned to the palace the day before yesterday to do some business. He should leave after the New Year, otherwise he would not be in the capital now, keeping vigil over the Empress Dowager's body.
"Today is New Year's Eve. Eunuch Defu hasn't returned to Beijing at this time for several years. He must not have slept yet." Xiao thought for a moment and said.
"Then let's go visit him!" Mrs. Ji calmed herself down and stood up tremblingly.
When old Ling Anbo was alive, he had a favor with Eunuch Defu. At that time, Eunuch Defu was not yet the chief steward of the Empress Dowager. Later, when Eunuch Defu was in danger of his life again, it was old Ling Anbo who helped him. Since then, Eunuch Defu was very grateful to old Ling Anbo. Although they had no direct contact, he would always lend a hand when he could.
At the very beginning, Ji Hanyue and the prince had made an engagement, and this eunuch Defu also had a hand in it.
For this purpose, Xiao also secretly made friends with Eunuch Defu. Even though Eunuch Defu was guarding the empress dowager's coffin outside, Xiao would still prepare a gift during the New Year. Ji Youran was able to smoothly enter the Eastern Palace by taking care of Ji Hanyue, and the chief steward of the empress dowager during her lifetime also made an indispensable contribution.
This time, Eunuch Defu happened to come to Beijing, and Xiao got the news early and secretly sent gifts.
But when it’s time to show up, it’s Madam Ji who has to show up…
Xie Feng hurried out of Ling Anbo's mansion and turned onto the main street in front. There were quite a few people there today, and those coming and going were all people who came to watch the fun.
It's a rare day like this when everyone comes out to relax, enjoy the lanterns, guess riddles, and watch the fun.
Xie Feng stood on a bridge, looked back at an alley on the side, and finally changed direction. That was not the direction that went directly to the East Palace.
After passing through an alley and two lanes, the bustling sounds gradually faded away and finally appeared at the gate of an ordinary courtyard.
He walked up and knocked on the door gently. The gate opened and a middle-aged woman looked at Xie Feng with surprise.
"mother!"
"Come in!" The middle-aged woman excitedly pulled her in and closed the door. "Why are you free to come here today? Don't you want to serve the queen?"
"The Queen went back first because of something. I just went to the Ling Anbo Mansion and told the lady what the Queen said." Xie Feng said vaguely.
"How is the concubine living in the mansion?" asked the middle-aged woman.
"What else can I do? It's pretty good! The Concubine is now the only mistress of the Eastern Palace, and she's also the cousin of the former Crown Princess. How could the Crown Prince treat her badly!" Xie Feng replied with a smile, then took out a few ingots of silver from his arms, "Mother, I won't stay any longer. The Concubine is waiting for me to go back and serve her."
"Then you... His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..." the middle-aged woman said hesitantly, "You said before that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince
I might take you in as my concubine..."
"Mom, don't mention this anymore." Xie Feng said impatiently, turning around and walking out. "It's not easy for me to come out once, so don't talk about these things."
"Okay, okay, don't say anything!" The middle-aged woman took the silver in the slanting wind, and always felt that it was still a little less. "It's really not easy for you to come out once. Your family has not been doing well recently. You used to be able to get rewards from the second lady, but now that you have entered the East Palace, why do you get much less..."
"Mom, the past was the past, and now is now. The past was the second lady, and now is the eldest lady." Xie Feng waved his hands and said irritably.
"Oh, it would be great if the Second Miss was here! After all, she is the Crown Princess, and unlike a concubine, there won't be another wife coming to the house now." The middle-aged woman sighed, "Poor Second Miss, how could she be so unlucky!"
"Mom, please don't say such things in the future. If the eldest daughter finds out, there will be another round of trouble. No matter how good the second daughter was, she is no longer here. The eldest daughter is the one in charge of the family now." Xie Feng scolded.
"Okay, mother was wrong. I won't say it again. Since the prince has taken a fancy to you, why don't you mention it? If you become his highness the prince's concubine, it will be a great blessing for your ancestors. You may become an empress in the future." The middle-aged woman murmured to herself, with some excitement on her face, as if she saw Xie Feng entering the palace and becoming an empress.
That was the time when everyone was prosperous and wealthy. It was not comparable to the current situation.
"Just serve the Concubine well and she will say a few good words for you. And follow her wholeheartedly in the future..." The middle-aged woman wanted to say something, but Xie Feng had already opened the door, walked out and slammed it shut.
Standing outside the door, Xie Feng showed resentment on her face. She had done so many things, but why didn't the prince pity her and even now he didn't even look at her.
I have an outstanding appearance and am the Second Young Lady's personal maid. Is it possible that I cannot attract the Crown Prince's attention
The concubine had promised herself before that as long as she was loyal to her, she would give her a chance. But now, she was still a nameless person, even worse than the maids who followed the prince. At least those maids all looked disdainful when they saw her.
The Concubine is now in a situation where she can't even protect herself. If she had known this, why would she...
The most important thing right now is to protect the concubine, so that there is a chance for me...
"Your niece gave birth to a child. Didn't you say that the principal wife hasn't entered the house yet? How could she give birth so soon? Rich families are most particular about the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children." Two people came over in the darkness, talking as they walked. They were the voices of two old women, and they could not be seen clearly.
Xie Feng almost subconsciously moved to the side. Fortunately, there was no light here, so he could only vaguely see a swaying figure.
Of course, ordinary families live in such places, so it is normal for them to send their nieces as concubines.
"She's already pregnant. What's the use of sticking to the rules? You can't just abort the baby!" said another old woman nonchalantly.
"This is good too. At least your niece got the advantage. When the principal wife comes in in the future, she won't be able to get ahead of him. Besides, even though the eldest son of a concubine has a son of a concubine, who knows what will happen in the future. The title may even fall on the eldest son of the concubine. Then everything now will be worth it!"
The old woman from before smiled and praised.