Kunning Palace—
"Your Majesty…"
Xi Que, dressed in a dazzling fabric newly imported by the Internal Affairs Departnt, hurried forward. "The person who damaged the palanquin… has been caught…"
"Where is she?"
"Bring her in!"
A concubine dressed in plain green robes, far less luxurious than Xi Que's attire, was brought in.
Her appearance was rely delicate, her skin sallow. Despite it being the golden autumn of September, she wore only a thin gray robe. Her eyes, filled with guilt, refused to et anyone's gaze, and her hands nervously clutched at her clothes. "Your humble servant… pays her respects to the Empress Dowager."
She knelt on the ground, trembling uncontrollably even before Jiang Xinyue could speak, weeping and begging for rcy. "Your Majesty, please spare ! I will never dare to do it again! Please, Your Majesty, spare my life…"
Seeing how spineless she was, Jiang Xinyue didn't even bother with questioning. She simply waved her hand, signaling Jiang Chuan to take her away. The incessant crying was utterly irritating.
Shuang Jiang couldn't help but notice that ever since her mistress had been crowned Empress Dowager and had spent considerable ti learning from the Emperor, her aura of authority had grown increasingly formidable, almost resembling the Emperor himself.
With her hands clasped over her abdon, Shuang Jiang stepped forward and bowed. "Your Majesty, she is the daughter of a minor county official. When she entered the palace, she was a Court Lady. After being favored for a few days, she was promoted to Consort. She bears no personal grudge against Your Majesty. It's just that during the reign of the previous Empress Dowager, everyone had hopes of advancent. But since Your Majesty assud power, their prospects have dwindled. When she saw the collapse of the side hall in Yanxi Palace, she thought of sabotaging Your Majesty's palanquin."
Xi Que fud, "How could a powerless little Consort like her dare to touch Your Majesty's belongings?"
Shuang Jiang also seed displeased. "Consort Yuan has a beautiful maid, originally brought from her family, intended to be offered to the Emperor to win his favor if Consort Yuan ever beca pregnant. But now that there's no hope of winning the Emperor's favor, she was given to the eunuch in charge of carrying Your Majesty's palanquin."
The poor maid had been forced into it. The eunuch had a penchant for abuse, and when the maid was rescued, there wasn't a single patch of unblemished skin on her body.
Xiao Xiangzi, responsible for the internal affairs of Kunning Palace, felt deeply ashad that such a person had erged under his watch. He knelt in the courtyard, begging for punishnt.
Xi Que, carefully observing her mistress's expression, timidly pleaded, "Your Majesty, Xiao Xiangzi has punished all the eunuchs who lived with that vile man. He had their tendons severed in front of all the palace servants and then threw them into the mass graves to fend for themselves. The servants were all terrified, and for a while, no one will dare to betray Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty~ If you're still angry, perhaps you could have Xiao Xiangzi beaten a dozen tis to vent your frustration?"
Shuang Jiang thought for a mont and said, "Your Majesty, now that you hold such a high position and are busy with state affairs, with only Xiao Xiangzi and Nanny Xiang managing the palace, we are indeed short-handed. If we could transfer so personnel from the Bureau of Palace Affairs, such incidents might not happen again."
Fang Rung, whom Her Majesty had personally promoted, was now the head of the Bureau of Palace Affairs, overseeing the six palaces and twenty-four departnts. She had many capable female officials under her, so it wouldn't be difficult for Her Majesty to request a few.
"Then this matter is entrusted to you and Xiao Xiangzi. Fang Rung won't give you any trouble. Go and select a few trustworthy individuals. I trust your judgnt."
Especially Shuang Jiang, who was beginning to exhibit the deanor of a palace steward. In the future, the internal affairs of Kunning Palace would inevitably fall into her and Xiao Xiangzi's hands.
As for Xi Que, her temperant wasn't suited for prolonged service in the palace. Besides, she had already found soone she loved. It would be better for her to live freely outside the palace.
That afternoon, Shuang Jiang brought four female officials from the Bureau of Palace Affairs into Kunning Palace.
"Your servant, Chunfen."
"Your servant, Xiazhi."
"Your servant, Qiuhe."
"Your servant, Dongxue."
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager!"
The four seasons-thed won had dignified and pleasant appearances. They weren't strikingly beautiful, but their features were well-proportioned, making them quite agreeable to look at, and their smiles were warm and inviting.
Fang Rung explained, "These are the officials I have specially trained for Your Majesty. They are proficient in arithtic and are intelligent. They will surely be able to assist Your Majesty in managing affairs."
That evening, Jiang Xinyue called Xi Que for a heart-to-heart talk.
"Guard ng will turn twenty after the New Year. The Cavalry General's Mansion intends for him to join the army as a deputy general. What are your thoughts on this?"
Xi Que's face imdiately turned crimson, all the way to her ears. "What do I think? I only want to serve Your Majesty well. I don't think about anything else."
"Still playing coy, are you? Do you think I don't know that several guards have offered you gifts, but you only accepted Guard ng's? Isn't that a sign of affection?"
"That pear blossom hairpin you're wearing—he carved it himself, didn't he?"
"And your hand…"
"Your Majesty!"
Xi Que stomped her foot, clearly embarrassed.
"Make up your mind quickly so I can prepare your dowry. That way, you can marry him before he joins the army. Once he becos a deputy general, I can confer upon you the title of a noblewoman. Then, during festivals, you can co to the palace, and we can catch up from ti to ti. It won't be like we'll never see each other again, right?"
Jiang Xinyue had already sent word to the ng family. The elderly matriarch, who ca from humble origins, was more than willing for her grandson to marry Her Majesty's most trusted maid.
However, ng Qingyu's sister seed eager to ddle in her brother's marriage. She had been married off to a deputy general through the Cavalry General's Mansion's matchmaking. The deputy general's family had an orphaned child of a forr military officer, whom the deputy general had adopted. ng Qingyu's brother-in-law had tried to arrange a match, but both the ng family matriarch and ng Qingyu himself had refused.
Though the sister had taken matters into her own hands, the grandmother was sensible and always deferred to her grandson's wishes.
Jiang Xinyue was confident that with Xi Que's formidable personality, dealing with a ddling sister-in-law would be a breeze.
"Does Your Majesty think I'm too foolish and want to get rid of ?"
Xi Que's eyes reddened, and tears began to fall. She sat at Jiang Xinyue's feet, hugging her legs and sobbing. "I was wrong. I'll return all his gifts. I don't want to get married. I'm scared. I don't want to leave Your Majesty…"
She had grown up with Her Majesty, who had always made decisions for her. She was clumsy, and only with Her Majesty's support did she feel fearless.
"How could I ever abandon you? You're like a younger sister to . I only wish for your happiness. How could I ever cast you aside?"
Jiang Xinyue gently stroked her head. "Xi Que, you're not like Shuang Jiang. She was sold into the palace, and leaving would only an being sold again. That's why she refuses to leave or marry. But your parents are outside the palace. When you followed into the palace, your parents cried until they nearly went blind. Now, soone has promised that he will treat you well for the rest of your life, that he will never take a concubine, and that he will ensure your happiness. And you love him too. I want you to have a life filled with children and grandchildren, to be happy and fulfilled. Do you understand my intentions?"
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