"Aunt, Mother..."
Listening to the familiar words of concern, Princess Consort De’s long-restrained grievances poured out.
"What has happened?" Zhang Mengxiang immediately rose from her seat, coming to the side of Princess Consort De, and due to her unbearable grief, Princess Consort De plunged into Zhang Mengxiang’s embrace.
The door naturally closed.
Princess Consort De hugged Zhang Mengxiang and cried for quite a while before she embarrassingly said, "I’ve embarrassed Aunt and Mother. I just haven’t rested well and miss my mother too much, hence this situation."
"No need to say that; Princess Consort De, entering the palace and never seeing your younger sister until now, it’s naturally justified to miss her. Yun’er always speaks of Princess Consort De at home," said Yao Xiuqin gently.
"Yun’er has grown up," Princess Consort De said with a soft smile.
After drinking some tea, Princess Consort De’s spirit improved a lot.
"Yes, in another two months, Yun’er will be of age." Mentioning her daughter, Yao Xiuqin’s face displayed a faint smile.
But Zhang Mengxiang, who had returned to her seat, wore a worried expression.
"Mother, what is it?" Princess Consort De asked in confusion.
"Alas, it’s about Sian..." Yao Xiuqin did away with her smile and sighed.
The hand holding the kerchief tightened, and Princess Consort De felt an ominous premonition rise in her heart.
After Yan Xiu ascended the throne, he conferred the title of Duke upon his maternal grandfather, Duke Miao, allowing him to enjoy his old age peacefully.
Duke Miao had two legitimate sons and one legitimate daughter. The legitimate daughter naturally was the current Empress Dowager.
The primary branch of the Miao family, Miao Wencheng and his wife Mrs. Yao had two legitimate sons and one legitimate daughter, while the secondary branch, Miao Wenguang and his wife Zhang Mengxiang, only had one daughter and one son, the eldest daughter naturally being the Princess Consort De in the harem, Miao Man’er, and the younger son being Miao Sian.
"An’er drank wine; it was seeing someone forcibly abduct a woman that prompted him to act harshly. Who would’ve known that after returning, the person would be bedridden, unable to rise? Now they refuse private mediation, insisting on reporting to officials..."
Zhang Mengxiang said this, taking up a handkerchief to wipe her eyes.
Princess Consort De’s expression changed: "Which family’s young master was it? How are the injuries?"
"The specifics of the injury are tightly concealed by them, and it’s hard to gather information. I only know that the young master is the nephew of Lord Zhao of the Ministry of Justice," Zhang Mengxiang said quietly.
Hiss.
Princess Consort De drew a sharp breath.
The nephew of Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Zhao Shen!
"Man’er, please help An’er. It’s all a misunderstanding, and An’er has realized his mistake. This matter is neither too big nor too small. If the Capital Governor gets involved, what would An’er do..." Zhang Mengxiang said, starting to cry again.
Miao Sian is planning to participate in this year’s imperial examination. If caught by the Capital Governor, his examination qualification would naturally be revoked.
An’er’s scholarship might indeed make the list.
But...
Princess Consort De was also anxious, looking at Zhang Mengxiang and said: "Mother, please don’t cry."
Yao Xiuqin advised, "You’ve seen it too, sister-in-law, Man’er now faces difficulty. In the end, it’s affairs outside the palace and in the court. She is just a concubine in the harem, how could she get involved in this matter?"
"But An’er is Man’er’s brother," Zhang Mengxiang said, eyes reddening as she looked at Princess Consort De: "Man’er, plead with the Emperor on An’er’s behalf. Please hold off the official intervention first. Whatever the Zhao family wants for compensation, just say the word."
Yao Xiuqin sighed: "Sister-in-law, the Emperor isn’t someone who’d listen to whatever Man’er says?"
"Even though the Emperor doesn’t heed Man’er’s words, I’ve heard that the Emperor greatly favors Li Xiurong. Man’er, for An’er’s sake, pleads with Li Xiurong and have her speak to the Emperor, how about that?"
After hearing Zhang Mengxiang’s words, Princess Consort De’s vision went black, and she nearly lost her breath.