"Our madam is the county princess's concubine mother. Does she need to announce herself to see the county princess? I think you're crazy!" Chun Xing, the young maid, shrieked.
Chun Xing looked down on the doorkeeper. They were all servants, so why was this one so arrogant?
"Hmph, what do you think this place is? This is the An Ning County Princess's mansion!" The doorkeeper glared coldly at the mistress and maid. "No calling card, no entry."
"You..."
Just as Chun Xing was about to retort, several fine horses appeared at the alley entrance. Astride the foremost horse was a dashing young man in dark Shu brocade and a jade crown. He was in his early twenties, with sharp sword-like eyebrows, bright star-like eyes, and an imposing demeanor that left both Madam Liu and Chun Xing stunned.
The doorkeeper, upon seeing him, immediately pushed Chun Xing aside and scrambled to call for someone to lead the horses.
Qi Yihan entered the mansion without a sideways glance. A'qi glanced back in the direction where Madam Liu and Chun Xing were standing as he followed his master into the mansion, but quickly did so.
The grand gate slammed shut with a bang, jolting Madam Liu and Chun Xing back to reality.
Chun Xing's eyes gleamed. "Young lady, that was the Ninth Prince, wasn't it? That's what the doorkeeper called him just now."
Madam Liu gazed blankly at the closed door, her eyes lost in a daze.
Li Man'er, having just finished her sword practice, heard that Qi Yihan had arrived and immediately said, "Have the Ninth Prince brought to the side hall for tea. I'll be there after I change."
Lüyi and Ziyan hurried to help her change and groom.
"I'll likely be staying in the palace for a few days during this visit. Ziyan, you'll accompany me to the palace. Lüyi, the affairs of the mansion will be your responsibility. Although Mama Song belongs to the Ninth Prince, she only oversees and supervises here. The actual work still needs to be done by us. You need to show the demeanor of a senior maid. If you encounter any fools, don't show them any mercy."
Ziyan was cautious and suitable for accompanying her to the palace. Lüyi, however, was a fiery character. Although she had toned down a bit over the past year, her temperament was still there and not easily changed.
Lüyi knew that the county princess was entrusting her and immediately declared her determination, "County Princess, rest assured, your servant understands."
"Don't withdraw the people at the docks. Keep waiting."
Lüyi nodded promptly, "Young lady, please be at ease."
Ziyan fastened Li Man'er's earrings and examined her carefully. "Young lady, you're ready."
Li Man'er rose. "You'll come with me."
"Yes!"
Li Man'er quickly walked to the side hall, a smile on her face. "I'm ready. Let's go!"
Qi Yihan nodded. "I've already had someone prepare a carriage for you. We'll leave through the East Corner Gate."
The two immediately left the side hall and took the carriage from the East Corner Gate to the palace.
"The Empress Dowager wants to see you. You need to be mentally prepared."
Qi Yihan simply said, "She will surely make things difficult for you, but I will be by your side to accompany you."
Li Man'er nodded. "I'm not afraid. The Emperor's tolerance for her has reached its limit. Even if the Empress Dowager doesn't understand something, she can only be dissatisfied. I suspect the Emperor won't do anything to her, at most confine her. An Empress Dowager, even if confined, would have no power."
"The Grand Princess is a descendant of the late Emperor. Although she made mistakes, the Emperor will not execute her because of that. However, her conspiracy with the Empress Dowager to disrupt the succession is something the Emperor cannot tolerate. Begging for mercy might not be so easy."
Disrupt the succession?
Li Man'er thought to herself, isn't that rebellion? It's phrased so delicately.
"If I say I can spare the Grand Princess's life, do you think the Empress Dowager will still make things difficult for me?"
Qi Yihan was confused. "She harmed your mother, and you don't want revenge?"
Li Man'er sighed. "If I tell you, won't you call me heartless?"
"Hmm?"
"Even if she dies, my mother will not come back to life. For someone like the Grand Princess, death might be a release, nothing to fear. For her, losing all her glory, losing all hope, that is the most terrifying and severe punishment."
Qi Yihan nodded. "You are right."
The carriage stopped steadily at the palace gate. As they alighted, a young eunuch from the Taiji Hall ran over to greet them.
Soon, the two met Emperor Chenghua in the Taiji Hall.
After this incident, he seemed to be in better spirits than before, as if the betrayal of his mother and imperial sister had not affected him.
Indeed, the imperial family was heartless. In their hearts, only the nation, the dynasty, and their interests were paramount.
"The case has been investigated and clarified." Emperor Chenghua pointed to the imperial decrees on his desk. "Let them see it."
"Yes." Eunuch Xia picked up the memorial from the Grand Court of Justice and handed it to Qi Yihan.
Qi Yihan took it and glanced at it, specifically looking at Emperor Chenghua's vermillion endorsement, before handing it to Li Man'er beside him.
"This... might not be in accordance with protocol, right?" How could a woman read memorials? Even the imperial harem was forbidden from meddling in politics, let alone her being merely a minor county princess.
Emperor Chenghua became more accommodating. "You are a party involved and the victim. What can't you see?"
Li Man'er then offered her thanks and began to read carefully.
The truth of the matter was similar to the deductions made that day. When Madam Ning went to offer incense, she had accidentally encountered the Grand Princess. However, at the time, she did not recognize the Grand Princess. The Grand Princess, guilty of her crime, feared that her visit to see her son would be exposed. She was uneasy for two days upon returning and finally decided it was better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go.
The evidence of Madam Cui killing her husband was not discovered by the Grand Princess, but was deliberately sent to her by someone. As for who that person was, Madam Cui did not know.
With this evidence, the Grand Princess no longer had the intention of hiring assassins. Instead, she threatened Madam Cui to attack Madam Ning, thus absolving herself.
Madam Cui, having lost her noble title and status, was now a commoner. The Li family, being clansmen, and knowing this situation, had their clan leader step forward and, on behalf of the deceased Old Marquis, divorce Madam Cui and expel her from the Li family.
"I originally intended to have this wicked woman executed in the marketplace for the whole world to witness her wicked deeds. However, on second thought, she did give birth to your father, and is your grandmother. I will spare her a complete corpse out of respect for you!"
Li Man'er quickly knelt and offered her thanks.
"As for the Grand Princess..."
This was clearly a test of Li Man'er's stance.
"I have something to say." Li Man'er immediately knelt down.
"Rise and speak."
Li Man'er said, "Thank you, Your Majesty." After she stood up, her eyes were red. "Although I hate the Grand Princess, I do not wish to make things difficult for Your Majesty."
This child spoke of her hatred so frankly that Emperor Chenghua found it quite rare.
"The Grand Princess is of the late Emperor's bloodline and is of the same mother as Your Majesty. This humble daughter..." Li Man'er paused, tears welling up. She didn't even wipe them away, merely blinked, and then said, "This humble daughter wishes to consider the overall situation."
Emperor Chenghua remained silent for a long time. After a while, he said softly, "Rise. It is rare to see such sincerity from you. I am very pleased."
Li Man'er: MMP...