Chapter 1031 The Great Elder Princess Admitted Her Mistake, Retreating to Advance
Shao Wanru had seen this palace maid before — she was the Empress’s capable and trusted palace maid.
When she came back and stood behind the Empress, she did not arouse others’ suspicion. Only Shao Wanru, who had been paying attention, noticed some sweat stains on her forehead. Obviously, the maid came here in a hurry.
Shao Wanru pursed her lips and forced a smile.
Ning Xueqing acted fast. Of course, the news came to the Empress at high speed. The Empress must have planted lots of spies inside and outside the Palace.
The Empress knew about it as soon as the Ministry of Justice got some information.
!!
Shao Wanru lowered her head slightly. Since the Empress did not ask her directly, she no longer needed to pursue the matter. The dispute between Infanta Yuan’an and Shao Hua’an ended, and it would be the best ending when only Old Madam was sent to live a secluded and hard life.
Shao Hua’an would have to apologize to Infanta Yuan’an when his leg had recovered, but it was none of her business.
Zhao Xiran must be sensitive enough to prepare an apology gift, which would be delivered to the Ruiping Great Elder Princess’s Mansion.
“Mother, if there is nothing else, I will return first!” The Empress received a hint from her faithful palace maid and stood up.
“Go ahead!” The Empress Dowager nodded.
Before leaving, the Empress glanced at Infanta Yuan’an. The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became. If Infanta Yuan’an were disfigured, it would put her son at great inconvenience.
But if her son proposed to marry a n.o.ble lady from another aristocratic family, she would have to agree. Ruiping Great Elder Princess’s Mansion couldn’t object. After all, it was because Infanta Yuan’an accidentally hurt her face.
“Your Majesty, considering Yuan’an’s current condition, we have to ask some imperial physicians in the Palace to diagnose her again.” Ruiping Great Elder Princess stood up and bowed deeply to the Empress Dowager. Then she stood up with tears in her eyes. “If there is anything wrong with Yuan’an, I… what should I do?”
“Don’t worry. It’s okay. I’ve found several good imperial physicians. They have been waiting in the side hall. Take Yuan’an to have a look. If there’s anything else you need, tell me. We can’t let her get married with a wounded face!” The Empress Dowager comforted her.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Ruiping Great Elder Princess said, tears of grat.i.tude welling in her eyes.
Infanta Yuan’an stood up, knelt with a thump, and kowtowed to Empress Dowager three times.
“Good girl, get up. Look at your face first. Don’t think too much about anything else!” The Empress Dowager asked someone to pull Infanta Yuan’an up and said softly.
The Empress Dowager had always thought that Infanta Yuan’an was a considerate young lady. This time, Empress Dowager also agreed to the marriage between Prince Zhou and Infanta Yuan’an.
At this time, seeing that she was wronged, Empress Dowager felt more and more sympathetic toward Infanta Yuan’an, who got hurt on the way to pick up a birthday gift for her. So, Empress Dowager kindly urged her to see the doctors.
Ruiping Great Elder Princess took Infanta Yuan’an to the side hall to let the imperial physicians treat her.
Suddenly, the main hall became empty, and the Empress Dowager condemned with a cold snort as her face fell, “Rui’an, you should admit your crime!”
Rui’an Great Elder Princess hurriedly knelt and kowtowed to her, saying, “Your Majesty, it is indeed my fault. But the Marquis Xing’s Mansion had never taken Hao’er seriously in the past. They even wanted to make him a useless person when he was a child. Never had Old Madam thought he was also her grandson. If Hao’er has to move back, I’m worried that something bad will happen to him!”
At this time, there were no outsiders, so Rui’an Great Elder Princess did not intend to hide her thoughts and said this matter bluntly.
Just now, she had plotted against the Empress by confirming what the Empress had said in anger. If anyone said it was against the rules that Hao’er still lived in Rui’an Great Elder Princess’s Mansion, Great Elder Princess could tell them that the Empress had agreed to this. In this respect, she had deliberately used the Empress’s unintentional remarks.
She hadn’t been on good terms with Old Madam in the Marquis Xing’s Mansion for a long time.
From time to time, they would come into conflict. At first, it was because of Shao Wanru’s parents. Later on, they would argue over Shao Wanru and her younger brother.
Since the Marquis Xing’s Mansion was in trouble, with her character, Rui’an Great Elder Princess would never lose this chance to aggravate the situation. She wouldn’t let Old Madam of the Marquis Xing’s Mansion pa.s.s the crisis.
If anyone else gave such an honest opinion, the Empress Dowager would scold her, but it was Rui’an Great Elder Princess who spoke out her feelings sincerely. The Empress Dowager fell silent for a while.
Her eyes fell on Rui’an Great Elder Princess, a person of strong character. Even though Empress Dowager had just exposed her hideous intention, she still took a strong att.i.tude. Nevertheless, Empress Dowager saw the deep sadness in her eyes.
Shao Yuanhao was indeed the only descendant of Rui’an Great Elder Princess.
On that note, Empress Dowager would have to attach more importance to Shao Yuanhao, not to mention that Shao Wanru was also with them.
Without saying a word, Shao Wanru knelt beside Rui’an Great Elder Princess, lowering her head. In Empress Dowager’s eyes, she looked delicate and thin.
The Empress Dowager sighed helplessly and waved her hand. “You two get up!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Rui’an Great Elder Princess breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing that this matter was finally over, she pulled Shao Wanru up and sat beside Empress Dowager again.
“Rui’an, you have a granddaughter and a grandson now. Don’t be so willful. Even if it’s for their good, you should no longer mess up with the Marquis Xing’s Mansion. In the future, the mansion will belong to Shao Yuanhao!” Looking at Rui’an Great Elder Princess, the Empress Dowager got a headache.
She had been on bad terms with the Marquis Xing’s Mansion for so many years. Since long ago, Empress Dowager wanted to persuade Rui’an Great Elder Princess to let go of the past. However, on second thought, Empress Dowager felt it reasonable for Rui’an to vent her anger on the mansion because she had been alone and helpless without any child or grandchild. However, the situation was different now. After all, as a n.o.ble princess, Rui’an Great Elder Princess shouldn’t make a scene to disgrace the royal family.
“Your Majesty, I didn’t want to make trouble with the Marquis Xing’s Mansion, but I just felt… I felt…” Rui’an Great Elder Princess gritted her teeth with some hesitation and looked around. It must be hard for her to say the following words.
“There are no outsiders here. Say what you want to.” The Empress Dowager said lightly, but she frowned. Her instinct told her it would not be a good thing.
Rui’an Great Elder Princess had always had a direct manner. When her secret thought was exposed, she faced it fearlessly and bluntly admitted she indeed had plotted against the Empress on purpose. However, she restrained the words that sprang to her lips, which was odd.
“Your Majesty, it’s not that I don’t want to say it, but there is no evidence…” Rui’an Great Elder Princess said.
“Since there is no evidence, don’t say it. Rui’an, you should know that you are the Great Elder Princess of the royal family. Your words and deeds represent the dignity of the royal family. Therefore, you can’t do whatever you want recklessly!” The Empress Dowager interrupted Rui’an Great Elder Princess in a brusque tone, waved her hand, and said a little wearily, “You can leave now. I’m tired!”
There were some things that Empress Dowager didn’t want to get involved in. No matter what Rui’an Great Elder Princess wanted to say, she didn’t want to listen to it as long as there was no evidence.
“Your Majesty, I only tell you about this matter: I think Qinghua and Shao Jiang may not have died of an accident but were murdered.” Rui’an Great Elder Princess gritted her teeth with determination and said in a low voice.
She had to say it out loud today.
“What nonsense are you talking about!” The Empress Dowager clapped her hands heavily and snapped in a stern voice.
“Your Majesty, I didn’t lie in my teeth. Think about it. Why could the second branch always reap the profit? Why would they fail to take good care of Hao’er and nearly ruin him? Why would someone secretly ask Madam Di to plot against Zhuozhuo again and again? It was what w.a.n.g Shengxue had confessed. There must be someone behind all of this. Zhuozhuo is just an unmarried young girl who has just arrived in the capital. How could she offend Madam Jiang?”
Rui’an Great Elder Princess argued strongly on just grounds.
As soon as the Empress Dowager heard this, her face darkened, and she ordered angrily, “You can withdraw now. Never say these wild words in the future. I will not let you go easy if you dare to talk nonsense again!”
“Your Majesty…” Rui’an Great Elder Princess wanted to say something more, but Shao Wanru suddenly pulled her sleeves, her face pale with fright. “Grandma, you must not talk about this matter. This kind of thing… how is it possible?”
Any child who heard such a terrible thing could not calm down. Shao Wanru was coolheaded enough to pull Rui’an Great Elder Princess’s sleeves.
“Zhuozhuo, I…” Rui’an Great Elder Princess insisted on arguing, but this time Shao Wanru stepped forward, putting her arms around her shoulder. “Grandma, you are the only family that loves and cares about me wholeheartedly. You mustn’t…”
As Shao Wanru said this, there were already tears in the corners of her eyes.
Gradually, the Empress Dowager’s anger had cooled. Shao Wanru indeed had a miserable life. It was also a fact that she had fallen prey to Madam Jiang and Madam Di’s plot.
Shao Wanru was indeed innocent.
“Rui’an, don’t make irresponsible remarks when there is no evidence. But if you get any evidence, you can tell me frankly.” The Empress Dowager had wanted to rebuke Rui’an Great Elder Princess, but for the sake of Shao Wanru, she suppressed the anger and at least allowed Rui’an Great Elder Princess a possibility.
Although Empress Dowager did not believe what she said, it was good for Rui’an Great Elder Princess to get a chance to complain. If Empress Dowager didn’t believe it for the first time, she could mention it the second time, the third time… Moreover, with Empress Dowager’s permission, it was justifiable for Rui’an Great Elder Princess to investigate something in private, even though the Emperor noticed this. It was one of the things that Shao Wanru and Rui’an Great Elder Princess had discussed in advance.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I know I was wrong!” Rui’an Great Elder Princess lowered her head.
Seeing that she was no longer that stubborn and apologized with a sincere att.i.tude, Empress Dowager was relieved. She was afraid Rui’an Great Elder Princess would publicize her guess widely. After all, there was no evidence to support this charge of murder. Plus, this matter happened more than a decade ago. It was not easy to dig it out now.
“Your Majesty, I have something to report!” An imperial physician came from the side hall and bowed to the Empress Dowager. He looked very annoyed, his small eyes wider than ever. It was evident that the situation was not good.
He was the imperial physician who had gone to check Infanta Yuan’an.
“Is there anything wrong with Yuan’an?” The Empress Dowager asked in a deep voice. Just now, it seemed that Infanta Yuan’an and Ruiping Great Elder Princess didn’t take this matter so seriously. Why would the imperial physician respond differently?
“The medicine Infanta Yuan’an had used is not good. We offered to wash the previous medicine for her, but she refused. She said we didn’t have great medical skills and wanted to wash her medicine away because we were jealous of other people’s medical skills!” Thinking of what had happened just now, the imperial physician became furious, frothing at the mouth. He had worked so many years in the Imperial Inst.i.tute of Medicine, and it was the first time someone disdained the imperial physicians so openly and bluntly.
With suspicion and distaste, Infanta Yuan’an rejected not just him but all the four imperial physicians. This was something that had never happened before. It was not an insult to one imperial physician but an affront to the entire Imperial Inst.i.tute of Medicine.