bayedsolid Chapter 801 The Empress's Hint!
Chapter 801 The Empress's Hint!
Since it was a group of female relatives who came to pay their respects, the Crown Prince naturally did not need to appear.
By now, Duanmu Chuze had already run to the foot of the mountain, looking at all sorts of novel things, wondering what to bring back for Mu Xinnuan and Zong Hua.
After a short rest, the Empress felt refreshed. Hearing that someone was outside requesting an audience, she learned their identities and allowed them to enter.
"Today, my fourth younger sister was ignorant and offended the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince. She is very uneasy, so she came here specifically to apologize to you."
Before Li Wanyue could finish speaking, Li Wanhe immediately knelt down and said, "It's all my fault, Your Majesty. Please forgive me."
The Empress's eyes narrowed slightly, then she smiled and said, "Get up. This child seems quite clever; is she your younger sister?"
Li Wanyue had no idea that the Empress was asking a question she already knew the answer to. She quickly explained, "Your Majesty, this is my cousin, the second daughter of my second uncle."
The Empress nodded. "Were you the one who brewed tea in the pavilion today?"
Li Wanhe's expression changed slightly. The single word "also" indicated that the Empress did not believe that what she had seen today was all a coincidence.
Who is the Empress? She is the most noble woman in the world. If anyone dares to plot against the Empress, wouldn't they be courting death?
Li Wanhe trembled slightly and lowered her head to avoid letting the Empress see her panicked state. "Your Majesty, it is indeed I. I have been here for two days and have been brewing tea there every day. Today, I forgot that Your Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince would pass by there, so I was impolite. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
The Empress leaned back slightly. This girl was quite clever.
In just a few words, she clearly explained why she was brewing tea there.
It was made clear that this would be the case for the next two days, but no special arrangements were made.
The Empress rose and saw Li Wanyue sitting to the left of Madam Xu. She felt a certain fondness for this young woman.
"Are you Xu Kaixuan's wife?"
"Your Majesty, it is indeed me."
"Hmm, Madam Xu, you have excellent taste. This girl exudes an extraordinary air about her. I've heard that you and A-Nuan have had a very good relationship since childhood?"
“Your Majesty, that’s right. When Anuan was little, she often ran to the Zhenguo General’s Mansion. As you know, the Mu family had some unpleasant things going on before, so Anuan was often bullied. Sometimes when she went to the Li Mansion, you could often see injuries on her arms and legs.”
Upon hearing this, the Empress couldn't help but sigh, "I was just wondering how Ah Nuan could be so sensible at such a young age. She must have suffered hardships and injustices as a child to truly understand the difficulties her parents went through as she grew up."
“Your Majesty is right. When Anuan was little, her aunt’s health was always poor. In addition, her uncle was too busy with official business at the time, and he would often only sleep for a few hours at home before leaving. Sometimes, he would stay in the study for several days in a row. So, Anuan was neglected by people at that time.”
"Fortunately, your father was wise later and managed to set everything right. Well, let's not talk about the past anymore. The more I talk about it, the more my heart aches for Anuan."
This was the first time Li Wanyue had spoken to the Empress at such close range. Seeing how approachable the Empress was, she quickly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Your Majesty is right. Ah Nuan is indeed lovable and endearing. Every time she comes to our Zhenguo General's Mansion, Grandfather and Grandmother's laughter never stops."
Li Wanhe stood aside, unable to get a word in edgewise.
Once they left the Empress's resting place, Li Wanhe suddenly realized that the Empress was giving her a hint.
The Empress was very satisfied with her daughter-in-law, Mu Xinnuan, and even felt sorry for her.
Moreover, the mention of Mu Xin Nuan's family affairs from her earlier years is clearly a veiled criticism of her humble origins, implying that she is unworthy of the Crown Prince.
Li Wanhe bit her lip. She was unwilling, but what could she do?
That's the Empress!
With just a word from the Empress, not only her marriage, but even her life, could be decided with a single word.
Li Wanhe was somewhat dazed. Even after returning to the General's Mansion the next day, she still couldn't understand why the Empress had such a strong prejudice against her when she hadn't done anything wrong.
A maid brought over a travelogue. Li Wanhe glanced at it and knew who had sent it. She turned her head indifferently and said after a while, "Go and tell her that I don't like reading this kind of book these days, and ask her not to send any more."
"Yes, ma'am."
Li Wanhe still felt somewhat aggrieved.
With her social standing, it's naturally impossible for her to marry too well.
If she were to marry into a wealthy family, she would likely only be able to become a concubine, or marry an unfavored illegitimate son as his principal wife.
But even if she's the legal wife, so what?
Those unfavored illegitimate sons were often separated from their families as soon as they got married, and they were usually given very little money.
Marrying that kind of person is worse than marrying an ordinary wealthy merchant.
Of course, she could only think these words to herself. If she were to say them out loud, she would probably be met with another round of abuse from Madam Xu.
Her birth mother died early. In recent years, although her stepmother has treated her well, there is still a estrangement between them, and in addition, she has an illegitimate son. Her life in this mansion is not exactly difficult, but it is definitely not easy either.
Seeing that there was no hope of marrying into the Eastern Palace, Li Wanhe couldn't help but wonder if her future days would be filled with darkness.
“Miss, the Third Miss’s wedding date is set a bit tight. Madam said that there is some dowry that we may not be able to prepare. Please ask the maids in your courtyard to help with some embroidery.”
Li Wanhe nodded in agreement, "Since it's my sister's wedding, I, as her younger sister, should naturally help out. Go and tell Madam that if there's any work to be done, just send it to me."
"Yes, then this servant will go and report to Madam immediately."
When Duanmu Chuze returned to the East Palace, he saw Mu Xinnuan and Zong Hua playing with wooden figures in the garden.
These were the little wooden figures he had carved before, which Zonghua liked to take out and play with when he had nothing to do.
"Ah Nuan, are you tired today?"
Mu Xin Nuan shook her head, "It's only been three months, it's still early."
"Something on your mind?" Duanmu Chuze couldn't help but ask when he saw her brow furrow slightly.
"What else could it be? It's just the same old thing."
Who came by today?
Rongyue came over and said, “Your Highness, it was Princess Ming and Consort Luo who came. Princess Ming didn’t say much, but Consort Luo kept urging the Crown Princess to choose a concubine for you or arrange a few maids for you.”
Rongyue was, after all, a girl who had never experienced such things, and she couldn't help but blush a little when she said these words.
Duanmu Chuze frowned. These people really don't like causing trouble.