Chapter 1055: Madness

"This doesn’t seem like Lady Yao’s usual style!" Xia Ruqing raised an eyebrow.

Ni Manxue replied.

"The master himself took them away, saying it was shameful to keep them here!"

"And Lady Yao?"

Ni Manxue continued.

"Lady Yao was smug for quite a while; it’s said that she used to mock Second Madam every day back then!"

"On the day Xia Ruyi got married, she even dressed up flamboyantly to attract guests everywhere!"

"Later, when she found out Xia Ruyi had become a concubine in the Prince’s Mansion, she didn’t dare to show her face again!"

"I don’t know what happened after that!"

"My husband visited the master a few times, saying Lady Yao seemed to have gone mad, crying and laughing at times!"

"The master spent quite a bit of silver seeking doctors and medicine for her!"

"In the end, I don’t know if she got better, but in February, she left the Capital City with their youngest son!"

"This is also what my husband told me later!"

Lady Ni spoke indifferently, as if none of this had anything to do with her.

In fact, it really didn’t.

No matter what, sympathy was impossible!

Isn’t this all karma?

How did Lady Yao curse her back then? How did she mistreat the Second Madam?

These resentments aren’t something that can be resolved overnight.

As long as she didn’t step on her when she was down, sympathy and pity? Absolutely impossible.

Xia Ruqing just laughed.

"Indeed, the heavens have eyes!"

"You see, it’s not that retribution doesn’t come, it’s just that the time hasn’t come yet!"

Ni Manxue also laughed.

"There’s even more amusing news to talk about!"

"After Xia Ruyi entered the Prince’s Mansion, she was unwilling to be just a concubine! She sent a letter through someone asking my husband to deliver a message to the palace, saying she wanted you to support her!"

"Me?" Xia Ruqing was somewhat surprised.

"She wants me to support her? Oh dear, how rare that she looks up to me!"

Ni Manxue also laughed.

"When my husband received the letter, he was so angry his face turned dark after reading it once, and he burned it immediately!"

"He also instructed the servant boy not to accept any random letters from Prince Wu’s Mansion in the future!"

"Even the servant boy got scolded!"

Xia Ruqing’s smile became even brighter.

"Haha, indeed, how interesting! Is this not considered gloating over someone else’s misfortune?"

"However, I still don’t understand why Princess Hai Feng tricked Xia Ruyi into the Sixth Prince’s Mansion to become a concubine; what was it for exactly?"

Ni Manxue looked into the distance and thought about it but shook her head as well.

"Perhaps... to embarrass you and curry favor with Empress Dowager Zhen?"

"The Empress’s own sister, becoming a concubine in the son of Empress Dowager Zhen’s mansion! Speaking of which, it doesn’t look good on you either!"

Xia Ruqing shook her head.

"It’s well known that I don’t have a good relationship with Xia Ruyi!"

"She wouldn’t go to such lengths just to embarrass me!"

Lady Ni thought for a moment and then spoke again.

"Then maybe... Empress Dowager Zhen and Hai Feng wanted to win over Your Majesty?"

"After all... the Crown Prince is the legitimate eldest son, and in the future..." If there are no surprises, he’s bound to be the Crown Prince.

Whether it’s the Fifth Prince or the Sixth Prince, in the future, they’ll have to live according to the Emperor and the Crown Prince’s wishes.

An Empress Dowager paving the way for her children and grandchildren is quite normal!

Xia Ruqing nodded.

"Saying it like that seems to make some sense!"

She suddenly remembered another matter.

"Back then... before the wedding of the Sixth Prince, Empress Dowager Zhen caused a fuss, so I reduced the specifications of the Sixth Prince’s wedding banquet to sixty percent!"

"Originally, I thought Empress Dowager Zhen would definitely cause some trouble afterwards!"

"But strangely, Empress Dowager Zhen endured it and didn’t make any trouble!"

Lady Ni nodded.

"That’s probably it!"

"Empress Dowager Zhen and Hai Feng, perhaps they wanted to use this to win you over!"

Xia Ruqing nodded, maybe that’s it!

"Anyway, pleasing me is of no use! I’m not involved in court affairs!"

"As for what kind of life Xia Ruyi leads, how she’s unlucky, it’s all her own doing!"

"I think I’m already a good sister by not kicking her when she’s down!" She smiled sweetly.

Lady Ni also laughed.

"Exactly right!"

The relationship had already been cut off, hadn’t it? It’s just like being strangers; what does death even matter?

"Your Majesty, let’s not talk about this anymore; it’s quite unlucky!"

"Come, try the Hua Cha I made myself!"

"Although it’s not as good as in the palace, it’s also something you can’t find outside!"

Ni Manxue spoke while bringing over a cup of freshly brewed tea for her.

Xia Ruqing raised her hand to take the cup, opened it, and indeed saw a few small flowers floating in the teacup.

The color was a bit light, but a fragrance wafted directly, feeling a bit sweet.

"It smells nice!"

After speaking, she took a sip and only felt a burst of refreshing fragrance.

"Sister-in-law, your skills are excellent. When will you teach me too?"

Ni Manxue laughed and said.

"Your Majesty, you’re too modest. It’s just a petty skill!"

"If Your Majesty finds it worthwhile, I’ll write down a recipe for you!"

"Great!"

Xia Ruqing replied joyfully.

"Sister-in-law, you mustn’t keep it to yourself!"

A playful comment made both of them laugh, and cheerful laughter occasionally echoed from the small pavilion.

After chatting for a while, it was almost noon.

Lunch was served at the Hou Mansion.

Xia Tingfeng wasn’t there, and Xia Jingfeng had also gone out.

Ni Manxue arranged a table in the inner courtyard to entertain the Empress and the Princess.

Since there was no one else, there was no particular formality,

The two of them, with two children, had a lively meal.

After lunch, they rested for a while, and Xia Ruqing was about to leave.

Ni Manxue looked at the sky with some surprise.

"It’s still early. Since you rarely come out, Your Majesty, why not return a bit later?"

Xia Ruqing looked at Yue Er and smiled.

"This girl hasn’t been out much, so everything is new to her. I’m going to take her for a stroll down the street!"

Ni Manxue understood and quickly nodded.

"In that case, I won’t keep you, Your Majesty!"

She originally wanted to ask if she needed company, but then realized it might not be appropriate.

The Empress wanted to leave the palace discreetly without drawing attention.

If she rashly followed, having more people would easily draw attention.

So it was better not to go.

Xia Ruqing didn’t say much.

She gave a few instructions regarding Jingfeng before taking Yue Er towards the door.

Lady Ni reluctantly accompanied them all the way to the main gate.

"Your Majesty, do come back when you have time!"

Xia Ruqing nodded and smiled.

"We’ll see each other during the holidays, so don’t worry too much!"

"Yue Er, bid farewell to your aunt!"

Yue Er jumped onto the carriage and poked her little head out.

"Aunt! Goodbye, Cousin Chenghui!"

Ni Manxue was touched and amused at the same time.

"Empress, Princess, take care!"

"Alright, sister-in-law, you should go back too!" Xia Ruqing instructed.

"Okay!" Ni Manxue responded.

Xia Chenghui also kept waving towards the carriage.

The carriage slowly started, and Ni Manxue stood holding her son’s hand, watching them off at the gate.

Xiao Lele inside the carriage also leaned against the window, peeking out with her little head.

They kept looking until the carriage turned out of sight in the alley, disappearing from view.

Finally, they parted!

...

The carriage swayed gently as they finally reached the most bustling street in the Capital City when Yue Er was almost asleep.

"Yue Er? Yue Er? Look outside?" Xia Ruqing gently called her daughter.

The little girl heard the call, groggily looked outside.

"Wow!"

She instantly became spirited.

"Mother!"

"I want to get down, I want to get down!"

"I want that one!"

The little girl pointed at the numerous street stalls outside, her eyes sparkling as she spoke.