Chapter 305 - 305 302 A Den of Snakes and Rats - Part 1

Chapter 305: Chapter 302: A Den of Snakes and Rats – Part 1 Chapter 305: Chapter 302: A Den of Snakes and Rats – Part 1 He even knew medicine.

The Emperor realized suddenly. No wonder his aunt had said that Miss Lu had gone to gather herbs. It wasn’t an excuse after all.

The Emperor nodded, seeming to be lost in some kind of nostalgic emotion. It wasn’t until Gao Demao came in, lowered his voice, and told the Emperor that Lady Qiu had personally made lotus cakes for him to taste that the Emperor waved his hand, signaling Bai Qingyan to leave.

When Bai Qingyan exited the hall, besides the Minister of Revenue, Chu Zhongxing, waiting at the door, there was also the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince probably wanted to know what Bai Qingyan would say to Chu Zhongxing, so he was waiting there.

After Bai Qingyan saluted the Crown Prince, she said to Chu Zhongxing, “Minister Chu, I heard that your mansion wants to take my personal maid as a concubine?”

Chu Zhongxing was startled. He didn’t expect Bai Qingyan to bring this up in front of the Crown Prince. His hand hidden in his official robe clenched slightly, pretending to be oblivious. “Could the Commandery Princess be mistaken? My wife did mention once about finding a concubine for my illegitimate son, but how could we forcibly take your personal maid?”

Bai Qingyan also feigned surprise, “But my maid told me that your mansion wanted to take her as a concubine and begged me to grant her the indenture. Thinking your mansion was a good place, I agreed!”

“Who would have thought that girl would steal a jeweled hairpin from my cabinet, thinking I had a preference for plain jewelry and had forgotten about it, to use as her dowry! But that hairpin is an heirloom from the late Empress, given to my grandmother and then passed on to me!”

Bai Qingyan glanced at the Crown Prince. “I considered Minister Chu had favored this maid. That’s why I let her go before my grandmother returned, giving her a way out. I even sent someone to deliver the indenture at noon, which made my grandmother quite unhappy.”

Chu Zhongxing hurriedly clasped his fists in apology, “I genuinely didn’t know about this matter. I will question my wife when I return. If it’s true, such a dishonest person cannot be allowed into my mansion. Thank you, Commandery Princess, for informing me!”

“That maid is usually quite dutiful. This time, she probably thought too much about going to your mansion! If your wife really likes her, just make sure to admonish her not to repeat it in the future.”

The Crown Prince shook his head, signaling Bai Qingyan to walk with her, saying as they moved, “You are so decisive in military operations, why are you so soft-hearted with your servants? Such a despicable maid dared to steal the late Empress’s relic. She should be beaten to death directly, and you even returned her indenture.”

“This was… considering Minister Chu’s face.” Bai Qingyan smiled as she looked at Chu Zhongxing walking on the Crown Prince’s right.

Chu Zhongxing quickly stopped and bowed in apology again, claiming he truly didn’t know.

Bai Qingyan returned to the palace, only to be summoned immediately by the Eldest Princess.

The Eldest Princess thought the Emperor had called Bai Qingyan over to inquire about Miss Lu.

“Granddaughter thinks that although His Majesty hasn’t seen Miss Lu yet, he still somewhat believes that Miss Lu is Aunt’s reincarnation. Otherwise… he could have just issued an Imperial Edict to summon her to the palace. Why go through the trouble of wanting to see her personally?”

The Emperor was the ruler of Jin Kingdom, why couldn’t he do whatever he wanted?

The Eldest Princess nodded, using a silver needle to stir the incense ashes in the incense burner, nodding, “What Kid said makes sense.”

“That Lady Qiu in the palace is indeed formidable. Before I came out of the hall today, I heard Eunuch Gao tell His Majesty that Lady Qiu made lotus cakes.”

The Eldest Princess’s eyes darkened.

“Grandmother, those lotus cakes were specially made by Aunt for you when you were unwell. Not many know about this, and after Aunt passed away, Grandfather ordered that this dessert should never appear on the Bai family’s table again. How does Lady Qiu know even this?”

The Eldest Princess picked up the agarwood Buddha Beads on the black lacquered table and began to finger them with her eyes closed.

“Grandmother, granddaughter thinks… this Lady Qiu probably knows about Miss Lu’s existence and is anxious. She is too deliberate in imitating Aunt, which makes it seem forced! So, for Miss Lu, resembling Aunt in appearance and demeanor is enough. But she must do things Aunt wanted to do but didn’t, or things that you and Grandfather didn’t allow, to make the Emperor believe she is Aunt’s reincarnation.”

The Eldest Princess’s fingers paused on the beads.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting intricate patterns of light on the floor. The only sound in the silent room was the faint wisp of smoke from the incense.

She heard the voices of Nanny Tong and Nanny Jiang talking outside. She rose and bowed to the Eldest Princess, “If there is nothing else, granddaughter will take her leave. Grandmother, please take care and rest.”

After finishing, she respectfully stepped back two steps and bypassed the screen to exit the main room of Changshou Courtyard.

After Bai Qingyan left, the Eldest Princess slowly opened her eyes. There were too many things she and Bai Weiting did not allow Aunt to do!

Nanny Tong was speaking to Nanny Jiang about visiting Chun Xing’s house when she saw Bai Qingyan come out and immediately saluted.

Seeing Nanny Tong’s joyful expression, Bai Qingyan knew Nanny Tong must have handled things very well.

Nanny Tong stepped forward to salute Bai Qingyan and said with a smile, “Eldest Miss, everything has been arranged.”

She nodded to Nanny Jiang. Then, she led Nanny Tong outside of Changshou Courtyard.

“When this old servant arrived at Chun Xing’s house, Chun Xing’s mother was boasting to the neighbors about gaining favor with the Commandery Princess and the Minister of Revenue’s mansion, claiming Chun Xing was going to be a concubine there…”

Nanny Tong immediately had the carriage stop. She alighted with great dignity, dabbed the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, and with nostrils flaring, asked which woman was Chun Xing’s mother.

Chun Xing’s mother seemed frightened and dared not speak, but someone eagerly pointed her out to Nanny Tong.

Nanny Tong examined Chun Xing’s mother with a stern face. Frightened, Chun Xing’s mother bowed and invited her inside as an honored guest.

Nanny Tong sneered, “It’s said that birds of a feather flock together. I dare not enter your den of thieves, lest I be stripped of all my gold and silver jewelry!”

Chun Xing’s mother shouted that Nanny Tong was talking nonsense.

Nanny Tong was undeterred, taking out Chun Xing’s indenture with a cold smile, “The Eldest Princess is furious! If you don’t admit it, I’ll have Chun Xing beaten to death as she instructed!”

As soon as she finished speaking, she ordered the Bai family guards to take Chun Xing. Chun Xing’s mother, terrified, blocked the door, shouting that Chun Xing was to be a concubine at the Minister’s mansion and that the Princess of Zhen wasn’t afraid of offending the Minister.

Nanny Tong approached and threw the indenture at Chun Xing’s mother, “Out of respect for the Minister’s mansion, our princess will spare Chun Xing this time. But from today on, no one related to Chun Xing will be used in the Princess of Zhen’s mansion.”