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墨書 Inktalez
"Are you saying that in the end, it was Old Madam who saved me?" Mo Xier, with injuries on her back, could only lie down and listen to Xinrong speak. "How is that possible? Doesn't she want me to die and go to paradise?"
"I don't know why either, but it seems to be related to a jade pendant that fell from you," Xinrong said while feeding her mistress water.
"A jade pendant?" Mo Xier thought for a moment and asked, "What kind of jade pendant was it?"
"I vaguely remember it being a piece of fine mutton fat white jade, with a design of a flying dragon on it." As soon as she finished speaking, she gasped and covered her mouth.
Mo Xier immediately understood: in the Heavenly Universe Kingdom, the dragon is the royal totem, and ordinary people are not allowed to draw it. This jade must have been the personal pendant given by the emperor when she went to the palace to meet him.
Unexpectedly, by a twist of fate, the emperor had become her savior. If there were ever an opportunity in the future, she would definitely thank him.
Thinking this way, Mo Xier smiled as she realized she had been given a second chance at life. "Xinrong, is there anything to eat? I'm so hungry. I want Lotus Cake, Lotus Seed Soup, and Osmanthus Candy."
Having been unconscious for so many days and suffering from high fever, she was delighted to wake up with such an appetite; she didn't want to deprive herself.
However, Xinrong's face showed difficulty. "Miss, we are currently under house arrest by Old Madam."
"I know." The old lady spared her life, likely out of fear of the emperor's retribution. But given how much commotion had occurred that day, how could she expect to have good days ahead?
Xinrong hesitantly continued, "All the staff in our courtyard have been reassigned, and even all the kitchen supplies have been taken away, so..."
Mo Xier understood: "So we currently have no food or drink, let alone anyone to serve us, right?"
"No, no, no, there is food, there is," Xinrong said as she ran a few steps outside and brought in a bamboo basket, handing it to Mo Xier. "Miss, if you're hungry, you can eat this for now."
Mo Xier looked down and saw several hard buns with mold spots. "Where did these come from?"
Xinrong didn't answer but sat by the bed, pulling out a slightly softer bun from inside the basket. As she peeled off the moldy spots, she said, "These buns look hard, but paired with well water, they actually taste quite good. Since you just woke up and can't eat much else, let me go boil some hot water."
"I'm asking you where these rotten buns came from. Didn't you say we were under house arrest by that Old Witch?" Mo Xier felt something was off and pressed her.
A tear the size of a bean fell onto the cold bun. Xinrong sniffed and smiled as she said, "I gave my silver bracelet to the guard, Pillar Brother. He secretly threw these buns in here."
Mo Xier closed her eyes, her eyes moist for a long time.
"That bracelet was your late mother's keepsake?"
Xinrong bit her lip tightly. "My mother said that living people shouldn't be starved to death. Once we get out of here and I save enough money, I'll buy that bracelet back from Pillar Brother."
"Xinrong, I'm sorry..." Mo Xier finally couldn't hold back her tears as they streamed down her face. "It's my fault that you got involved."
"Miss, don't say that!" Xinrong wiped her tears and pretended nothing was wrong. "If it weren't for your kindness that day to protect me, you wouldn't have had to suffer these hardships. I know in my heart."
"But if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been dragged into this at all, nor would we be under house arrest together! That Old Witch wants to starve us to death," Mo Xier said with lingering resentment.
Xinrong lowered her head and broke the cleaned bun into small pieces, feeding them one by one into Mo Xier's mouth. "Miss, as long as we have the green mountains, we don't have to worry about firewood. The general will definitely come back to rescue us."
Mo Xier nodded, struggling to swallow the dry bun. "I promise you, on the day we go out, I will definitely retrieve the jade pendant at the first opportunity."
Night Manor, Buddha Hall!
For the first time, Old Madam did not meditate or pray in the musk-filled room. She tightly held onto the jade pendant, slowly rubbing it, her swollen eyes barely visible.
Rong Mama stood by her side for a long time and sighed, "Old Madam, you must learn to let go of some things to avoid harming your health."
"This jade pendant was hung around that child's neck when he was forcibly taken from me. I heard from my brother that the child has never parted with this pendant since he was little."
It was unclear whether she felt comforted or mournful. Old Madam coughed a few times, and the cold indifference in her eyes faded away, replaced by the warm expression of a mother.
Rong Mama poured a cup of tea and held it beside her. "The prince... has deep blessings, Old Madam's days of enjoying fortune are still ahead."
"Fortune?" Old Madam's smile was bitter as she closed her eyes and then opened them again. "I don't know if this is my blessing or my curse!"
The pain of meeting her biological son yet being unable to recognize him, the torment of allowing other children to take his place, and with her husband absent, the burden of managing the vast estate rested solely on her shoulders.
If this heavy burden was what others considered blessings, she would rather give up everything just to have her husband and son by her side.
"..." Rong Mama fell silent.
If it weren't for Old Madam's tacit approval back then, this significant matter could not have been accomplished by anyone.
People change, the moon waxes and wanes, and no one expected that one day, Old Madam, without her husband and son by her side, would undergo such a drastic change in mindset.
"You say that child bestowed this jade pendant, which he never parts with, to that Demoness. Could it be... could it be that he has been enchanted by her?" At this point, Old Madam's voice faltered.
"It won't happen," Rong Mama quickly reassured her. "The young master is not someone who would be so easily swayed. Besides," she glanced around and lowered her voice, "the young master holds great power, surrounded by beauties; how could he be so easily enchanted by one woman? Madam, please do not worry."
"That makes sense, what you say makes sense." As if reassured by these words, Old Madam rubbed the jade pendant and murmured to herself, "No matter what, the fact that the child gave this pendant to the Demoness indicates that she holds some significance for him. I cannot... I cannot harm that Demoness, otherwise it would hurt our connection. Yes, I cannot do that."
"That Demoness is currently imprisoned. Without Old Madam's orders, no one would dare approach her," Rong Mama said softly. "However... I fear that when the general returns, he might be enchanted by that Demoness. If that happens and he argues with you..."
"He dares!" Old Madam slammed her hand on the table, her demeanor returning to one of authority. "As long as I am here, as long as Night Manor exists, there is his Night Star, and his position of military power. If he were to make things difficult for me over a woman, the gossip from all the officials would drown him in spit."
"Old Madam is wise," Rong Mama flattered with a smile.
Gently stroking the jade pendant, warm to the touch and smooth like delicate skin, as if carrying the warmth of that child, Old Madam gradually formed a smile at the corners of her lips.
After a long while, she sighed and opened her eyes. "How is my brother doing?"
The news of her brother being reprimanded by His Majesty earlier today had already spread. At that time, to avoid drawing attention, she had not been able to communicate closely with him; thus, she only sent Rong Mama with some high-quality medicinal supplements and waited for further developments.
Rong Mama replied, "The Chancellor is doing well; he only instructed me to take good care of you. Please rest assured; judging by the Chancellor's expression, there should be no major issues."
"That's good." Old Madam sighed, "At my age, fame and fortune are like fleeting clouds. After all, it's a matter of family lineage, and I truly cannot bear to see them argue."
"It won't happen," Rong Mama reassured her. "The Prime Minister is devoted to the country; His Majesty will understand."
"I'm just afraid..." Old Madam hesitated, then waved her hand. "You may leave now and call Following the Wind to come."
Rong Mama understood that some matters were safer the less she knew, so she didn't ask questions. After bowing, she exited, and soon Following the Wind slipped in, avoiding prying eyes.
"What does Old Madam wish to instruct?" Following the Wind asked quietly, holding a long sword, half of his face hidden behind a screen.
Old Madam turned to look at him, her gaze heavy: "You are holding something back from me."
It was not a question but a certainty.
Following the Wind raised an eyebrow, somewhat amused. "Old Madam's words are unclear to Following the Wind."
"You are a smart person; you will understand." Being from the Jiang family, Jiang Huai understood this well, and as her younger sister, she was not far off. "From today on, you will return to the Prime Minister's Residence. If your brother asks about you, just tell him the truth."
Following the Wind's smile gradually faded; this meant he was being cast aside. "I do not know what I have done wrong; I ask Old Madam to clarify."
He had his pride. As an assassin, he was prepared to die at any moment, but he did not intend to die without understanding why at the whim of a woman.
"You do not have the right to ask me this question." Jiang Yu's voice was tinged with anger but quickly returned to calm. "You may go; your brother values you and will not harm you. You can rest assured."
Having said this, there was nothing more to discuss regarding Following the Wind, and after the formalities, he withdrew.
Old Madam lifted her teacup to take a sip, but suddenly heard a commotion outside, causing her to frown. "Rong Mama, who is making such a ruckus outside?"
The curtain was lifted, revealing a somewhat flustered Rong Mama. "Madam, someone from the palace has arrived."
"What?" The teacup fell to the ground, the crisp sound overshadowed by Old Madam's surprise. "Why would someone from the palace come at this time? Quickly, come with me."
Hastily adjusting her appearance and arranging for tea to be served, she prepared a gold ingot for Grandfather's summons. Upon arriving in the hall, she found that the visitor was not one of the familiar eunuchs from the Imperial Study but rather an unfamiliar young eunuch.
Suppressing her doubts, Jiang Yu knelt down. "Night Manor's Jiang Yu brings greetings from Night Manor to His Majesty. Long live His Majesty! And greetings to the Empress Dowager. Long live the Empress Dowager!"
"Old Madam need not be overly courteous. I am here today on the Empress Dowager's orders to bring Miss Mo Xi into the palace. If Miss Mo is in the residence, please have her come out for a moment." Although the eunuch was unfamiliar, he spoke with authority.
It was because of that Demoness. Old Madam was startled but did not show it on her face. She simply instructed someone to fetch Mo Xier and invited the visitor to rest in the hall for a moment while casually probing, "May I ask what title you hold, Grandfather?"
"Night Lady is too kind. I have served in Cining Palace for seven years and have been favored by the Empress Dowager, who granted me the name Little Noble." The Noble Eunuch replied with a smile, not taking offense.
"Noble Eunuch, you have worked hard. Someone, bring tea." Old Madam commanded and then looked at his expression before smilingly probing further, "May I ask if Grandfather knows why the Empress Dowager has summoned Mo Xi'er into the palace?"
"The Empress Dowager's summons is not something we servants can speculate on; Night Lady should not put me in a difficult position." Although the Noble Eunuch said this, his expression showed some hesitation.
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