Why would His Majesty do this?
Ji Youzhi recalled that even before he returned to Beijing, the young Emperor had asked him to investigate the backgrounds of the Xie Family and the Lu Family. Not only that, but he had also specifically asked Ji Youze to look into the eight characters of birth of the young lady from the Xie Family.
"I get it now!"
Ji Youzhi’s eyes widened, and a grin spread across his face.
"You are doing this for the future Empress, right?"
The young Emperor glanced at him and snorted coldly, "When did I tell you I was planning to appoint an Empress?"
"You never said it, but you did have someone investigate the young lady’s birth characters!"
As Ji Youzhi spoke, he slapped his forehead and muttered, "Oh dear, this is bad."
The young Emperor glanced at him. "What’s wrong?"
"You had my two sisters-in-law and Youze handle the affairs of the Xie Family’s inner courtyard. I’m certain it’s to aid your future Empress. But the National Master said that the eldest daughter of the Xie Family has a Phoenix Destiny, yet the current situation in the Xie Family’s courtyard is that the short-lived Third Miss Xie and her mother have been wronged. Given the temperament of my two sisters-in-law, they will definitely uncover the truth and handle it fairly. In that case, aren’t we, the Ji Family, positioning ourselves as adversaries of the future Empress?"
The thought of this possibility instantly alarmed Ji Youzhi.
"Your Majesty, just how many schemes have you woven in your mind? You stood there for just a moment, and you set such a huge trap for our Ji Family! You are truly... truly..." He dared not utter the words ’utterly devious’!
The young Emperor, hearing this, wasn’t annoyed. He merely gave Ji Youzhi an amused look and then, good-naturedly, made a shushing gesture.
"My daughter is asleep. Don’t wake her."
Ji Youzhi: "....." Bloody hell, she’s my niece! You make it sound as if you’re her biological father and I’m an outsider!
「Within the inner courtyard of the Xie residence」
Zhu Xiuxiu and Huo Xing’Er looked at the deed of indenture brought out by First Madam Xie, and both couldn’t help but massage their temples.
"So, the eldest daughter of the Xie Family can arbitrarily berate and beat her aunt, and there’s truly nothing to be said about it?"
First Madam Xie was immensely pleased with herself. Years ago, she had set her sights on the Xie Family’s illegitimate son, Xie Wulang. She had feigned numerous encounters and sought opportunities to confess her feelings to him, only for him to spurn her. Instead, he knelt before her, begging to marry her maidservant, Luo Yuqing!
Unable to swallow this insult, First Madam Xie, in a fit of rage, married Xie Dalang, who was now Junior Minister Xie Zian of the Guanglu Temple. To further humiliate Xie Wulang, she made Luo Yuqing her chamber pot maid.
However, her actions neither broke Luo Yuqing’s spirit nor humiliated Xie Wulang, who was deeply in love with Luo Yuqing. Instead, their adversity only strengthened their resolve, and they continued to meet secretly. Unfortunately, their clandestine meetings were discovered by a nanny attending to Old Madam Xie and reported to her. At that time, Old Madam Xie was in the company of a high-ranking court official’s wife. To avoid becoming a subject of ridicule, Old Madam Xie made an executive decision and had Xie Wulang and Luo Yuqing officially paired.
Despite Old Madam Xie having officiated their union, First Madam Xie still held a card up her sleeve: she kept Luo Yuqing’s deed of indenture. Whenever First Madam Xie was in a foul mood, she would summon Luo Yuqing to berate and beat her to vent her own frustrations. Furthermore, she manipulated Luo Yuqing and Xie Wulang’s children into becoming attendants for her own son and daughter!
"TSK TSK TSK! First Madam Xie truly has some methods!"
Zhu Xiuxiu clicked her tongue a few times while studying the deed of indenture, then turned to Huo Xing’Er. "Second Sister-in-Law, regarding this matter, what do you think we should..."
"Since His Majesty has spoken, we must handle this matter properly. I’ve noticed Suisui has taken quite a liking to this Third Miss Xie. As someone the Eldest Princess looks up to like a beautiful elder sister, how can she be reduced to being another’s attendant?"
Once Huo Xing’Er spoke, Zhu Xiuxiu became uncertain of her intentions. She couldn’t help but look at Huo Xing’Er, only to see her gaze fall upon Xie Pan’Er, her face alight with a satisfied smile.
Huo Xing’Er’s expression completely bewildered Zhu Xiuxiu all over again!