Nanny Xiao saw her state and couldn’t help but look toward the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager nodded, signaling for her to speak.
Nanny Xiao hurriedly reached out to help Xie Pan’Er up, but Xie Pan’Er refused, insisting on kneeling. This made Xiaosuisui quite uneasy. Xiaosuisui climbed down from her small, ornate stool, looking somewhat at a loss.
Seeing Xiaosuisui’s distress, the Empress Dowager quickly beckoned to her and then took her into her arms. Perhaps what Nanny Xiao just said scared the child, she thought.
"First, get up. You are the ’pretty older sister’ the Princess mentioned; your every word and action affect her! From now on, don’t always be kneeling. If you have something to say, just say it directly. If Nanny Xiao knows, she will certainly tell you."
Xie Pan’Er kowtowed deeply to the Empress Dowager. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Rise."
Xie Pan’Er stood up, looked at Nanny Xiao, and said softly, "There is only one silk shop by West Forest Lake, called Xie’s Silk Shop. It was inherited from my ancestors and originally managed by the main branch of the Xie Family. But after our branch was removed from the clan, my brother took over the shop."
"Ah! I was wondering why you suddenly became so agitated. I thought it was something serious!" Nanny Xiao exclaimed. "Don’t worry. Even if that shop is yours, at most it’s just implicated and will be closed for a few days. Once this matter is resolved, your family’s shop will be fine."
Nanny Xiao said this, but she’s just a girl from a minor family, already scared out of her wits, she thought.
"Nanny," Xie Pan’Er pleaded, "I’m not asking about the shop. I want to ask about the scholar you mentioned—the one from Luming Academy. What’s his name?"
Xie Pan’Er was very anxious, her entire attention fixed on Nanny Xiao.
"Well..." Nanny Xiao thought for a moment, then said, "He seems to share your surname..."
Nanny Xiao’s voice trailed off.
"Miss! You said that silk shop is yours, and the one who assassinated Princess Ata is also surnamed Xie..."
"I’m worried because my brother could not possibly have assassinated Princess Ata!" Xie Pan’Er cried out. "There must be some misunderstanding!"
"Your brother?"
It was the Empress Dowager who spoke. After listening for some time, she finally understood: Xie Pan’Er was worried that the person who tried to assassinate the Princess of Nanjiang was her brother!
"Your Majesty! My brother’s name is Xie Si, and he is also a student at Luming Academy!" Xie Pan’Er declared.
The Empress Dowager frowned.
"If your brother is a student at Luming Academy, why isn’t he there studying diligently? What was he doing at the shop?" the Empress Dowager asked Xie Pan’Er, her tone laced with curiosity and doubt.
Tears streamed down Xie Pan’Er’s face. "Something happened in my family. We were removed from the clan, and a new Ancestral Hall was established. My brother took leave to come back and manage family affairs. A few days ago, when I entered the Palace with the Princess, I happened to see him. My brother said there might be some issues with the silk shop at West Forest Lake, and he needed to spend some time at the shop to go over the accounts."
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager looked at Nanny Xiao. "Go and ask Eunuch Ling, who attends His Majesty, to find out the full details of this matter."
Nanny Xiao quickly assented and then withdrew.
"Stop crying now," the Empress Dowager said gently. "Go to your room and wash your face. Nanny Xiao will inform you as soon as there’s any news."
Xie Pan’Er hurriedly curtsied in apology. "I have been impolite!"
"Very well, go now."
Perhaps it was due to Xiaosuisui; the Empress Dowager was fond of Xiaosuisui, and by extension, she also had a soft spot for Xie Pan’Er. During this time, she even found herself beginning to think of Xie Pan’Er as her own daughter.
Not long after, Nanny Xiao returned. Just one look at Nanny Xiao’s expression gave the Empress Dowager a sinking feeling!