What the hell happened? She didn’t know!
When she heard that someone from the palace was looking for her, the first thing she thought of was that rogue. But after thinking about it again, she didn’t think it was him. If he hadn’t given up on her, with his shameless rascal personality, he would have tried to find her a long time ago, rather than formally summoning her in the name of the palace.
But, who else in the palace would recognize her? Could it be...
But, she had already made it clear to the Empress that she has nothing to do with her son. As the Empress, she must have known about this. Why would she seek her out?
Cai Wei couldn’t figure it out. Finally, in her confusion, her mother brought her back to her room, hastily packed some things, and sent her out of Changchun Garden. Now she was following Hua Mei to the Osmanthus Pavilion, where the Duke An’s household received female guests.
On the way, Lady Du was anxious, not knowing whether her daughter would face fortune or misfortune. In her nervousness, she could not help but keep murmuring Buddhist scriptures. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of Hua Mei walking in front and couldn’t help asking again, "Lady Hua Mei, are you sure the person sent from the palace asked for Wei’er by name? Are you sure there’s no mistake?"
Hua Mei laughed and said, "Fourth Aunt, you’ve asked me this question several times. They truly asked for our Young Miss Biao. There is no mistake!"
"Did they say why they wanted Wei’er? Is it for good news or bad news?"
Lady Du asked cautiously, fearing the answer would be ’bad’.
Hua Mei helplessly said, "Fourth Aunt, I’m just a messenger girl who runs errands. I wouldn’t dare approach the bigwigs in the palace. Even if you lent me a few more livers, I would not dare to ask why they want Young Miss Biao!"
"However, the person who came looked pleased. It doesn’t seem like they’ve come to punish her. It must be good news. Aunt, you can rest easy..."
Upon hearing this, Lady Du really did feel somewhat relieved, but she still couldn’t resist asking Hua Mei a barrage of questions: Was the person from the palace male or female? How old were they? Were they easy to talk to? What was their job? Who sent them...
Hua Mei patiently answered each question one by one.
"The person coming from the palace is from Bai Shang Palace. She is a personal female officer by the Empress Dowager’s side, about forty years old. She appears dignified and gracious, courteous and sensible. As for whether she’s easy to talk to, that’s hard to tell..."
Now, in the Flower Hall of the Osmanthus Pavilion at the State Duke’s Mansion, Lady Bai Shang was sitting steadily at the head, leisurely drinking tea and waiting, appearing nonchalant.
Lady Bai Shang was the personal female officer of Empress Mo. She may hold the fifth rank, though it is one official rank lower than the highest rank of fourth for female officers, she serves the most noble Empress Dowager in Great Jin Nation - and everybody in the aristocratic circle knows the Empress Dowager trusts her. She essentially speaks on behalf of the Empress Dowager. In all of Great Jin, no family dared to treat her lightly!
Old Madam Wang of the State Duke’s Mansion and her three daughters-in-law accompanied Lady Bai Shang, keeping up a polite conversation with expectant smiles. Yet, they were all quietly anxious, trying their best to ponder why Lady Bai Shang would want to see Cai Wei.
Ever since the low-born little bitch was brought back to the State Duke’s Mansion, she never showed up after meeting them on the day she came back.
Arguably, as her juniors and given the favor they had shown her from the Duke’s household, she should be visiting them daily to pay her respects. However, she showed no indicators of gratitude, let alone her ill-mannered younger brothers and sisters – they have never paid their respects nor shown their faces.
Although Old Madame Wang and the Madams were angry, they were bound by Young Master Huo’s request and didn’t dare go against them. They had to treat it as if those few people didn’t exist in their mansion. Out of sight, out of mind.