The next morning, Jiang Zhaoxue was still fast asleep when she was jolted awake by a frantic knocking at the door.
“Princess Consort! Princess Consort! Something terrible has happened!” Granny Cui shouted from outside, her voice filled with panic.
Jiang Zhaoxue pulled the blanket over her head and mumbled incoherently, “Even if the sky falls, wait until I wake up before telling me…”
“It’s even more serious than the sky falling!” Granny Cui couldn’t care about formalities anymore and pushed the door open directly. “The Dowager Consort has joined forces with three members of the imperial clan and called a meeting at the ancestral hall. They’re saying that you used witchcraft to deceive His Highness and that you are unworthy of being the Princess Consort!”
Jiang Zhaoxue finally poked half her head out from under the blanket, her hair messy like a bird’s nest. “What?”
“Third Great Uncle, Fifth Uncle, and Seventh Uncle went to the ancestral hall early this morning. The Dowager Consort is there too.” Granny Cui spoke faster, “They have been discussing it in the ancestral hall all morning. They say that you often beat and kill servants in the manor, use witchcraft to charm the prince, and even angered the Dowager Consort so much that she became bedridden!”
Jiang Zhaoxue sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Seriously? They woke me up just for this?”
“Princess Consort! This is not a small matter!” Granny Cui stomped her feet anxiously and paced around the room. “If the members of the imperial clan jointly submit a petition, even His Highness won’t be able to stop them!”
Jiang Zhaoxue slowly put on her shoes and asked curiously, “Then why did those three old men suddenly become so obedient?”
Granny Cui slapped her forehead and let out a long sigh. “This old servant investigated it. Third Great Uncle has a mistress outside who gave birth to a son. The Dowager Consort is holding that secret over his head. Fifth Uncle embezzled public funds from the manor, and the account books are in the Dowager Consort’s hands. As for Seventh Uncle, there is no need to mention him. His useless son owes gambling debts outside, and it was the Dowager Consort who paid to cover the hole.”
“Oh\~” Jiang Zhaoxue unconsciously dragged out the sound. “So they’re all just being used as the Dowager Consort’s weapons.”
“Exactly!” Granny Cui said anxiously. “The Dowager Consort wants to use the hands of the imperial clan to remove you from the position of Princess Consort!”
Jiang Zhaoxue stood up, walked over to the washbasin, washed her face, and picked up a towel to wipe away the water droplets. As she wiped, she suddenly stopped.
“Wait, just holding a meeting with the imperial clan is enough to remove me? It can’t be that simple, right?”
Hearing this, Granny Cui’s expression became even worse.
“The Dowager Consort also sent someone to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.”
Jiang Zhaoxue’s hand froze. “The Imperial Astronomical Bureau?”
“Yes. I heard that the Dowager Consort spent a huge amount of money to bribe an official from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, asking him to issue an astrological report.” Granny Cui lowered her voice. “It says that your fate clashes with the royal family’s fortune!”
Jiang Zhaoxue slowly lowered the handkerchief, her eyes narrowing.
The Imperial Astronomical Bureau was responsible for observing celestial phenomena and calculating the fate of the nation. Any report they issued was considered the will of Heaven in the emperor’s eyes.
If the Dowager Consort truly managed to produce such a report, then this would no longer be as simple as the imperial clan causing trouble.
“Her moves are pretty fast.” Jiang Zhaoxue muttered to herself, her tone carrying a hint of admiration instead.
“Yesterday I made a big impression in the palace, and today she’s already holding a meeting and bribing the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. One step after another, this move of the Dowager Consort is truly ruthless. Even the Prince cannot openly defy the will of Heaven.”
“Princess Consort!” Laifu’s voice came from outside the door. “There’s news from the palace!”
“Speak.”
“The person the Dowager Consort found has already drafted the report. It will be presented before His Majesty today!”
Granny Cui’s legs went weak. She grabbed onto the doorframe, barely managing not to collapse onto the ground.
“Princess Consort… what should we do now?”
Jiang Zhaoxue remained calm and asked with interest, “What will the emperor do after reading the report?”
Laifu’s face was already round, but now it became even more flushed with anger. “This servant has looked into it. The emperor was already somewhat wary of His Highness. If there is now an astrological report as proof, he will likely issue an imperial decree ordering the Imperial Clan Court to discuss the matter.”
The Imperial Clan Court was the place responsible for handling matters concerning the imperial family. Once they got involved, removing the Princess Consort would only become a matter of following procedures.
Jiang Zhaoxue nodded and couldn’t help but laugh. “Then I want to see what kind of waves they can stir up.”
The two of them looked at each other, unable to understand where this Princess Consort got her confidence from.
She walked to the door, then turned back to look at them. “What are you standing there for? Go bring me breakfast. I need to eat my fill before I have the strength to argue with people.”
Half an hour later, the news had spread throughout the entire Jing Prince’s residence, throwing everyone in the main courtyard into a state of panic.
Yuzao entered carrying a tea tray. Even her usually quiet self couldn’t help but ask, her voice trembling slightly.
“P-Princess Consort, everyone outside is saying that you’re going to be deposed…”
“Oh.” Jiang Zhaoxue grabbed a bun and started eating. “Let them say whatever they want. After all, their mouths belong to them.”
Jiang Zhaoxue swallowed the bun and took a sip of tea. “Where is the Prince?”
Yuzao replied, “I heard that His Highness is meeting with people from the Ministry of War in the study.”
Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyebrows. Xiao Chenghuai held the military command token, so for people from the Ministry of War to come at this time, they must have heard some rumors.
“Prepare a carriage. I’m going out.”
When Granny Cui heard this from Yuzao, her heart skipped a beat.
“Where is the Princess Consort going?”
“The Imperial Astronomical Bureau.” Jiang Zhaoxue let out a cold laugh. “They wrote a report about me, so shouldn’t I go thank them personally?”
Granny Cui’s expression changed drastically.
“Absolutely not! Princess Consort, going to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau now would be walking straight into a trap!”
“Who said I’m going there to cause trouble?” Jiang Zhaoxue blinked. “I’m going to talk with their Director. If a minor official who was bribed can write a report, then the Director can reject it. After all, one rank higher can crush someone below.”
“Then this old servant will accompany you!”
“No, no.” Jiang Zhaoxue waved her hand. “I have something else for you to do.”
She leaned closer to Granny Cui and whispered something to her. Granny Cui’s eyes immediately lit up.
“This old servant will take care of it right away! Laifu, you accompany the Princess Consort.”
Laifu straightened his back and declared loudly, “This servant swears to protect the Princess Consort with his life!”
Jiang Zhaoxue looked him up and down.
“Forget it. As long as you can run errands and deliver messages, that’s enough.”
Laifu: “……”
Jiang Zhaoxue had just reached the second gate when she ran into Xiao Chenghuai head-on. He was being pushed over by Qiuwen in a wheelchair toward this side.
Today, he was wearing a dark black robe. His gaze was calm and unfathomable.
“I heard you’re going to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau?”
“Your information travels pretty fast.”
“The people under this prince’s command aren’t useless.” Xiao Chenghuai took out a token from his sleeve and handed it to Jiang Zhaoxue. “Take this. The Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau is surnamed Shen. He’s an old scholar. Once you show him this token, he’ll naturally know what to do.”
Jiang Zhaoxue took it and examined it. The bronze token had the character “Jing” engraved on it. She turned it over and looked at it carefully, her eyes suddenly lighting up.
“Is this thing worth a lot of money?”
Xiao Chenghuai was rendered speechless. “\…Can you stop relating everything to money, my Princess Consort?”
“I’m used to it.” Jiang Zhaoxue gave a cheeky smile and tucked the token into her chest. “With this, I’ll have even more confidence.”
She waved her hand, walked out of the courtyard gate, and Laifu hurried after her.
Xiao Chenghuai watched her retreating figure, and for some reason, warmth rose in his heart.
The carriage left the Jing Prince’s residence and headed toward the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
Laifu sat on the front of the carriage, his palms sweating from nervousness. He kept looking back at the carriage curtains from time to time, afraid that the Princess Consort would suddenly change her mind.
Inside the carriage, Jiang Zhaoxue leaned against the wall with her eyes closed.
The carriage had already entered Zhuque Street. After two more turns, they would arrive at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
“Laifu.”
“I’m here!”
“When we arrive later, wait outside. I’ll go in alone.”
Laifu was stunned. “Princess Consort, what if there’s an ambush inside…”
“The Imperial Astronomical Bureau isn’t a bandit’s hideout.” Jiang Zhaoxue rolled her eyes at him. “Besides, I’m a Princess Consort. Could they really eat me alive?”
Laifu opened his mouth, but seeing Jiang Zhaoxue’s fearless appearance, he swallowed his words back down.
The entrance of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau was much more shabby than Jiang Zhaoxue had imagined.
The two vermilion wooden doors had faded, and the plaque above the entrance was mottled and worn. If it weren’t for the two minor officials standing guard outside, she would have thought she had come to the wrong place.
“Stop! Who are you?” one of the guards at the entrance blocked her.
Laifu stepped forward and puffed out his chest.
“The Jing Prince’s Princess Consort has arrived. Please have your Director come out to welcome her!”
The minor official looked Jiang Zhaoxue up and down. Seeing that she was dressed extravagantly and carried an extraordinary bearing, he did not dare to be negligent and hurried inside to report.
Not long after, an old man in his sixties hurried out. He wore an official robe that had been washed until it had faded white, had a gray beard, and a righteous, clear gaze.
He was Shen Yanqiu, the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
“This subordinate pays respects to the Princess Consort.” Shen Yanqiu cupped his hands and bowed. “May I ask why the Princess Consort has come?”
Jiang Zhaoxue did not bother beating around the bush.
“Director Shen, I heard that your Imperial Astronomical Bureau issued a report saying that my fate clashes with the royal family’s fortune. I would like to see the original document.”
Shen Yanqiu’s expression changed slightly.
“Princess Consort, you must be joking. The reports of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau…”
“I’m not joking.” Jiang Zhaoxue interrupted him and directly took out the bronze token Xiao Chenghuai had given her from her sleeve, waving it in front of Shen Yanqiu.
The moment Shen Yanqiu saw the token, his pupils suddenly contracted.
“Director Shen, may we step aside and talk?” Jiang Zhaoxue looked at him with a smile.
Shen Yanqiu remained silent for a moment before stepping aside and making way.
“Princess Consort, please.”