Madam Shangguan had just returned to the mansion and hadn’t even had time to change her clothes when she was summoned by Old Madam Shangguan.
Upon entering Old Madam’s room, Madam Shangguan indeed saw her husband and Old Master Shangguan present.
As for the maids and servants attending, they had all been dismissed.
“What happened? Why have you returned so early? Is something wrong with Jin’er?” Old Madam Shangguan asked first.
Madam Shangguan quickly took a seat below Old Madam.
“Nothing major. The Wudinghou family didn’t know proper etiquette, caused a scene, and were driven out by the Dingguo Gongfu.
The commotion was a bit loud and chaotic, so everyone returned to their mansions early,” Madam Shangguan said with a smile.
Seeing that Madam Shangguan could still smile, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed the matter wasn’t too serious.
“Father, today Jin’er said some things that I don’t quite understand. I was just about to discuss them with you!” Madam Shangguan suddenly said.
“Tell me, what did Jin’er say?” Old Master Shangguan immediately perked up.
Then Madam Shangguan recounted everything that had happened at the Dingguo Gongfu.
From last year’s stale tea to Shangguan Jin’s casual remark about “the front lines being tight while the rear feasts,”
to the later incident with the wicked servant, and the decision not to send anyone to search for the Duke of Dingguo this year—she recounted it all in detail.
The more Old Master Shangguan listened, the brighter his eyes became.
By the time Madam Shangguan finished speaking, Old Master Shangguan was already stroking his graying beard and nodding.
“Jin’er has always been clever, indeed! It seems someone has truly given her reassurance.
And the only one who could provide such reassurance is that person…
Boli, your Censorate should start preparing,” Old Master Shangguan said with a smile.
“Father, do you mean that we should impeach someone at the next court session?” Shangguan Jin’s father, Shangguan Boli, asked quietly.
Old Master Shangguan nodded.
“The Tianjia has always advocated frugality, but the Empress Dowager favors extravagance.
Although the border has been stable in recent years, the supply of provisions and military pay has remained the greatest burden on Dayu.
The Tianjia has wanted to take action for quite some time now,
but lacked a pretext.
Now that Jin’er has brought this up, it must mean something is stirring at the border again.
Otherwise, given Jin’er’s cautious nature, she would never have said something like ‘the front lines are tight while the rear feasts.’
We can’t help with border matters, but we can certainly give the Tianjia an opening.
Boli, focus on the Wudinghou family. They imitate the Empress Dowager in everything, living extravagantly and constantly hosting lavish banquets.”
Lord Shangguan nodded, already thinking about which matters to target with the Wudinghou family and which colleagues to involve.
Meanwhile, Madam of the Duke of Qi, who had returned from the Dingguo Gongfu, did not go back to the Qiguogong Mansion.
After all, she had the waist token given by the Empress, allowing her to enter the palace at any time.
Upon entering the Empress’s palace, she found the Crown Prince there as well.
“Aunt!” The Crown Prince respectfully bowed to Madam of the Duke of Qi.
Madam of the Duke of Qi smiled and returned the greeting before taking a seat below Empress Xu.
Madam of the Duke of Qi also carefully recounted the events at the Dingguo Gongfu in detail.
“Elder Sister, what do you think the Duchess of Dingguo meant by her words?
‘The front lines are tight while the rear feasts’—this must be about border matters!
What could a woman who has long been confined to the inner quarters possibly know?”
“Also, suddenly bringing up the matter of the Wudinghoufu’s wicked servants out of nowhere—doesn’t this indicate that His Majesty is already dissatisfied with some official?” the Madam of the Duke of Qi whispered.
The Empress remained silent for a moment before suddenly turning her gaze to Crown Prince Xiao Congzhang.
“My son, what do you think?”
The Crown Prince pondered for a while before replying, “Border affairs were previously handled by the Duke of Dingguo and Duke Anguo. After the Duke of Dingguo disappeared, all urgent dispatches from the border have been handled by Duke Anguo. My grandfather hasn’t been able to intervene. However, I’ve recently heard that there seem to be more messengers returning from the border. As for what exactly is happening, I don’t know.”
Hearing the Crown Prince’s words, Empress Xu and the Madam of the Duke of Qi were momentarily at a loss for words.
Currently, the court is divided into three factions.
The military officials are led by Duke Anguo, forming the Empress Dowager’s faction.
The civil officials are led by Prime Minister Xu, the Empress’s father.
Additionally, there are censorial officials like the Shangguan Family.
The Shangguan Family appears neutral, but regardless of which faction is involved, if they cross their path, they will not hesitate to impeach.
Both Duke Anguo’s side and Prime Minister Xu’s side have been impeached by members of the Shangguan Family.
Even when the Tianjia does something inappropriate, Shangguan Boli will submit a memorial.
“My son, if Lord Shangguan impeaches someone during the next court assembly, no matter who it is, remember—your people must second the motion,” Empress Xu suddenly said.
The Crown Prince was taken aback at first but quickly understood.
If the Shangguan Family impeaches someone at the next court assembly, it is likely the Emperor’s intention.
And whether his position as Crown Prince remains secure depends entirely on the Emperor’s will!
“Mother, I understand,” the Crown Prince said with a bow.
Empress Xu nodded.
“I estimate that your father, the Emperor, will soon have me summon the Duchess of Dingguo into the palace. With such a commotion stirred up, isn’t it precisely because he no longer wishes to maintain that balance?” Empress Xu said calmly.
Both the Crown Prince and the Madam of the Duke of Qi were stunned.
Indeed, for Mingfu to enter the palace, it is most appropriate for the Empress to summon them.
“Mother, I must trouble you to take care of this!” the Crown Prince said with a smile.
“You are my son. If I don’t take care of you, who else would I care for? It’s getting late. You should return now. I have a few more words to say with your Yimu. Remember to visit your grandfather and tell him everything your Yimu just mentioned,” Empress Xu instructed.
The Crown Prince agreed and withdrew.
Empress Xu then took the Madam of the Duke of Qi’s hand and asked her many more questions.
Meanwhile, things were far more interesting on the Marchioness of Wuding’s side.
She returned to Wudinghoufu in a state of utter disarray.
Not only was her dress soiled, but the ornaments in her hair were also in disarray.
“Madam, why is the hairpin from your ruby headdress missing? And what about the pearl flower with the ruby as its center?” As soon as she entered, her chief maid exclaimed in surprise twice.
The Marchioness of Wuding took the bronze mirror and looked, then removed all the other hairpins and ornaments from her head to carefully check.
Sure enough, a hairpin and a pearl flower were missing.
She felt her heart bleeding.
The ruby embedded in that hairpin was as large as a thumb pad—a rare and exquisite piece.
And the stone used as the center of the ruby flower was even more vibrant, as bright red as fresh pigeon’s blood.
“It must have been lost at Dingguo Gongfu! That shrew Shangguan Jin—I underestimated her,” the Marchioness of Wuding said angrily.
The chief maid sighed and was about to offer some words of comfort.
But then she heard a little maid’s voice calling from outside the window.
“Madam, the Marquis asks you to come now, to the study.”
“What’s the hurry? Wait until I change my clothes,” the Marchioness of Wuding said angrily.
“The Marquis says you must come now,” the little maid whispered.
Furious, the Marchioness threw a phoenix-tail hairpin onto the dressing table and pulled off all the ornaments from her hair.
Only then did she head toward the Marquis of Wuding’s study.