Meanwhile, inside Qiluan Palace.
As soon as Wei Qinghan and her daughter had left, Chang Gongzhu began teasing with a smile.
“Mother, didn’t I tell you Yanchen was acting strange? Not only did he personally go to the palace gate to receive them, but he also arranged a carriage for them. Now he’s even thinking about the palace banquet.”
As she spoke, she unconsciously swung her legs. “If that boy weren’t only five years old, I’d think he was smitten!”
“Huang Gumu, please be careful with your words,” Mo Yanchen said, his handsome little face still stern and his tone serious. “Wu’an Wang is a pillar of the state. His family has been troubled by rumors. As the Imperial Eldest Grandson, it is my duty to offer them some support.”
Chang Gongzhu burst out laughing. “Mother, listen to him! So young, yet he speaks official language like a seasoned bureaucrat. What a little stickler.”
The Empress looked at her rarely flustered grandson, her eyes filled with amusement.
Today, she had summoned the Shizi Fei of Wu’an Wangfu to the palace, indeed in response to her grandson’s earnest request.
She also knew that her grandson wanted to use her summons as a pretext to show support.
The Empress had always felt sympathy for the plight of Wu’an Wangfu and was happy to indulge her grandson’s intentions.
Outside Wu’an Wangfu.
Wei Qinghan and her daughter were escorted back by the Empress’s most capable female official, and the gifts bestowed upon them were dazzling in their variety.
Following the Empress’s instructions, the female official deliberately praised Wei Qinghan profusely in front of everyone at the main gate of the Wangfu, describing her as “dignified, virtuous, and skilled in raising her daughter, and much beloved by Her Majesty the Empress.”
The Empress’s words were a Phoenix Decree.
Thus, whether it was the skeptical servants within the Wangfu or the rumors circulating in the streets about Wei Qinghan’s identity, most of them subsided after the Empress’s statement.
When the news reached Zuoxiang Fu, Su Wanying naturally flew into another rage.
Why?
That country bumpkin—the Empress actually sent a Phoenix Carriage for her? And bestowed so many gifts!
With reddened eyes, she rushed toward her mother Duàn Shì’s courtyard.
But just as she reached the courtyard entrance, she saw her uncle Duan Hong striding out with his head held high.
Seeing her, Duan Hong laughed heartily. “Wanying, you’re here.”
Su Wanying was in the worst of moods. She gave only a perfunctory bow and replied impatiently with a curt “Hmm.”
Lifting her skirt, she walked into the room and saw her mother sitting on the couch, massaging her temples. Without hesitation, she blurted out, “Mother, why are you still meeting with Uncle?”
“Didn’t Father already say? Duan Chenlang caused such a huge disaster, and His Majesty is furious. We should be avoiding them, not getting involved. If Father finds out, he’ll blame you again for not knowing what’s important.”
In the past, Duàn Shì would have endured such words from her daughter.
But today, her brother had come precisely because of Duan Chenlang’s exile.
She had no say in her husband’s household and naturally couldn’t help.
Moreover, according to her brother, it seemed her husband intended to abandon the Duan family.
She hadn’t wanted to meddle in the Duan family’s affairs, but after careful thought, she found her brother’s words reasonable.
No matter what, she was a daughter of the Duan family. She and the Duan family were one.
If the Duan family fell into trouble, her days in the Xiangfu would only become more difficult in the future.
She just didn’t know if her brother’s plan would work.
“Mother!” Seeing Duàn Shì remain silent, Su Wanying grew more anxious. “You need to cut ties with the Duan family immediately, to protect—”
“Su Wanying!” Duàn Shì slammed the table and stood up abruptly. “Cut ties? Protect myself? Do you realize that’s your uncle?”
“I ask you, do you remember who your cousin went to provoke Xiao Yunshu for, ending up in this state?”
“Now he’s imprisoned, your uncle has come to me in desperation seeking help, and not only do you not think of assisting, you only want to distance yourself?”
Remembering how her younger brother had pleaded before her earlier, Duàn Shì grew angrier the more she spoke.
“It seems you’re just like your father—cold-hearted, cold-blooded, and only interested in profit.”
Su Wanying was stunned by her mother’s sudden outburst.
Since childhood, her mother had always indulged her every whim—when had she ever spoken a harsh word?
After a moment of stunned silence, grievance welled up in her heart: “Mother, you’re actually scolding me for the sake of others? Don’t you love your daughter anymore?”
“Even Empress now favors that Wei Qinghan. She’s been stealing the spotlight outside, and instead of helping your daughter think of a solution, you’re here yelling at me.”
She cried pitifully, but Duàn Shì only watched her coldly.
Su Wanying hadn’t expected her mother to be so heartless this time and hurriedly stepped forward to cling to her arm. “Mother, your daughter was wrong.”
“What are you crying for? Useless thing!” Duàn Shì snorted coldly, lowering her voice. “Don’t worry, Wei Qinghan won’t be smug for long. It won’t be much time before Wu’an Wangfu comes begging to us.”
Su Wanying’s crying stopped abruptly. Looking at her mother’s calm expression, she felt both shock and doubt. “Mother, what are you saying? This…”
Duàn Shì wiped her daughter’s tears and revealed a cold smile. “Just wait patiently. Mother has her own arrangements.”
…
Several days later, in the early morning, Xiao Qingcang returned from court with a dark expression, heading straight to his study.
He sat alone in the master’s chair, his chest slightly heaving, his eyes churning with towering rage.
With a creak, the study door was gently pushed open a crack.
A little head with two small buns peeked in.
“Grandpa, Nuannuan, can come in?”
Seeing the little girl holding a delicate crystal cake in her hands, Xiao Qingcang suppressed the surging emotions in his heart and smiled, reaching out to her. “It’s Nuannuan. Come quickly, bringing Grandpa food again?”
“Crystal cake, yummy.”
Nuannuan immediately toddled over happily on her short legs, skillfully climbing into Xiao Qingcang’s lap.
“Grandpa eat, sweet!”
Xiao Qingcang took a bite from his granddaughter’s hand and hugged her tightly. “Mmm, very sweet. Thank you, Nuannuan. Grandpa’s Nuannuan is the best.”
Outside the study door came the voice of Qinwei commander Yan Yong: “Your Highness.”
“Enter.”
Yan Yong pushed the door open and, seeing Nuannuan there, paused slightly in surprise.
Xiao Qingcang didn’t avoid the topic, pushing the letter in his hand forward. “Take a look.”
During today’s morning court, Duan Hong, along with several outspoken officials, had presented these so-called “evidences” in court, reopening the old case of Xiao Yunheng’s defeat and coma three years ago.
Duan Hong accused Xiao Yunheng of being stubborn and self-righteous back then, which led tens of thousands of elite Cangyun Army troops into an encirclement, resulting in their complete annihilation.
What Xiao Qingcang held in his hand were letters slandering Xiao Yunheng, claiming he had betrayed his country and colluded with the enemy to save himself.
The names signed on these letters were precisely several mid-level officers who had miraculously survived that battle.
Yan Yong examined them carefully, his expression growing increasingly grim.
“Your Highness, this… this handwriting…”
Both master and servant knew perfectly well.
This handwriting bore an extremely close resemblance to that of Deputy General Wang, Captain Li, and the others.
Yan Yong trembled with rage: “That old traitor Duan Hong, for his own selfish gain, dares to frame the Shizi. This general will go capture those traitors who bite the hand that feeds them and tear them to pieces.”
“Wait!” Xiao Qingcang stopped him. “Since Duan Hong dared to make his move at the Chaohui, he must have already covered his tracks.”
“His Majesty may not fully believe it, but this matter concerns military morale and must be thoroughly investigated.”
“And until the investigation is cleared, our Wu’an Wangfu will be under suspicion.”
He closed his eyes, as if aging ten years in an instant.
Colluding with the enemy and betraying the nation.
Xiao Qingcang could die, but he could not die bearing such a stain.
Nuannuan, who had been tightly held in her grandfather’s embrace, struggled to slip down from Xiao Qingcang’s lap.
She stood on tiptoe, stretching her neck as far as she could, and sniffed the letters spread out before her.