CHAPTER 584: CHAPTER 584 SHOWING OFF

In front of Yongning Palace.

The Old Madam looked up at the plaque.

Her expression was calm, showing no trace of emotion.

Mrs. Wang helped her step over the threshold.

Inside the hall.

The Empress Dowager sat on the Phoenix Chair, and from a distance, one could feel her anger.

Mrs. Wang looked up and met the sharp gaze of the Empress Dowager, which was as keen as an eagle’s; she quickly lowered her head.

Supporting the Old Madam forward, she respectfully saluted the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager took a deep breath, suppressing her burgeoning rage.

"Have a seat."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

Once the Old Madam was seated, she looked at the Empress Dowager and asked, "What has caused the Empress Dowager to be so angry?"

Mrs. Wang glanced sideways at the Old Madam.

Even she knew that the Empress Dowager was angry because the Prince had appointed Lady Chi as the Princess Consort.

Playing dumb like this would only infuriate the Empress Dowager.

She couldn’t understand why the Old Madam would do this.

As expected by Mrs. Wang, the already enraged Empress Dowager was further provoked by the Old Madam’s feigned ignorance, and her anger flared up instantly.

"Is this how your Prince Zhenbei Mansion insults Princess Nanzhang and me?!" the Empress Dowager slammed the table in fury.

The Old Madam wore a frightened look but did not stand up.

She merely sat in her chair, looking at the Empress Dowager with fear, "Please calm your anger, Empress Dowager. It is my failure to discipline my son properly."

"It was only last night that I learned the Princely Heir’s biological mother is still alive. I haven’t even had the chance to inquire, and that rebellious son has already requested her appointment."

"A grown child doesn’t listen to their mother, Empress Dowager must understand this deeply."

"Now that the decree of appointment has been issued and Lady Chi has accepted the decree, there is no point in being angry."

The Old Madam was not openly defying the Empress Dowager.

She did not properly discipline the Prince.

But when has the Empress Dowager ever disciplined the Emperor properly?

If the Emperor supported her, would the request for appointment from the Prince have been approved so urgently?

It’s a settled matter; venting on her won’t change anything.

The Empress Dowager also knew the matter could only proceed as it had, yet she couldn’t swallow the indignation!

The dignity of the Empress Dowager is not something that anyone can easily trample on!

The Empress Dowager’s gaze swept across, "Everyone, leave me!"

The palace maids and eunuchs inside quickly retreated.

Mrs. Wang hesitated about leaving, but seeing Nanny Li by the Empress Dowager’s side depart, she also withdrew.

The palace doors shut tight, with Nanny Li guarding the entrance, allowing no one near.

Inside the hall, the Empress Dowager stared at the Old Madam, "Is the humiliation your Prince Zhenbei Mansion gave me something you plan to dismiss with ’it’s of no use’?"

"Don’t forget who gave you the wealth and glory you have today!"

The Old Madam’s eyes flickered with a trace of mockery, "Does the Empress Dowager think I can control the Prince?"

"If the Empress Dowager had heeded my advice back then, it wouldn’t just be the position of Princess Consort; the entire Prince Zhenbei Mansion would belong to Princess Nanzhang now."

"Even though it was known the Prince had a beloved and a legitimate son, she still insisted on marrying him."

"Now that the person has returned, and the Prince wants to give her the position of Princess Consort, who can stop him?"

"The Princely Heir’s position is the rightful son’s; how could the position of Princess Consort possibly go to Princess Nanzhang?"

The Empress Dowager’s face twisted with rage, her eyes glaring at the Old Madam like icy daggers, "How dare you mock me?!"

The Old Madam let out a laugh, "Did the Empress Dowager summon me here just to hear flattering words?"

"It seems the Empress Dowager has truly aged."

"The Empress Dowager of old would destroy the things she couldn’t get; that ruthlessness must have been worn down by time now."

...

Mrs. Wang stood outside the hall.

She stared at the inner hall, but no matter how hard she strained her ears, she couldn’t catch a single sound.

She still remembered the time when the Old Madam was in a carriage accident at the Great Buddha Temple.

The Old Madam was thrown from the carriage, injuring her forehead, and happened to encounter Old Madam Duke Chong ascending the mountain in a palanquin.

Old Madam Duke Chong ordered her maid to help carry the Old Madam into the palanquin, while she followed the ascent on foot.

If it weren’t for the timely medical treatment, the Old Madam wouldn’t have survived.

Since then, the Old Madam and Old Madam Duke Chong had been close.

The current Old Madam Duke Chong is the stepwife of Old Duke Chong, a cousin of the Empress Dowager.

As the ties grew, the Old Madam and the Empress Dowager also became close.

Mrs. Wang never thought much of it before; the Old Madam was naturally good-hearted, and Old Madam Duke Chong had helped her. It was only reasonable for her to be close to Old Madam Duke Chong.

But after Aunt Ding threatened the Old Madam, sparking doubt in Mrs. Wang, this relationship no longer seemed normal to her.

She always felt there was something off about the carriage accident.

But she couldn’t pinpoint it.

How did it so happen that Madam Duke Chong passed by in a palanquin at that moment?

Mrs. Wang fell into contemplation.

Just then, a creaking sound was heard.

The Old Madam opened the hall doors and walked out.

Mrs. Wang hurried to her side.

Outside Yongning Palace, Mrs. Wang supported the Old Madam and probed, "Are you really going to help Princess Nanzhang fight for the position of Princess Consort?"

"I can’t help with this," the Old Madam said flatly.

...

Prince NanAn Mansion.

In the garden pavilion.

Princess NanAn was rubbing her temples.

A maid walked over and said, "Princess Consort, the Marchioness Jingguo has arrived."

"Please invite her in quickly," Princess NanAn said hurriedly.

She rose and stepped down to welcome the Marchioness Jingguo.

Seeing the worried look on the Marchioness Jingguo’s face, Princess NanAn said, "Are you perhaps worried just like me about whether we should go to Prince Zhenbei Mansion to offer congratulations?"

"Isn’t that exactly what I’m troubled about," the Marchioness Jingguo sighed heavily.

Princess NanAn sighed, "I also don’t know what to do."

Having appointed a Princess Consort at Prince Zhenbei Mansion, it would be right to send a congratulatory gift or personally offer congratulations.

But now the Empress Dowager and Princess Nanzhang are angry. Going to offer congratulations would be a direct slap to the Empress Dowager’s face.

Yet Prince NanAn has had a good relationship with Xie Jingchen since childhood.

Others not going is understandable, but if they don’t go to offer congratulations, it won’t look good.

While Princess NanAn and the Marchioness Jingguo were still discussing what to do, the Marchioness Beining and Duchess Dingguo arrived too.

With sons similar in situation, they shared the same worries.

The four women sighed deeply and repeatedly.

"Has the Commandery Prince returned?" Princess NanAn asked the maid.

"Not yet," replied the maid.

Just then, there was a groaning sound.

Mrs. Wang hurried up to meet her.

As they left Yongning Palace, Mrs. Wang supported the Old Madam and carefully asked, "Do you really want to help Princess Nanzhang fight for the title of Princess Consort?"

"I can’t help with that," the Old Madam said calmly.

...

Prince NanAn Mansion.

In the garden, inside the pavilion.

Princess Consort NanAn was quickly on her feet and stepped down the stairs.

"I am indeed troubled by this matter," the Marchioness Jingguo replied honestly.

Both laughed together, finding solace in shared sentiments. "At any rate, it’s proper etiquette to send a congratulatory gift when the title of Commandery Princess has been conferred," Princess NanAn said firmly, "or we might even have to go there in person to offer our congratulations."

While Princess NanAn and the others remained undecided, the Marchioness Beining and the Duchess Dingguo were on the other side. Caught in the amusing exchange, their effort to suppress laughter was tangible, making their discomfort visible.

A servant approached, panting, "Princess... Princess Consort, the Commandery Prince says he won’t be back until later tonight as he’s busy picking soybeans."

"He also said to inform you that not only has his patience greatly improved, but he’d like stew and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall prepared for dinner tonight."

"...."