CHAPTER 1504: CHAPTER 1511 EMPRESS DOWAGER MO’S TRANSFORMATION (6)

Every single one of those matters, for the common folk, would be harder than ascending to the heavens, yet she accomplished them with ease; this is truly... astonishing!

In fact, when Cai Wei told her these things, the purpose was not to intimidate her or frighten her, but simply to explain the reason for leaving the Palace, so as not to let her mind wander with unnecessary thoughts. Yet, inadvertently, it ended up scaring her, and she looked at Cai Wei with a gaze full of reverence.

Suddenly, she remembered that fatal selection process and hastened to explain to Cai Wei.

"It has been a year now, and there are quite a few palace maids who have reached the age to be released. After a major release last year, their numbers have already diminished, and after releasing another batch this year, there will be even fewer. I thought if there were too few people in the Palace, it would seem deserted and lacking vitality, so I issued a draft for the talent selection. Coincidentally, you have returned, so this matter can be handled by you."

Cai Wei was not opposed to the talent selection because in her heart, the selection was merely choosing palace maids, drafting waitresses for the Palace. Even if Empress Dowager Mo had not planned it, she would have taken it upon herself. Thus, when Empress Dowager Mo left the matter to her, she did not feel the slightest bit of resentment, instead, she accepted the task with pleasure.

Seeing that she was not upset, Empress Dowager Mo felt as if a weight had lifted from her heart and started to chat about domestic matters.

"Empress, the daughter of Prime Minister Ning’s house is still in the Palace, right? I think, since The Emperor has no interest in her, it might be better to let her go. After all, she is just a palace maid by identity, and if she leaves with the group of maids who have reached eighteen, nobody else will have anything to say about it."

With disingenuous laughter, Cai Wei said: "Before, when I saw her deeply in love with The Emperor, I was actually hoping to foster a good relationship between them. Who would have thought The Emperor would insist on not wanting to, this kind of matter, I cannot force too much, so I had to let it be."

Empress Dowager Mo knew that Cai Wei was just speaking perfunctorily. If she were actually asked to give up her man, she would definitely not be willing. But still, she praised her saying: "Being gentle and yielding to your husband is certainly very good of you. It’s that Miss Ning who lacks the ability to attract The Emperor. Since that’s the case, let’s release her, and from now on, I won’t worry about you and your husband anymore. You, the couple, can live your own lives."

What was implied was that she would no longer interfere by pushing women towards Nangong Yi, assuring Cai Wei to rest easy.

However, Ning Huaixiu in the Palace was one whose entry she had orchestrated, and now, she naturally wanted to compensate for it, hence she strongly advocated for Ning Huaixiu’s release.

But Cai Wei did not really want Ning Huaixiu to leave just yet. It had been more than two months since she left the Palace, and the pile of affairs that had accumulated over these months in the Imperial Harem nearly reached the size of a mountain, and she was counting on Ning Huaixiu to help share the burden!

...

Over these past few months, Ning Huaixiu had been staying properly in her room, and she hadn’t taken the initiative to go to The Emperor’s side even in Cai Wei’s absence. When the Great General wanting to seal the Palace attempted to send her back to Chancellor’s mansion to curry favor with Prime Minister Ning and pull him to his side, Ning Huaixiu flatly refused.

The Empress had shown grace towards her and given her great importance. If she were to leave at this time, it would doubtlessly amount to betraying the Empress Dowager and failing the Empress Dowager’s expectations of her. Therefore, she chose to stay.

That night, Cai Wei sent for her to come to the Eastern Room of the Royal Study. Upon seeing Cai Wei, Ning Huaixiu was so excited as if she had seen her kin, and knelt on the ground, tearfully saying: "Empress, you have finally come back, which is wonderful! I was afraid I would never see you again in this lifetime..."

Seeing her like this, Cai Wei ordered Chun Liu to help her up, laughed and said: "What’s so good about my return? With so many affairs piled up in the Imperial Harem, we will be busy these coming days. I will have to make use of you again."

Ning Huaixiu sincerely said: "As long as the Empress is safe and sound, even if I were to exhaust myself to death, I would still find it sweet."

Empress Cai Wei sighed and said: "A fine girl with a bright future and youth ahead, don’t always talk of death or life, remember, you must live, live well, only by living can you have everything, for if you die, then there is nothing left..."

Ning Huaixiu did not understand what the Empress meant by these words, but she was already very grateful that the Empress would say such sincere and heartfelt words to her. After respectfully kowtowing to the Empress, she stood up and joined the Empress in dealing with the affairs of the Imperial Harem.