The Emperor questioned Jin Momo in detail and found out that Deng Cai Ming, the niece of Deng Zhaoyi[1], was the person who swindled the Ninth Princess with several fried chop rice cakes. She was currently the study companion of the Seventh princess.
Although this matter wasnât that serious, it reflected Deng Cai Mingâs audacity and greedy nature, which were qualities the Emperor disliked the most. Because Deng Zhaoyi had given birth to the Third Prince and the Third Prince had attended imperial court, and had done a good job with several tasks that were assigned to him. The Emperor was very pleased and planned to promote her rank on Empress Dowagerâs birthday . After all, the biological mother of a prince should at least be conferred to the title of an Imperial Consort.
However, after this incident, the Emperor immediately removed Deng Zhaoyiâs name from the list of imperial harem conferral.[2] It was evident that it wasnât the first time that Deng Cai Ming had cheated Little Jiuâer, and the Seventh Princess couldnât be unaware of it. Instead of stopping her, she watched the play on the sidelines. Did Deng Cai Ming give the seventh princess all the things that the Ninth Princess had given her?
While the two of them played with the Ninth daughterâs jewellery, they also laughed at her stupidity? Where was the respect for your superior as an inferior? Where was the relationship between sisters ? How could a mere princess be so shallow?
The Emperorâs imagination wouldnât stop running wild. He was disgusted with Deng Zhaoyi, who didnât educate her children well. He ordered a box of jewellery to her palace and said that he would like to trade it for a box of fried chop rice cake to taste it.
Deng Zhaoyi didnât understand what was going on. She glanced at her daughter and saw that her daughterâs face suddenly went pale. She then caught her and questioned her. In the end, she was so angry that her pretty face was deformed.
At this critical moment of promotion, suddenly a matter like this happened. Not only was she unlucky, but her sonâs impression in the Emperorâs heart had also deteriorated. These two useless things kept messing up her plans!
The next morning, Deng Cai Ming was sent out of the palace by two old Momos. It was ordered that she could never enter the palace ever again.
Everything was well organised, and the Empress was reading the new list of names who are being promoted. The Third Princeâs outstanding ability had put him in the limelight recently. This was the so-called mother who depended on the son. To elevate the Third prince, the Emperor wanted to promote Deng Zhaoyi, and this was something that the Empress knew all along. This pair of mother and son were a significant threat to the East Palace.
As she thought about how to deal with this matter, she didnât expect that the enemy who was just one step away from victory was defeated on their own because of a few pieces of fried chop rice cakes. Thinking of this, the Empress laughed unkindly and sighed to her trusted Momo, âYu Xiang is really a decent girl. She should come to the palace earlier to accompany the Ninth princess.â
Yu Xiang didnât know that because she had taught Qiuâer to report to the Emperor, it had caused a storm in the palace. When she got home, she went straight to the Old Madamâs courtyard to accompany her to chant sutras.
Both of them were very anxious, and they could only calm themselves when they recited sutras. Eating, drinking and leading a life of pleasure together wasnât able for them to cultivate feelings for each other, but they were able to learn how to cherish each other when they go through difficulties together. Because of Yu Xiangâs earnest feelings for the Old Madamâs grandson, the Old Madam liked this cheap granddaughter more and more.
âYou are back.â Hearing the sound of the turning of the wheelchair, the Old Madam stopped chanting sutras and turned her head to look.
âIâm back. Did my Elder brother send a letter today?â Yu Xiang asked.
âNo.â The Old Madam shook her head and sighed.
Yu Xiangâs expectant expression immediately fell. She let Tao Hong and Liu Lu carry her to the futon. Then, she knelt and took out a rusty ancient coin from her purse as she placed it between her palms and started to recite the sutras.
âWhy are you holding that piece of copper coin?â The Old Madam gave her a strange look.
âAncient money can drive away evil spirits, avoid disasters and promise peace. I hold onto it as I recite the Nirvana Sutra every 7 days, 7 times for 49 days and then let my brother bring it to the North West. Miracle Doctor Pu had sent me all these panacea. I have also let Elder brother bring all of them along.â Yu Xiang explained softly.
The Old Madam was delighted and took out her five-blessing[3] bag and passed it to her, âAfter reciting the Sutra, you can put the copper money in it to keep it safe. Afterwards, have someone bring it to him when they send the panacea. We canât really help much so letâs keep praying for him.â
Yu Xiang nodded her head solemnly.
Yu Pin Yan left suddenly and he hadnât had the time to return home since the beginning of spring. Yu Xiang and the Old Madam could only hide behind the door, weeping while listening to the sounds of the horseâs hooves as the military troops left. Lin Shi didnât even see him off, let alone send letters or send items to him. It was as if she didnât have this son.
The Old Madam was already sad. When she saw her being so heartless, she couldnât help but get angry. The Old Madam went to her courtyard personally and burnt all the belongings left by her late son. If she wouldnât come to her senses, maybe even her sonâs tablet should be burnt.
Lin Shi knelt at the gate of the Main courtyard and cried all night. Yu Xiang wore a thick coat as she watched for half the night. In the remaining half of the night, she had many dreams, in which all had Yu Pin Yan.