chapter 32.2

Although the Old Madam believed in Buddhism, the annual festival was a good time to walk around with her old friends. Naturally, she would not miss this. Presently, she was dressed properly and was sitting in the hall drinking tea. When she saw her barefaced and listless granddaughter, she asked with a smile, “Oh, did your elder brother wipe off your makeup again?”

“That’s right. Whenever there’s a big event, he would be like this. How can I have the face to meet people?” Yu Xiang lamented.

The Old Madam laughed even more and pinched her nose tips and said, “If you have no face to meet people, how should the other girls in the capital behave? You should provide a way out for others.” She wasn’t boasting but her granddaughter’s appearance was one of the best in the whole Han Dynasty. If it had not been for the tragic disaster where she had lost her legs, the matchmaker, who would come to propose a marriage, would have to trample each other down the steps of the Marquis’s manor.

Yu Pin Yan’s warm voice agreed, “Grandmother is right, so I always told her that she should not harm others, harming me will be good enough.”

This phrase sounds a little strange, but the Old madam didn’t delve into it because Ma Momo came in with a red envelope and reported, “Old Madam, this is the Gengtie[1] from the Fang family. Would you like to have a look?”

The Old Madam waved her hand indifferently, “What is there to look at? Anyway, it has to be refused. For the side of the Taoist monastery’s master, have you taken care of it?”

After Fang Zhi Chen passed brilliantly and became a third place candidate, Pei Shi arranged a meeting with Yu Si Yu, both parties were satisfied and soon sent someone to propose a marriage. Since the Old Madam and Pei Shi’s mother were decades old friends, it could be said that their relationships were like sisters. Thus, even if they wished to refuse, they couldn’t be too overt. So they asked her to send the Gengtie first. At that time, they could say that their bazi[2] weren’t compatible.

“I had already taken care of that. These two bazis aren’t compatible. It’s a pity that it was a good marriage.” Ma Momo sighed and put the Gengtie in her sleeve pocket.

Both of them weren’t talking in a roundabout manner. It would need some thinking to figure out what they were talking about. Yu Si Yu, who came late because of her elaborate make-up, happened to hear everything and the joy on her face disappeared.

Wan Qiu held the curtain up for a long time and didn’t see her step in. She reminded her, “Eldest Young Miss, the Old Madam is waiting for you.”

Yu Si Yu came back to her senses as if she had woken up from a dream, and went in with soft legs.

The Old Madam knew that she had heard her, but she did not explain the reason nor comfort her. If she had that little intelligence, she would know that the Fang family was not a land of wealth but a peaceful tomb, where people could die without knowing the reason.

“Now that we are all here, let’s go.” She waved her hand lightly.

Yu Si Yu agreed, slightly lowered her head to conceal the resentment on her face.

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The Baiyun taoist temple was very crowded. Fortunately, the master of the temple had already prepared beforehand and arranged the most comfortable accommodations for the dignitaries. Yu Pin Yan, who was responsible for the safety during the festival, sent his grandmother and younger sisters into the side room and then hurriedly left.

After a short rest, the three of them took their offerings and went straight to Leizu Hall.

Two rows of Dragon Scaled guards stood outside the hall, armed with swords and halberds, and standing solemnly. The Dragon Scaled guards only personally guard those of extraordinary status. Eight or nine out of ten would be members from the royal family. The Old Madam hesitated and stood still for a moment before turning to leave.

An old Momo came out with two sticks of incense and inserted them in the bronze incense cauldron that were tripoded on both sides of the hall door. When she saw the grandmother and granddaughters, she opened her mouth to greet them.

The Old Madam turned her head and saw that it was Song Shi, the Crown Princess’ wetnurse. She immediately had a surprised expression, “Oh, it’s Song Momo. Is the noble person here the Crown Princess? Your highness is…”

Song Momo signalled to her and mouthed the words in silence, “Just for a peace of mind.”

The Old Madam nodded her head in deep thought.

The Crown Princess had married the Crown Prince for more than six years, but had never given birth to a child. This year, she was able to finally conceive. However, against millions odds, she became pregnant with twins. If two boys were born, one of them must die. If not, both boys would be disinherited. If two girls were born, the birth of the twins would be difficult, it was unknown whether it would harm the mother’s health. Moreover, it would be difficult to get pregnant again in the future.

The best situation would be if it was a girl and a boy, dragon and phoenix. But it was hard to nurture twins. It would be alright if the two sons were both safe. If the dragon had to die and the phoenix got to live….Then, the face of the Emperor and the Crown Prince would be ‘good’.

The reality was even worse than the conjecture. The Crown Prince’s Side concubine gave birth to the eldest son of the Crown Prince. That side concubine was also the niece and granddaughter of the Empress Dowager’s immediate relatives. Therefore, her family background was not low compared to the Crown Princess. If the Crown Princess could not nurture a healthy baby boy, the future would be very complicated and bleak. No wonder she insisted on coming to the Taoist temple to pray for blessing for a son even though she was seven month pregnant.

The Old Madam gestured her stomach and asked, “Is it alright?”

Song Shi nodded her head, “The imperial physician said that the fetus is very stable. It’s not a big problem to come out to worship.”

When they were talking, the Crown Princess heard the commotion and came out. Seeing Yu Xiang, her face lit up and beckoned, “Xiang’er, come here quickly.”

Tao Hong and Liu Lu pushed Yu Xiang forward and saluted. The ignored Yu Si Yu felt resentful and humiliated, she had to stand in the same spot and gave a stiff salute.

The Crown Princess held Yu Xiang’s wrist and said with a smile towards the Old Madam, “ Old Madam Yu, your granddaughter is a famous spiritual child. Can bengong gain some of her luck?”

“Your highness praised too highly of her. In terms of good fortune, she is not worthy of half your share.” The Old Madam waved her hand.

The Crown Princess smiled and didn’t speak. She pulled Yu Xiang into the hall and pointed to a Chien Tung and said, “Bengong has stood here for half an hour, but dare not reach out to draw. Xiang’er, help me pick one. Regardless of whether it is good or bad, I won’t blame you.”

After hearing this, Yu Xiang’s scalp felt numb, which wasn’t odd. Who could maintain a peaceful state of mind with the thought of drawing a bad stick? They would mind more or less. But the crown princess was a royal family and she was a subject. This was an era when ‘the monarch wants you to die, the subject has to die.’

Yu Xiang had no choice. She closed her eyes and prayed for a moment. Then, she immediately and decisively took one out and handed it to the expectant Crown Princess.

The Old Madam may appear indifferent, but in fact her heart leaped to her throat. She was afraid that her granddaughter would pick one of the bad omen sticks and make the Crown Princess feel ill at ease.