zChapter 951 - Fat or Skinny, Which One Is It? (2/2)

“What hardships are you suffering?” The Empress drank the medicinal tea while speaking with her, “Since you’ve already come, even if I don’t want to listen to you, I have no choice. Just stop beating around the bush and speak!”

Noble Lady Yuan nodded, “Alright, then this concubine will say it. The main reason that this concubine is feeling troubled is a result of my family’s matters. This concubine has a younger sister born of a concubine, and she married into a sixth rank official’s family in Peng Zhou as a secondary wife. Originally, this concubine and second sister were in the palace as imperial concubines, and we could strive to provide our sister with some face, such that she would not be bullied in that manor. But ever since we were demoted, our younger sister in Peng Zhou has been living in worsening conditions, suffering from bullying every day. A while back, this concubine’s niece came into the imperial palace to visit this concubine and spoke of this matter. This concubine agonized over it for many days, unable to eat well nor fall asleep. With this happening, I have become thinner over time.”

The Empress was completely lost. Were Noble Lady Yuan’s eyes blind or was her heart blind? Could she really not tell the difference between skinny and fat? Looking at this woman, she had become so fat that her face was completely round. It could be seen just how comfortably she had been living, yet she insisted on saying that she had become thinner. Really… she was helpless and could not bother with arguing, thus she went along with it and said: “No matter what the case, she is the aunt of a prince. How bold is that family to dare to mistreat her?”

“Hah!” Noble Lady Yuan sighed and said: “Your Highness has truly been in the palace for too long and very rarely have people tell you about the situation outside. You don’t know it, but the large residences are not as peaceful as you would imagine. There are plenty of underhanded tactics.”

The Empress was really feeling quite unpleasant! There was very rarely anyone to tell her about the situation on the outside? Was this not just mocking her for not having a prince? But what could she say? That was just the truth, and it was because she did not have a prince that she could take the position of empress and remain in this position so steadily for so many years. Once she had a child, the Emperor could not possibly allow her to continue being the empress.

While she was thinking about this, Noble Lady Yuan’s voice could be heard once more: “This concubine has remained in the position of noble lady for so long and have been obedient this entire time. His Highness the eighth prince was formerly stationed at the border and made great contributions to Da Shun. Even now, he is devoting himself fully to working for His Majesty and sharing his burdens. Your Highness, might I ask, aren’t the people in the capital praising His Highness the eighth prince for thinking of the people?! This concubine was thinking that since His Highness the eighth prince has been thinking so thoroughly on His Majesty’s behalf, could Your Highness think a bit about this concubine?”

The Empress frowned upon hearing this: “What do you want this One to think about?”

“Your Highness asks despite clearly knowing.”

“If you are speaking about your demotion to noble lady, this One is powerless.” She put down the cup and stared at Noble Lady Yuan, saying: “At that time, It was His Majesty who decreed that you be demoted to noble lady. How much ability does this One have to go against His Majesty’s intentions?”

“I never asked you to go against it.” Noble Lady Yuan tilted her head back: “But you are the Empress. No matter what, His Majesty should listen to what you have to say. Unlike us sisters in the inner palace, where it’s difficult for us to even see His Majesty. Your Highness, you have been in this position for many years and should speak up for us sisters at least a bit. Not to speak of having His Majesty spread his favor equally, but at the very least, we shouldn’t be treated coldly. He doesn’t think of us when anything good happens, but he does not hesitate in the slightest to demote people. This concubine will overstep my boundary and say that you, as the Empress, must not remain lofty and aloof when we sisters are suffering. Your status was originally higher than us. It would not do to give off a feeling of going in separate directions, one south and one north.” When she said this, she emphasized the word north. At this time, the punishment outside began, as a scream came from Fang Yi.

The Empress felt irritated and coldly said: “Are you implying something?”

“Yes.” Noble Lady Yuan very seriously nodded, “Indeed, I am implying something, but if Empress does not mind that matter, it’s fine. But this concubine will remind you that you must not feel as if you can be completely at ease without a child. Think a bit more for the sake of the Cheng family. The Cheng family is innocent. No matter how carefree Empress might be, you must not completely ignore your family.”

“Enough!” The Empress slammed the table, “You actually dare to threaten this One. You really are bold!”

This slamming of the table caused Yue Xiu to tremble with fear; however, Noble Lady Yuan was not afraid in the slightest. She continued to speak with confidence: “If you’re saying it’s a threat then it’s a threat! Either way, it’s not the first time.”

The Empress took a few deep breaths and thought for a bit. Each time she thought about it, she hated that she could not happily get rid of Noble Lady Yuan, but she also forcefully suppressed those sorts of thoughts. Getting rid of one noble lady was easy, but she was the eighth prince’s birth mother. To say nothing of the incessant pestering that would come from the eighth prince resulting from his birth mother’s death, but just the way in which the information would spread would be enough to make her heart tremble. She let out a heavy sigh. When she spoke once more, she weakly said: “This One really is unable to help you with your matter!”

Noble Lady Yuan shook her head and said: “You can’t speak so firmly. As long as Your Highness the Empress wishes to help, it can definitely happen. Right now, His Highness the eighth prince’s reputation is really good. His Majesty will be able to hand down a bit of a reward to give some face. As long as you bring it up to him, I trust that His Majesty will not refuse your intentions.”

“Hmph!” The Empress snorted, “Back when you did what you did, why didn’t you make some considerations for you and your son?”

“How did this concubine not make any considerations?” Noble Lady Yuan smiled and said: “There are many things that we don’t have a say in. The mood at that time decided on that matter, and it has already been done. Bringing it up after the fact is rather pointless. Just like Your Highness, aren’t there many things that were done involuntarily?”