Zhang Tao didn’t tell the Emperor the reason for her fall, but the palace maid serving her was somewhat indignant, “If it hadn’t been for Nan Feng’s heartlessness, Lady Zhang Yingbin wouldn’t have had such a terrible fall. Instead of helping, she just watched and didn’t even e back to ask if she was all right, acting as if she didn’t see it happen.”
When the Emperor heard this, he asked Zhang Tao again, and Zhang Tao admitted that she had indeed confronted Nan Feng that day, wanting to apologize to her and to the Empress De as well.
The Emperor started forting a woman for the second time, “You fool, there’s no need to apologize for this matter. You all meant well. From now on, obey my mand. Do not approach Nan Feng anymore.”
After all, Nan Feng did not wish for the women of the harem to e near her.
The matter of Zhang Tao spread, and a new saying emerged in the palace: Success because of Nan Feng, downfall also because of Nan Feng.
This meant that Nan Feng could raise you high, but she could also bring about one’s downfall. Therefore, the chatter among the harem women eager to catch Nan Feng’s good fortune was put on hold, and no one blocked her path anymore.
…
Inside Yongshou Palace.
Lady Jiang, previously demoted to Daying for offending the Emperor, had her position restored because the Empress De was pregnant and there was no one to manage the harem, and the Emperor could not resist the Dowager Empress’s relentless persuasions.
Lady Jiang had to please the Dowager Empress even more, often acpanying her.
That day, while tidying the Dowager Empress’s clothes, Lady Jiang said, “Aunt, did you speak of it? Yesterday, Lady Zhang Yingbin, pregnant with the Dragon Seed, fell in the back garden.”
“She fell?” The Dowager Empress, who was still waiting to hold her grandson, had heard about the pregnancies of the Empress De and Zhang Tao after the hunt and was quite delighted. But now, hearing that Zhang Tao had fallen, she instantly grew anxious and nearly suffered a heart attack.
“How is she now?” asked the Dowager Empress.
“She’s fine. Thanks to the blessings of the Dowager Empress and the Emperor, she only scraped her knee,” Lady Jiang said, looking at the Dowager Empress’s worried expression, wishing she herself could bee pregnant at once.
“That’s good to hear. When the Emperor es tomorrow, I must remind him to keep both Zhang Tao and the Empress De indoors. It may be stifling in the palace, but they need to consider the heirs in their bellies, right?”
Lady Jiang saw the opportunity and mentioned, “Aunt, I heard that Zhang Tao fell while chasing after Siyuan’s Nan Feng.”
“Her again?” The mention of Nan Feng instantly angered the Dowager Empress.
She had sent Gao De to kill her at the Hunting Ground, and although he didn’t succeed, the man never returned, reportedly having died in the line of duty. The Dowager Empress could easily guess the reason: surely, the Emperor was protecting Nan Feng.
Having been responsible for Lady Jiang’s demotion, and now almost causing Zhang Tao to miscarry, the Dowager Empress could hardly contain her fury.
“Summon Nan Feng to me!”
In Siyuan, Nan Feng was busy when she heard from Little Fuzi that she was being summoned by the Dowager Empress’s people.
In her mind, Nan Feng recalled the last encounter with the Dowager Empress.
The previous visit from the Dowager Empress and Lady Jiang was far from friendly. And now she wanted to see her?
What could it be about?
At that moment, another eunuch, Liuzi, arrived and stopped Nan Feng, telling her about Zhang Tao’s incident, saying that now the palace was abuzz with rumors blaming Nan Feng.
“I caused it?” Nan Feng was speechless. After giving her respects that day, she had returned and had no idea that Zhang Tao would chase after her, let alone fall.
Liuzi, visibly anxious, said, “The Dowager Empress wants to see you—is it possible she’s summoned you over this matter? If so, you must not go, Lady Nan Feng. There are too many people on the Dowager Empress’s side, and you won’t be able to overpower them.”
Xiaoqing immediately looked at Liuzi, “What do we do then? Should Sister Nan Feng go or not?”
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