However, although Princess Yuhua managed not to make a fool of herself under the suppression of Empress Dowager Wang that night, no one could stop her after she left the palace. Incredibly, she actually engaged an official matchmaker to propose to the Ye Family on her behalf.
When the news reached the noble households, they were all utterly shocked. Although Princess Yuhua had been divorced, she was still a dignified princess and the late Emperor’s only legitimate daughter. How could she so desperately seek marriage without fearing the mockery it might invite?
When Mrs. Ye, the doctor’s wife, heard about the matchmaker’s arrival, she too was stunned for quite a while, wondering which distinguished family had taken a fancy to her young son, only to discover that it was Princess Yuhua who had sent the matchmaker.
Recalling yesterday’s encounter with Princess Yuhua at the palace banquet, she finally realized why - the princess intended her son to beco the Prince Consort!
Mrs. Ye’s first reaction was refusal, not because she saw Princess Yuhua as second-hand goods, but she believed that being associated with the imperial family invited too much trouble. She had disapproved of her daughter’s insistence on marrying the current Emperor, but eventually gave in, unable to bear her daughter’s fasting, confident that, with the Ye Family’s power and influence, Ji Fei wouldn’t dare to mistreat Qiu’er.
Marrying off a daughter and taking in a daughter-in-law are entirely different matters. A virtuous wife could bring prosperity to three generations, while a shrew could ruin them. Princess Yuhua didn’t seem like soone virtuous and sensible.
Mrs. Ye’s sparse wisdom finally ca into play on this matter. If Princess Yuhua was truly a clever and virtuous woman, she would have sought marriage from the Emperor and the Empress Dowager’s blessings instead of recklessly sending a matchmaker without anyone’s knowledge. What was she thinking?
Mrs. Ye’s expression darkened. She was naturally beautiful, which was how she had given birth to a beautiful daughter like Ye Qiu and a handso son like Ye Mu. But she was not fond of dressing up, and after spending a long ti on the border amidst the army, leading charges and capturing enemies was commonplace. As a result, her face bore signs of exposure, along with a murderous aura from the bloodshed, which imdiately intimidated the matchmaker Princess Yuhua had sent.
The matchmaker was thrilled when she received the assignnt from Princess Yuhua; although she was a well-known matchmaker in the capital, her clients had been mostly distinguished ministers. If she could arrange this match, wouldn’t she beco the top matchmaker among her peers?
She was also very confident. Princess Yuhua was the most prestigious princess of the dynasty; who wouldn’t be willing to marry her? This was an enormous blessing, right?
Never had she imagined that Mrs. Ye would be so furious. The matchmaker even muttered to herself, wondering if the Ye Family had gone mad. Marrying into Princess Yuhua’s family would make them imperial relatives, and yet they showed no gratitude and even drove her away?
Scared by Mrs. Ye’s presence, the matchmaker fled the Ye Residence in a panic, with her belongings thrown out by the servants of the Ye Residence.
The Ye Family lived in the inner city, where only the Imperial Family, imperial relatives, and the residences of Ministers were located. When the matchmaker first arrived at the Ye Residence’s gate, it was all hustle and bustle which seed like a joyous occasion. They hadn’t expected that in less than an hour, she would be chased out, and it was only then others learned that she ca on Princess Yuhua’s behalf to propose.
"Pfft!" Upon hearing the report from the servants, the ladies and young misses couldn’t help but burst into laughter. It didn’t take half a day for the news of Princess Yuhua sending a matchmaker to propose to the Ye Family and then being driven out to spread throughout the whole capital. By evening, even the harem had heard about it.
"Bang!" Empress Dowager Wang, upon hearing the news, fiercely smashed a vase. "This cursed girl."
Her face twisted with rage, quivering with a fury that now reached its peak. This had tarnished the reputation of both mother and daughter. Everyone knew her conflict with the Imperial Concubine; wasn’t Yuhua’s action like handing over their dignity for the Ye Family to trample on?
At the sa ti, she resented the Ye Family for not giving them any respect at all.
"Good for nothing, summon Princess Yuhua to the palace imdiately," Empress Dowager Wang ordered a Palace Attendant, her face ashen.
After a while, the ssenger returned, cautiously saying: "The Imperial Concubine said the Palace City keys are about to be turned in for the night, and requests Your Highness to discuss any matters tomorrow."
"What use are you if you can’t even handle a simple task?" Empress Dowager Wang kicked the Palace Attendant in anger, her hatred towards Ye Qiu reaching an all-ti high.
In Changchun Palace, Ye Qiu felt extrely annoyed with Princess Yuhua repeatedly harassing the Ye Family, thinking Empress Dowager Wang had clarified the matter with her daughter yesterday, but unexpectedly, the trouble landed at their door today.
Since Empress Dowager does not have ti to discipline her daughter, then let her make ti. Without the Wang family, the Empress Dowager should be able to have so leisure ti!
"How is the investigation going?" Ye Qiu asked Xiao Guizi.
"The family of the palace maid has been found, but they were killed by mountain bandits when they left the capital."
"Not a single survivor?"
"By the ti our people got there, the last living person had also just breathed their last."
"Then find a way to make the dead speak," Ye Qiu commanded with an icy tone.
Xiao Guizi narrowed his eyes: "What does Lady an?"
"Find soone who resembles him and bribe two servants close to Duke Cheng’en Mansion."
Xiao Guizi’s gaze flickered: "This servant understands."
Within a few days, a ssage of Consort Jia admitting to plotting against the Heir reached Empress Dowager Wang. The Emperor was greatly enraged and ordered Consort Jia’s execution imdiately, and because of failing to teach his daughter properly, Marquis Cheng’en was also imprisoned. In the end, considering Empress Dowager, he was rely demoted to a commoner, and all property of the mansion was seized.
Because most of the servants in Cining Palace had been replaced by Ye Qiu’s people, Empress Dowager Wang received the news too late—the imperial decree had already been issued and she collapsed to the floor.
She did not believe Wang Yajing would confess, causing an uproar claiming that Ye Qiu was exploiting her authority for personal vendettas and demanded Ji Fei to reexamine the case.
However, the guilt book was personally signed and sealed by Wang Yajing, and the family of the palace maid who pushed the Princes over could testify. The case was handed over to the Ministry of Justice, and the claim of Ye Qiu exploiting her authority for personal vendettas held by Empress Dowager Wang was invalid. The judgnt had been passed, and the Wang family property had been confiscated; there was no turning back.
The once-glorious Wang family thus ca to a tragic end, eliciting sighs and lants from everyone.
People only ntioned the discord between Empress Dowager Wang and Imperial Concubine, not expecting such an outco. It was said that when Consort Jia was granted death, there wasn’t a single piece of unscathed flesh on her, surely having undergone harsh torture.
However, one really cannot bla Imperial Concubine for this affair—she was rely carrying out the Emperor’s orders, and indeed Wang Yajing was responsible for the misdeeds; the family suffering was simply reaping what they sowed.
Luckily, Empress Dowager Wang and Lady in the palace were spared from the fallout, but it remains to be seen if the Second Prince can grow under this pressure.
Everyone says the capital is prosperous, and the Imperial Family enjoys wealth and honor, but who knows how many dangers lurk within this splendor and fortune!
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