Chapter 590 - 368: How Can You Be So Heartless?

Chapter 590: Chapter 368: How Can You Be So Heartless?

"Show her out." Princess Consort Wan turned and went directly into the inner chamber.

Mrs. Yao trembled with anger. ’What kind of daughter did I raise? How could she be so heartless?’

Nanny Sun hadn’t expected the mother and daughter to clash so intensely. She quickly stepped forward. "Mrs. Yao, you should leave the palace for now."

Mrs. Yao wasn’t as overbearing with Nanny Sun as she had been with her daughter. Wiping away a tear, she sighed with a worried expression and said, "If the family weren’t truly at a dead end, I wouldn’t have come to trouble Her Ladyship. A father and daughter’s hearts are connected. He is her father, after all. How can she just ignore him?"

Nanny Sun didn’t respond. ’If I had known it would come to this, I never should have opened my mouth and persuaded my mistress to see Mrs. Yao.’

’Who would have thought that a mother, upon seeing her daughter, would not say a single word of concern? Instead, she came in scolding her and even told my mistress to bow her head to Lady Ming.’

It was true her mistress and Lady Ming were on good terms right now, but if she were to bow her head like this, given her mistress’s temperament, she would probably never get over it for the rest of her life.

After seeing Mrs. Yao out, Nanny Sun slowed her pace as she entered the inner chamber. She found her mistress sitting by the window, weeping. She hurried forward to comfort her. "My lady, don’t be sad. Mrs. Yao surely didn’t mean it. Perhaps Mr. Yao is truly in a difficult situation."

"I’m not favored in the palace. I hardly ever see the Emperor. This business with the Six Departments and the Inner Workshop has blown up so much. At a time like this, forget Ming Fei—who would dare to speak up before the Emperor? Mother wants me to ask Ming Fei for help. This is clearly..."

Princess Consort Wan couldn’t continue. ’If Ming Fei agreed to help and then fell out of favor with the Emperor because of it, wouldn’t she end up resenting me?’

’Besides, if I go and beg Ming Fei, will she even help?’

’Wasn’t Ming Fei the one the Six Departments and the Inner Workshop were deliberately targeting this time?’

’My mother isn’t stupid. Why is she still asking me to do this?’

’If I have a falling out with Ming Fei, what good would that do me in this harem?’

’My situation would only become more difficult. Couldn’t my mother see that?’

’She just doesn’t care.’

The more Princess Consort Wan thought about it, the more heartbroken she became. ’When my family forced me to enter the palace back then, I should have understood.’

For a moment, Nanny Sun didn’t know how to console her. She simply stood by her side as she wept for a while before speaking again. "My lady, how about this servant goes and asks around?"

Nanny Sun was currently on good terms with Nanny Yu, who served Ming Fei. It was possible to gather some information.

Princess Consort Wan shook her head. "You don’t have to go. I will."

"My lady?"

Princess Consort Wan stood up abruptly and took a deep breath. "He is my father, after all. I will do this one last thing for my family."

Song Yunzhao was startled when she saw Princess Consort Wan. Seeing her eyes red and slightly swollen, she didn’t know what had happened. She quickly had her sit down and told Xiangxue to go to the tea room and boil two eggs.

When Feng Ze saw Princess Consort Wan, he ran toward her. Because she often brought him little toys to play with, Feng Ze was very fond of her. He shouted as he ran, "Hug!"

Princess Consort Wan froze. As she watched Feng Ze approach her with a pure, innocent smile on his face, her eyes stung, and tears began to fall again.

Song Yunzhao saw this and thought, ’Oh no, what upset her so badly?’ She quickly intercepted her son who was demanding a hug, scooped the little rascal into her arms, turned, and handed him to Nanny Qi.

Nanny Qi was quick-witted. She took the Eldest Prince and hurried outside.

Feng Ze: ...

Princess Consort Wan was so taken aback by Song Yunzhao’s series of actions that she couldn’t laugh or cry. It was terribly awkward.

Song Yunzhao pretended not to notice. She pulled Princess Consort Wan to a seat and said softly, "Sister Wan, what has you so upset? Tell me about it. I promise I’m all ears and will keep it to myself."

Hearing Yun Zhao’s words, Princess Consort Wan quieted down. Now that she was actually here, she felt too embarrassed to bring it up. For a moment, she didn’t know how to begin.

Just then, Xiangxue came over with two peeled, boiled eggs. Yun Zhao took a clean handkerchief and wrapped an egg in it. "Rolling this over your eyes will feel much better. Here, Sister Wan, give it a try."

Princess Consort Wan took one and pressed it to her eye. Song Yunzhao quickly reached out and snatched it back. "Don’t just hold it there, it’ll burn you."

Princess Consort Wan had already felt the heat. Luckily, Song Yunzhao had been quick to grab it.

Song Yunzhao took the handkerchief-wrapped egg and began to roll it gently over Princess Consort Wan’s eye. As she did, she said with a smile, "When I used to cry at my family’s home, I would do this. It keeps the swelling down, and it’s very comforting."

The warmth from the egg slowly spread over her eye, soothing her stinging eyelids. Accompanied by Song Yunzhao’s gentle, slow movements and her soft, guiding voice, Princess Consort Wan’s thoughts gradually began to calm.

By the time they were done with the two eggs, Princess Consort Wan’s eyes already looked much better.

Song Yunzhao had someone bring tea. "This is some floral tea I made in my spare time. It’s nothing compared to your skill, Sister Wan, but please have a taste."

Princess Consort Wan lifted the teacup and took a sip. The fragrance of jasmine mixed with tea washed over her. She didn’t usually like strongly scented teas, but at this moment, she felt the aroma of this jasmine tea was just right.

Her agitated mood was somewhat relieved.

Princess Consort Wan set down the teacup, took a deep breath, and finally explained the reason for her visit in simple terms. What needed to be said had to be said.

After listening, Song Yunzhao was at a loss for words for a moment. She thought about it seriously before finally speaking. "Sister Wan, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help, but right now, I truly can’t. This affair with the Six Departments and the Inner Workshop has become a huge scandal. So far, the investigation has uncovered a sum of one million taels of silver. How could the Emperor not be furious? Besides, these are matters of the court. How could a mere harem concubine like me dare to interfere? If word got out, I’m afraid memorials of impeachment would come at me like an avalanche."

Princess Consort Wan wasn’t the least bit surprised to hear this. "I knew this would put you in a difficult position, but I still had the nerve to come and ask. Now that I have, I can at least give my family an answer."

Song Yunzhao was a bit surprised. ’Does she mean she’s just going through the motions?’

Yao Zongjing...

’In the book, this man’s end wasn’t a good one, but his downfall was supposed to happen much later. I never expected this incident to implicate him.’

Song Yunzhao was slightly moved by Princess Consort Wan’s words. After a moment of consideration, she spoke again. "Sister Wan, you and I have personally witnessed what’s happened this time. We are well aware of the harm caused by the actions of the Six Departments and the Inner Workshop. Moreover, things have reached a point where this is no longer just about them. It’s a matter of state. If you or I were to dare get involved, I’m afraid our families would be dragged down as well. In my opinion, if Mr. Yao’s involvement is minor, then it’s best to let it be. But if he is deeply entangled, I think you should try to persuade Mr. Yao."

Princess Consort Wan hadn’t expected Song Yunzhao’s thoughts to be so similar to her own. ’If persuasion were possible, I wouldn’t have made this trip in the first place.’