Chapter 651 - 429: It’s Enough to Be Alive

Chapter 651: Chapter 429: It’s Enough to Be Alive

Yun Zhao mulled it over and said, "I’ll go to Shouci Palace today to bail out Feng Xiaoyuan. I’ll use the excuse that I’m inviting the Empress Dowager to Jincui Garden to escape the summer heat. The weather really is getting hotter. Even at my young age, I’m finding it a bit unbearable, let alone the Empress Dowager."

Feng Yi understood. Yun Zhao meant for him to make a trip to Shouci Palace and demonstrate his filial piety.

But he really didn’t want to go.

The two of them stared at each other.

Song Yunzhao couldn’t hold back a smile. "I know you don’t want to go, but if the Empress Dowager were to fall ill from the summer heat, you would only blame yourself."

Feng Yi wasn’t just slightly displeased with the Empress Dowager; he was extremely displeased. He knew full well her reasons for not going to the traveling palace to escape the heat this year.

However, he had to admit that Yun Zhao’s words struck a chord deep within him. In the end, no matter how bad their falling-out was, she was still his birth mother. If she truly fell ill, he would be upset.

Human emotions are always complex. You might hate someone enough to wish them dead, but if they were to actually die, you wouldn’t necessarily be happy.

"I’ll go see her when I have a moment," Feng Yi said with a sigh. "But knowing the Empress Dowager’s temperament, she probably won’t agree to go."

Since the Empress Dowager had a purpose for staying behind, she certainly wouldn’t give up until she achieved her goal.

But the Empress Dowager’s goal was for An Shutong to receive his favor and, ideally, give birth to a Prince to solidify the positions of Gu’en Houfu and the Empress Dowager herself. Feng Yi was unwilling.

This created an irreconcilable conflict of interest, so Feng Yi would not back down or yield.

With the Empress Dowager refusing to stop until she got her way, the mother and son were destined to remain in a state of opposition for a long time.

Feng Yi was exhausted by it all.

Song Yunzhao also knew the stakes. As a beneficiary of the current situation, she wouldn’t state her position. If the Empress Dowager dared to force Feng Yi into letting An Shutong bear a Prince, the safety of her and her son would be the first thing threatened.

If An Shutong really did give birth to a son, Yun Zhao’s own son would become a stumbling block for An Shutong’s son. The rule of succession was to enthrone the son of the empress, but if there was no such son, then the eldest would be chosen. Since Feng Ze occupied the position of Imperial First Son, he was a roadblock to others.

To avoid such a highly dangerous competition, preventing An Shutong from receiving favor and bearing a child was undoubtedly the best option.

For Song Yunzhao, it was also the most ideal solution.

Anyone would weigh such stakes, and Song Yunzhao was no exception. In her heart, the safety of herself and her son naturally came first.

"Even if the Empress Dowager doesn’t go, you will have done your part by asking. If something really does happen in the future, the blame won’t fall on you," Song Yunzhao said. Sometimes, keeping up appearances was necessary.

Feng Yi sighed and pulled Yun Zhao into his arms. ’If only the Empress Dowager could be as understanding as Yun Zhao, his life as her son wouldn’t be so difficult.’

Neither of them was in a good mood. Feng Yi had been about to dine with Yun Zhao, but Xu Sixi came to summon him. Some courtiers were requesting an audience, so Feng Yi had to leave in a hurry.

For the first time, Song Yunzhao thought, ’Being the Emperor seems like a very tough job.’

...

Outside the palace, the Madam received a message passed from within. Her brow furrowed, and feeling a little uneasy, she sent someone to ask her husband to come over.

The Master of the house arrived quickly. Seeing his wife’s gloomy expression, he walked over briskly and asked, "What’s wrong?"

The Madam looked at her husband and said, "Lady Ming sent word, asking me to meet with Mrs. Feng. She wants me to pass a message into the palace on her behalf."

The Master was somewhat surprised. "What message could the Feng family have that requires our help to get into the palace? Could it be that something has happened to Feng Xiaoyuan in the palace?"

"It’s not very clear right now," the Madam said. "Since the palace reforms, passing messages has become much stricter. The message from Lady Ming wasn’t very clear, so there might be some hidden details that were inconvenient to mention."

The Master pondered for a moment before saying thoughtfully, "I haven’t heard of any major incidents in the palace recently."

The Madam countered, "How can you say that? First, there was the fire at Yanqing Palace, and then a little palace maid slipped and drowned there..." She paused mid-sentence, a realization dawning on her. ’Isn’t Feng Xiaoyuan the one who lives in Yanqing Palace?’

The husband and wife exchanged a look. The Master immediately said, "Go to the Feng Mansion and meet Mrs. Feng. Get some information first. I’ll also have someone ask around on my end."

The Madam nodded in agreement. She had a formal calling card sent to the Feng Mansion, then helped her husband change his clothes and saw him out. After a reply came from the Feng Mansion, the Madam changed into clothes suitable for a visit and left in her carriage.

At the Feng Mansion, Mrs. Feng was personally waiting at the entrance. Seeing Madam Ning Anbo alight from her carriage, she hurried forward with a smile. "Madam Ning Anbo, have you been well recently? It’s been too long. You’re looking more radiant every time I see you."

’And why wouldn’t she be?’

’The woman’s husband had been ennobled, her son was accomplished, and her daughter-in-law came from the Princess Mansion. On top of that, a niece who was very close to them was a concubine in the palace. Her daughters, whether born of the main wife or of concubines, had all made excellent marriages. Each of her sons-in-law was more outstanding and filial than the last.’

’You really couldn’t compare people. Mrs. Feng had always thought her own family was a rare, harmonious one, but they were still a notch below Madam Ning Anbo’s.’

’If Madam Ning Anbo had a single flaw in her otherwise perfect life, it was her foolish sister-in-law, who had given birth to an equally foolish daughter. But even that shortcoming had been dealt with. After Ning’an Bo returned to the capital, he made a few decisive moves, and now that mother-daughter duo had become remarkably well-behaved.’

’Mrs. Feng was dying of envy. Besides, their two families had been close even before the primary branch of the Song Family was ennobled, so their relationship was now even tighter.’

Smiling, Mrs. Feng welcomed the Madam into the mansion. As they walked, she said, "I was just thinking of visiting you at your estate tomorrow, Madam Ning Anbo. I didn’t expect to trouble you to make the trip here first."

Hearing this, the Madam knew that Mrs. Feng must be aware of her purpose for visiting. She smiled and said, "There’s no need for such pleasantries between us. When things happen, we should just work together to handle them properly. The important thing is not to cause trouble for the Palace Ladies and the small concubine."

"You’re right," Mrs. Feng said, leading the Madam into the main hall to be seated. After ordering a maid to serve tea, she dismissed everyone. Only then did she lower her voice and say, "This matter has been worrying me sick. You’ve come at the perfect time, Madam Ning Anbo. Please help me figure out what on earth we should do."

The Madam still didn’t know the full story, so she said to Mrs. Feng, "Tell me everything in detail, and we’ll come up with a plan together."

Mrs. Feng had no idea that the Madam was still in the dark. Assuming she knew everything already, she laid out the entire story from beginning to end.

The Madam was left speechless.

The situation was indeed rather unusual.

The Madam maintained her composure and asked, "So there’s still no word from the Imperial Awakening Temple? Was the message sent out?"

"Well, I was waiting for the palace to invite the abbot of the Imperial Awakening Temple to perform a Buddhist ritual. I can only make my move after that. But there’s been no word from the palace yet, and I’m getting so anxious."

How could Mrs. Feng not be anxious? Her daughter had suffered one setback after another. She couldn’t sleep at night, wishing she could drag the culprit out into the open immediately.

Whether she was favored or not was no longer important. Just staying alive was enough.