Qiu Yelan was really confused. She went to Beique Hall with the things that Madame Tao gave her niece.

Empress Jiang called on Princess Yongfu to come here and receive the things in person. After that, she sent the princess away and then cleared the hall. Maybe Qiu Yelan had helped a lot this time. Now it seemed that Empress wanted to be friendly and warm like before. She waved and asked Qiu Yelan to sit down near her. She said with a smile, “Thanks to you this time. Otherwise, that old woman did this so secretly that even people like Xue Chang could think of no way. She almost got away with it.”

Speaking of the last sentence, Empress gritted her teeth and looked ferocious.

This made Qiu Yelan nervous. Her heart sank, “Jiang Yashuang said they would be as lenient as possible to Empress Dowager Ye. Why does Empress…?”

She said tentatively, “Empress Dowager Ye was humiliated by Empress Dowager Gu in the past. After so many years, it was no wonder that she was briefly furious…”

“Alas! You kind kid, you are good all over but too soft-hearted!” Empress Jiang was not so surprised that Qiu Yelan wanted to plead for mercy for Empress Dowager Ye. Jiang Yashuang had already reminded her. Empress Jiang was very dissatisfied with this thought of Qiu Yelan. She thought, “Are you one of the Jiang Family? You haven’t even met Empress Dowager Ye.”

However, Marquess Qin helped contain her anger, “It’s common for young women to be merciful. If they really kill people at this age with no mercy, can you rest assured that she is Jiang Yashuang’s wife? Besides, if it weren’t for this child, Your Majesty’s poisoning would only be a pending case. Give them some time and let Jiang Yashuang teach her slowly. Everyone has ever been young.”

Empress Jiang agreed and gave up her mind of rebuking Qiu Yelan.

In addition, Marquess Qin asked her to be a kind aunt, “If you have done a good job, you should be rewarded. If you do something wrong, you will be punished. This is the way to use people. Qiu Yelan just made a contribution. If you scolded her, how would you feel if you were her? Next time, unless it’s time for the survival of our Jiang Family, will she still contribute? Besides, no one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s not something that has to be corrected. I can pretend that I don’t know what she means. Can’t you do that?”

At the moment, although Empress could not help to rebuke Qiu Yelan, her tone was really gentle, “This time, I forgive her because of you. Next time, if there are any more such people, you shouldn’t ask for mercy. You’re young. You don’t know it. If it weren’t you but another person who found the murderer, we all would be trapped. This is not for fun.”

Qiu Yelan thought, “Am I that kind of people who can’t bear the wicked anymore? It’s because that you force me into death just for a false worry. Who else won’t take risks to survive? Besides, Empress Dowager Ye’s branch has never offended the Jiang Family before. Well, it’s a joke to tell the overbearing Jiang Family that if people don’t offend me, I won’t offend them.”

Knowing that Empress’s words had already given her face, Qiu Yelan also expressed her guilt, “Because of Yongfu, I have met Duanrou several times. She is the only child of the third sister and her husband. It is said that she has always been close to Empress Dowager Ye, so I am…”

“Duanrou is good. It’s hard for your third sister these years.” Empress Jiang smiled, “But you haven’t met Empress Dowager Ye ever. You are my niece. I’ll tell you the truth: Empress Dowager Gu doesn’t like Empress Dowager Ye, but she can still live to the present. Do you think she is an ordinary person? I can understand you sympathize with Duanrou and your third sister. If you sympathize with her…”

Empress shook her head. “In a word, don’t believe all her words.” The middle-aged lady who was still graceful and pretty frowned slightly and her voice was a little misty, “How could there be someone really poor in this palace?”

She turned and looked at Qiu Yelan, “She asked to talk to you alone, which Jiang Yashuang was not in favor of. It’s just that the old lady’s time is running out. She just refuses to say why, and it’s not good to force her. I can only call you without telling Jiang Yashuang. Fortunately, all the things in Ganli Palace have been checked and nothing can harm you. As for her, I don’t think you need to worry too much.”

Qiu Yelan cleverly said, “Empress Dowager Ye is old and weak. How can she do harm to me? It’s just that I have never seen this lady. I don’t know why she has to see me. I’ll ask Your Majesty for advice when I get back!”

Qiu Yelan thought, “Don’t you want me to tell you honestly what Empress Dowager Ye will say to me after I meet her?”

Sure enough, Empress Jiang was very satisfied with her cleverness and said, “Just go over after tea, and come back to me before evening.”

This time, as usual, Nijin sent her. It seemed that Nijin who had always been steady had something on her mind this day. She lost her mind several times when they were talking. Naturally, Qiu Yelan noticed it and asked her on the way, “What’s the matter with you? Can you tell me?”

“Thank you for asking. It’s just little things on my mind.” Nijin was intended to show it to her. After hearing that, she hesitated for a few seconds. And then she came closer and almost whispered, “Princess Qi has not been well since she returned to Jing City in the summer. She moved to the farm outside the city to recuperate. And she hasn’t been back to the Prince’s Mansion till now. There was no one in charge of the Prince’s Mansion of Qi, so Concubine Tong asked Her Majesty to send someone to look after Princess Qi and thus to share burdens with Prince of Qi. Her Majesty hasn’t thought of a good candidate. Seeing that, I have been worried about Her Royal Highness’s body since she has to deal with so many things these days.”

“You are not worried about Her Royal Highness’s body. You want to enter Prince’s Mansion of Qi.” Qiu Yelan thought with a depressed mood, “If I knew you had this idea, I would pretend I didn’t see that you have something on your mind. You are the powerful maid of Empress. Now you are less than 20 years old. It’s time to show your capability. Empress won’t grant you to Prince of Qi unless she attaches great importance to him. Otherwise, how can she let you out of the palace?”

In fact, this was also the reason why Nijin asked her for help. Since Prince of Qi lost his qualification as a crown prince, Empress Jiang had no interest in him. If he hadn’t tried to commit suicide before and Princess Qi had rebuked him hard, Empress Jiang would have admonished Princess Qi just a few words when she came to visit. The admonishment, according to Nijin, was just because the Empress didn’t like Princess Qi and her mother Madame Dou, and deliberately made excuses to rebuke.

The Prince of Qi’s birth mother, Concubine Tong, knew this very well. When she asked someone from Empress to be her daughter-in-law, she said that as long as the girl was good and not treacherous, she would be grateful to Empress. How dare she thought of such a close servant as Nijin? But she didn’t know that Nijin was really willing to be a concubine for Prince of Qi.

“Really? I have to tell Jiang Yashuang and ask him to advise my aunt. After all, His Highness Prince of Qi has always been pure filial piety. If he knows my aunt worries about his affairs, he will certainly be very scared!” Although Qiu Yelan was regretful, the words had been asked out. She had to say something. Although Nijin took advantage of her before, she tried her best to deliver messages. Qiu Yelan didn’t notice she was framed. She just felt it troublesome. She reminded her after promised, “My aunt is the elder. We can only give suggestions.”

Qiu Yelan whispered in her own mind, “That means I will help you, but I can’t guarantee the result. Your master is the elder of us.”

However, Nijin had been overjoyed. She was clear about Jiang Yashuang’s position in Empress’s mind. If the madame of Jiang Yashuang could let him talk about it, it would work.

Nijin was happy when she thought she didn’t need to waste her precious youth in the palace and could enter the Prince’s Mansion, even being a concubine. What was more, she thought about the current situation of Prince’s Mansion of Qi. Princess Qi was exiled. She had her last dignity only for the sake of the Jiang Family’s fame. Prince of Qi was very weak, and Nijin never wanted to bully him. With the means of being the chief maid Empress Jiang trusted most, it wouldn’t be too difficult for her to take charge of the family after she married Prince of Qi.

Also, Prince of Qi’s birth mother, Concubine Tong who was really afraid of Empress, didn’t dare to turn hostile to Empress, when her only son almost died before. How could she embarrass Empress’s chief maid?

As long as she had a son in the future, it would be very possible for the child to be a Young Prince.

Nijin was overjoyed as if she had seen the throne of the old Princess. She was a little afraid that Qiu Yelan would not do her best, so she tried to be friendly, “I want to say something necessary to you. Please, be careful of Niguang.”

It could be known as soon as the name of Niguang was heard that she was also a close maid of Empress like Nijin. Qiu Yelan knew this girl. Of course, Qiu Yelan was not so familiar with her as Nijin. However, every time Qiu Yelan went to Beique Hall, she saw Niguang’s purse many times.

Now hearing Nijin’s words, Qiu Yelan was surprised and asked, “Why?”

“She respected Maid Lin as her adoptive mother in her early years, so Maid Lin occasionally spoke for her in front of Her Royal Highness.” Nijin pulled Qiu Yelan and whispered in a lower voice than that just now, “Please allow me to say something disrespectful. You’ve married for almost a year, and there are still no children. There are no new people in the backyard of Jiang Yashuang. Two days ago, Maid Lin talked about it with Her Royal Highness. And she recommended Niguang.”

Qiu Yelan suddenly stopped and became disappointed immediately.

Seeing this, Nijin was not worried but happy. She thought she found the right person for help.

“You mean, it’s Niguang’s idea?” Qiu Yelan asked lightly after she stopped for a few seconds and then continued to walk towards Ganli Palace.

Since Nijin revealed the news, it was natural that she told everything. She said, “When Jiang Yashuang came, Niguang always rushed to serve tea. However, Jiang Yashuang did not notice her at all.” It was not strange that she flattered Qiu Yelan. “With such a talent like you, my lady, will Jiang Yashuang like other people? It’s just Niguang’s delusion.”

Qiu Yelan sneered. She met Niguang before. She was not as good as herself in appearance, but she was also a pretty and lovely girl. She was the most suitable for the role of submissive and considerate concubine. However, she hardly met Empress with Jiang Yashuang. When she came to Beique Hall alone, it was Nijin who served her. If it were not for Nijin, she wouldn’t know that every time she went to the palace, the person whom she brought some benefits to was already thinking about her husband.

“Thank you for your kindness.” Qiu Yelan was glad that she didn’t refuse Nijin or was offhand with Nijin after knowing that she wanted to enter Prince’s Mansion of Qi. Otherwise, since Nijin said that Niguang wanted to marry Jiang Yashuang for a long time, why did she say it now?

Nijin smiled and said, “It’s kind of you not to blame me that I didn’t tell you earlier.”

“In fact, Prince of Qi has no concubine yet.” Qiu Yelan was not happy. She had a good relationship with Nijin, but she didn’t forget to give Nijin benefits because they were close. Didn’t Nijin know that compared with Princess Qi’s beating Prince of Qi to tears, Niguang’s thinking of Jiang Yashuang was more important? But she didn’t tell until now. If she told Qiu Yelan earlier, she would also get benefits.

Although she was Empress’s close maid, Qiu Yelan couldn’t do anything to her openly. However, in private… Hearing Qiu Yelan’s words, Nijin immediately opened her eyes widely and asked directly, “Really?”

“Who doesn’t know this?” Qiu Yelan said calmly, “According to the system, Prince of Qi can have two concubines.” Seeing Nijin was overjoyed, she continued, “Princess cannot live in Prince’s Mansion because of her serious illness. In fact, it is more decent if the side princess presides over the affairs.”

“If you can really help me…” after that, Nijin was in the mood of sudden joy and worry until they entered Ganli Palace and arrived at the Empress Dowager Ye’s bedroom Hall. Just as Qiu Yelan was about to enter the Empress Dowager Ye’s bedroom Hall, she finally made up her mind. She pulled Qiu Yelan’s sleeve and said, “I promise to solve the Niguang problem for you.” She looked solemn, “Once and for all. No trouble will appear.”

Qiu Yelan looked at her with a little surprise. According to her observation, Nijin and Niguang had the same status and importance in Beique Hall. Niguang even had the adoptive mother, Maid Lin. It seemed that Niguang was better than Nijin. Now how could Nijin be sure to solve her once and for all?

Aware of her distrust, Nijin was a little anxious, “If you don’t believe me, you’ll see it in three days… However, Her Royal Highness probably will send someone to serve Your Highness Prince of Qi recently, because she couldn’t bear Concubine Tong’s begging anymore.”

“Can it be the concubine?” Qiu Yelan thought that since the price Nijin gave was so high, it may be better to try to squeeze it again. So she smiled and left these words. Then she went into the Hall slowly. The expressionless imperial guards opened the heavy red door. After passing through the heavy gauze, Qiu Yelan finally saw Empress Dowager Ye for the first time in the deepest part of the bedroom, under the dim candle fire.

The old woman seemed to be dying. Her delicate and smooth silk quilt reflected her withered face. Her only eyes were deep, bright, and sharp.

“So you are the one who saw through my scheme.” Qiu Yelan just walked in. Before she thought of a good prologue, Empress Dowager Ye said first, “You are so young… It seems that you have suffered a lot.”