Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 675 - 677: Entering the Palace (Part 1)

Xiqiu instructed Tiancheng to escort Chief Duan out the door and hinted at him to reward him with silver.

Returning to the room, Madam Jiang and Tong Xiyan emerged from within, both somewhat anxious as they asked, "Why has the Empress Dowager summoned you to the palace at this time?"

Both had heard some of the matters regarding the Second Madam and Xiqiu. The Second Madam was now said to be mad, spending her days singing in her room, unaware of what songs she sang, causing everyone in the back garden of the Marquis Mansion to avoid and detour as though she were a viper, afraid of misfortune.

She was a Commandery Princess, the Empress Dowager’s legitimate granddaughter. Since returning from Chengde, the Empress Dowager had been ill, recuperating in the palace, not even receiving the Emperor. Now that she had recovered, she urgently summoned Xiqiu to the palace, a gesture layered with implications not to be underestimated.

Xiqiu smiled and reassured the two, responding, "It’s nothing. Even if the Empress Dowager harbors dissatisfaction with me, she wouldn’t openly act against me as I’m pregnant. Despite her high status and power, such matters require careful consideration. As long as I’m cautious, nothing will happen."

Madam Jiang and Tong Xiyan still showed concern. Madam Jiang frowned, saying, "I’ll go back and discuss with Father and my husband to see if anything can be arranged from within the palace. Even if the Empress Dowager does nothing, leaving you standing there for an hour when you’re expecting would be difficult for you to bear!" Saying this, she stood up, looking as if she was about to leave immediately.

Xiqiu, however, held her back, saying, "No need to hurry. I’ll discuss it with Fourth Master tonight to see if there’s another way. When you return, please don’t mention it to Aunt, lest she worries!"

"I understand," Madam Jiang nodded, frowning slightly. "Rest assured, Aunt is keeping to herself these days, and if I don’t mention it, she won’t know."

Xiqiu nodded repeatedly, and Tong Xiyan also expressed his concern, "We’ll head back first. If anything happens, send someone to inform me, and we’ll handle it for you. Please take care of yourself."

Xiqiu agreed and saw the two to the door.

Back in her room, Nanny Cen entered and asked, "Madam, I noticed Chief Duan’s expression wasn’t very friendly when he looked at you, his eyes glancing sideways. There seemed to be no good intentions." She spoke as she helped Xiqiu remove her overcoat, guiding her onto the kang and covering her legs with a blanket before continuing, "Should I invite Fourth Master back? Perhaps he could think of a way to block this."

"What method could there be?" Xiqiu sighed helplessly. "If we had known earlier, we might have managed discreetly, but now orders have been issued. To defy them openly is impossible..." She frowned in thought. If the Empress Dowager truly intended to make things difficult, she wasn’t entirely without options. The Empress had given birth to the Eldest Prince, earning increasing reliance from the Emperor. If the Empress intended to assist, no matter the Empress Dowager’s grudges, she couldn’t act against her openly in front of the Empress."

Besides, regardless of her status as the wife of the Great Governor, the Empress Dowager, if she intended anything, wouldn’t do so openly. Yet there was one thing she found peculiar. Why, after such a long silence, was she suddenly summoned to the palace? Had the Empress Dowager grown impatient after enduring for so long, or had she decided Xiao Yanyi and Xiao Yan’s positions were no longer a concern?

She leaned more toward the latter. But what had made her disregard them? Was it that Prince Rong had garnered better supporters?

She knew the Princess Consort Rong came from the Min family, an influential family in Huaiyang, still exerting significant power in Jiangnan with intertwined matrimonial links. The silk industries in Jiangnan, including the Jiangning Silk Factory, were largely influenced or deeply connected with the Min family.

On the other hand, the Empress Dowager’s natal family, the former leading foreign relatives, had declined during the late Emperor’s reign. This was something Xiqiu had always admired about the late Emperor; during the Empress Dowager’s period as the Empress, he gradually eroded the powerful yet potentially threatening influence of Xiao Qing.

Thus, when the Emperor ascended the throne, there wasn’t any consideration in establishing her as the Empress Dowager. This also prevented Prince Rong’s influence from rapidly growing, which could have posed as a threat to the Emperor; otherwise, the occasional reprimands would not have been so simple.

So, what’s behind the Empress Dowager’s abnormal actions this time?

She sipped the tea infused with orange peel Bihuai had made, the sour and sweet flavor easing her furrowed brows.

Suddenly, she recalled what Tong Xiyan mentioned about Ren Jun. Ren Jun had been accused of privately opening salt mines, while Prince Rong also had salt mines. Could there be a connection between the Empress Dowager’s summons and this?

She froze in realization, could it be... the contract Xiao Yanyi signed back then actually fell into Prince Rong’s hands?

So, with the salt mine scandal breaking out, and the case lacking concrete evidence, the Emperor had only admonished the Wujin Bo Mansion due to the murder charge, imprisoning Ren Jun in the Imperial Clan Court. But this was just the beginning. Once the salt mine issue was fully investigated, it could undoubtedly implicate Prince Rong. Hence, perhaps the Empress Dowager was urgently summoning her to the palace to put pressure on Xiao Yanyi and Xiao Yan?

She found this plausible. If true, they indeed needed to deliberate over the long term.

At least, before the salt mine issue was uncovered, distancing the Xuanning Marquis Mansion from this affair was paramount; otherwise, the consequences would be dire! 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

With this in mind, she found it difficult to remain still and called the silent Nanny Cen, "Go to the outer courtyard and ask Tianjing, when will Fourth Master return today?"

"Yes!" Nanny Cen, seeing Xiqiu’s troubled expression, realized there must be pressing matters at hand and responded, "I’ll go inquire immediately." With that, she opened the curtain and stepped out, with Chunliu quickly stepping in to stand by.

Xiqiu reclined on the pillow once more, mind racing. Ren Jun’s accusation and the salt mine issue were known even to Tong Xiyan; how could Xiao Yanyi be unaware? It suggested the possibility she contemplated today might’ve crossed his mind days prior.

She sighed, realizing why external news had been inaccessible for some time; undoubtedly, he instructed the shielding of such news.

Reflecting more, she shook her head, realizing he probably withheld information intentionally, fearing she’d overthink if she knew.

Shortly after, Nanny Cen returned from the outer courtyard, shedding her cold overcoat at the door before entering, saying, "Tianjing mentioned Fourth Master entered the palace early morning and hasn’t emerged yet. It’s uncertain when he’ll return." She added another concern to preempt Xiqiu’s worry, "Fourth Master often visits the palace with The Princely Heir Shen and Lord Qian; there’s no need to worry."

Xiqiu nodded, telling Nanny Cen, "I understand. Go ahead with your tasks; I’m fine!"

Nanny Cen still harbored concerns. It would be better if Fourth Master returned sooner, allowing discussions on countermeasures, preventing any neglect when entering the palace tomorrow. If she were disadvantaged, what then?

Under normal circumstances, it would be manageable, but now, four months pregnant, any mishap is an unbearable consequence for anyone involved!