Chapter 1086: Regardless of Success or Failure

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

The Madam of the Rong Nation shook her head. “I heard that the Yu Clan has the intention to marry him into the Qi Residence and has taken a fancy to Lord Qi’s daughter, Third Miss Qi. I heard that she used to befriend the new empress with a handkerchief. This marriage must have something to do with the new empress. I don’t think there’s any room for negotiation.”

Her tone was filled with regret.

Princess Qiuli slowly lowered her head.

Madam Rong sighed softly. “Recently, the country has been busy. After a while, when the emperor isn’t busy, I’ll think of a way to meet him and test his intentions. If it doesn’t work, I’ll ask the emperor to give you a good marriage.”

Whether the Ning Residence could rise or not depended on Qiuli.

If it weren’t for the fact that she was worried that Qiuli would be too arrogant and ruin her plan, there was no need to tell her this so that she could recognize the reality and be obediently used by her.

Princess Qiuli was filled with bitterness and did not know where to start. “Qiuli will follow Aunt’s arrangements.”

The emperor seemed to dote on the Ning family, but the two of them were walking on thin ice in the capital. The emperor was wary of her aunt and wanted to send her to the old forest in the suburbs. He did not want the Ning Residence to take over.

In the end, her aunt did not want to harm her. She had already ruined her aunt’s plan by doing things on her own.

She couldn’t ruin her aunt’s plans anymore.

Otherwise, their situation would be even more difficult.

As soon as the aunt and niece finished speaking, an eunuch came in to report, “Madam, Eunuch Zhu is here.”

The Madam of the Rong Nation quickly brought Qiu Li out to welcome him. “Eunuch Zhu specially came over. Does the emperor have any instructions?”

“The Madam of the Rong Nation’s prediction is really godlike.” Eunuch Zhu smiled and flattered her, looking very polite, but his words were not polite at all. “The emperor ordered me to come to the Yi Kun Palace to pass on a message. The Yi Kun Palace is an important place in the Central Palace and is the residence of the previous empresses. The emperor has given the Madam of the Rong Nation a residence and limited her to move out of the palace within three days to prevent chaos in the harem.”

Even though the Madam of the Rong Nation was no longer recuperating, her expression couldn’t help but change. “Eunuch Zhu, please report that I have something to ask of the emperor…”

Not only did the emperor want to kick her to the curb once she had outlived her usefulness, but he also clearly wanted to chase her out of the palace.

Eunuch Zhu frowned. His voice was sharp and ear-piercing. “The Madam of the Rong Nation, you’re really making things difficult for me. The emperor is busy with thousands of matters every day and is really busy with the country’s matters. If the Madam of the Rong Nation has anything, why don’t you tell me and let me pass it on?”

The Madam of the Rong Nation could no longer maintain her expression. “Is the emperor really unwilling to see me?”

Seeing that she had changed the topic, Eunuch Zhu simply made things clear. “As the empress of the previous dynasty, how can you keep saying that you want to see the emperor? Does the emperor have to see you? Where did his aura come from? The emperor cares about being old friends with the Ning Residence and is already taking special care of you. You can put away those thoughts. Otherwise, the last bit of the emperor’s dignity will be ruined.”

The emperor did not owe the Ning Residence anything.

All these years, he had been ordered to take care of the Madam of the Rong Nation in the palace, both openly and secretly. Otherwise, how could the Madam of the Rong Nation have such a luxurious life today?!

The Madam of the Rong Nation felt suffocated. “I— I overstepped my boundaries.” At this point, she still refused to give up. “I still have an old item from Gaozu in my hand. I want to hand it to the emperor personally. Eunuch, please convey it for me.”

After Emperor Zhaoyong ascended the throne, he called King Li of Zhou “the Great Emperor”. His posthumous name was “Emperor Gaowu”, and the name of his temple was “Gaozu”. Historically, he was called “Zhao Gaozu.”

The so-called “old item of Gaozu” was actually the edict that had been secretly handed over to the Ning Residence for safekeeping when the emperor established the previous dynasty.

She insisted on seeing the emperor, but she didn’t want to scheme to make Qiuli the imperial concubine. Instead, she planned to ask the emperor to give Qiuli a good marriage. She had already chosen a candidate.

If Yu Shande failed and retreated, Song Mingzhao would also succeed.

She had secretly asked around. When Old Madam Yu and Old Madam Song were still alive, the two families were close and even planned to improve their relationship.

The Eldest Princess also had some entanglements with Song Mingzhao. She had once saved his life.

However, the fate between the two of them was still a little shallow.

Song Mingzhao was infatuated. In the end, he had made a mistake.

The Madam of the Rong Nation couldn’t help but sigh. “Fate really makes fools of us!”

Since Song Mingzhao’s thoughts were so simple, the emperor must know about it. With such a person constantly thinking about his wife, the emperor must also have a fishbone in his throat.

The Ning Residence was the same as the Zhen Residence. They were both descendants of loyal ministers and good generals. Their family backgrounds were similar, so they would not disgrace Song Mingzhao. The Song family had no reason to refuse. This marriage was far more logical than a marriage with Yu Shande.

The emperor might be tempted.

As for whether Qiuli was willing to live a happy life in the future, it was not within her consideration. She had chosen Song Mingzhao to borrow his power in the future.

She thought that the words “old item of Gaozu” were enough to move the emperor.

However, Eunuch Zhu’s eyebrows did not even twitch. “You should listen to my advice to pack up and leave the palace as soon as possible. There have been dynasties over the years, and how many of the concubines have a good ending? Almost all the concubines with ranks in the palace have to die for the country. The Empress of the previous dynasty was the first to bear the brunt. Even if she couldn’t bear to part with her lowly life, she had to be lowly to the end. She had to be a slave and a maidservant. She has to be that b*tch and escape from the palace. A woman can’t establish a household. She will either become a beggar or a prostitute. Even if she meets a benevolent monarch, she will definitely be exiled to the border city to suffer…”

Princess Qiuli’s face was already ashen.

The Madam of the Rong Nation subconsciously bent down a little. Previously, she had the intention of establishing the Fourth Prince, so she planned to use this imperial edict to make a big fuss.

An imperial edict could not be faked.

But what if it was really an imperial edict?

There were many things that could be done. The Fourth Prince was also legitimate and the world was loyal.

Eunuch Zhu said, “The emperor cares about old ties and values friendship. He keeps his promises. This is a blessing that others can’t ask for. With this relationship, it’s more useful than any power or wealth. In the future, when the Ning Clan enters the royal court, they will definitely be valued by the emperor. Those who are truly talented and virtuous will have a good future.”

Didn’t the Madam of the Rong Nation scheme so much just to let the Ning family take over again?

However, how could she hand over her authority to someone for no reason?

Even if she wanted power, she had to have the ability first.

The Madam of the Rong Nation did not look too good after failing to achieve her goal. She was still indignant, but after hearing Eunuch Zhu’s words, she felt a little better.

After all, Eunuch Zhu represented the emperor.

Eunuch Zhu’s words made it clear that if there was a talented person in the Ning family, the emperor would definitely give him a chance to stand up for himself.

Although it was very different from what she had thought, the next best thing was a promise.

The Madam of the Rong Nation’s face was ashen. She ordered someone to get a box from the inner room. Holding the box, she laughed bitterly.

One’s successes and failures were both due to the same person!

Back then, the Ning Residence had relied on the things in the box to gain an important position as the emperor of the previous dynasty. The Ning Residence had regained its ancestral business and gone from dire straits to prosperity.