Chapter 104

The journey from the main hall back to the palace wasn’t particularly long, but Empress Wei sat in her phoenix carriage without looking back.

Jiang Xiurun, having no sedan chair to ride, had no choice but to follow closely behind on foot.

However, as they reached the edge of Qinghua Palace, Jiang Xiurun suddenly stopped walking.

The maid beside her asked in confusion, “Concubine Yao, if we don’t hurry, we won’t be able to keep up with the empress’s phoenix carriage.”

Jiang Xiurun glanced at her but remained still.

It was only then that Empress Wei turned her head, signaling for the carriage to stop.

She glared at Jiang Xiurun and said, “What’s the matter? Are your delicate legs too weak to walk without a sedan chair?”

Jiang Xiurun bowed slightly to the empress and smiled.

“I was just curious about the courtyard around the corner. I wonder which concubine’s palace that is?”

Empress Wei followed Jiang Xiurun’s pointing finger and her face immediately changed, her eyes narrowing. Jiang Xiurun was pointing in the direction of the cold palace, a secluded corner of the palace where Empress Wei had once lived in isolation for many years.

Everyone in Great Qi knew about this.

Was this lowly concubine deliberately trying to provoke her by pointing it out?

Before Empress Wei could speak, Madam Zhao, who was beside her, stepped forward with a grim expression.

“How dare you! Where did you learn such manners? Instead of walking properly, you ask such impertinent questions. Today, we will teach you some proper etiquette!”

With that, she walked over, intending to slap Jiang Xiurun.

However, Qian’er, who was standing nearby, was not one to be trifled with.

Seeing the old hag approach, she swiftly kicked Madam Zhao in the stomach with all her might.

Qian’er’s legs were strong, and the kick sent the lightweight Madam Zhao flying, landing heavily beside the phoenix carriage.

Empress Wei was startled by the unexpected strength of the seemingly unremarkable maid.

She shouted, “How dare you! Are you trying to assassinate me? Seize these two insolent women!”

She screamed at the top of her lungs, but none of the guards moved.

After shouting several times and realizing something was amiss, Empress Wei looked around and noticed that the guards had all been replaced by unfamiliar, rough-looking men who didn’t seem to be from the imperial guards.

Jiang Xiurun, however, knew that since the crown prince had returned to the capital after learning of the empress’s scandal, he had quietly replaced the guards in the empress’s palace.

That was why she had felt confident enough to follow the empress today.

Jiang Xiurun was well-versed in the art of flattery and knew how to please her superiors.

But she also understood that the best way to win favor was to anticipate her master’s needs and act on them, even if it meant doing something he couldn’t do himself.

Right now, what Feng Liwu wanted most but couldn’t do was to scold his mother for her outrageous behavior and prevent her from causing further trouble.

With this in mind, Jiang Xiurun smiled and said, “The moonlight is lovely, and you ate quite a bit at the banquet, Empress. Why not take a stroll to the cold palace to help with digestion?”

With a wave of her hand, she ordered the guards to carry the phoenix carriage into the cold palace.

The guards, having received the crown prince’s orders, obeyed and carried the carriage into the cold palace.

Earlier, Empress Wei had deliberately taken a longer route to tire Jiang Xiurun out, so now they were in a remote, high-walled area with no one around.

After a few turns, they entered the cold palace.

Empress Wei was trembling, partly from anger—she couldn’t believe that her son’s lowly concubine had the audacity to do this—and partly from fear, suspecting that her son intended to imprison her in the cold palace.

However, she knew that her son had always been filial and respectful in public, revered by the old ministers.

Without the emperor’s decree, how could her son, as a mere prince, depose her and banish her to the cold palace?

With this thought, Empress Wei regained her confidence.

As soon as the carriage stopped, she stood up and shouted at Jiang Xiurun, “How dare you! Have you gone mad? Why have you brought me here? No matter how much my son favors you, you’re nothing more than his plaything. Have you forgotten your place?”

Jiang Xiurun remained silent, sitting leisurely and letting Empress Wei rant and rave.

The night was hazy, and the cold palace’s broken windows whistled in the wind.

Occasionally, the mournful cries of old palace maids who had been imprisoned there could be heard.

Other than that, there was only silence.

Empress Wei’s shouting seemed to stir the madness of those who had been driven insane by their imprisonment, and they joined in with shrill curses that were even more piercing than the empress’s.

Finally, Empress Wei’s voice grew hoarse, the night grew darker, and the madwomen seemed to have been silenced.

Everything returned to quiet.

Empress Wei, seemingly reminded of her past by the gloomy surroundings, grew increasingly fearful.

It was then that Jiang Xiurun slowly spoke, “Your Majesty, I thought you missed this place, which is why you humiliated the crown prince in front of everyone at the banquet, trying to find a way to return to the cold palace.”

Empress Wei glared, wanting to retort, but Jiang Xiurun stood up and walked toward her step by step.

“Your Majesty, do you know how many people envy you? You come from the Wei family, blessed by your ancestors, and became empress as soon as you entered the palace. You even gave birth to a son like the crown prince, who saved you from danger. But such good fortune, if not cherished, will eventually run out.”

Empress Wei couldn’t stand being lectured by a lowly hostage from a weak state.

She glared at Jiang Xiurun and raised her hand to slap her.

Her hand was adorned with three golden nail guards, and if the slap landed, it would leave deep scratches on Jiang Xiurun’s face.

This time, Jiang Xiurun didn’t even need Qian’er’s help.

She stepped forward and delivered two powerful slaps to Empress Wei’s face.

The crisp sound echoed like firecrackers in the quiet night.

Empress Wei staggered back, unable to believe what had just happened.

Since leaving the cold palace, Empress Wei had lived a life of luxury in the palace, with no one daring to cross her.

Even when she argued with the emperor, she often came out on top, leaving him fuming but powerless.

In short, she had been pampered all her life and had become increasingly reckless.

Who would have thought that on this Mid-Autumn night, she would be slapped by her son’s seemingly meek concubine without any warning?

For a moment, Empress Wei was dazed, wondering if she was dreaming.

But the burning pain in her cheeks and tongue reminded her that she had indeed been struck.

Empress Wei screamed even louder, covering her face and shouting, “Jiang Xiurun! Are you trying to get yourself killed? How dare you, a lowly concubine, strike me!”

Jiang Xiurun had always been bold.

This old woman, spoiled by her father and reckless in her actions, had become increasingly unrestrained because her son was so capable.

Her husband couldn’t control her, and if she were allowed to continue like this, who knew how much trouble she would cause?

Moreover, Jiang Xiurun felt that she was merely attached to the crown prince, living with him as a partner.

Empress Wei wasn’t her real mother-in-law.

With no historians present to record the event, and given that Empress Wei had always disliked her, Jiang Xiurun saw no reason to hold back.

If she disliked the old woman, she would slap her—what could be done about it?

So she rolled up her sleeves, stepped forward, and grabbed Empress Wei by the collar.

“I may be lowly, but I know that my standing in Luo’an depends entirely on the crown prince! Not just me, but the guards in this courtyard, the many officials—all of us rise and fall with the crown prince. And yet, you! Knowing that the crown prince is surrounded by enemies and in a precarious position, you keep causing trouble for him. Today, you humiliated him in front of the second prince. Look at yourself—do you even deserve to be his mother?”

Empress Wei retorted, “I only told him not to favor you exclusively. Are you so desperate that you dare to lecture me like this?”

Jiang Xiurun sneered, “Actually, your intention wasn’t wrong, but why did you have to say it in front of everyone? You call me stupid, but aren’t you the one who can’t think straight? Have you ever considered what would happen to you if the crown prince were overthrown by the second prince? You wouldn’t even be able to stay in the cold palace—you’d be wrapped in a straw mat and thrown into a mass grave to accompany your lowly lover! Your flesh and bones would be fed to the dogs!”

Empress Wei wanted to shout back, but Jiang Xiurun, usually so soft-spoken and delicate, now seemed as fierce as a bandit, her presence terrifying.

Jiang Xiurun didn’t give her a chance to speak, continuing, “It’s not just me who depends on the crown prince. Many aides and officials share his fate. Even if the crown prince treats you as his mother, if you don’t act like one and keep undermining him, it won’t just be me—there are plenty of people who would want you dead!”

With that, she released Empress Wei, letting her slump to the ground.

She then turned to the guards and said, “The empress says she forgot that the medicinal ointment in the palace has run out, so I won’t go fetch it. The empress is feeling hot, so let her stay in the cold palace for a while to cool off. When she’s sufficiently chilled, send her back.”

The guards bowed respectfully as Jiang Xiurun left, leaving Empress Wei alone in the cold palace, finally realizing what had happened and beginning to shout curses…

As Jiang Xiurun walked out of the palace, she too began to feel a cold sweat break out on her back.

Although she had intended to “advise” the crown prince’s mother, her initial plan had only been to let the empress reflect on her actions in the cold palace.

But the cold, gloomy atmosphere of the cold palace had not only stirred Empress Wei’s memories but also reminded Jiang Xiurun of her own miserable nights in the laundry bureau.

In this life, her start had been relatively good.

After much effort, she had finally secured a place in Luo’an and ensured the safety of her brother’s family.

How could she allow an old woman to ruin everything before she could secure her own retreat?

Spending too much time with fools could make one’s own mind dull.

Jiang Xiurun had been so angered by Empress Wei that she had lost control and slapped her in the cold palace.

As she walked out, her rationality slowly returned, and a cold sweat broke out on her back.

She wondered how the crown prince would punish her for her excessive actions.

The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became.

Jiang Xiurun felt that, like Empress Wei, she had been living too comfortably and had lost her sense of direction.

Overcome with fear, she waved to Qian’er and said, “Quick… I can’t walk anymore. My legs are weak.”

Qian’er immediately picked her up and carried her on her back, consoling her, “You did use a lot of force earlier, and it wasn’t very efficient. Next time you hit someone, remember to stand with your feet a foot apart and use your waist to generate power. That way, you’ll save energy and maybe even knock out a few teeth.”

Jiang Xiurun smiled bitterly.

Why was it that everyone around her seemed to thrive on causing trouble?