Di Daughter's Strategy - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Before long, it was the day they were to enter the palace. When Luo Yi’er escorted Madam Chu to the entrance of the Marquis Qi Mansion, Luo Qian and Luo Fu were already waiting by the carriage.

One wore a light blue long gown with plum blossom embroidery on the hem, appearing elegant and refined. Her hands were clasped together in front of her, standing poised. The other wore a pink silk robe with hibiscus embroidery on the sleeves, her face beaming with joy and nobility. The two stood outside the carriage, each showcasing their unique charm, but Luo Fu seemed slightly less radiant.

Luo Yi’er escorted Madam Chu, wearing a plain silk gown with intricate embroidery on the collar and hem. A wide belt was tied around her waist, with a white jade pendant hanging from it, crystal clear and translucent. Her sleeves were slightly wide, and a delicate and dazzling white jade glass brocade hairpin was inserted into her hair, a gift from the prince’s mansion. As she escorted Madam Chu, her slender wrist naturally showed, and she didn’t reveal any sharpness. A gentle smile played on her lips, yet it was impossible to look away.

Luo Fu’s smile faltered for a moment, but when the two approached, she quickly forced a smile and stepped forward, bowing. “Daughter greets Mother.”

Luo Qian also bowed, saying calmly, “Mother, greetings.”

“Get up,” Madam Chu glanced at the two briefly. “Don’t delay; let’s get in the carriage.”

Two carriages were parked in front of the Marquis Qi Mansion. Naturally, Luo Yi’er and Madam Chu shared one carriage. As they got in, Luo Yi’er suddenly turned her head to look back and saw Luo Qian, who had been lowering her head, gazing at her with a complex expression.

Luo Yi’er’s eyes flashed, and she smiled slightly, lips pursed. Seeing Luo Qian’s indifferent expression and her turning away, the smile in her eyes deepened. She then withdrew her gaze and got into the carriage.

After the two got into the carriage, the smile on Luo Fu’s face instantly disappeared. She looked up at Luo Qian and snorted softly, getting into the carriage first. Luo Qian’s expression remained unchanged, but as Biyu supported her, she bit her lip.

The group headed towards the palace, where palace eunuchs were already waiting at the entrance. After the routine inspection, a eunuch smiled and greeted them.
“Marquis Qi’s Madam, young ladies, please follow this way.”
These palace eunuchs were beaming with smiles. As the Marquis Qi was a favorite official of the emperor, and his daughter was the confirmed primary wife of Prince Jing, these servants naturally wouldn’t dare to be negligent.

Some eunuchs, knowing the relationship between Madam Chu and the empress, asked, “Madam, would you like to visit Kunning Palace first?”

Madam Chu wore a polite, gentle smile. “No need. We’ll see her at the banquet. Don’t disturb the Empress now.”

The eunuch’s eyes flashed, and there were rumors in the palace about the discord between the empress and Madam Chu. Some people dismissed it as mere gossip, but now it seemed there might be truth to it.

They hadn’t walked far when Luo Yi’er and the others encountered many other ladies, including some Madam Chu knew. Some noticed the several concubine-born daughters behind Madam Chu and wondered why she had brought them along but didn’t dare ask.

Luo Fu was entering the palace for the first time, and her excitement was hard to conceal. She looked around, her eyes full of longing. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Luo Qian, who kept her head down, revealing nothing. Luo Fu pouted, secretly despising her for being unimpressive.

In reality, Luo Qian wasn’t unaffected. In her past life, she had been the empress, so she was familiar with the palace. That’s why she kept her head down, to prevent her emotions from showing.

When they first entered the palace, Luo Yi’er had been curious about Luo Qian’s expression. However, as some noble ladies frequently praised her, she became distracted, smiling and responding to their compliments. When she saw they were about to reach the pavilion for rest, she smiled softly.

Just as they were approaching the pavilion, a eunuch hurried over, “Marquis Qi’s Madam, Miss Luo, the Empress requests your presence.”

Everyone was taken aback. A noble lady smiled, “In that case, we’ll go ahead. Marquis Qi Madam, please take care.”

Madam Chu’s smile subtly faded, and she glanced at the eunuch. “Lead the way.”
Her tone was neither impolite nor overly enthusiastic.

Luo Yi’er’s eyes flickered.
The Empress?
She had specifically requested her presence? It seemed… She pursed her lips slightly, her eyes flashing with subtle meaning.

Luo Qian kept her head down. Since Madam Chu hadn’t told them to stay behind, they naturally followed. However, she couldn’t help but wonder if she remembered correctly: the Empress didn’t seem to like Luo Yi’er, though she didn’t know why.

When they arrived at Kunning Palace, the eunuchs bowed. “Madam, please wait for a moment. Allow us to announce your arrival.”

Madam Chu nodded. After entering, she didn’t come out for a long time, even after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Madam Chu and Luo Yi’er stood under the scorching sun, waiting. The others were fine, but Luo Fu grew impatient, frowning and feeling resentful. Why were they summoned only to be kept waiting?
What was the meaning of this?

Luo Yi’er’s delicate, fair face turned slightly red from the sun, and she felt a hint of dampness on her back. She fluttered her eyelashes, and a cool glint appeared in her eyes.

Seeing that they seemed unlikely to be let in soon, the smile on Madam Chu’s face had long since faded. She calmly glanced at the palace and asked a waiting eunuch, “Has the Empress not risen yet?”

Her voice was flat, but the eunuch seemed to detect a hint of coolness. The eunuch bowed low, looking troubled. “In reply to the Madam, this servant doesn’t know.”

Luo Yi’er supported Madam Chu’s arm and suddenly smiled softly, “Mother, my aunt should be arriving soon. Why don’t we send Jin Su to invite my aunt over for a visit? The Empress must have missed her.”

After she spoke, Madam Chu’s face regained its smile. Just as she was about to instruct Jin Su, a palace maid hurried out, smiling.
“We apologize for keeping you waiting. The Empress suddenly felt a headache, and the palace servants were worried, which delayed things.”

When they saw the maid, Madam Chu and Luo Yi’er exchanged a glance. Luo Yi’er lowered her eyes, smiling silently. Madam Chu’s family head was her father, the current Minister of Education, with many disciples in the court. He had gradually handed over power to his eldest son, Chu Feng, who was also the Empress’s older brother.

However, the discord between the Empress and Madam Chu was now a fact. Chu Feng would naturally have to make a choice: between the emperor’s favorite official’s wife, whose daughter was the confirmed primary wife of Prince Jing—a strong contender for the crown prince—and the current Empress.

Luo Yi’er had just suggested inviting her aunt, but it was essentially a message to the Empress. The Empress couldn’t afford to lose. She was no longer favored, had no children, and her adopted son wasn’t close to her. Without the support of her maternal family, her position as Empress would be merely nominal.

Madam Chu glanced at her. “Since the Empress isn’t feeling well, we won’t disturb her.” With that, she prepared to leave with her entourage.

The eunuch’s expression changed, and he dared not let her leave so easily. He hurriedly blocked her path, apologizing, “The Empress is fine now. Please, Madam, come in.”

Madam Chu lightly covered her mouth with a handkerchief. “The Empress has recovered remarkably quickly.”
Her tone was subtly sarcastic.

The eunuch smiled awkwardly without responding. Madam Chu didn’t expect him to reply and led her group into the palace. Luo Fu, following behind, was stunned, never expecting Madam Chu to dare mock the Empress’s servants so openly.

In the Kunning Palace, there were naturally spies from other factions. Almost as soon as Luo Yi’er and her group arrived, Fang Jinling received the news. At this moment, Fang Jinling had just left the imperial study. Upon hearing Fu Shan’s words, his eyes cooled slightly, and he changed direction, heading towards the rear palace.

Fu Shan quickly followed, bowing his head and mentally elevating Miss Luo’s status.

The atmosphere in the Kunning Palace was chilly. The Empress wore an expressionless mask, while Madam Chu sat calmly. Luo Yi’er sat beside her, while Luo Fu and Luo Qian stood behind them without being offered seats, their heads bowed.

Wang Momo, standing beside the Empress, observed the tense atmosphere and sighed inwardly. She had accompanied the Empress from the Chu Mansion into the Crown Prince’s Mansion and had watched Madam Chu grow up. Now, seeing the sisters at odds, she felt a pang of regret but knew she couldn’t advise the Empress.

After all, who could have predicted… the Emperor would develop such feelings for the younger Miss? The Empress had long harbored her heart for the Emperor, and even a biological sister wouldn’t share his affections.

Wang Momo’s thoughts drifted, recalling how the relationship between the two had somewhat improved when the younger Miss married Marquis Qi. However…
Wang Momo lowered her head, thinking of the incident four years ago, and shook her head inwardly. It was all karma.
Madam Chu’s gaze swept across the Kunning Palace, and a coolness gradually rose in her eyes. She suddenly spoke up, “I wonder what instructions the Empress has for me, having summoned me?”

The Empress looked at Madam Chu, and except for the fine lines at the corners of her eyes, there was no sign of her approaching forty. Her beauty was still breathtaking. In her heart, she felt both jealousy and resentment, but her expression remained unchanged.
She forced a smile, “It’s been a long time since I saw you, sister. I called you over today just to catch up.”

Madam Chu let out a low, mocking laugh. Her eyes cooled as she glanced at the Empress.
“There’s no need for the Empress to pretend. We have no past to reminisce about. If the Empress has no further instructions, I’ll take my leave.”

Just as she stood up to leave, the Empress laughed, “Why are you in such a hurry, sister? Yi’er will marry Ling’er soon, and we’ll be mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. It’s been a long time since I saw Yi’er, and I’m quite fond of her.”

Madam Chu’s eyes flashed with a hint of coldness, almost imperceptible. Her fingers, holding the handkerchief, tightened slightly. She sat steadily in her chair, gazing at the Empress for a long time. The smile on the Empress’s face began to fade before Madam Chu slowly averted her gaze.