Jiang Yunshu suddenly realized that although she and Empress Dowager Wu lived in the same palace, she knew nothing about the dowager. In fact, before the palace maids kicked the feathered shuttlecock into Weiyang Palace, she had never interacted with the maids outside its walls either. Despite being separated by just a single courtyard wall, Weiyang Palace, with its gates shut tight, was like an isolated little world.
"What kind of life does the Empress Dowager lead in Fengyi Palace?" Jiang Yunshu asked.
The maids around her exchanged glances, but none had an answer.
Empress Dowager Wu was the most revered woman in the palace, yet she seemed to have left no trace of her presence there.
Zhezhi went to gather some information but returned with little to share.
She whispered to Jiang Yunshu, "The Empress Dowager rarely left Fengyi Palace before, focusing solely on raising the Young Emperor."
Leaning closer, Zhezhi added in a hushed tone, "They say the Young Emperor was born frail—thin, small, and crying incessantly every night, making him very difficult to care for."
"The Empress Dowager followed the imperial physician’s prescriptions, having the wet nurses take medicine so the Young Emperor could drink their milk. After months of careful nurturing, his health finally improved."
"For the past few months, the Empress Dowager must have been solely preoccupied with the Young Emperor’s well-being, leaving no room for anything else. Perhaps now that he’s stronger, she’s finally indulging in some leisure?"
"Rumor has it that behind Fengyi Palace’s closed gates, the Empress Dowager now amuses herself with the palace maids."
"Her shuttlecock skills are exceptional—her team wins every time she leads."
Zhezhi added conspiratorially, "They say she started playing to regain her figure… The dishes sent from the imperial kitchen to Fengyi Palace are all very light now…"
At first, Jiang Yunshu didn’t understand why Zhezhi was acting so furtive—they weren’t speaking ill of the Empress Dowager.
Then it struck her. No matter how revered the Empress Dowager was, she was still a widow after the late emperor’s death.
As the most distinguished widow of the Great Qi Dynasty, she was bound by the strictest constraints.
By tradition, she shouldn’t adorn herself, shouldn’t seek amusement, and certainly shouldn’t strive to regain a slender figure…
Yet the Empress Dowager did all of it!
Jiang Yunshu sighed in admiration, "The Empress Dowager must be living quite comfortably now!"
In the palace, no one held authority over her—she was beyond reproach.
Jiang Yunshu couldn’t help but envy her. Wasn’t Empress Dowager Wu the most fortunate woman in the Great Qi Dynasty?
Especially when she recalled the latest gossip about the Duan family that Wen Shiyi had shared with her days ago—
Her elder sister, Jiang Zhaohua, was faring miserably.
Jiang Zhaohua had assumed that bearing a son would make her the Duan family’s greatest benefactor and her child their most treasured heir.
But none of her expectations had come true…
Fate had other plans.
Her mother-in-law believed Jiang Zhaohua’s son was cursed, bringing misfortune to his father—on the very day of his birth, Duan Jinxing was demoted to a lowly stablemaster.
Worse still, Duan Jinxing suspected the child wasn’t even his!
—This was the deduction of the Eastern Depot’s spies, and Wen Shiyi swore it was credible.
Jiang Yunshu: …What a scandal!!
"So, is the child really Duan Jinxing’s?" Jiang Yunshu pressed.
Wen Shiyi shook her head. "No one knows for sure."
"But the Eastern Depot agents confirmed Jiang Zhaohua remains unaware of Duan Jinxing’s doubts about the child’s paternity."
Jiang Yunshu, ever the gleeful spectator, exclaimed, "Wow!"
Jiang Zhaohua didn’t know—but she did!
What a delicious feeling!
Compared to her elder sister’s wretched existence, the Empress Dowager’s life now seemed like paradise.
Jiang Yunshu sighed to her maid Taoye, "See, bearing a son isn’t enough… Having a son and then becoming a widow—that’s the real bliss!"
Taoye blinked rapidly at her.
Jiang Yunshu frowned. "Taoye, do your eyes itch?"
Just then, a scorching breath grazed her ear, and a low, ghostly voice murmured behind her—
"Your Majesty, what did you say was the real bliss?"
Jiang Yunshu shrieked, "Ah!!"
When had Xie Lin returned? How did he move so soundlessly?
Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest, her mind blank with terror.
This… this was disastrous…
Her remark about the Empress Dowager had trampled over two landmines at once!
First, bearing a son—Xie Lin couldn’t give her one.
Second, widowhood—though Xie Lin wasn’t her husband, he was her only man…
Jiang Yunshu hastily backtracked, "A life unburdened by children, soaring in harmony with one’s beloved—that’s the real bliss!"
Xie Lin’s expression turned icy as he pressed a firm finger to her lips. "Your Majesty’s tongue is far too practiced in deceit."
Under his piercing gaze, Jiang Yunshu dared not spin more pretty lies. She lowered herself, ready to plead for mercy.
Xie Lin caught her arm. "Since Your Majesty’s lips refuse the truth… let this servant feed you cherries instead."
