As dusk fell, the Empress Dowager awoke from her drowsy slumber in a daze.
After glancing at the sky outside, she remained dazed for a moment before collecting herself. "Ah Chen..." she called out.
Hearing this, Mammy Chen, who was waiting outside, immediately turned and entered. "Your Majesty, you're awake?"
The Empress Dowager nodded, allowing Mammy Chen to assist her in rising and changing clothes before slowly making her way to the Warm Chamber to sit down. "Ah, how did it get dark so quickly after I dozed off? How long has Wan Yatou been gone?"
Mammy Chen smiled. "The young mistress left over two hours ago. She departed when she saw you were asleep."
The Empress Dowager nodded gently. "I haven't seen Yan Ze enter the palace these past two days. I wonder what he's been doing."
Mammy Chen replied, "I heard from the Yongning Young Mistress the other day that Prince Yi's residence is casting a Golden Buddha. The heir apparent has placed a bright lamp at Fahua Temple outside the city for Princess Consort Yi. To fulfill a vow, they're preparing to cast another Golden Buddha for Fahua Temple. He's been busy with this these days. The heir apparent is filial—he surely wants to handle these matters personally."
The Empress Dowager nodded. "Yes, Yan Ze is very filial indeed."
Mammy Chen poured the Empress Dowager a cup of tea. After taking a few small sips, the Empress Dowager suddenly asked, "What day of the month is it today?"
Hearing this, Mammy Chen chuckled. "It's the seventh. Your Majesty must be counting down to the young mistress's wedding day?"
The Empress Dowager nodded, murmuring to herself, "The seventh already... How time flies..."
Mammy Chen draped a thin blanket over the Empress Dowager's lap. "Indeed, time flies. The year is nearly over. When we first met the young mistress at the beginning of the year, who would have thought she and His Highness would end up together? They are deeply in love and soon to be married—such a rare blessing."
A gentle smile graced the Empress Dowager's face, but then she slowly added, "Zhen'er must have reached Northern Wei by now?"
"Yes, yes. The Crown Prince of Northern Wei was to meet the princess at the border. They must have connected by now. The Crown Prince of Northern Wei is also virtuous—the Fifth Princess will have a good life. Please set your heart at ease..."
The Empress Dowager smiled bitterly. "You know her temperament. How can I not worry?"
Mammy Chen sighed. "In their maiden days, which of them isn't a pampered girl? But after marriage, knowing they're no longer in their own homes, no matter what, they wouldn't dare act as they did before. The Fifth Princess is no fool—don't worry about her. In a few days, when she reaches the Northern Wei capital, she'll send us word."
The Empress Dowager sighed and fell silent. Just then, a young palace maid appeared outside, peeking in as if searching for Mammy Chen. Noticing this, the Empress Dowager signaled, "Go. It must be something urgent."
Mammy Chen hurried out. The young maid anxiously reported upon seeing her, "Momma, something has happened at Changxin Palace."
Frowning, Mammy Chen listened until the maid finished, then her expression shifted slightly. "Keep this quiet for now. If His Majesty doesn't know, let it be. Wait here—I'll gather some people to investigate. Send the imperial physician to Changxin Palace to standby..."
After issuing rapid instructions, Mammy Chen watched the maid depart before steadying herself and reentering.
"What happened?" the Empress Dowager asked upon hearing her footsteps.
Mammy Chen smiled. "It's nothing. They say the Ninth Prince is refusing to sleep. I told them I'd check on him later."Mammy Chen's words were calm and composed, yet upon hearing them, the Empress Dowager smiled faintly. "Little Jiu only refused to sleep when he first arrived at the Longevity and Health Palace, but he hasn't done so since. Wan Yatou visited earlier today, and he's most likely practicing calligraphy now. What exactly has happened?"
The smile on Mammy Chen's face wavered slightly. After a moment's hesitation, she replied, "It's Changxin Palace. Consort Feng has fallen gravely ill and gone mad. She injured a palace maid and sustained minor injuries herself. His Majesty is currently in a meeting with Commander Lin and others, unaware of the situation, so the servants came to us."
The Empress Dowager frowned. "Gone mad?! Gravely ill and mad? Didn't Prince Cheng previously invite someone to perform rites? And now there's trouble again?"
Mammy Chen shook her head. "I don't know the details yet. Please don't trouble yourself with this—I will go and see."
The Empress Dowager's frown deepened. "What is happening to everyone? Some leave the palace, others go mad!"
The more she spoke, the more uneasy she felt. Pressing her lips together, she said, "Prepare the sedan chair. I will go and see for myself."
Mammy Chen hurriedly objected, "It's too cold outside. Please wait here. Don't you trust me to handle it?"
The Empress Dowager shook her head. "These events are too strange. When the Empress was here, I never interfered in the affairs of the Inner Palace. I thought she ruled with virtue and that the rear palace was well-ordered. But then the Empress herself acted foolishly, and now Consort Feng is in such a state—how can I not be concerned?"
Mammy Chen tried to speak again, but the Empress Dowager raised a hand to stop her. "No more words. Make the preparations."
Mammy Chen sighed deeply. "Very well, I will prepare at once."
The sedan chair was quickly made ready. Mammy Chen bundled the Empress Dowager in multiple layers of warm clothing before helping her into the sedan. They proceeded at a leisurely pace until they reached Changxin Palace, where they found the palace servants kneeling in terror, their faces etched with fear.
The sedan chair halted before the main hall, and all the servants bowed deeply. Mammy Chen helped the Empress Dowager alight and scanned the crowd, her eyes settling on a familiar-looking maid. "What is your name? You look familiar. Step forward and report what has happened."
The maid rose trembling and approached the Empress Dowager. "This humble servant is Bao Yue, a first-rank maid of Changxin Palace. Consort Feng's illness has worsened these past days. She suffers from nightmares and cannot sleep. The medicinal soup has been of no use, and recently she has been speaking nonsense. She kept asking to see Prince Cheng, saying she feared he would meet with disaster. But Bao Die, the chief maid of Changxin Palace... she had received orders from Prince Cheng not to inform him and instead deceive Consort Feng that His Highness was too busy. Tonight, Consort Feng suddenly flew into a rage, took the sword His Majesty had gifted her, and stabbed Bao Die..."
Mammy Chen's expression shifted. "Where is Bao Die? And Consort Feng?"
Bao Yue immediately knelt. "Bao Die... has already passed away. Consort Feng's condition was too terrifying. We... we had no choice but to work with several other mammies to restrain her with a quilt and tie her to the bed for now. I have committed a grave offense—please punish me, Empress Dowager."The Empress Dowager stared fixedly at the pool of blood in the center of Changxin Palace's main hall that had yet to be cleaned. The bloodstain spread in patches, trailing from the direction of the inner chamber. She could almost visualize Bao Die, severely wounded, staggering out from the inner room before finally collapsing in the middle of the main hall.
Without uttering a word, the Empress Dowager tightened her grip on Mammy Chen's supporting hand until it turned white. After a moment, she spoke slowly, "You have done well. Lead the way—this grieving one wishes to see your mistress..."
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