Prince of Qi may be helpless or a piece of waste or completely neglected, but he was royal blood and the eldest. He tried to kill himself because of his Princess. No matter he could be saved or not, this would never end well!
So Qiu Yelan didn’t even change her clothes. She rushed into Madame Tao’s residence directly!
Madame Tao just walked over the threshold. Seeing her, Madame Tao didn’t say much. She only said, “Hurry up!”
Jiang’s residence was close to the Summer Palace. Basically, they could see the gate of the Palace on the sedan.
They successfully went to where the Empress was. Before they went in, they heard a drastic cry coming from inside. Madame Tao frowned. She looked at the maid standing outside when walking up the stairs. Empress Jiang’s mother was indeed different. The maid immediately told her quietly, “That’s Prince of Qi’s mother, Concubine Tong. She already passed out twice from crying in front of the Empress!”
No one could blame Concubine Tong. Prince of Qi married last year. Concubine Tong must have already known that she was old and no longer had the favor of the Emperor. Her future counted on her son! Now her son killed himself before he had any child. If he really passed away, how would Concubine Tong live?
Madame Tao sighed deeply. She stood outside for a while and then went into the Hall.
Upon entering, she saw Empress Jiang’s face was also green. The blue veins on the back of her hands popped out because she was grasping the armrest of her seat so tightly!
Empress was talking without any expression to the woman who was holding the corner of her dress and crying, “I know Weixiong’s personality. I will bring justice to you and your son. Just calm down!”
Seeing Qiu Yelan supporting Madame Tao and walking in, the Empress wanted to stand up to greet. When she just straightened her back, she found Concubine Tong grasping her dress tightly. She could only say, “Mother, you’re here. Take a seat. Qiu Yelan, no need to salute. Nijin, go and get some tea!”
Madame Tao called the Empress by her name in public and in private. It showed how close they were. Now Madame Tao didn’t regard herself as an outsider. After sitting down, she looked around and asked, “Where is Qiyun?”
“After knowing Weixiong killed himself, she disappeared!” Empress Jiang smiled coldly and said, “I have sent someone to find her. I guess she either went back to Jiang Family or Dou Family!”
When they were talking, a maid came to report, “Madame Dou had Princess Qi tied up and is asking to come in in front of the gate!”
“Take that vile spawn up here!” Empress Jiang slapped the armrest and yelled!
The Empress really hated this niece!
Yesterday Marquess Qin just recovered. The Empress’s party was reinvigorated and had a win. Then today Jiang Qiyun forced Prince of Qi to kill himself. Was she not afraid that her maiden family would go down?
If she could, Empress Jiang would have really wanted to kill her niece!
But Jiang Qiyun was the beloved youngest legitimate daughter of Jiang Tianao and his wife. And they couldn’t have a charge of Jiang Family’s girl forcing her own husband to kill himself. Thinking about all these, Empress Jiang needed to clear her name and tie up the loose end for her!
Qiu Yelan was peeping at the Empress’s almost distorted look. She really felt like no normal person could be the elders of the Jiang Family. Having kids like Jiang Yadan and Jiang Qiyun in a normal family would probably kill the elders.
After a while, Madame Dou who looked frightened dragged her daughter, Jiang Qiyun, who was tied up by silk, into the Hall. As soon as they came in, Madame Dou kneeled on the ground and cried, “I’m guilty! I didn’t discipline my daughter well. And she…”
Madame Dou had never had such a soft attitude before. This time she knew her daughter made a big mistake. If she hadn’t admitted it, she would have been seeking her own death.
But when she caved in, Concubine Tong was angry, “Who doesn’t know the Empress favors her maiden family? Even though Madame Dou doesn’t have a good relationship with the Empress, they are family. Is she going to cry and plead guilty? Then the Empress would just go easy on her and let this pass?”
How would Concubine Tong let this pass?
That was her son! It was common for a husband to change his heart and hound his wife to death. But no one had ever heard of a wife being too feisty and hounded her husband to death! Especially since Prince of Qi was a royal prince! What a disgrace this was! It could easily be imagined that even if Prince of Qi made through, he would never be able to stand straight in front of others!
If it hadn’t been because her status was not so high as theirs, Concubine Tong would have wanted to eat Jiang Qiyun alive!
So she immediately started crying out loud. While crying, she changed her direction and started kowtowing to Madame Dou, “I knew Prince of Qi is ordinary and he didn’t deserve Princess Qi! But no matter what, he is royal blood! Princess Qi, if you have any problem, please come to me. Leave Prince of Qi alone… I’m begging you! Please! Please! Please!”
Madame Dou was really counting on them showing a nice attitude so that Empress Jiang could smooth the water and help them. But now Concubine Tong kneeled down to them and cried. Madame Dou’s face immediately went blushing, “Please, don’t do this. How can my daughter and I take this?”
Just looking at the ranks, Concubine Tong was actually lower than her title of nobility. But she was not a royal peeress. How could she compare to Concubine Tong? Concubine Tong was, after all, the Emperor’s woman!
“As long as you can leave Prince of Qi alone, I’m willing to do anything!” Concubine Tong had set her mind on asking for justice. At her age, without her child, what would she have in the future? Comparing to living through her days in misery, she would prefer to fight!
Empress Jiang looked at all this mess. Her face went even darker. She steadied her breath and stopped Concubine Tong and Madame Dou who were kotowing to each other. She asked Jiang Qiyun to answer with a cold voice, “Do you know you’re guilty?”
Jiang Qiyun was not stupid. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone to her maiden family to ask for help after Prince of Qi committed suicide.
Now she said nervously, “I do!”
“What are you guilty of?” Empress Jiang suppressed her anger and continued.
“I shouldn’t listen to the servants and doubt that the Prince wanted to kill me!” What she said was clearly what her maiden family taught her to say. Hearing this, Concubine Tong was unsatisfied. She yelled agitatedly, “Your Majesty! That’s not true! That’s wrong! Prince of Qi grew up in front of your eyes. I don’t dare to say other things, but I could say he’s benevolent and honest! He doesn’t even yell at or beat his servants. How would he kill the Princess?”
Let alone Concubine Tong, even Qiu Yelan felt like Jiang Family was shameless, hearing Jiang Qiyun’s excuse! It was Jiang Qiyun who abused Prince of Qi for a long time. Now suddenly it became Prince of Qi wanting to kill his wife?
“So shameless…” Qiu Yelan thought desperately, “Won’t this family get karma in the future?”
From Madame Tao Junior to Qiu Feng to Chu Chunxiao, now to Prince of Qi, the wrongs they did couldn’t even be counted for!
Empress Jiang clearly was shocked by her niece’s brainless answer. If Prince of Qi had actually wanted to kill his wife and Jiang Qiyun had overreacted, which led to the suicide of Prince of Qi, and then it would have been fine. But the problem was, everyone knew that Prince of Qi was cowardly! He didn’t even have the courage to kill a chicken! So much for killing his wife! Especially this wife who intimidated him! Did she really think everyone was her mother and would just believe anything she fabricated?
Having such a brainless niece and whoever gave her this brainless idea, Empress Jiang didn’t know how to respond!
Yet she had no time to smooth things over because Empress Dowager Gu sent someone over!
Her legitimate grandson was hounded to hang himself on a beam by his wife. Empress Dowager had every right to ask about this.
Besides, Jiang Qiyun was the niece of Empress Jiang. The servant Empress Dowager Gu sent over directly said, “Empress Dowager knew that for you, they were all families. Now you must be torn and feel hard to deal with this. So Empress Dowager asked to take everyone over and she will question this herself!”
She had every right to ask Empress to excuse herself.
Empress Jiang was going mad in her heart. Yet Empress Dowager got hold of her. She had to give up. Empress Jiang stood up and said, “I’ll take them over.”
Seeing this, Madame Tao also stood up and said with a deep voice, “Since Empress Dowager is taking over this, Your Majesty, why don’t you go to visit Prince of Qi?”
This reminded Empress Jiang. Now, this had gone big. It was impossible for Jiang Qiyun to clear her name. And what she did would also influence Jiang Family. Now the only thing to do was to save Prince of Qi, not finding her a good excuse!
If Prince of Qi had survived, then her responsibility would have been much lighter. Besides, if Prince of Qi had explained for her, it would have been more useful than a hundred excuses that Jiang Qiyun found!
At this moment, even though there were people whom the Empress sent over when Prince of Qi moved to this mansion, now taking care of him. But if Empress Dowager Gu had done something while trailing Jiang Qiyun… It would be more reliable for the Empress to see it herself!
“You’re right, mother!” Empress Jiang took a deep breath and decided to bet everything on the livelihood of Prince of Qi. She decided to leave her niece alone. Ignoring Madame Dou’s begging look, she directly asked a servant to take them to see Empress Dowager Gu. She then asked Concubine Tong who didn’t know what to do, “What about you?”
“…I want to go see Prince of Qi too!” Concubine Tong thought for a while and made up her mind. Not only because she was worried about her son, but also that when she was in front of Empress Dowager Gu, without Empress Jiang, she wouldn’t be able to refuse anything the Empress Dowager forced her to do! And who knew how Empress Jiang would revenge her after she did it?
Besides, the Prince of Qi may die. If he hadn’t been able to make it, she would have wanted to see him before he was gone.
Empress Jiang nodded and said to Madame Tao, “Mother, I’ll take Concubine Tong over. You can go back to Residence!”
Madame Tao was old and she moved slowly. She was not suitable to go with Empress Jiang. And when the Empress arrived at Prince of Qi’s Annexe, she would be able to hold the scene. She didn’t need Madame Tao to help her.
Madame Tao slightly nodded, “Go. I have Qiu Yelan to escort me out.”
Empress Jiang left hurriedly with Concubine Tong. Looking at the empty Hall, Madame Tao sighed, “What do you think about this?”
Qiu Yelan dazed for a second and said respectfully, “I’m still young. How would my thoughts be worthy for you to listen to?”
“Everyone used to be young.” Madame Tao let Qiu Yelan support her. Walking towards outside, she said quietly, “Talk. You always have some good ideas.”
“This is too coincidental.” Qiu Yelan thought, “Yesterday grandfather was well. And today, Prince of Qi… Yet everyone knew Jiang Qiyun was tough to Prince of Qi…”
Madame Tao squinted her eyes and said quietly, “Yes. That moron! How many times have I told her that only Prince of Qi would tolerate her temperament! If it were anyone else, for example, your brother, she would die in a day! Jiang Yashuang has the best temperament in our family, yet even he couldn’t tolerate her sometimes! She just… Why was she born in the first branch?”
Till the end, there was killing intend showing by the tone of Madame Tao!
No wonder, Madame Tao hated the first branch. Now Jiang Qiyun gave Jiang Family such big trouble… If she could, Madame Tao would have supported Concubine Tong to kill this dead weight!
“When we get out of the Palace, you go to the Prince of Qi too.” Madame Tao calmed down and said, while patting the back of Qiu Yelan’s hand, “Tianluan wants to see Prince of Qi, in case anyone does anything. You can go over there and ask everyone to see if there is anything suspicious!”
She was asking Qiu Yelan to investigate who was using Jiang Qiyun’s harshness on Prince of Qi to create this shocking event of “Jiang Qiyun hounding her husband to death”.
Qiu Yelan sighed in her heart and said helplessly, “Yes!”
She felt like she was helping the evil again. Why was her day so miserable…?