Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 783 - 736: Entering the Palace (2)

Princess Consort Yu Wen had previously instructed the palace maid that after finding the secret letter, she should not take the original but instead make a copy.

The palace maid lay on the ground, using the curtains as cover, and hurriedly copied the contents of the letter.

When she reached the bed, she intentionally kicked a leather ball used in cuju play gently over.

The ball rolled from under the curtain to the front of Li Can’s bed.

Li Can lay on the bed with his back turned.

Princess Consort Yu Wen sat on the edge of the bed, massaging Li Can’s shoulders.

When she saw the ball roll over, she gently coughed.

Li Can, having exercised with a young concubine earlier, was tired and soon fell asleep under the massage of Princess Consort Yu Wen.

Princess Consort Yu Wen stood up quietly, walked outside the curtains, and took the copied letter from the palace maid to read.

Seeing the contents, she was shocked.

"You must leave the palace immediately to find the Second Young Master and personally deliver this letter to his hands."

"Understood, Your Majesty."

The palace maid left Tianming Palace, braving the scorching sun, and exited the Imperial Palace to reach the Marquis Zhongyi Mansion.

Yu Wen Zan was anxiously waiting for news, and just as he was getting worried, a message came that someone from the palace had arrived.

He couldn’t wait and personally went to the front courtyard.

The palace maid handed over the letter, "Her Majesty said, this matter is urgent, Sir, please make arrangements swiftly."

The matter was not just urgent; it was extremely serious.

Yu Wen Zan’s eyebrows furrowed; the Pei Family wants to invite Prince Luling back to the capital?

If that family returned to the capital, could the capital still remain peaceful?

Damn it, why didn’t Li Yuzhu manage to let Pei Wenguang die under medical treatment?

If these two families harbor enmity, not only would the Pei Family be doomed, but the Li Family also shouldn’t think of returning to the capital!

But reality always sings a different tune than him!

Yu Wen Zan, holding the letter, walked towards the back residence, intending to discuss the matter with his father.

At this moment, the Xue Family’s member approached, "What troubles you, Zanlang?"

The member of the Xue Family smiled faintly.

Ever since the Jiang Family found out about the Xue Family’s matters, they quarreled with the Little Emperor, Li Can, causing the marriage proposal between the two families to fall through.

A good marriage was gone, which greatly angered Yu Wen Zan, but the Xue Family was happy about it.

She came openly to the Yuwen Mansion every day.

Yu Wen Zan’s father, Yu Wenbo, recognized her; though she was no longer the Heir’s wife of the Lu Ling Royal Mansion, she was still the daughter of Duke An.

Yu Wenbo didn’t want to offend more people, so he turned a blind eye and didn’t concern himself with her matters.

Yu Wen Zan saw her approach and did not tell her about the Li Family’s impending return to the capital, only saying, "I’m being watched by the Pei Family, fearing there are no good days ahead."

The Xue Family member sneered, "That Prime Minister Pei is now bedridden with illness, what can he do to you? You need not fear their family."

"But their family still has someone heavily favored by the Emperor, and if the Emperor relies more on him, you won’t be able to become the Prime Minister’s wife." Yu Wen Zan looked worried.

The Xue Family member squinted, "Are you referring to Pei Shenyan?"

Yu Wen Zan nodded ambiguously.

Thinking that Pei Shenyan is Li Yuwen’s husband, if Pei Shenyan surpassed Yu Wen Zan, then Li Yuwen’s status would be higher than hers. The Xue Family member felt unsettled.

She had been overshadowed by Li Yuwen before, and now, with everyone restarting, she didn’t want to lose to Li Yuwen again. She was unwilling to accept it.

The Xue Family member pondered over ideas, again and again, and thought of Princess Consort Yu Wen.

She smiled, "We may lack the ability, but can’t we seek help? The Imperial Concubine is currently highly favored, why not ask for her assistance?"

With that, the Xue Family member whispered a few words to Yu Wen Zan.

Yu Wen Zan looked at her, "This idea..."

Indeed, the most malicious is a woman’s heart.

Yu Wen Zan chuckled lightly, "Good, this idea is worth trying."

.

The Pei Mansion.

That evening, the gatekeeper came to report, saying someone from the palace had arrived.

Li Yuwen was very surprised and instructed to invite them into the mansion.

It was the elderly eunuch from Empress Cui’s side, "Her Majesty has sent this old servant to invite the Fifth Young Madam to bring your husband to Fengyi Palace for tea tomorrow morning along with Li San Niang."

Li Yuwen, counting the days on her fingers, said, "Ashamed, we’ve been in the capital for two months and haven’t visited the Empress to pay our respects yet."

As she said this, the old eunuch didn’t mind. Being a trusted confidant of Empress Cui, he knew well that the Li Family Sisters were no longer as they used to be and couldn’t enter the palace without an imperial edict.

"The Fifth Young Madam always keeps Her Majesty in her heart, and Her Majesty is immensely gratified," said the eunuch with a smile.

Li Yuwen and Empress Cui were old friends, and their relationship was very good. She repeatedly asked how Empress Cui’s health had been recently.

The eunuch told Li Yuwen everything that could be shared.

"Alright, hearing from you is not as good as seeing with my own eyes. I will see for myself tomorrow," Li Yuwen ordered rewards to be given and sent the old eunuch away.

.

Fortunately, the weather turned cool the next day, and it was an overcast day.

Li Yuwen’s reaction wasn’t as strong.

She and Pei Shenyan shared a carriage, and Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu sat in a carriage behind them.

Li Yuzhu had little impression of the Imperial Palace, as she was very young before and didn’t visit often.

Mu Yuanxiu, needless to say, was visiting the capital for the first time.

In their carriage, there was Lady Sun, whom Li Yuwen had arranged to accompany them.

Lady Sun had followed Princess Consort Luling into the palace before and was familiar with everything there.

She spoke incessantly to the two about palace matters, what to take note of, how to address people, how to salute.

In fact, upon receiving the notice yesterday, Li Yuwen had already arranged for Lady Sun to explain everything to them.

Listening to the tedious rules, Li Yuzhu yawned continually, while Mu Yuanxiu listened with great interest.

Today, Lady Sun repeated herself again, and Li Yuzhu sighed to herself.

Noticing her lack of enthusiasm, Mu Yuanxiu smiled and said, "Aunt Sun, please rest a while. We have memorized it."

"Really?" Lady Sun blinked; Mr. Mu’s memory was still good, but Li San Niang’s memory was as poor as ever. How did she manage to memorize medical books?

"Yes, we’ve noted it down," Mu Yuanxiu smiled.

"That’s good, that’s good," Lady Sun breathed a sigh of relief.

.

The carriage traveled through the market district.

Finally, it stopped in front of a tall palace gate.

On both sides of the palace gate, palace guards with swords stood vigilant.

According to regulations, carriage and sedan chairs from outside, no matter how high the status of the occupants, were not allowed inside. Everyone had to walk into the palace.

Except, of course, those with an imperial edict from the Emperor.

However, there was currently no such person in the capital.

The carriages stopped, and Li Yuwen, Pei Shenyan, Li Yuzhu, and Mu Yuanxiu each got down from their carriages.

A Chief Palace Maid, who was guarding the side of the palace gate, quickly walked towards them, "The Empress ordered me to welcome you here, please follow me."

Li Yuwen recognized her as the Chief Palace Maid next to Empress Cui. She quickly walked a few steps, quietly asking her about Empress Cui’s recent situation.

The Chief Palace Maid looked back and forth behind her, seeing they were already in the palace and away from the palace guards, and those following were all Li Yuwen’s people, she said, "Not well, the Emperor hasn’t visited Fengyi Palace for half a year, and whenever the Empress goes to see him, there’s always interference from the Imperial Concubine."

Li Yuwen snorted coldly, "Princess Consort Yu Wen, isn’t she from the Marquis Zhongyi Mansion?"

The Chief Palace Maid whispered, "She is the cousin of Marquis Zhongyi. The Yu Wen Family sent five daughters to the palace last year, and the Emperor appointed one of them as Imperial Concubine."

Li Yuwen sneered, "This defies ancestral protocols. A newcomer in the palace immediately being made Imperial Concubine, how do the others who entered earlier feel?"

The Chief Palace Maid thought to herself, this Princess Wen is as sharp-tongued as she was two years ago.

She quietly reminded, "Fifth Young Madam, please be cautious with your words. When others are present, never repeat what you just said or stand up for other concubines. Although the women here may not be favored by the Emperor, they aren’t necessarily close to the Empress either."

Li Yuwen squinted her eyes, "Why?"

This was the first time she knew that the unfavored concubines actually didn’t curry favor with the Empress. Did they intend to remain in the cold palace indefinitely?

"Isn’t it because of Princess Consort Yu Wen? The Emperor’s decision on whose card to flip is not up to the Empress or the Imperial Eunuch, but the Imperial Concubine, and the Emperor favors her opinions."

Li Yuwen shook her head after hearing this, "From what you say, the Empress’ position is indeed precarious."

The Chief Palace Maid sighed, "Indeed it is."

.

As they spoke, they unknowingly arrived in front of a palace courtyard.

Li Yuzhu looked up; the palace courtyard was extremely luxurious, with pillars carved with phoenixes spreading their wings.

A palace maid guarding the door saw them coming and went in to announce their arrival.

In a short while, someone came out to say, "The Empress invites everyone inside for a conversation."

"Please follow me," the Chief Palace Maid nodded towards Li Yuzhu and the others, leading them into the hall.

The hall was large, but the doors and windows inside were closed, making it dim and cold.

"Yuwen, Yuzhu, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you," a young woman’s voice said with a smile.

Li Yuzhu looked up and saw a beautiful woman with a slender face and large eyes sitting at the top.

The woman was very young, appearing to be in her early twenties.

Her face was pale and thin, making her eyes look extraordinarily large, but her gaze was very gentle.