Chapter 934: Chapter 207: Grand Matriarch (Part 2)

Today, when you give others face, tomorrow, they will give you respect;

Your partner is too clever on normal days, I fear she might make a mistake momentarily and fail to calculate this properly for herself."

"Mother, did you hear something?"

"Haha, it’s just some idle gossip."

"I haven’t managed the household well, disturbed your peace, and this is my fault."

"You have many affairs to attend to, where is the time to care for the household? I’ve been lazy as well, only wanting peace and avoiding responsibilities, listening to those youngsters chatter away can be quite entertaining.

But when serious matters arise, it won’t do to let them mess around."

"I will follow your instructions, Mother." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The elderly lady lifted her teacup again,

Lingxiang stepped forward and spoke:

"Master, when snacks were delivered to Miss He last night, the second daughter-in-law taught her tea etiquette in front of Miss He."

Lok Bing’s gaze sharpened at these words.

The second daughter-in-law was the wife of Lok Bing’s second son.

The elderly lady took another sip of tea, and as she set it down, remarked:

"I was young once, and a woman’s heart can indeed be petty at times, haha."

Lok Bing stood up and bowed, saying:

"Your orders, Mother."

"Little Nan’s wife, isn’t she from the Qiu Family?"

"Yes, she’s from the Qiu Family."

"Hmm, not exactly a minor household, but... divorce her."

"Yes."

"Those from the Lok Family may lack skill because our family didn’t rise through ability.

But absolute stupidity, we cannot tolerate.

Break one of Little Nan’s legs. Make sure the daughter from the He Family hears his screams."

"Yes."

Even if it’s his own son’s leg to be broken, Lok Bing didn’t hesitate to agree.

The elderly lady picked up her prayer beads again and said:

"To look down upon the daughter from the He Family for her lowly butcher lineage, haha; what foolishness.

Not realizing what they are themselves.

The daughter from the He Family is to marry a prince; she will be a mistress, while we are merely servants.

In this world, no servant dares laugh at a mistress for not understanding tea etiquette!

Etiquette,

what is this nonsense etiquette,

In the eyes of us servants, our mistress’s words are the true etiquette!"

"Yes, Mother, I’ve memorized your words."

"Girl."

"Yes, Mistress." Lingxiang responded.

"Have Little Yue and the others come in to help me dress in formal wear."

Lok Bing was slightly surprised and asked:

"Mother, you..."

The elderly lady glanced at her son and said:

"Though you grew up playing behind His Majesty and Liang Ting’s heels, you were, after all, just a child and didn’t know some things."

You don’t know what, those words the elderly lady did not say.

It’s that in her view, Ji Chengjue has so many traits like His Majesty when he was young.

Especially that night, when Ji Chengjue came to the chapel to request help, his demeanor, posture, and tone were exactly the same as His Majesty’s in younger days.

But these words couldn’t be spoken, not even shared with her own son.

The world praises the current emperor for a smooth succession, as among the previous emperor’s children, the emperor was too remarkable, so remarkable that there could be no need to consider others.

But it doesn’t mean that the other children of the previous emperor were useless.

"Since today our Lok Family is temporarily acting on behalf of the daughter’s family of Miss He, the old me must come forth to support Miss He."

As she spoke,

The elderly lady’s sharp gaze pierced into Lok Bing’s eyes,

In her heart, she sighed:

Though I have aged, I can still stand up and strive for our Lok Family.

Lingxiang then said:

"Old Ancestor, I will accompany you myself."

The elderly lady waved her hand and said:

"The daughter of the He Family had no maid since childhood, and now marries alone, which is too lonely. Lingxiang, you were personally trained by me, alongside me since youth.

Here, you need not attend to me anymore. Go clean up, and become her maid for the dowry, and enter together into the family."

Lingxiang felt a tremor in her heart, truly realizing the arrangement only now, but still retreated three steps and knelt before the elderly lady,

saying:

"Understood."

No sentimental words of reluctance or emotion were spoken because Lingxiang knew the elderly lady she had served for so many years could see through too much.

"Your parents and siblings currently serve in the Lok Family as servants, right?"

"Yes, Old Ancestor, it’s all thanks to your promotion and assistance."

Being able to serve in such a prestigious family is indeed a great fortune and luck.

The elderly lady nodded,

said:

"If within a year you are with child, then prepare for your parents and siblings’ funeral."

"..." Lingxiang.

The elderly lady looked at Lingxiang, a smile playing on her lips, continued:

"You are a wise and keen girl; the daughter of the He Family is currently pregnant and unable to serve; traditionally, as a dowry maid, you may have the duty to share the bed;

However, you are sent by the Lok Family as a goodwill gesture to the daughter of the He Family, and I wish to avoid any dissension caused by you, for what purpose?

Don’t blame me for being harsh, it’s for your own good. Women with child, especially with their first, are most sensitive.

Even if Ji Chengjue behaves like a beast and attempts to force you, you must hold a hairpin to your throat and never comply. Dare to comply, and I dare to act."

"Yes, I understand."

"You will wait for a year, wait for what is yours, a year will not make a difference. After a year, if you wish to soar to greatness, that’s fine, but you must wait for me this year.

To say without fear of taboo,

what value does fighting among women hold in a prince’s residence? Should an opportunity present itself, you can compete honestly.

If you succeed, the descendants of the Lok Family might have to rely on you, Lingxiang."

"The Old Ancestor’s kindness weighs as heavily as a mountain; I would never..."

"Enough."

The elderly lady interrupted Lingxiang’s words,

"If I shamelessly live to that day, when regulations are to be adhered to, I’ll gladly kneel before you.

Leave and tidy yourself."

"Yes, Old Ancestor."

Lingxiang departed.

The elderly lady glanced at her son and said:

"Don’t just stand around here, remember, today you must marry off a daughter, besides, you can act."

Lok Bing ignored his mother’s last words, silently paid respects, and prepared to leave.

The elderly lady then said:

"Don’t be afraid, don’t worry, in matters of seizing the throne, it’s not about whether you wish to be involved; but so long as you adhere to your principles, no one can twist your hand in this matter, as we in the Lok Family are royal servants, with destinies determined solely by the monarch.

So act not with trepidation but with an attitude of serving the monarch, that will suffice."

"Thank you, Mother, for enlightening me, I understand now."

"Go on."

"Yes, I am leaving."

Having exited the small chapel, Lok Bing instructed the old steward beside him to bring a stick.

He would soon break his second son’s leg.

While waiting there,

Lok Bing recalled the words of his mother.

Indeed,

Today, Wei Zhonghe learned that in His Majesty’s hands, there is another intelligence office independent of the Spy Bureau, more secretive, potentially with greater authority, possibly even monitoring the Spy Bureau.

But not many knew that the one managing this office for the Yan Emperor was Lok Bing, thought by the world to have been granted duties due to his mother being the emperor’s former wet nurse—He is the emperor’s nurse brother.

Because of that,

Lok Bing knew more than others about the Sixth Prince’s matters, his ties with Min Family remnants, his relationship with Lord Pingye, his years hidden identity.

For a long while,

Lok Bing sighed:

"Mother, you said matters of seizing the throne can’t be avoided, this is true;

But Mother, do you realize,

It’s not his brothers he competes against,

He,

Competes against His Majesty."

————

This Chapter is truly intriguing.