Madam Ning: "Shall I tell you slowly?"

She pondered for a moment, trying her best to clarify the details.

"At that time, the late Emperor had five sons, but he favored the Crown Prince and King Yan the most."

"The late Emperor and the late Empress were youthful spouses, and their affection was evident without question. He cherished King Yan and thus valued King Yan’s mother."

"In terms of affection, it was for Yue, the birth mother of that certain individual."

She spoke tactfully.

Back then, Emperor Ying’s birth mother was the beloved of the late Emperor. Therefore, despite her maternal family’s weak influence, she was granted the title of a consort. However, the Emperor was the most heartless, and any more was impossible; he never thought the Third Prince born from Consort Yue could have the qualification to ascend the dragon throne.

"Consort Yue suffered a miscarriage back then and pleaded with the late Emperor to have Suxuan. Just after the decree of marriage was sent to the Ning Family, the matron of etiquette took her into the Imperial Palace."

"She was satisfied with the merits of the ancestors of the Marquis Ning and felt that Suxuan’s status was fitting for her son. Yet, she blamed the Ning Family for being too lenient, saying your mother-in-law was unfit to be a royal daughter-in-law."

Yu Tingwan: ???

She was almost amused to anger.

On one hand, they relied on the influential Marquis Ning Mansion, and on the other, they were so picky. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Truly a case of hypocrisy.

How could Madam Ning not be indignant?

Yet, everyone felt the Ning Family had gained a great advantage, that it was the grace of the Royal Family, and that Suxuan was fortunate.

Being a Princess Consort was such an honor.

"Initially, Consort Yue was somewhat restrained, allowing Suxuan to return home once a month."

"The first time Suxuan came back, it was obvious she was wronged. I had raised her well-fed and chubby, but she was noticeably thinner, with a sharp chin."

A six-year-old girl with some chubbiness is more endearing.

"Back then, she threw herself into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably, saying she never wanted to return to the palace, saying she hated Consort Yue and the Third Prince. She even rolled up her sleeve to show me the bruises on her arm, saying whenever she made a mistake in copying Buddhist scriptures, the matron of etiquette would reprimand her harshly, calling her restless."

Madam Ning was heartbroken at that time.

But what could be done?

The audacity of the matron of etiquette was surely at Consort Yue’s behest.

And yet, they could not be faulted.

If one were to analyze it closely, one should be thankful Consort Yue cared enough about Ning Suxuan.

"Suxuan implored me several times, but she still had to enter the palace again. Over time, she realized her family couldn’t protect her. The deep palace was full of overlapping shadows, and the tall walls divided the inside and outside into two worlds."

"Before dawn, she had to rise to wait outside Consort Yue’s hall, attending to her washing when she awoke."

"After breakfast, eight matrons of etiquette would take turns teaching her, day in and day out. Her temperament grew more composed, and she suffered less."

Madam Ning paused.

As a mother, she only wanted her children to be happy and healthy.

How easy could it be to be a Princess Consort?

"Until the Crown Prince was deposed by the late Emperor and died in confinement, which the late Empress couldn’t bear and followed within half a year."

"In his grief, the late Emperor continued to love King Yan but was hesitant to appoint a successor."

Yu Tingwan’s thoughts stirred. She wanted to say something but ultimately didn’t interrupt.

How could the other princes not have their ambitions?

And how could Consort Yue not aspire to become Empress?

How could she not become more scrutinizing?

"At that time, the rear palace was managed jointly by Consort Yue and King Yan’s mother, Consort Zhao. Consort Yue kept Suxuan by her side every day."

"Apart from simple poetry and songs, Ning Suxuan excelled in everything else, rivaling Jiasan in her prime. Outside, it was all attributed to Consort Yue’s guidance."

Let alone the Duke Guanshun Mansion, Consort Yue back then was grooming her as the future Crown Princess Consort.

Madam Ning: "My Suxuan went from coming home monthly to every six months, then annually, then biennially... until I could only catch a glimpse of her at palace banquets."

By then, Ning Suxuan would never run to her as a child and call out "mother" with her eyes curved and sweet.

She would only bow to her.

With standard movements and proper etiquette, she called,

——"Mother."

"Later, the late Emperor’s thoughts became unpredictable; he disliked the ministers rallying around King Yan. How could he not see Consort Yue and the Third Prince’s ambitions?"

The engagement to the Marquis Ning Mansion’s eldest daughter was annulled, and the Third Prince was matched with the current Empress, a Miss Zhou, as a warning to the Emperor.

The Zhou family’s status was unremarkable at that time, unlike today’s Duke Zhou Mansion.

"I was angry then, how the Royal Family wasted Suxuan’s years. They wanted the marriage, and they annulled it, leaving only my Suxuan to suffer. However, the Marquis Ning Mansion had to swallow this bitter pill silently. Yet thankfully, the annulment was a blessing; after years of hoping, I finally saw her return from the palace."

But many years had passed, and everything had changed.

The little girl playing with mud unnoticed, laughing secretly, had long been bound by rules, rigid and cold.

She would no longer say,

——"Mother, I want some sweet cakes."

She would only say coldly,

——"Food outside is unclean, daughter has no such craving, nor should mother crave such things."

She would no longer say,

——"Mother, the weather is nice, let’s fly a kite."

She would show no emotion.

——"It’s time for daughter to transcribe Buddhist scriptures. If mother has no other commands, daughter will retire."

"I worried she might be hurt, after all, she was engaged to that individual from a young age, there was some sentiment."

"But she wasn’t."

"I couldn’t tell if she hid her feelings too deep or genuinely didn’t care."

Madam Ning closed her eyes briefly.

"Perhaps the Royal Family intended to compensate, maybe to shame the Duke Shun Mansion, or for other motives, three days before that individual’s wedding, your mother was betrothed to the eldest son of the Wei Family."

The Ning Family had hoped to keep their daughter a few more years but had to prepare for her marriage.

"I feared she might resist, but she respectfully knelt and accepted the decree, and after sending off the officials, she only said to me, ’It’s a grievance for Mr. Wei.’"

When the Wei Family sent the betrothal gifts, Ning Suxuan didn’t show up.

On her wedding day, as Madam Ning combed her hair and encouraged her to live well,

She spoke softly.

——"Rest assured, mother, I’ll do well as the mistress of the Duke Shun Mansion."

Madam Ning sighed.

"Fortunately, my son-in-law is good and can tolerate your mother’s rigid disposition."

She looked at the long-silent Yu Tingwan: "Are you tired of my talking?"

Yu Tingwan returned from her reverie: "Not at all, just a bit overwhelmed."

"No wonder you hadn’t heard; ever since that individual remarried, Suxuan married into the Wei Family, and it involved the late Emperor, no one in Shangjing dared to mention it again."

Madam Ning withdrew her gaze.

Everything seemed fine, but King Yan never ascended the throne in the end.

However, she didn’t mention it again.

Instead, she said.

"I watched Gui Zhi grow up; he’s excellent in every aspect, leading the gentry, and I daresay none of the Imperial Family’s children compared to him."

"But his mother is harsh. He’s glorious, yet unsatisfied in life."

"Everyone speaks of Gui Zhi’s filial nature, but there’s not a trace of mother-son resemblance between them. It’s all your mother-in-law’s doing, and she deserves it."

"Yet, grandmother feels uneasy; your mother-in-law is flesh of my flesh."

Yu Tingwan pursed her lips and looked at the cypress trees outside: "Grandmother is hoping I’ll mediate?"

Yu Tingwan carefully chose her words, speaking softly: "As a daughter-in-law, I’m afraid..."

"No."

Her head was lovingly patted.

"The issues between mother and son haven’t resolved over the years, and there seems to be more distance since Gui Zhi narrowly escaped death this time. Grandmother wouldn’t burden you."

"Suxuan’s willing to teach you management skills without inviting a tutor, suggesting she’s pleased with you."

Madam Ning looked at Yu Tingwan: "You shine even brighter than the spring sun outside."

"Since Gui Zhi married you, he’s been less solemn and composed than before, and even seeing you brings me joy."

"As a mother, I admit my selfishness. I just wish for you to spend more time with her, to bring her some vitality."