Read Novel Full CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 25
No.
She absolutely could not let history repeat itself!
Xiao Luanfei’s hands clenched tightly, her neatly trimmed nails digging deep into her soft palms. Her breathing came in rapid, uneven bursts.
The heavy sound of her breath echoed clearly in the quiet chamber.
Regaining her composure, she climbed out of bed, unrolled a sheet of paper, ground the ink, and sat at her desk, fully immersed in copying the Heart Sutra.
In the days that followed, Xiao Luanfei remained secluded in her room, shutting herself away from the world.
Every morning, she rose at dawn, observed ritual purification, and devoted herself to transcribing the Heart Sutra in her study. She kept a strict vegetarian diet, refraining from indulgence.
After three full days of transcribing scriptures, on the fifth day of the fourth month, Xiao Luanfei finally stepped out of her room for the first time. She carried the freshly copied Heart Sutra along with a forehead band she had personally sewn for Madam Yin and made her way to the main courtyard.
“Mother, I was wrong.” Xiao Luanfei’s voice carried a hint of unease as she gazed at Madam Yin, carefully placing the stack of silk-bound scripture and the forehead band into her hands.
The three transcriptions of the Heart Sutra were written with meticulous precision—every stroke refined and deliberate. Her elegant, floral-style calligraphy was flawless, leaving no room for criticism.
The forehead band was a deep purple, lined with delicate gold trim. Exquisitely embroidered with honeysuckle patterns, it was adorned at the center with a single luminous pearl.
Madam Yin looked at the offerings in her hands, and warmth flickered in her heart. The solemn lines of her face softened ever so slightly.
“Mother…” Xiao Luanfei gently grasped the edge of Madam Yin’s sleeve, swaying it lightly in a childlike plea, just as she had done when she was younger. Her eyes, however, held none of their usual brightness.
Madam Yin, for all her firm resolve, could never truly harden her heart against the daughter who shared her blood. She ached for her, but—
This time, Luanfei had indeed made a mistake.
Madam Yin composed herself and said solemnly, “Luan’er, do you understand where you went wrong?”
Xiao Luanfei’s eyelashes trembled slightly. Lowering her voice, she murmured, “I was too impulsive.”
“You and Father haven’t spoken for days because of Second Sister’s marriage.”
“That day, I ran into Concubine Cui at Ronghe Hall. She looked so pitiful… She told me that Second Sister had been ignoring her for a long time and begged me to help arrange a meeting between them.”
“So, I agreed.”
“I thought that if they could reconcile as mother and daughter, then regardless of whether the marriage was settled or not, Concubine Cui could speak to Second Sister herself. That way, you wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore.”
“I was wrong. I let my concern cloud my judgment, assuming that Second Sister also wanted to make amends with her mother…”
Madam Yin let out a gentle sigh and patiently advised, “Luan’er, as the eldest sister, it’s natural for you to care for your younger sister. But care must be given in a way that the other person is willing to accept. What you believe to be kindness may, to them, be a form of harm.”
“You must remember: in dealing with others, never trust a single perspective blindly. Do not be swayed by one-sided words.”
“Right now, you’re in your mother’s house, and I am here to help clean up the mess. But once you’re married, your husband’s family won’t be as forgiving.”
“Luan’er, do you understand?”
She pulled Xiao Luanfei close, gently embracing her slender shoulders.
Just then, Zhao momo entered and happened to witness this scene, feeling a sense of relief in her heart.
There was no lasting grudge between mother and daughter, and certainly no need to let Concubine Cui create a rift between them.
“Madam, Eldest Miss,” Zhao momo said with a smile, “Zheng momo from the palace has arrived. She brings a verbal decree from Her Majesty the Empress for you both.”
The warm atmosphere was abruptly disrupted, and mother and daughter exchanged startled glances.
Someone from the palace had come—so suddenly?
Without hesitation, Madam Yin instructed Zhao momo to escort the visitors to the main courtyard.
A trusted envoy of the Empress delivering a verbal decree was not a matter to be taken lightly. Madam Yin and Xiao Luanfei quickly straightened their attire and changed into more appropriate accessories before heading to the receiving hall.
Before long, Zhao momo returned, leading a middle-aged woman in her early forties, followed by four palace maids dressed in matching blue-green robes.
Zheng momo was clad in a deep purple brocade jacket. Her appearance was unremarkable, her figure plump, and her steps unhurried—moving with the ease and composure of someone strolling through her own home.
As the saying goes: A minister’s gate is guarded by seventh-rank officials. A palace steward like Zheng momo, especially one who was a trusted confidante of the Empress, was not someone anyone would dare to slight.
Madam Yin rose with her daughter to greet the visitor as Zheng momo leisurely stepped over the threshold and entered the hall.
“Greetings to Madam of Marquis Wu’an, Eldest Miss Xiao.” Zheng momo offered a courteous bow, greeting them with a polite smile. However, her eyes remained distant and indifferent.
“You are too kind, Zheng momo. Please, have a seat,” Madam Yin responded with practiced grace, exchanging pleasantries before gesturing for her to take a seat on the lower end of the main table. “May I ask what instructions Her Majesty has sent?”
Without hesitation, Zheng momo sat down and said, “I am here on behalf of Her Majesty to deliver Qianfang Invitations to your household.”
A young palace maid, dressed in deep blue-green robes, stepped forward and presented a large, crimson invitation embossed with gold, the words Qianfang Tie inscribed elegantly across the cover.
As the vibrant red invitation caught her eye, Xiao Luanfei’s gaze flickered, a subtle gleam flashing in her pupils. The corners of her rosy lips curved up ever so slightly.
Typically, these invitations were delivered by junior eunuchs to noble households across the capital. For a court lady of Zheng momo’s rank to personally handle such an errand was a rare occurrence—undoubtedly a sign that the Empress had taken special notice of them.
Madam Yin accepted the Qianfang Invitation with both hands, gracefully curtsying toward the direction of the palace in gratitude for the Empress’s favor.
“Yingluo, serve Zheng momo some tea,” she instructed her senior maid.
However, Zheng momo smiled and waved a hand dismissively. “There’s no need for such courtesy, Marchioness. I won’t be staying long—I still have to deliver invitations to the Duke of Ying’s residence and the Duke of Yan’s estate.”
Then, turning abruptly to Xiao Luanfei, she asked with a seemingly casual smile, “Does Eldest Miss Xiao know Lady Cheng from the Duke of Ying’s household and Third Miss Yan from the Duke of Yan’s family?”
Xiao Luanfei’s heart skipped a beat, but outwardly, she maintained her composure, nodding with practiced elegance. “We have met on a few occasions.”
Zheng momo smoothed out the folds of her sleeve and continued with a knowing smile. “A few days ago, both young ladies visited the palace to pay their respects to Her Majesty. They carried themselves with grace and poise—gentle, dignified, and exceptionally well-mannered. The Empress was quite taken with them.”
“The Empress intends to select the Crown Prince’s consort at this year’s Qianfang Banquet,” Zheng momo said smoothly. “Her Majesty holds high expectations for His Highness, so the selection of his consort must be made with utmost care. Only the daughters of dukes, marquesses, or high-ranking governors are eligible.”
She paused briefly before adding with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, “Those two young ladies, at the very least, could be considered suitable matches for His Highness.”
The implication was crystal clear—
The Empress had no interest in Xiao Luanfei. She clearly favored the daughters of the Duke of Ying and the Duke of Yan for the position of Crown Princess.
After all, both families wielded military power and held the noble title of duke, a far cry from Xiao Luanfei’s declining marquisate.
A flicker of emotion flashed through Xiao Luanfei’s eyes.
Madam Yin, having understood the underlying message, remained expressionless, her gaze dark and inscrutable.
Zheng momo continued her well-rehearsed speech, effortlessly weaving in praise for the young ladies of the two duke households—how they were magnanimous and accommodating—before smoothly transitioning to a thinly veiled suggestion that Xiao Luanfei should regard them as “sisters” in the future.
The message was unmistakable:
The Empress did not consider Xiao Luanfei worthy of being the Crown Princess. At best, she might be granted the position of a secondary consort—a concubine—to stand beside the rightful Crown Princess as a mere sister in title.
Xiao Luanfei’s face turned pale, her right hand clenching tightly around the Qianfang invitation. In that moment, the once prestigious card felt like a scorching ember in her grasp.
Madam Yin noticed her daughter’s reaction and sighed inwardly.
A match beyond one’s station was doomed from the start—she understood this all too well. She had never entertained the idea of her daughter becoming a royal consort. After all, stepping into the palace was like stepping into an abyss. She would much rather find Luanfei a well-matched husband, someone of equal standing, rather than see her reduced to a mere concubine in the imperial household.
Her gaze grew cold. Then, with a composed smile, she said, “Zheng momo, there seems to be a generational gap here. Referring to them as sisters might not be quite appropriate.”
Zheng momo was momentarily taken aback.
Madam Yin, unfazed, turned to her daughter and said, “Luan’er, the eldest Miss Cheng is actually related to our family. By seniority, she should be calling you—maternal grandaunt.”
The second sister of the Marquis of Wu’an had married into the Xinkang’s household, and the Xinkang’s family, in turn, was connected to the Duke of Ying’s lineage. In the aristocratic circles of the capital, such convoluted family ties were common—on paper, they were relatives, but in truth, they were little more than strangers.
Zheng momo had served the Empress for many years and was well-versed in these intricate marital connections. A quick flicker of her gaze revealed that she had seen through Madam Yin’s attempt to brush her off.
Still, she wasn’t offended.
If the eldest Miss Xiao had truly been willing to settle for the position of a mere side consort, then this trip would have been a wasted effort.
“Oh, I see,” Zheng momo said with a smile, her eyes narrowing slightly, a sharp glint flashing beneath her lashes.
“Marchioness, I’ve also heard that your second daughter has come of age. This invitation is meant for her as well.”
Madam Yin’s brows lifted ever so slightly in surprise. She couldn’t fathom why Zheng momo would bring up Xiao Yanfei—after all, the two had never crossed paths, and the Empress certainly wouldn’t have taken notice of a mere concubine-born daughter of a marquis.
Zheng momo’s lips curved into a faint smile. “I’ve heard that Second Miss Xiao possesses unparalleled beauty—a rare and stunning beauty. Even Eunuch Gao couldn’t stop thinking about her after seeing her once.”
Zheng momo lightly stroked her impeccably manicured nails.
Eunuch Gao was a trusted favorite of the emperor—before, she had worried about not being able to establish a connection with him. But now, the opportunity had finally arrived.
He had promised her that if she could make this happen, he would ensure her nephew passed the imperial examination this year.
A gleam of ambition flickered in Zheng momo’s eyes as she smiled meaningfully. “Madam, Eunuch Gao holds the emperor’s favor like no other. A single word from him carries the weight of a hundred from others. If the Marquis’s household were to establish ties with him, the benefits would be immeasurable.”
“Eunuch Gao lacks for nothing—except a beauty by his side. Now, it all depends on whether Madam is willing to fulfill his wish.”
She chuckled, her voice dripping with false warmth. “Allow me to offer a bit of advice, Madam—one must think wisely. In the end, only tangible benefits truly matter.”
Despite the polite smile on her face, contempt lurked beneath her words.
The Marquis of Wu’an’s household had been in decline for years. At this point, it was little more than an empty shell, clinging to its noble title. Whether the marquis’s family could produce a future royal consort hinged entirely on this moment.
Although Her Majesty the Empress favored the young ladies from the Duke of Ying’s and Duke of Yan’s households, if Eunuch Gao could persuade His Majesty to agree, the Empress naturally wouldn’t object.
It all depended on whether the Marquis of Wu’an’s family knew what was best for them—whether they were smart enough to grasp this golden opportunity and align themselves with Eunuch Gao.
“Zheng momo, mind your words!” Madam Yin cut her off coldly, her expression darkening in an instant.
To suggest sending a well-bred young lady to serve a eunuch—how dare she even utter such a thing?
Zheng momo: “……”
She stared at Madam Yin in disbelief, her face stiff with shock.
But Madam Yin showed no intention of indulging her any further. Without hesitation, she issued the order: “See her out.”
Zheng momo’s face turned ashen.
As the Empress’s trusted confidante, Zheng momo had always been treated with deference, both in the palace and outside. Never before had she been so openly dismissed.
She wasn’t about to linger and suffer further humiliation. Rising swiftly, she gave a heavy flick of her sleeves and stormed off.
Hmph, how ungrateful!
The four palace maids hurried after her, struggling to keep up.
Seeing Madam Yin’s expression, Zhao momo wasted no time in stepping out to escort the guests away.
In an instant, the hall felt emptier, leaving only mother and daughter behind.
Silence stretched between them.
“Luan’er,” Madam Yin’s gaze settled on Xiao Luanfei’s pale, dazed face. Her expression tightened as she reached out to touch her daughter’s cool cheek. With a solemn tone, she said, “The First Prince is not a good match.”
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