Upon hearing Madam Lin's words, Madam Feng was initially surprised.
She had never imagined that the Bai and Wen families shared such a connection. She recalled when Madam Wen had brought Miss Meng to visit, they were mere children. Now, one by one, they were reaching the age for marriage. Time truly aged people.
"Don't rush. I don't know much about this matter concerning the young lady of the Wen family. However, you could write a letter to A'yao and ask her. I remember she and the Prince have quite a bit of contact with the southwest. Isn't there someone in Prince Ding's army? Naturally, there are wives among them. Inquiring from them might offer a solution."
Madam Lin found this method excellent. It wouldn't cause a stir and wouldn't put the Wen family in an awkward position.
Otherwise, if the marriage between these two children didn't work out, it might even affect the relationship between the Feng and Wen families, which would be a loss outweighing the gain.
Madam Lin arrived quickly and left just as fast.
Before Miss Luo even reached the courtyard, she was already gone.
Madam Wen brought her daughter to pay respects to Madam Feng. Upon seeing her, Madam Feng's smile lines seemed to deepen.
Madam Wen, however, showed no outward reaction. Madam Feng couldn't directly inquire.
In matters like this, if it ultimately failed, it was the woman who suffered reputational damage. Therefore, it was better to protect the Wen family as much as possible to avoid future trouble.
They would wait for news from A'yao first.
"Grandmother, Luo'er is hungry. What are we eating today?"
"Oh, what do you want to eat? Grandmother will have someone make it."
"Hehe, I'm tired of the breakfast we have at home. Why don't we go out and eat at Sun Family Wontons? I ate a few bites last time, and your granddaughter still remembers it today."
As soon as she mentioned going out, Madam Wen's brows furrowed.
"You're always thinking about running outside. Aren't you learning any manners?"
Feng Yunluo pouted. She disliked learning etiquette and needlework the most. Those things made her head feel twice as large. The outside world was much more exciting.
So, she grabbed Madam Feng's hand and pleaded playfully.
"Grandmother, just once, only once! After we eat wontons, your granddaughter promises to study etiquette diligently."
This excuse had been used countless times, but each time Madam Feng fell for it.
Thus, the group, with a sufficient number of maids and servants, headed out of the estate early in the morning.
Outside the palace, it was lively, but within the palace, there was great sorrow.
Emperor Ren had stayed in Consort Wen's palace the previous night. Early in the morning, someone from Chang Le Palace reported that the Third Prince was not well.
In recent years, the Empress, using the Third Prince's health as an excuse, had frequently summoned the Emperor.
However, in the end, the Third Prince had always been safe and sound.
After several such incidents, Consort Wen became somewhat displeased. Therefore, she did not have her subordinates announce the matter. Unexpectedly, the Third Prince truly couldn't catch his breath and passed away just like that.
He didn't even get to see the Emperor one last time.
When the Empress Dowager received the news and sent her trusted嬷嬷 (màmá - wet nurse/elderly female servant) to summon them, Emperor Ren and Consort Wen were stunned.
Especially Consort Wen, she never imagined that her desire to spend a little more time with Emperor Ren would lead to such a disaster.
Without even dressing, she, with a bare face, followed Emperor Ren to Chang Le Palace.
Before they even entered, they could hear continuous wailing from inside.
The more she heard, the more frightened she became.
As expected, she couldn't even enter the door before the Empress Dowager's stern command had her apprehended.
Crying profusely, she pleaded with Emperor Ren, proclaiming her innocence.
"Your Majesty, this concubine did not do it intentionally. Save me, save me."
Consort Wen's cries almost drowned out the Empress's heartbroken grief. The Empress Dowager had long been displeased with this woman who bewitched and charmed the Emperor. If not for the Emperor's strong protection, fearing it would harm their mother-son relationship, she would have acted long ago.
Now, she dared to stop someone from the Empress's palace, delaying the Third Prince's final meeting with Emperor Ren.
Such a grave offense, if not punished, would surely lead to chaos in the harem.
Therefore, the Empress Dowager looked at Emperor Ren with a cold expression. Emperor Ren wanted to say a few more words, but he was startled by the Empress's heart-wrenching cries and immediately went to the inner chamber.
Seeing that Emperor Ren did not speak, Consort Wen knew she couldn't get out of this easily.
So, she acted meek and submissive as usual, hoping the Empress Dowager would give her a chance for the sake of the Second Prince.
She spoke with tears streaming down her face.
"Empress Dowager, please be clear. When Your Majesty came to this concubine's palace yesterday, it was already late at night. Lately, he has been restless due to his arduous state affairs and only fell asleep towards dawn. Early this morning, someone from the Empress's palace arrived. This concubine thought it best to let His Majesty sleep first, but I never expected..."
"Hmph, whether His Majesty was busy with state affairs or you were seducing him behind his back, you know clearly, and I know clearly. I have already shown you enough leniency for your past actions out of consideration for the Emperor. To think you are still so unrestrained, daring to disobey the Empress's command. Very well, then I shall discipline this evil influence in the harem on behalf of the Emperor!"
With that, she ordered someone to step forward and escort Consort Wen to be caned.
"Disrespecting the Empress and disrespecting the Empress Dowager, give her fifty heavy planks! As a warning to others!"
Fifty planks. If this were truly carried out, would Consort Wen survive?
If nothing else, if the Emperor came to his senses, it wouldn't be the Empress Dowager he would punish, but those who carried out the caning. Thus, one by one, they were so terrified they collapsed to the ground.
They dared not disobey the Empress Dowager's orders, nor could they afford to offend Consort Wen.
Seeing this, Consort Wen immediately kowtowed fiercely.
"I beg the Empress Dowager to spare my life, I beg the Empress Dowager to spare my life!"
Her forehead broke in a short while. Whether it was due to her extreme fear or not having eaten breakfast, she suddenly felt overwhelmed and fainted.
The Empress Dowager looked at her feigned distress, wishing she could be beaten to death immediately.
However, the palace maid accompanying Consort Wen immediately cried out, "The Consort has fainted! The Consort has fainted!"
Her cries were so loud that the Emperor, in the inner chamber, could hear them.
But at this moment, he was comforting the grieving Empress and had to consider his mother's dignity, so he couldn't go out to help.
He sent the imperial physician by his side to check the situation. If it wasn't serious, he would let her kneel and listen to the Empress Dowager's teachings.
That imperial physician, having just escaped one danger, now faced another. He could only brace himself and walk outside.
The palace maid, upon seeing the imperial physician approach, quickly went to invite him.
The Empress Dowager watched this drama between the mistress and servant with cold eyes. If there was nothing wrong later, she would have this palace maid executed first!
The imperial physician hesitantly took her pulse. To his surprise, he discovered she was two months pregnant.
In Chang Le Palace, one prince had just died, and now Consort Wen was carrying another. Everyone present dared not even breathe too deeply, fearing they might offend the superiors and suffer consequences.