Yu Mingyue was somewhat worried. She did not want the conflict between the royal family and the Five Great Clans to escalate further.
She hoped the Seventh Prince would not meet with any misfortune. If Xie Jia'an were given more time, he would surely be able to resolve the conflict.
Although her surname was Yu, she had received great kindness from the Cui family. In her heart, she wished that the events in Youzhou had nothing to do with the Cui family.
Otherwise, involvement in rebellion was a crime punishable by the extermination of the entire clan.
Since the news from Youzhou arrived, the imperial court had been in an uproar.
Some ministers even proposed that the Empress should be welcomed back to the palace and a Crown Prince appointed as soon as possible, to stabilize the foundation of the nation and reassure the populace.
Yao Zhinian could no longer sit still. Ever since the news of the Seventh Prince's disappearance, he had not had a moment's peace.
He knew very well that if the Seventh Prince truly met with disaster, the prosperity of the Yao family would come to an end.
"With the upheaval in Youzhou and the Seventh Prince's whereabouts unknown, Lord Xu's proposal at this moment to have the Empress return to the palace is clearly taking advantage of the crisis. His intentions are reprehensible," Yao Zhinian jumped out and berated.
"Her Majesty the Empress has prayed for our Great Wei for many years. Should she not return to the palace? Furthermore, the Emperor has not yet made a decision, and Lord Yao presumes to speak out of turn and take the lead. Since when did our Great Wei's court belong to the Yao family?" Lord Xu was no pushover either, and he first leveled an accusation at Yao Zhinian.
"Xu Chongshan, you are slandering me. We are both subjects, both serving the Emperor. Does it mean only you can speak, and I, Yao, cannot? Does Lord Xu intend to establish an absolute authority in court?" Yao Zhinian was not one to back down.
When it came to vested interests, he would not yield an inch.
The people he had sent should have already reached Youzhou and would surely find the Seventh Prince.
"Lord Yao, your words are mistaken. The Empress has been away from the palace for many years. It is precisely because our Great Wei has no imperial prince born of the Empress that the Seventh Prince's disappearance has caused such unease in court. If the Empress returns and selects a prince to be adopted as heir, the imperial court can be stabilized and the people reassured."
The Emperor's eyebrows twitched. He suppressed his anger with great effort. Since the founding of Great Wei, there had been no precedent for executing civil officials.
Lord Xu had no major faults in his daily conduct and was diligent in court affairs. The Emperor could not afford to dampen the spirits of his officials.
Prime Minister Mo, seeing the situation turn sour, quickly stepped in to mediate: "Her Majesty the Empress has been away from the palace for many years and is devoted to Buddhism. If she were to suddenly return, she might not be accustomed to it. This matter requires seeking the Empress's opinion."
The quarrel in court subsided for the moment. However, since the matter of the Empress's return had been raised, there would be further arguments in court.
Prime Minister Mo, a cunning old fox, had accurately divined the Emperor's thoughts. If the Emperor wished to welcome the Empress back, he would not wait for eighteen years.
However, if the Seventh Prince truly met with disaster, the Empress's return to the palace would likely be unavoidable.
The current situation remained... it was best to play dumb.
Princess Royal's Manor
As Yu Mingyue alighted from the carriage, she saw that white cloth had been hung on the plaque of the Princess Royal's Manor. Even before entering, she could feel the oppressive sadness within.
Luo Lingyi was directing the servants. She was dressed in plain mourning clothes, her hair ornaments removed. Though her expression was sorrowful, she did not appear as frail as she had in the past few days.
"Sister Lingyi," Yu Mingyue truly feared she could not bear the shock.
"Sister Mingyue," Luo Lingyi clasped Yu Mingyue's hand. "I am fine."
Luo Lingyi led her to sit in a pavilion. Watching the servants work in an orderly fashion, her gaze was filled with sorrow under the setting sun.
"Three days ago, I received a letter from my mother in Youzhou. It was my mother's final testament. In truth, from the moment my mother sent my sister and me to the capital, I knew this day would come. I lived in constant anxiety, often waking from nightmares at night. Now, I finally dare to speak these secrets..."
Luo Lingyi seemed to be seeking someone to confide in. Yu Mingyue simply held her hand tightly, not interrupting her words.
"Mingyue, do you know, my father truly loved my mother. They could have been a loving couple. I often saw my father gazing at my mother from afar, lost in thought. My mother would personally make clothes for my father. Alas, she was a princess of Great Wei, and he was the heir of the Duke Protector's manor. From the beginning, their fate was a tragedy."
"The concubines in my father's chambers were all chosen by my mother for him. My mother said that since she was destined not to bear him a legitimate son, she would let others bear him children. In truth, I had a younger brother, but unfortunately, he died shortly after birth. I personally heard my mother and her wet nurse say that if it were a daughter, perhaps she could have protected her, but if it were a son, she absolutely could not. Rather than be unable to part with him later, it was better to end it early..."
"Mingyue, I miss my mother and my father dearly. The night before I left home, my father came to my room to see me. He said, 'The capital is prosperous, you will surely like it.' He was wrong. I do not like it. Not at all..."