The shade of the nearby trees perfectly covered half the corridor, shielding it from the sweltering heat outside. A gentle breeze occasionally blew, and the chirping of cicadas, though frequent, did not feel bothersome.
Consort Li was unattended, suggesting she had dismissed her palace servants.
Although she was merely an old consort living in seclusion, the Seventh Prince had sought the Emperor's permission before bringing his son to visit.
The Emperor had instructed that the old consort should not be disturbed for too long.
Therefore, Xie Jia'an deliberately waited until after the old consort had woken from her nap before daring to request an audience.
Xie Jia'an maintained his kneeling posture for a long time before hearing a voice, tinged with a slight tremor, say, "Raise your head, let me see you."
Xie Jia'an paused for a moment, then slowly straightened up.
Consort Li appeared to be around sixty years old, well-preserved, and clearly a matriarch from a wealthy family.
However, while age could be concealed, the weariness in her eyes was difficult to hide.
Consort Li's eyes gradually reddened. She released the small cat in her arms. The cat seemed reluctant to leave, but seeing that its owner had no intention of holding it, it let out a displeased meow and wagged its tail as it departed.
"I finally see him… This old servant greets the young master." Consort Li moved to bow, but Xie Jia'an reached out to steady her. "Your Highness flatters this junior."
Consort Li wept tears of joy. It was she and Madam Li, the principal maidservant of her mistress, who had seen this child off all those years ago.
Later, Madam Li had been buried alive as a sacrifice for her mistress, and Madam Yun had returned to her hometown after observing three years of mourning for her mistress. Apart from the Empress, she was the only one who knew the truth of that year.
She should have followed her mistress in death back then, but her mistress had forbidden it, and she could not bear to leave her third princess.
Now, although the third princess had married far away to the frontier, she was distant from the capital's intrigues and was soon to become a grandmother. Consort Li had no lingering worries.
In truth, she had heard that the child had returned to the capital but dared not disturb him, fearing his identity would be discovered.
She had never expected to meet him in such a manner. It was her fault for not disciplining her servants properly, leading to a great disaster. Fortunately, this child had not been implicated.
When her mistress passed away, she had left a dying wish. She had spent her life scheming for her family, only to end up with a rift between husband and wife and enmity between mother and son. In her next life, she wished only to be an ordinary person, with a harmonious marriage and many children.
Her mistress had said that after her death, they, her servants, would be free and no longer bound to serve the Wang family. They could live the rest of their lives for themselves.
For more than ten years, she had had no contact with the Wang family. Yet, a lovesick fool had emerged from her household, causing a great catastrophe.
Fortunately, she had entered the palace late and knew nothing of the young master's affairs. Otherwise, she would have been ashamed to face her mistress in the afterlife.
"Has the young master been well all these years?" Consort Li asked, then chuckled, a mix of emotions swirling within her. "I am getting old and foolish. Of course, the young master is well…"
"Your Highness, all that has passed is in the past. I am now merely Xie Jia'an, and I am here to investigate a case," Xie Jia'an said respectfully.
He had not expected Consort Li to know of his origins. He was grateful that she had kept the secret for so many years, not even revealing it to the Wang family.
Consort Li nodded. "It has been difficult for you. Seeing you well puts my mind at ease, but it is a pity…"
It was a pity that the Empress had not lived to see such a fine child. If her mistress, the Empress Dowager, knew from the underworld, she would not regret her decision back then.
Xie Jia'an understood what Consort Li meant by "it is a pity," but he could say nothing. She was already sixty years old, and it was difficult enough to have guarded that secret for so many years. Let her live her remaining years in peace.
"Let us not speak of the past. I did not expect that a lack of discipline among my people would lead to such a disaster. Even if you had not come, I would have handed the person over to the Emperor for judgment. Take her back and interrogate her!"
"The capital is not a peaceful place. Having seen you today, this old servant can depart to meet my mistress with peace of mind. Let us not meet again, Master Xie!"
Consort Li finished speaking and pulled a bell hanging from the corridor. Immediately, someone bowed and emerged, bringing a bound嬷嬷 (māma - senior female servant).
"It is her. You may take her," Consort Li said, her voice devoid of emotion. Her slender hand gently stroked the small cat that had somehow returned to her embrace.