Mourning was supposed to last three years.
Zeng Weiyang was eager to remarry, and if she were willing to wait, she wouldn't have taken to the road in a carriage at this juncture. With full confidence, she said, "Mother, don't worry. Sister is the Empress, no one will dare to gossip."
Madam Ban stepped down from the small stool and retreated. Yan Qing walked over, "Madam, shall I have the second young lady brought down?"
Zeng Weiyang glared, then turned to Madam Ban with a pitiful expression, "Mother, please, just help your daughter this once. I'm already this age. After three years, my beauty will fade, and what good family can I marry into then?"
Yan Qing let out a cold laugh, "Aunt Zeng worries too much. You bore a daughter for Prince Ning, and the Prince Ning's estate will support you until your end. What need is there to worry about remarrying?"
Whether the royal family would allow her to remarry was another matter, and she was already concerning herself with it.
"Who is this servant to interrupt when I'm speaking with my mother?"
Madam Ban said, "Weiyang, this is Steward Yan. Your sister specially invited him to help mother manage the business. The little wealth your father left behind after his death was already used for your dowry. Any money or valuables you get from Prince Ning's estate now are earned by Steward Yan."
Zeng Weiyang's bluster deflated, and she stammered, not knowing how to respond.
Madam Ban did not intend to argue. "Steward Yan, please prepare another carriage."
Zeng Weiyang reached out and grabbed Madam Ban's arm, her eyes pleading, "Mother, can't you help me one more time?"
Qiangwei scoffed, "From afar, one might think you were very close to Madam before."
Tsk, she used to loathe even calling her mother, and her demeanor was always cold when they met. Now that her situation was dire, she was rushing to mend relations.
Madam Ban sighed and gently pried her hand away. "Aunt Zeng, I truly cannot help you with this."
Even the address had changed, and Zeng Weiyang's heart finally sank.
She wanted to lose her temper, to point at Madam Ban's nose and curse her out. But she would need Lu Nianfu in the future. Madam Ban was their only link. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
With great effort, she managed a smile that was more like a grimace. But then she saw Madam Ban had already retreated several steps.
Another carriage drove out from the back gate, looking considerably more humble than the one she had occupied. Seeing Madam Ban about to board, Zeng Weiyang, after some deliberation, reluctantly dismounted. "Mother, I was just joking with you. You are the Empress's mother; it's not fitting for you to ride in such a crude carriage. Please take this one."
Madam Ban nodded with a complex expression.
Qiangwei helped her over, deliberately bumping into Zeng Weiyang. "Wouldn't it have been better if Aunt Zeng had done this earlier?"
"Qiangwei," Madam Ban shook her head disapprovingly.
Qiangwei then shut her mouth huffily.
The carriage slowly drove towards the palace. Zeng Weiyang gnashed her teeth, staring for a long time, all her efforts wasted. She turned away in hatred, only to meet Yan Qing's cold gaze.
Yan Qing spoke slowly, "Aunt Zeng, Madam's abilities are limited. It's best to consider your words carefully before speaking. After all, if you say them, Madam may not be able to help you, and it will damage the meager affection between you."
Zeng Weiyang gritted her teeth. The words "mind your own business" swirled on her tongue for a long time, but in the end, she didn't dare to utter them.
Her bargaining chips were too few now, so few that she didn't dare offend even a steward.
The first palace banquet hosted by Lu Nianfu, the newly ascended Empress, commenced as scheduled. It was competent and unremarkable, showing no particular brilliance but also no obvious flaws. The only exception was the absence of the former Crown Princess, Fu Yingxiao. Not only Fu Yingxiao, but the entire former Crown Prince's family was absent, including his several children.
However, the court officials were sensible enough not to bring up such a matter, which would displease the Emperor, on this day of family reunion. The thirteen heads that were severed before the new year were not for naught; no one wanted to follow their example.
The current Emperor disliked collective punishment. If one person committed an offense, it wouldn't lead to the execution of the entire family. But he was very attached to money. Any illicit gains from illegal activities would surely be recovered by the Ministry of Revenue through accounting.
If the accounts couldn't be settled, fines or confiscation of property would follow directly.
Being beheaded was already pitiful enough. If it also left their wives and children without means of sustenance, wouldn't all their efforts in officialdom over the years be in vain?
The ladies of the court were also quite discerning.
The merchant's daughter they once looked down upon was now the Empress. She was not to be offended. No matter how much they disliked it or how unwilling they were, she now wore the phoenix coronet and sat on the throne of the nation's mother. Alas, who could blame her for choosing her man so well, marrying him when he was still just a constable.
A wife who shared hardships is never cast aside. Even if she grew old and her beauty faded, the Emperor would cherish her, especially since she was labeled as one who brought good fortune to her husband.
However, with so many people, there were always one or two who were not afraid of trouble.