"Mother!"
When Nan Yujin arrived, Madam Wang was using a porcelain spoon to scoop out pear flesh. Her handkerchief was tucked back into her embrace, her face a little pale. In the flickering light, a faint green hue colored the depths of her eyes. The skin around her eyes looked withered, like petals that had lost their moisture, revealing lines etched by time, and her eye sockets had sunk in.
Nan Yujin's heart gave an inexplicable lurch. He asked with concern, "Mother, how has your health been lately? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
Madam Wang smiled and shook her head. Only when facing Nan Yujin did the sorrow born from years of confinement to bed fade a little. She scooped another piece of pear, adding a sliver of Fritillary bulb, and slowly ate the bite of Fritillary pear. It moistened her throat, and then she spoke, "My health is very good, Jin'er. You needn't worry so much. It's the end of the year now, and after the new year, when court reconvenes, your marriage to Hui'an will be put on the agenda. It's only about a month away, and there are many things to prepare in the manor. For years, I haven't been able to fulfill my duty as a mother, leaving you to deal with those jackals alone. Now that I see you are about to be married, and I can't do anything to help with the preparations, I feel very sorry for you."
"Mother, why would you say that!"
Nan Yujin didn't want to hear Madam Wang say such things. Madam Liu was already dead, and Nan Yuan'er was crippled. Although His Majesty had spoken, granting Nan Yuan'er the position of Empress, he had not yet brought her into the palace. Even if she were brought into the palace, what then? An empress with a crippled hand, how much favor could she receive? His Majesty was merely taking a decorative mascot for his harem. Only Nan Yuan'er still harbored unrealistic fantasies. Look at how many banquets the families of officials' wives in the capital had held recently; not one had sent her an invitation!
She would just hide in her inner chambers and dream her dreams!
Those who had caused Qing'er's death years ago had mostly met their retribution. Even Nan Shiying had lived decades worse than pigs or dogs because of Qing'er's death. And Nan Yuan'er's retribution had only just begun.
Nan Yujin didn't feel that Madam Wang had wronged him. If anyone was at fault, it was the spoiled Madam Liu, and it was his father who favored concubines over his wife.
Besides, his marriage concerned two countries. All matters were handled by the Ministry of Rites. There wasn't much for him to prepare or do.
He just wondered when His Majesty would send him on an envoy to Yùnán Commandery.
Thinking of this, Nan Yujin hesitated. Yùnán Commandery was far from the capital. If something were to happen to his mother, he might not even be able to see her one last time.
"Mother, divorce Father!"
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
Madam Wang glared fiercely at Nan Yujin. How could he say such foolish things? She now managed the household affairs. If they divorced, everything in this manor would fall into the hands of that vile Nan Yuan'er. Even if she were to ascend to the imperial harem later, during the time she hadn't entered the palace yet, must she let Jin'er live under her thumb?
Nan Yujin knew he had spoken out of turn, but the thought had taken root in his heart and could no longer be eradicated. Only if Mother divorced Father could she leave with him.
"Mother, His Majesty once promised that after I marry Hui'an, I would be appointed the Governor of Yùnán Commandery. I don't know when I will leave the capital. I truly cannot bear to leave you!"
"Foolish child!"
Madam Wang sighed. Foolish child, Mother wouldn't live to see that day at all!
"Mother is not a brainless idiot. Don't worry, Mother will take good care of herself. Don't say such foolish things again, do you hear?"
Nan Yujin could only nod.
Madam Wang pushed the Fritillary pear aside and glanced at a maid. The maid placed a handkerchief into Madam Wang's palm, and Madam Wang used the handkerchief to dab her lips.
She could not divorce Nan Chaoyin because there was one last thing she had to do before she died.
She wanted to clear the final obstacle for her son!
...
Madam Wang coughed up blood!
Nan Shiying heard this news and was somewhat surprised.
It shouldn't be.
Although Nan Yujin had unilaterally stopped her medicine before and changed doctors, shortening her lifespan of one year by half, after the re-examination by Qing Zhu, she could at least live until the summer solstice. It was only the beginning of February now. Her body's depletion should not have manifested at this time. Moreover, she suffered from chronic illness due to overwork, not consumption, so why would she cough up blood!
Could it be that someone didn't want Madam Wang to live?
As she was thinking, Jia Huan hurried in. A servant from the Nan manor delivered news that the young master of the Nan manor had drowned.
"Who?"
"The young master of the Nan manor, Nan Yuan'er's own younger brother!"
That little fatty?
"When did this happen?"
"This morning. They said he insisted on going onto the ice because he was playing. The ice suddenly cracked, and he fell into the water."
It was the tenth day of the first lunar month, during the New Year festivities. Nan Chaoyin's youngest son had died, in the very same lake where Nan Yuqing had drowned.
Nan Chaoyin's household was in mourning. The Emperor, out of kindness, lifted his house arrest early. The Nan manor was draped with white lanterns. Nan Chaoyin's youngest son had died before reaching his capping ceremony. Including the legitimate daughter who had died ten years ago, the loss of two legitimate children meant that Madam Liu's numerous crimes were once again brought up by the world. It was definitely her excessive sins that had implicated her family, causing the Nan manor's fortune to dissipate and showing signs of decline.
Now, the only lifeline for the Nan manor was Nan Yuan'er, who was about to enter the imperial harem.
However, there were reports that Nan Yuan'er was crippled.
A crippled empress? Wouldn't that make the whole world laugh their heads off?
The outside clamor did not hinder the funeral procession. Nan Chaoyin looked like withered wood, his former demeanor completely gone. His temples had turned speckled with white, making him look a dozen years older.
"Princess Consort arrives!"
The Nan manor had not sent news to Nan Shiying, but Nan Shiying had come herself.
Nan Yuan'er, dressed in plain white, stood in a corner, her eyes red. Her tear-streaked face was so delicate that one would want to hold her close and comfort her with affection.
Nan Shiying scanned the entire mourning hall. Because the deceased was a young son, and the young son's mother had passed away earlier, the duty of guarding the wake fell to Nan Yuan'er. Nan Yuan'er's face was somewhat pale, but her frail and helpless appearance could not hide the hatred erupting from her eyes.
"What are you here for?"
She roared at Feng Luan, and then she started crying again. Nan Shiying said nothing, and by comparison, she appeared to be the villain.
Many ministers and their wives from the capital were present today, whispering to each other.
Logically, they should not have been whispering to each other, but the events at the Nan manor had been too dramatic. Although Madam Liu's crimes were heinous, the Prince and Princess Consort had been too cruel, reducing Madam Liu to a human pig. Just hearing about it sent a chill through their entire bodies.
The couple had joined forces to kill Madam Liu, and now she came to offer condolences with such feigned sincerity. Despite her cold demeanor, she might have been overjoyed in her heart. It was no wonder Nan Yuan'er had lost her reason in anger.