"Second Miss, you must go today. Aunt Yue wants to eat the peach blossom pastries you make."
"Why should my Second Miss make pastries for a mere concubine? Ask anyone if this is proper!"
"Miss Bi Qing, please do not say that. Aunt Yue is the master's treasure. If you delay Aunt Yue's meal, can you bear the consequences?"
"You..." Bi Qing was so angry she couldn't speak.
An Ling stepped forward, looking at the arrogant servant, and suddenly slapped her. She said coldly, "I am, after all, a mistress in this household, the sister of An Yi. Is this how you speak to your mistress? If I were to tell my elder brother how you speak to me, who do you think he would believe, you or me?"
The servant covered her face, a trace of malice flashing in her eyes as she looked at An Ling. "Second Miss, as they say, the wise know when to adapt. If Second Miss treats Aunt Yue like this, aren't you afraid Aunt Yue will say a few words to the Master?"
"Whether she says anything is beyond my control, but your insubordination is something I must address," An Ling said coldly.
"Fine, Second Miss, just wait for Aunt Yue to complain to the Master!"
The servant left in a huff. As she went out, she saw Xue Yan and angrily said, "What are you looking at? Are you blind? Get out of the way..."
Xue Yan laughed in anger. She refused to move. "I ask you, are you a servant of the An family?"
"Is it your business?" the servant retorted.
Xue Yan's gaze turned cold, and she slapped the servant. She said coldly, "I will make it my business."
Unlike An Ling's strength, Xue Yan's slap was quite powerful, nearly knocking the servant to the ground. The servant was enraged. "Who are you? How dare you hit me?"
"I dare to hit you. If not, have your Aunt Yue come to settle the score with me. I refuse to believe that a mere concubine dares to be so arrogant. It's truly lawless," Xue Yan said coldly.
The servant saw that Xue Yan didn't look like someone easily bullied, so she dared not say anything more and quickly scurried away.
An Ling came out and saw it was Xue Yan. She smiled apologetically. "You must excuse me, Miss."
Xue Yan said, "Miss An is too modest. Such ill-mannered servants should be taught a lesson, or they will never know their place."
An Ling's face was a little pale. "May I ask what your mistress requires?"
Xue Yan stepped forward and handed over the gift. "My mistress wishes to eat the peach blossom pastries made by Miss An. Since she couldn't come herself, she asked me to see if Miss An is available."
An Ling smiled. "Of course, I am available. Please, Miss, sit for a moment. It will be ready soon. Actually, I was planning to make some to send to your mistress. May I know your mistress's name?"
"You can refer to my mistress as Miss Long," Xue Yan said.
An Ling nodded with a smile. "Bi Qing, please entertain this young lady while I finish making the pastries."
Bi Qing nodded. "Miss, are you thirsty? I'll get you some tea."
"No need. By the way, is your Aunt Yue always this arrogant?" Xue Yan asked.
Upon hearing this, Bi Qing said, "It's truly infuriating. This Aunt Yue was brought back from outside by our Master. The Master is so smitten with her that he doesn't listen to anything Miss An says. Not only did she cause Madam to have a stroke, but she also tried to harm Miss. That's why Miss had no choice but to move out."
"There is a law in Huangze that forbids favored concubines from oppressing wives," Xue Yan said.
"But my Master doesn't have a wife," Bi Qing replied.
Xue Yan blinked. "Then why doesn't your Master have a wife?"
Upon hearing this, Ai Qing felt that the young lady before her spoke too easily. What woman could possibly suppress Aunt Yue?
When Xue Yan returned, Xue Zi Ning saw Xue Yan's indignant expression. As she took out the peach blossom pastries from the food box, she asked, "What is it? Did the situation anger you greatly?"
"More than angered, it was simply lawless," Xue Yan said.
"Insubordination?"
"That Aunt Yue is too much," Xue Yan continued.
"Seeing my Xue Yan so upset, perhaps I can vent your anger for you tomorrow?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Xue Yan shook her head. "No need. If you speak directly tomorrow, it might cause the ministers in court to become suspicious, thinking you are watching over them."
"Xue Yan, do you have a plan?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Xue Yan chuckled softly. "Why not just bestow a wife upon him?"
Xue Zi Ning shook her head. "What if this wife is also unkind to Miss An? You must understand that although Aunt Yue is arrogant, she can only manipulate things on a small scale. In larger matters, she has no authority. However, the Tingwei's wife is different. As the saying goes, the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. The Tingwei's wife can control Miss An's marriage."
After the morning court, Tingwei An Yi submitted a memorial requesting to elevate his concubine.
According to Huangze law, a concubine wishing to be elevated to the status of wife requires approval from the Ministry of Rites.
However, because Xue Zi Ning had brought up An Yi's matter once before, the Ministry of Rites dared not make a decision on its own. They forwarded the content of the memorial to Xue Yan, who then informed Xue Zi Ning.
Xue Zi Ning summoned An Yi.
An Yi did not expect the Empress to personally summon him. Upon arriving at the Imperial Study, he quickly knelt. "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
Xue Zi Ning got straight to the point. "I heard that Lord An intends to elevate a concubine in his household to the status of wife?"
An Yi replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."
"I do not agree," Xue Zi Ning stated directly.
An Yi was stunned for a long moment before recovering. "Your Majesty, your subject dares to ask why?"
"The law stipulates that a concubine wishing to be elevated to the status of wife must wait three years. Lord An has only had this concubine for a year. Lord An is, in fact, disregarding the law."
As Xue Zi Ning finished speaking, An Yi, terrified, quickly knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, please forgive this subject. I recall the law also states that if the parents of the household agree, one can be directly elevated to wife."
"Your parents agree?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Upon hearing this, An Yi quickly presented the document. Xue Zi Ning saw that the handwriting was indeed An Ling's.
"Let this matter rest for now. We will discuss it after my own wedding. You may withdraw," Xue Zi Ning said.
An Yi dared not disobey and withdrew.
Xue Yan looked at the letter, her expression somewhat angry. "His Majesty tried to help her, and she repays him like this."
Xue Zi Ning smiled upon hearing this. "She doesn't know the truth of the matter. Besides, An Yi has made a great decision this time. That Aunt Yue is truly formidable."
"A menace to the country," Xue Yan scoffed.
In the evening, Xue Zi Ning returned to the villa and noticed that there was no light in the adjacent residence.
Xue Yan went to the next door and returned shortly, her face flushed. "Your Majesty, Miss An is missing."
"Missing?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Xue Yan nodded. "Miss Bi Qing is frantic, saying that after Lord An sent for Miss An this morning, she never returned. When Bi Qing returned to the mansion, the servants said Miss An had already come back."
"Xue Yan, send people to search for her!" Xue Zi Ning said.
Xue Yan nodded. "Yes, this servant will send people immediately."