"Offer seats to the two ladies!" Xue Zining said lightly.
Madam Xiao Min and Madam Min exchanged glances, feeling that the Empress was not as terrifying as the rumors suggested.
"The two ladies are welcome to speak, there's no need to be reserved," Xue Zining said slowly, noticing their reticence.
Madam Min nudged Madam Xiao Min. Madam Xiao Min stood up, curtsied, and said, "It is all my fault. My sister has a son, and now my nephew has fallen in love with a girl. It was supposed to be a perfect match, but someone is interfering."
Xue Zining raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Tell me about it."
Madam Xiao Min said, "My sister should be the one to tell you about this matter."
Madam Min stood up, unable to hide her joy, and said excitedly, "Your Majesty, my sister encountered some difficulties years ago and was in urgent need of money. I generously helped her, and my sister, feeling she could never repay my kindness, wanted to arrange a childhood marriage for our children."
"At first, I disagreed. The children were already grown, and if they didn't like each other, I didn't want them to suffer. But my sister insisted it would be fine, and so the marriage was settled.
However, now my niece is in love with another man and wishes to break off the childhood engagement with my son. But I do not agree. Years ago, when I wanted to break off the engagement, my sister disagreed, and now that she wishes to, I also disagree."
Xue Zining heard this and asked, "Why do you disagree?"
"My son became ill last year and suffered a high fever that damaged his brain. Now, his sole focus is on his cousin. If this engagement is broken off, I fear he will not be able to accept it. Therefore, I implore Your Majesty to issue an imperial decree for the marriage." Madam Min knelt and kowtowed, begging for the decree.
Madam Xiao Min was stunned. She had never imagined that her nephew had become a fool due to illness. What daughter would want to marry a man who was a fool?
Now that her sister had brought this matter to the Empress, it was clearly asking too much!
Madam Xiao Min was somewhat indignant. Her sister had not informed her beforehand. If she had, she might not have helped her sister gain an audience with the Empress.
Madam Min waited for a long time without hearing any response from above. She couldn't help but secretly lift her eyes, trying to glimpse the Empress's expression, but her gaze happened to meet Xue Zining's clear yet icy eyes.
Like ice that had never melted, it entered her heart, pervading her limbs.
Madam Min felt an inexplicable chill, a coldness that ran down her spine.
"Your Majesty, my sister is speaking nonsense due to my nephew's illness. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!" Madam Xiao Min knelt on the ground. She absolutely could not let her sister ruin her husband's official career.
Madam Min was startled by her words. How could she not understand the meaning behind Madam Xiao Min's words?
But her sister underestimated her. She had never failed to obtain anything she desired.
"I implore Your Majesty to fulfill this wish!" Madam Min bowed her head and repeated.
Xue Zining smiled faintly. "Rise."
Madam Min was taken aback. Madam Xiao Min quickly stepped forward to help her up, her tone somewhat cold, "Sister, please rise."
Madam Min bit her lower lip, unwilling to rise. She knew that if she stood up, she might never have another opportunity to see the Empress. Without an imperial decree, how could her son marry Lin Shi Shu?
"Your Majesty, the Lin family wishes to break off the engagement not only because my son is somewhat foolish but also because Miss Lin has set her sights on another young master," Madam Min said.
Xue Zining rubbed her forehead and slowly said, "Madam Min, if two people do not love each other, then being together is a torment. Why must you continue to let your child suffer?"
Madam Min was stunned and bit her lip. "Your Majesty, although he has become foolish, his heart belongs only to Lin Shi Shu. I know that such matters should be based on mutual affection, but if he cannot marry Lin Shi Shu, my son might not be able to live."
"You might not be able to live, but what if Miss Lin, by marrying your son, also cannot live? What then?"
Madam Min trembled all over. Xue Zining descended from the dragon throne and walked to Madam Min's side. "Therefore, I cannot issue this imperial decree for marriage."
Madam Min collapsed onto the ground. Madam Xiao Min quickly knelt and begged for mercy, "My sister has been overwhelmed by her emotions. I hope Your Majesty will forgive her!"
"Madam Min's love for her son is understandable. I sympathize," Xue Zining said.
Madam Xiao Min breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After Xue Zining left, Madam Xiao Min stepped forward and looked at Madam Min coldly. "Sister, you never told me that Xuan'er had become foolish due to illness. Do you know that you are deceiving the emperor? Fortunately, His Majesty is kind and benevolent, otherwise, it is unknown whether my sister and I would be able to leave here today."
Madam Min was startled and bit her lip. "I..."
"Let's go..."
Although Madam Min was somewhat unwilling, she knew that lingering here any longer would be of no use.
"Your Majesty, Madam Xiao Min and Madam Min have already left," Xue Yan said slowly.
Xue Zining nodded. "I know."
Xue Yan was still somewhat indignant. "Your Majesty, don't you think this Madam Min is going too far? Her own child has become foolish, yet she still won't let the other girl go."
"Xue Yan, don't say that. As the saying goes, if a person doesn't look out for themselves, heaven and earth will destroy them. Moreover, Madam Min is doing this for her son. While it is cruel to that Miss Lin, for Madam Min, it is the only thing she can do for her son."
Xue Yan seemed to understand but not quite. "But isn't that Miss Lin rather pitiful?"
"Xue Yan, go and investigate that Miss Lin."
Xue Yan was taken aback, looking somewhat confused. "Your Majesty, have you thought of something?"
Xue Zining nodded. "Given the status of Madam Min's sister, it wouldn't be impossible for Madam Min to want her son to forcefully marry Miss Lin. But she didn't. Instead, she came to the capital seeking help from her sister, Madam Xiao Min, and needed an imperial decree for marriage. This suggests that the Miss Lin likely comes from a prominent family, perhaps with someone holding an official position. If I remember correctly, the Prefect of Jiangnan is also surnamed Lin..."
Xue Yan was surprised and seemed to understand. "Your Majesty, are you saying that Miss Lin's father might be the Prefect of Jiangnan, and that's why Madam Min went to such lengths to seek an imperial decree from Your Majesty?"
Xue Zining nodded. "Yes, I think this is a possibility, so please investigate."
Xue Yan accepted the order and left.
Xue Zining rubbed her temples. Suddenly, a soft little hand took hers. She looked up and smiled. "What is it?"
"Mother Emperor, Sister has gone to Jiangnan," Xue Xingchen said.
Xue Zining was slightly taken aback. She looked at Xue Xingchen and asked, "Do you want to go too?"
Xue Xingchen lowered his eyes, and after a long moment, he said, "I'll stay with Mother Emperor."
Xue Zining stroked his hair. "You are still a child. Just do what children should do."