Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 623 - 625: Breaking the Cauldrons (Part 5)

Chapter 623: Chapter 625: Breaking the Cauldrons (Part 5)

I can’t figure out what happened between the Second Madam and Xiao Yanyi, and where the Second Madam went.

Xiqiu returned to her room, various maids came to report; she was busy with the mansion’s affairs all morning, then went to the backyard to check on the newly sprouted Panax notoginseng, and watered them with Chunliu and Bihuai. At noon, Min, Xing, and Sheng returned, and they had lunch together. It wasn’t until afternoon that the Grand Dowager leisurely returned from the palace.

Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanyi returned from the palace together.

Ziwei invited Xiqiu and the First Madam to the Grand Dowager’s room. When she entered, the First Madam, Xiao Yanyi, and Fourth Master Xiao were already inside. The Grand Dowager had changed into casual robes. Everyone’s expressions were somber, and Xiqiu went in to salute the Grand Dowager. The Grand Dowager pointed to a chair beside her and said, "You sit down and listen as well."

Xiqiu obediently sat down and heard the Grand Dowager say, "The Empress Dowager means to take Chengning back to the Prince Manor for recovery!" After a pause, she added, "Nothing else was mentioned!"

Xiqiu furrowed her brows upon hearing this. She didn’t expect the Empress Dowager to be so straightforward; regardless of her identity, the Second Madam was married into the Marquis Mansion and is the Second Madam of the mansion. Although it’s understandable for the Empress Dowager to take her back to her maiden family for illness treatment, the Second Madam was first restricted by her mother-in-law and husband for her mistakes. The Empress Dowager saying this seems somewhat imposing.

But this also clearly shows the Empress Dowager’s stance.

Xiao Yanyi and Fourth Master Xiao reacted as if they had anticipated this. The First Madam said, "The Empress Dowager is implying that no matter what mistakes the second sister-in-law made, she is still the Commandery Princess Chengning of the Prince Manor, right!"

Make them apprehensive!

"Exactly." The Grand Dowager nodded slightly, looking at Xiao Yanyi and Fourth Master Xiao, she asked, "What do you think of this matter?"

Fourth Master Xiao remained silent, Xiao Yanyi said, "Mother, handle this as you see fit. If she needs to be sent back, there is no harm!" He implied that there was no need to worry about the Prince Manor or the Empress Dowager.

Xiqiu glanced at Xiao Yanyi.

The Grand Dowager then looked at Fourth Master Xiao, who nodded and said, "If she insists on taking the Second Sister-in-law away, we don’t need to forcefully stop her." After pausing, he continued, "Presumably, she’s only talking; if the Second Sister-in-law really leaves the mansion gate, an Imperial Decree for divorce might be sent to the Prince Manor within three days." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Everyone’s reactions were calm, evidently they all considered this aspect. Many are waiting for the Xuanning Marquis Mansion and the Prince Manor to break ties; without the connection between the Marquis Xuanning and Fourth Master Xiao, the greatest loss would be the Prince Manor.

Since they’ve given them leverage, presumably others won’t be polite.

Therefore, even if the Empress Dowager’s attitude is tough and she says such words, it is just a warning to the Grand Dowager. If she truly intends to send the Second Madam back to the Prince Manor, the first to disagree would likely be her.

"The Empress Dowager, although not the Emperor’s birth mother, is the Empress Dowager. We shouldn’t be too aggressive." the Grand Dowager said faintly, "I think we should send Chengning to the villa in East Mountain; this way both sides are satisfied."

Still within the Marquis Mansion, yet without worrying about the mansion’s people ill-treating the Second Madam; it preserves the mansion’s interests and shows a concession to the Empress Dowager.

Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanyi didn’t oppose, the Grand Dowager paused and decided, "In this case, we’ll send Chengning to the villa in the suburbs of the capital after Mid-Autumn Festival,"

The matter was settled in this way, the Empress Dowager drank a cup of tea, her brows furrowed in contemplation.

The room was silent, everyone was lost in their own thoughts.

Fourth Master Xiao turned to Xiao Yanyi and said, "In these past two days, the dam in Huaxian collapsed. The disaster is severe, and the Emperor is seeking someone skilled in water management. I recall there’s a Mr. Bao among your advisors who seems to be adept at this. Is this person still in the mansion?"

"He is!" Xiao Yanyi nodded, looking at Fourth Master Xiao and asked, "Are you suggesting I recommend Mr. Bao to Huaxian for water management?"

"Yes, the dam in Huaxian collapses every year during the monsoon season. Now the Ministry of Industry is anxious, fearing the Emperor might hold them accountable at any moment. If this person indeed has real talent, the Ministry of Industry will certainly recommend him heavily, and he will be of great use in the future." Fourth Master Xiao replied slowly.

Xiao Yanyi contemplated for a moment and replied, "I will first speak with Mr. Bao, and if he is willing, I’ll write a letter of recommendation to Lord Chen."

Fourth Master Xiao nodded slightly, and said no more.

Xiqiu discerned Fourth Master Xiao’s intention; although the Marquis Mansion has Xiao Yanyi and Fourth Master Xiao, if one day the Empress Dowager and Prince Rong gain power and challenge them, having advisors in various places also serves as support. In networking, the problem is not having too many connections, but having none at all!

In the bureaucracy, sometimes it’s not about your strength, but your connections.

The Grand Dowager and the First Madam remained silent, and Fourth Master Xiao and Xiqiu stood up to take their leave of the Grand Dowager. The First Madam also stepped out, while the Grand Dowager kept Xiao Yanyi behind to talk: "Did you confine Chengning in Lingbo Hall?"

"Yes." Xiao Yanyi nodded, recounting the events of the previous night: "Nothing was found on her. I have no idea what her true intentions are, so I detained her."

The Grand Dowager listened and squinted her eyes. She didn’t object to Xiao Yanyi’s actions, but she sighed, "Keeping her confined like this isn’t a long-term solution. Her health isn’t good, and if something were to happen to her in the Marquis Mansion, who knows what kind of trouble the Empress Dowager might cause. Release her for now, and have someone watch her in the courtyard. Let Lianqiao and Madam Shen move to Mei Garden first, and only the servants should remain in the courtyard. No one is allowed to enter or leave without important business."

Xiao Yanyi nodded and replied, "Alright. Mother can take care of this matter."

Xiqiu returned to her room, where the family sat down for dinner. Xiqiu recounted the situation with the Second Madam to Fourth Master Xiao. After listening, Fourth Master Xiao furrowed his brows and said, "All the Marquis Mansion’s correspondence with other places is kept in the study." He paused and sipped his tea, "Since elder brother hasn’t mentioned it, she probably didn’t succeed, but her intentions..." Fourth Master Xiao sat quietly, squinting as if deep in thought, but soon his expression relaxed and he laughed lightly. Xiqiu asked, "What has Fourth Master thought of?"

Fourth Master Xiao set down the teacup and pointed to the dishes on the table.

Xiqiu suddenly understood, and her face turned grim. Prince Rong and the Empress Dowager truly have brilliant tactics. If the salt mine matter really entangles Xiao Yanyi, then our two houses would be like grasshoppers tied on the same string. No matter what Xiao Yanyi’s true stance is, as long as they have this hold over him, Xiao Yanyi and Fourth Master Xiao would inevitably be used by Prince Rong!

"Elder brother is always prudent in his actions. How would he easily let the Second Sister-in-law succeed?" Lingbo Hall was originally built by the founding ancestor and has countless secret chambers. An ordinary person would not find the way even if they entered.

However, from this, it seems that the salt mine affair involving Prince Rong might be more complicated than imagined.

That day, the Grand Dowager moved Madam Shen and the ailing Lianqiao to Mei Garden and dispatched matrons to guard the second house, confining the Second Madam to her room.

Early the next morning, after seeing off Fourth Master Xiao and Min, Xiqiu had just returned from the Grand Dowager’s room when Nanny Shen from the Old Madam Shen’s side arrived. Xiqiu was taken aback upon hearing the report, not understanding why Old Madam Shen sought her. She had someone lead Nanny Shen to the main hall. Nanny Shen saluted Xiqiu and said, "Our Old Madam wishes to invite Madam to the mansion for a chat."

She stated her purpose openly.

Invite her to the mansion for a chat? Yesterday, the Empress Dowager had summoned the Grand Dowager, and today, Old Madam Shen came looking for her.

What connection is there in this?

In a flash, she suddenly thought of the fact that now, within the harem, Empress Shen and her family are dominant. Even though there is a noble concubine and a beauty who are pregnant, ten months of pregnancy is a long time, and nobody knows what might happen in between, so they are no threat. Currently, the Shen Family fears the Prince Manor the most. Did Old Madam Shen come to meet her today because she knows the Empress Dowager summoned the Grand Dowager yesterday? Desiring to understand Xuanning Marquis Mansion, or rather, wanting to know Fourth Master Xiao’s position.

"Alright." Xiqiu smiled and said to Nanny Shen, "Please inform Old Madam Shen that I will certainly visit tomorrow morning."

Nanny Shen’s face was full of smiles, and she nodded in agreement, "Then this servant will return and await the Fourth Madam’s arrival."

Xiqiu nodded with a smile and had Chunliu see Nanny Shen out.

In the Second Madam’s room, she furiously smashed everything in the room. Standing barefoot amidst the broken porcelain pieces, her feet were bleeding profusely, yet she seemed oblivious. With cold eyes, she viciously smashed the Mei Bottle in her hand again. She summoned Zijuan and asked, "Is the Imperial Physician coming tomorrow?"

Zijuan recalled the words Nanny Fang said before leaving, nodded, and replied, "He’ll arrive early tomorrow morning."

The Second Madam furrowed her brows and instructed Zijuan, "Go fetch pen and ink." Zijuan complied and brought the writing materials. The Second Madam sat at the table and wrote a long letter, sealed it with a red seal, and handed it to Zijuan: "When the Imperial Physician comes tomorrow, find a moment when no one is around to give this to him. Have him deliver it to the Prince Manor and give it to Manager Rong. Tell him to keep this matter secret from the Empress Dowager, and especially not to let the Commandery Prince know!"

Zijuan carefully stored the letter and, with a solemn face, nodded and said, "This servant understands."

The Second Madam’s lips curled into a cold smile: Xiao Yanyi, I want you to regret to the point of kneeling before me.

Zijuan stood behind her, looking at her bleeding hands and feet, and then at her smiling face, she couldn’t help but shiver.