Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 818: Chapter 818: Surviving in the Cracks
 

Upon this matter, everyone was filled with indignation.

Di Hongyuan glanced at the crowd and lightly coughed, “Third Sister-in-law, His Majesty is currently… suffering from a chronic illness, and he has no one by his side to speak for him. Even if there is any news, it can’t be sent out. What should we do about this?”

Di Yelei’s furrowed brows never relaxed, “How about this? Let’s go and discuss what to do with Prince Luo, Prime Minister, and the elders.”

If anything were to happen to His Majesty, they feared that none of them would be able to escape unscathed.

“That seems like a good plan.”

Di Hongyuan pondered for a moment, “Let’s split up and take action. You go to Prince Luo’s Mansion, I will go to the Left Prime Minister’s Mansion, and as for Third Sister-in-law, may I trouble you to discuss with Elder Di on what to do?”

Liu Sisi naturally would not shirk, “Indeed, let’s each take our own actions.”

With the matter settled, none of them were in the mood for pleasantries and so each took their carriages and left. Heading to Elder Di’s residence empty-handed would not be proper. Liu Sisi thought for a moment, instructed her servants to prepare gifts, and took Xiao Feng with her before heading to Elder Di’s residence.

At the mansion’s gate, surprisingly it was Elder Di himself who personally came out to welcome her, “It’s Princess Ruyu gracing us with her presence, please come inside quickly.”

“Having been in the capital for a few days, Sisi remembered that she had brought some red dates from home when entering the capital. Today, she specially brought some for the elder and Old Madam to taste.”

“How thoughtful of the princess. Those red dates from the hometown are indeed most refreshing to eat.”

“Isn’t that the truth? Unfortunately, I was in a rush when entering the capital, and many things were left behind…”

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Liu Sisi spoke with a smile and without any formalities chatted casually for a few phrases before sinking into silence and sipping her tea lightly.

Elder Di, who was more than astute, swept his eyes to the side and signaled for the attendants to leave.

“Princess, you must be here concerning His Majesty’s situation?”

“Elder Di has sharp eyes, indeed Princess Ruyu is here today for that very matter.”

Liu Sisi did not hesitate as now was not the time for courtesies, “I heard that His Majesty’s health was not good, is this true?”

“Indeed, in the midst of last night, word came out from within the palace that His Majesty fell ill last night. Before the onset of the illness, there had been some verbal altercation with the Empress. Shortly thereafter, word was sent out to call for the Imperial Physician. As for the rest, we are bereft of further information.”

Elder Di looked deeply at Liu Sisi, “Your Highness need not worry, the lack of news from the palace until now is good news. Currently, you have not officially completed the ancestral recognition and sacrifice to heaven, and should there be any news, I’m afraid…”

Liu Sisi gripped the towel in her hand tightly, then shook her head, “Whether I can be formally recognized or not, Ruyu doesn’t mind. However, at such a critical juncture, shouldn’t we do something?”

“Your Highness need not worry. Since the princess has married into my Di family, your honor and loss are one with my Di family. Should there be any news, I will have someone notify you immediately,” reassured Elder Di.

Elder Di’s words were clear and offered Liu Sisi a great relief.

After all, Di Yelei’s branch was an external part of the Di Family, and she had indeed worried that the Di Family would make a decision to sacrifice the lesser for the greater good.

After leaving the Di Residence, Liu Sisi’s brows were still not relaxed.

Beside her, Xiao Feng slightly parted the curtains, peering out through a small slit to the bustling avenue outside, where the sounds of people hawking wares and singing rose and fell in waves.

Xiao Feng sighed, let the curtains fall back down, and looked at the thoughtful Liu Sisi, hesitating to speak.

Liu Sisi glanced at her: “Just say what you have to say; under the current circumstances, it’s good to have one more person to lend a helping hand.”

“Third Aunt, Xiao Feng was just thinking …”

Xiao Feng whispered closely to Liu Sisi’s ear: “If someone falls ill, they’d hope to see their children. As offspring, we also wish to be by the bed to serve our parent and enjoy their favor. Couldn’t Third Aunt use this as a pretext to enter the palace at least once? That way, you wouldn’t be completely in the dark as you are now.”

Liu Sisi responded with a bitter smile and shook her head repeatedly: “Isn’t what you said exactly what I have been thinking? But when even the court ministers and several of the concubines have not been able to see His Majesty’s face, do you think I could, through the double obstacles set by Yang Yikun and the Empress, see His Majesty? Even if I did manage to see him, how could I come out unscathed?”

Liu Sisi knew her situation well, her birth mother had passed away early, and she had no relatives from her mother’s side, no one at court to speak for her, and no allies. To put it nicely, she was a princess; to put it bluntly, she was like duckweed on the lake that could be blown away by the wind to an unknown location.

The only one she could rely on was His Majesty, whose fate was now uncertain. The pressing matter was how she would survive in this tight spot!

The carriage had not yet come to a complete stop when Da Niu hurried over: “Princess, Prince Fenyang has arrived; he’s in the side hall talking with Old Master Marquis.”

Prince Fenyang was the seventh son of the Emperor, and his birth mother, Princess Consort De, was favored by the late Emperor and was also one of the concubines who could speak in the Emperor’s presence.

Liu Sisi alighted from the carriage swiftly, lifted her skirt hem slightly, and crossed the main entrance.

“Did the Old Master Marquis give any instructions?”

“It was to have the Princess come to the side hall after you returned,” Da Niu said in a deep voice, answering promptly.

“Understood.”

Liu Sisi looked up at the sky, thought for a moment, then made a detour to the kitchen to fetch some snacks, before she hurried to the side hall.

Prince Fenyang was not young; it seemed he was even a few years older than Di Yelei. Seeing Liu Sisi enter, he smiled faintly in her direction. Unlike Prince Qing’s gentleness, he exhibited a sense of staunch simplicity.

“So, you are Ruyu, right? In the past, I often heard others mentioning the Princess Sister, but only today did I get to see your true appearance. Indeed, you and Lin Zhaoyi are cut from the same mold.”

With just a few words, he expressed the relationship between him and her.

He had actually met her mother?

Liu Sisi’s face showed a sweet smile as she bowed respectfully: “Ruyu pays respect to Prince Fenyang.”

“Please rise! We are siblings of the same family; there’s no need for such formalities.”

Prince Fenyang helped Liu Sisi up with a feigned gesture, scrutinizing her carefully, and then turned to Di Yelei, laughing heartily a few times.

“Since the Old Master Marquis and the Princess Sister have returned to the capital, it would be good to travel around and take a look. Especially near the Imperial Enlightenment Temple, where the scenery is said to be exquisite, a fine destination indeed.”

Di Yelei was the picture of composure, seemingly oblivious to the underlying message in the other’s words. Instead, he greeted him with a forthright fist greeting.

“It’s very thoughtful of Prince Fenyang to show such concern for Ruyu. We have just entered the capital and haven’t quite figured out its layout yet. Once we have the time, we will definitely visit in person and also pay a visit to the Imperial Enlightenment Temple to donate some incense oil money.”

Prince Fenyang’s eyes flickered, and he patted Di Yelei on the shoulder: “Good! It’s also my fault. The Princess Sister has been in the capital for some days, and yet I haven’t offered a welcome. In a few days, when the opportunity presents itself, I will certainly make up for it,” he laughed heartily once again.