Volume One, Chapter 14: The Venomous Curse

Emperor Yong’an was deeply shaken, unable to regain his composure for a long time.

At first, he did not believe the Empress’s words, thinking Wan Ning was holding a grudge against him. But now, it seemed she truly had been forced to sever ties with them!

Now that they sought to harm Wan Ning’s child, she was compelled to resist and turn to them for help.

Yong’an Emperor was furious. “Wan Ning hasn’t been to the palace in a long time. The Imperial Garden was recently renovated. Empress, why don’t you take Wan Ning and Qianqian to have a look around the garden?”

Empress Dezhuang’s eyes darkened slightly as she extended her hand toward Wan Ning. “Wan Ning, come with me to the Imperial Garden for some fresh air.”

Jiang did not ask further; holding Xia Qianqian, she linked arms with Empress Dezhuang and walked out.

After they disappeared from sight, Yong’an Emperor could no longer conceal his anger. “Summon Yun Nanny at once! I want to see how the Xiahou household has mistreated Wan Ning!”

“Your Majesty, here comes Eunuch Pei with Yun Nanny.”

Shortly after, Yun Nanny entered, her face streaked with tears. She knelt with a thud. “Your Majesty, please stand up for my lady.”

“Speak! How have they treated Wan Ning?” Yong’an Emperor’s face was extremely grim, teetering on the edge of rage.

Yun Nanny seemed to see a savior. “My lady, as the mistress of the Xiahou household, was treated like a servant by the Old Madam Xia. During her pregnancy, not only was she ordered to wash clothes with cold water to dispel the bad luck supposedly brought by childbirth, but she was also tasked with preparing tonic herbs for the concubines—though she never even took a single dose herself.”

“Furthermore, my lady’s dowry was completely out of her control. The Old Madam Xia squandered it all, supporting her relatives and giving pocket money to the illegitimate sons! The young masters only received five taels of silver monthly, but that illegitimate son got thirty taels every month!”

“Today, when Your Majesty summoned her, that concubine even shamelessly tried to send her own illegitimate daughter in her place.”

After hearing Yun Nanny’s words, Yong’an Emperor felt as if a massive stone pressed down on his chest, his breathing heavy and labored.

He had thought Wan Ning would live a peaceful and happy life, but instead, she suffered such torment.

The beasts of the Marquis of Anjing, having obtained official titles from the Jiang family, treated the orphan so cruelly!

Why had Wan Ning never confided in her father?

Yun Nanny sighed. “A woman who marries out must obey her husband’s family. Any resistance brings accusations of being unfilial and unvirtuous.”

“But if my lady does not fight for herself, what will become of the young masters and young ladies?”

The Yong’an Emperor’s fingers trembled slightly. “The Marquis of Anjing favors the illegitimate over the legitimate, allowing concubines to trample the rightful wife. This is truly an upheaval of natural order!”

“You may rise now.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Yun Nanny slowly stood.

After a moment of contemplation, the Emperor asked, “Has Wan Ning harbored resentment against me these years?”

Yun Nanny answered with trepidation, “My lady regards you as her father; how could she hate you? Why do you ask?”

“Then why has she refused to see me all these years?” The Emperor’s aged face was filled with sorrow.

Yun Nanny’s expression became anxious as she hurried to explain, “When Your Majesty and Her Majesty summon her, it is not that my lady wishes to refuse, but the Old Master and Old Madam Xia forbid it, saying that a married woman meeting an outside man would cause scandal…”

Yong’an Emperor slammed the table with a deafening bang. “Nonsense! To claim I would harm my own adopted daughter…”

Wan Ning was Jiang’er’s daughter—was he a beast?!

“The Marquis of Anjing and that vile woman have filthy mouths that need washing clean!”

“Old Madam Xia is cold-hearted and ruthless, lacking virtue and reason; her actions verge on murdering her own kin! According to the laws of the realm, she deserves thirty blows with the cane!” the Emperor declared.

“The Marquis of Anjing cannot even manage his own household—how can he govern the state? I believe his position as Minister of Revenue is unfit and should be given to someone else!” He wished to strip him bare and punish him severely, but this man was Wan Ning’s husband.

To demote him would be to demote Wan Ning—a helpless feeling welled inside him.

Though he could not truly demote him, he could at least warn him. He doubted the Marquis would dare defy the imperial will!

“Eunuch Pei, go to the Xiahou household and deliver my decree without fail!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Eunuch Pei smiled, eager for the task.

“As for those two who led the insults against Her Highness…”

The Emperor’s face darkened, storm clouds gathering in his eyes. “Have them flogged to death at the gates of the Xiahou mansion as a warning!”

In the Imperial Garden,

Jiang linked arms with Empress Dezhuang, sipping tea and admiring the flowers.

Had this been before, she would have been delighted. But now, her thoughts remained in the palace.

Empress Dezhuang noticed her unease and gently patted her hand. “Rest assured, your father will act with discretion and not go too far.”

Jiang was surprised she could guess her thoughts.

The Empress sighed. “Since ancient times, a woman’s world revolves around her husband. Marry a rooster and follow the rooster, marry a dog and follow the dog. Even if tormented to near death, she can only suffer in silence. This world is truly unfair.”

“Actually, he was good to me in the past, but…” Jiang clenched her fists.

“Now his heart belongs only to that concubine and those illegitimate sons,” the Empress said, looking steadily at her.

“When we agreed to your marriage, we hoped you would live a happy life. But we didn’t expect him to treat you so cruelly.”

“If you were to seek a divorce…”

Jiang bit her lip, wanting to speak on Xia Huai’an’s behalf, but found no words.

Seeing her like this, Xia Qianqian sighed silently.

Mother’s heart was still troubled by that unworthy father.

Women in ancient times lacked the enlightened thinking of modern women. Divorce would brand a woman for life, denying her the chance to remarry.

But men were different—their failed marriages only became tales of charm, and they could marry again without shame.

Jiang’s lips turned white from biting. “If he truly cannot accept the child, then I will divorce him. I will bear the slander, but the child must come with me.”

Hearing this, Empress Dezhuang sighed again. “Since ancient times, divorced children remain with the husband’s family. Taking the child away will not be easy.”

She then turned to the attendant behind her. “Nanny Zhang, attend to Wan Ning for a while. She has just given birth and needs careful care.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Nanny Zhang replied.

Jiang was taken aback. Nanny Zhang was a trusted confidante of the Empress.

This was not mere care; it was installing a spy in the Xiahou household and warning them that Jiang was under the Empress’s protection.

Her eyes grew warm, and she seized the opportunity. “I have one more request.”

“Speak. Whatever you say, I will grant,” Empress Dezhuang said.

“Can we add Ziheng’s name to the list for the poetry competition?” Jiang said, clasping her hands tightly.

The Empress was surprised. “It’s just adding a name. Why ask? Tomorrow I will have your father announce it publicly in court.”

Jiang hurriedly thanked her. “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

“For what? You are the only memory Jiang’er left me. I cannot let those people bully you,” the Empress said as she brushed back Jiang’s hair, her gaze soft as if seeing another person.

Wan Ning was truly Jiang’er’s daughter, bearing a strong resemblance.

Xia Qianqian nibbled her finger, thinking that in modern times, such words would be called overly sentimental.

At that moment, a eunuch led a broad-shouldered, big-eyed man briskly forward.

“Your Majesty, a foreign envoy has sent a trinket, said to be a gift for you.”

The big-eyed man placed his hands over his chest and bowed slightly. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Empress Dezhuang’s interest piqued. “Oh? What sort of trinket? Show me quickly.”

The eunuch responded and produced the item.

It was strange—a short cylindrical object carved with intricate patterns and mysterious symbols.

“What is this?”

The foreign envoy took it and explained carefully, “This little object is called a kaleidoscope. Within this small world, one can see myriad colorful patterns, indescribably beautiful.”

Kaleidoscope?

Xia Qianqian shivered in sudden recognition.

Wasn’t this the very thing that had poisoned the Empress, leading to her death?