In mid-April, Jiaofang Hall suddenly received an invitation.
The Empress took a long time to open it, her frown deepening.
"Who is this Lady Xia Yao? She even dares to send an invitation to the palace!"
Sister Ji, standing aside, thought for a moment and said, "Could it be... Consort Xian Pin’s mother?"
The Empress examined the invitation again.
Sure enough, it read: From Lady Xia Yao, wife of the Fifth Rank Salt Transport Envoy Xia of Jiangning Prefecture, Jiangnan...
The Empress scoffed. "Just as I thought!"
Without continuing to read, she tossed the invitation aside.
"Hmph! A mere consort, and she wants her entire household to climb the ladder of success? She even thinks of coming to the palace for an audience!"
"She doesn’t even consider if she’s worthy!"
Among those who came and went in the palace, who wasn’t the wife of a noble family or a Marquis?
And she, the wife of a mere Fifth Rank official, also wanted to enter the palace?
"Send it back!"
Without touching the petition, she waved her hand and instructed Yu Lan to take it away.
Sister Ji opened her mouth as if wanting to say something. But after thinking it over, there was nothing to say, so she remained silent.
Actually, according to the rules, the family of a Third-Rank consort could be summoned for major events. Consort Xian Pin had borne a prince. Her family, who had always lived thousands of miles away, had not been allowed to visit. Now that they had arrived in the Capital City, they could have been granted an audience!
But seeing the Empress’s extremely reluctant demeanor, Sister Ji probably understood. Well, rules are rules, but if the Empress doesn’t permit it, it’s still futile!
Thinking this, she put the matter aside, and nobody brought it up again.
A few days later, that very invitation reappeared in Jiaofang Hall.
The Empress was furious upon seeing it. "Who is this blind person? Didn’t I already forbid this, yet it’s still being sent up here!"
Yu Lan hurriedly bowed her head to explain, "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. It’s all this servant’s fault for not checking properly..."
After speaking, she quickly collected the invitation, ready to take it away.
The Empress suddenly raised her hand to stop her. "Wait!"
Yu Lan stopped and asked, "Does Your Majesty have any instructions?"
The Empress suddenly smiled, and after a moment, instructed, "Go and find out more about the family and background of my sister, Consort Xian Pin. Let’s see what origins this persistent Lady Xia from the Xia Family has!"
Yu Lan hesitated for a moment, then hastily acknowledged the command.
Sister Ji, standing aside, was somewhat surprised. "Your Majesty, they’re from a humble household; why bother yourself with this, when we now have... more important matters!"
The Empress took a sip of tea, a hint of bitterness spreading across her lips. "What can we do now? We’re just enduring it!"
At first, Honored Lady Jiang was out of favor. Later, she was favored a few times, yet she still bore no children. There was nothing the Empress could do about it. She didn’t dare get involved in other matters either, so she could only endure this way.
Seeing the Empress’s sadness, Sister Ji had no choice but to let her be.
Two days later, Yu Lan returned with all the information about the Xia Family.
It hadn’t been difficult at all—the Ministry of Internal Affairs had complete and highly detailed records of the backgrounds of all the Fine Ladies.
The Empress casually flipped through the dossier in her hand, a trace of smugness slowly appearing in her eyes.
"So this Lady Xia is not her biological mother after all..."
"Lady Yao is Old Master Xia’s main wife; after entering the family, she gave birth to a son and a daughter, twins!"
"Twins..." The Empress wished she could stare a hole through those words. How come some people are so lucky!
Yu Lan said, "Then she must be quite favored!"
Having twins, a boy and a girl, was not as simple as just having a son and a daughter; it was a symbol of great fortune. If a woman could give birth to such a pair of twins, she would be secure in her husband’s family for life, able to hold her head high. Especially since she was the main wife.
The Empress laughed. "Certainly. An older husband with a younger wife, and having given birth to twins... How could she not be favored?"
Sister Ji became curious. "If she isn’t the biological mother, why keep sending invitations to the palace over and over! Is she just trying to gain some reflected glory? But would Consort Xian Pin be willing to indulge her? This is her stepmother, after all!"
The Empress just laughed. "Regardless, she is still a mother, and it’s not surprising that she wants to visit the palace. Just... allow her."
Her expression changed faster than flipping a book.
Sister Ji knew the Empress’s thoughts and didn’t ask further.
The Empress gave another order. "Go and pass the invitation to Consort Xian Pin. Tell her to pick a good day and let her mother come into the palace..."
"Yes!" Yu Lan responded and left with the invitation.
Sister Ji then spoke up. "Your Majesty, why..."
The Empress let out a somewhat bitter, cold laugh. "They are all doing so well, even the Noble Consort has a daughter now, yet I remain empty-handed... The bitterness in my heart!"
She was miserable, and naturally, she didn’t want to see others happy either.
Sister Ji didn’t ask any more questions. In the end, it’s no great matter. As long as Her Majesty feels a bit better, that’s all that counts!