Poison Genius Consort

with emotion, “Esteemed Empress, this old servant gets it! Old Madam Zhou must have long figured out that Baili Yuanlong and Xiao An were in cahoots, so she’s using this chance to sow discord between the two families.”

“Right.
It takes time for the red packets to reach Northern Li.
Old Madam Zhou must have never expected the Baili Clan to sell out the Xiao Clan so fast, or for both families to meet their ruin,” Han Yunxi answered.

At this moment, a shadow guard returned from the Ministry of Revenue.
“Esteemed Empress, this subordinate has investigated thoroughly.
Those other eight red packets were delivered as a set to the Ministry of Revenue by Lady Xiao.”

Han Yunxi and Zhao mama both smiled at the news.
Their guesses had been correct.
Most likely Old Madam Zhou had kept the two Baili Clan red packets for herself while asking Lady Xiao to deal with the remaining eight.

“Esteemed Empress, the true old fox only showed her tail now!” Zhao mama sighed.

Old Madam Zhou’s move of borrowing a knife to kill others by sending out the red packets in Baili Lixiang’s name would 1) ruin Han Yunxi’s reputation, 2) drag down Lady Xiao, and 3) drive a wedge between the Baili and Xiao families.
Then the Murong Clan would stand to reap all the benefits.
Han Yunxi rather admired the old woman for her schemes.
If Baili Yuanlong hadn’t died, if Baili Lixiang and Baili Qiyu didn’t present the secret military agreement, then Baili Lixiang’s case might still be pending investigation right now.
The two red packets would subsequently affect the attitudes and stances of all parties involved.

Yet despite her admiration, Han Yunxi found no enjoyment in such plots.
She said coldly, “Zhao mama, our palace has grown chilly after Ning Jing and the rest left.
Why don’t you take a trip and invite Old Madam Zhou here? Just say I’m inviting her for tea…to make things more lively!”

Han Yunxi’s “make things more lively” was filled with meaning.
Leaving aside the shadow guard, even Zhao mama felt goosebumps at the words.
The inner palace was so vast and the emperor busy all day.
Since those noble ladies had nothing better to do, Han Yunxi didn’t mind inviting them here for a row!

Zhao mama had Old Madam Zhou in the palace by that very afternoon.
A trip to the palace was unlike other places where you could invite a companion to come with you.
Without the empress’s permission, Old Madam Zhou didn’t dare to bring anyone else along.
Even the servants she brought with her were subject to severe restrictions, to say nothing of things like guards.
She could only limit herself to a single servant girl.

Old Madam Zhou was born in Jiangnan as the daughter of a wealthy family.
She was already well-known in her youth.
After marrying into the Murong Clan and birthing a son who attained first-rank official, her fame grew with her years into one of inviolable prestige.
At 70 years of age, her hair had long turned white, but her body was tough and her eyes bright and spirited.
She used her own cane to walk and never needed the assistance of others.
Naturally, she was sharp enough to guess the empress’s intentions for inviting her here, but she had no fear.
When Zhao mama extended the invitation, she openly and happily accepted with no qualms.

The weather was still bitterly cold in the middle of the second lunar month, with the skies dim and dreary in the afternoon.
It cast a gloomy pall over everything as Zhao mama led Old Madam Zhaou into a heated pavilion in the gardens.

“Esteemed Empress wanted to come long ago, but the crown prince is badgering her,” Zhao mama smiled.
“Old Madam Zhou, just sit here and wait a bit.
This old servant will go have a look.”

Old Madam Zhou was a woman of few words and simply nodded.
“I’ll be troubling Zhao mama.”

In actuality, Rui’er had gone to the Grand Tutor’s house while Han Yunxi was currently busying herself with cooking noodles in the kitchen.
Ever since her bet with Long Feiye, she had developed some self-awareness.
She quietly vowed to personally make some noodles to firmly grab Long Feiye’s appetite.

When Zhao mama ran to the kitchens, Han Yunxi was personally rolling dough.

“Esteemed Empress, Old Madam Zhou is here.
When she left, she had a servant inform her son in front of my face.”

Zhao mama assumed Old Madam Zhou’s voice and mannerisms as she imitated, “Little Cui, go tell my son that Esteemed Empress has rewarded me with teatime.
I’ll be going into the palace for a bit, so he doesn’t have to accompany me this afternoon.”

Han Yunxi only smiled coldly to herself.
She’s already in the palace.
So what if His Excellency Zhou knows about it? What can he do? As the official head of all the generals, I can get involved in politics.
But none of the officials in court have the right to interfere with inner palace matters besides the Grand Tutor and crown prince!

Although the red packets reaching Northern Li wasn’t an inner palace matter, she still had ways to resolve the issue right here.

“Did you offer tea?” Han Yunxi asked.

“Esteemed Empress, there isn’t any new tea in the palace.
The first batch of tea won’t arrive until 10 days later,” Zhao mama replied honestly.

“Then find some old tea, she’s a guest after all,” Han Yunxi said with a straight face.

Zhao mama couldn’t help grinning.
“This old servant obeys!”

Thus, neither she nor her master ever showed their faces, leaving Old Madam Zhou to wait for two whole hours in the heated pavilion until it got dark.
Finally, Han Yunxi finished cooking her noodles, changed into a different set of clothes, and went to the location.

Even after she arrived, Zhao mama had yet to “find” any tea leaves.
Old Madam Zhou had already asked the court lady for two cups of water to drink instead.

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