Lu Wanning flew into a rage and started shouting at He Chan, "Are you crazy, He Chan? When has my mother ever been angry because of her concern for the Queen? She knows nothing and keeps kneeling and taking the blame on herself. My mother and the Queen are sisters. How could she be allowed to sow discord between them?"
All the maids in Kuan-chü Palace surrounded them and tried to persuade them. They all knew that these two were not to be trifled with. Since childhood, they had always been at odds with each other and would never give in.
The whole palace was in an uproar. Lu Wanning and He Chan were locked in a fierce quarrel and were even about to fight a duel outside the palace.
Finally, the Queen couldn't bear it any longer. She slapped the table and stood up, shouting, "Stop! All of you, get out. Sister-in-law, take Han'er and Chan'er away first. Someone, send Zhaoyang to Shoukang Palace."
Lu Wanning rolled up her sleeves, her face red with anger. He Chan was no better. Her hair was in disarray, her face turning pale then red, and her voice hoarse.
The maids finally managed to separate the two and send them out, breathing a sigh of relief. Every time there was a palace banquet, this would happen. They didn't know why, but usually it was just a minor dispute. This year, however, the two seemed to be especially at odds. They hoped that next year, when they got married, they wouldn't have to come to Kuan-chü Palace together anymore.
After they left, the Queen leaned on the couch, covering her forehead, looking extremely uncomfortable.
The Princess was an impatient woman. She stood up and said, "Look at yourself! How many times have I told you? The He family has reached the peak of power. Yi'er is already the Crown Prince. What else do you have to worry about? You should take good care of yourself. Ignore all the trivial matters and the concubines."
The Queen looked up and said, "It's easy for you to say, sister. There are no concubines or other sons in the palace. You don't have to worry. But what about the palace? Everyone is eyeing my position. If I make a single mistake, do you think I and Yi'er can still live in peace?"
The Princess paced back and forth in anger. Seeing the Queen's pale face, she didn't scold her anymore. She just glared at the waiting maid and said, "Why don't you go and call the imperial physician? The Queen is in such a state."
The maid said cautiously, "Your Highness, the Queen said that it's not convenient to make a big fuss during today's palace banquet."
The Princess got even angrier and shouted, "Just go! The Queen's health is more important than anything else. Is this how you do your jobs? If anything happens to the Queen, I'll hold you accountable!"
The maid nodded repeatedly and took the token, telling the maidservant to go quickly.
The Queen rubbed her forehead for a long time before she finally came to her senses. Looking back and seeing the concern in the Princess's eyes, she felt a warm feeling in her heart. She sat up slightly and called out, "Sister."
The Princess sighed deeply and said, "You... Forget it. I won't say anything more. Now you have so many things to do in the palace. I have to avoid suspicion and can't come to see you often. You must take good care of yourself."
The Queen's eyes turned slightly red. "I know... Sister, don't worry about me. But sister, I heard that you broke off Ning'er's engagement with the young master of the Fu family?"
The Princess sat up straight unhappily. "Did sister-in-law tell you? Did she tell you why?"
The Queen sighed. "Ning'er is a stubborn girl. You should persuade her more. Now that the engagement is broken, her reputation will be affected in the future."
The Princess turned her face away. "It's already broken. Why say so much? If you want to give Miss Shi face, I have no objection."
The Queen sneered. "If you have no objection, why were you so angry with me just now?"
The Princess was anxious. She stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, tell me yourself. Ning'er was so humiliated. If she were your own daughter, would you have the heart? I don't even want to look at Miss Shi. Every time I see her, I think of the grievances Ning'er suffered. But you... You are Ning'er's aunt."
The Queen said aggrievedly, "Don't I know? Do you think I love other people's daughters more than Ning'er? Ning'er grew up in the palace. I don't have a daughter, so I've always treated her like my own. But I'm the Queen, sister. You know how difficult it is for me to be in this position. The Emperor is not a long - loving man and is very suspicious. My brother doesn't have great talents. It's not easy for the He family to get to where it is today. And Yi'er has it even harder. Haven't you heard what they say in the court? The Emperor dislikes Yi'er for his lack of talent and virtue and dotes on Sheng Jinyu. I..."
The Zhennan Prince's Mansion was for military generals, only responsible for defending the country. The Princess never intervened in such matters and didn't think it was appropriate to do so. She just pursed her lips and said nothing. After a long time, she said, "Your Majesty is really over - worrying. Yi'er is the Crown Prince. His father was the Imperial Tutor. Even if he's gone, there's still some face left. The Prince is Yi'er's uncle. Sheng Jinyu has no one in her maternal family and has no one to rely on. Why do you have to worry so much?"
The Queen kept silent. After a long time, she sighed and said, "Forget it. Let's not talk about those things. You don't come often. I got some good osmanthus tea some time ago. I remember you like it, so I kept it for you. Just take it back with you today. I don't have to send someone to deliver it."
The Princess got the tea. Seeing the imperial physician come and hearing that the Queen was not seriously ill, she finally relaxed. She stood up and said goodbye.
The Queen didn't try to keep her. She just said, "Go back and persuade Ning'er. Don't let her be at odds with me... I do love Chan'er, but after all, she didn't grow up by my side. There's always a bit of a gap. As for Miss Shi... Alas, sister..."
The Princess waved her hand. "I know. You know Ning'er's character, don't you? She's always hasty. Tomorrow she'll be missing you."
After the Princess left, the maid walked up to the Queen and whispered what had happened at the gate of Kuan-chü Palace today. Then she said, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, it was really Miss He who was impolite first. Although the Princess is a bit unreasonable when she has the upper hand, overall, she's a good person."
The Queen had already put away her previous pitiful look. She frowned and asked, "Are you saying that Ning'er has become more polite now?"
The maid hesitated for a moment and shook her head. "It doesn't seem so. She's still a rash girl, but maybe after breaking off the engagement, she's become a bit more mature and sensible."
The Queen pondered for a while and pointed at the incense burner. "Change it. The smell is too strong."
The maid immediately asked someone to change the incense. Then she said, "Your Majesty, in the main hall today, I don't know if the Princess was just pretending to be crazy or if she really was. In the past, the Princess always listened to Your Majesty very much."
The Queen raised her eyebrows slightly. "He Chan is a stupid girl. She's unreliable. Shi Aohan is quite good, but unfortunately, she had a feud with Ning'er early on. None of them is useful. Later, you ask He Kang to come."
The maid nodded quickly and asked, "Your Majesty, are you really going to give up on the engagement between the Fu family and the Princess?"
The Queen narrowed her eyes slightly. "The Fu family... We don't know if they can be relied on. Let's wait and see. If they don't have the ability themselves, don't expect me to support them."