Chapter 202: Chapter 201: Slapping the Green Tea Empress Dowager 18
Anning and Xiao Yuan met again.
This day, she received a message sent by Xiao Yuan and took a carriage to a restaurant.
By the time Anning arrived, Xiao Yuan was already waiting for her in the private room of the restaurant.
Anning didn’t bring her maidservant; she entered the private room alone.
As she walked in, Xiao Yuan was leisurely tasting tea by the window.
Anning smiled as she walked over and poured herself a cup of tea, taking a few sips.
Following Xiao Yuan’s gaze downwards, she saw Emperor Jianwu, who was greeting a girl with a fist and palm salute at a wonton stall.
"What’s the background of that girl?"
Xiao Yuan really didn’t know who the girl with Emperor Jianwu was.
Anning took another sip of tea: "A somewhat clever girl, her background is quite melodramatic, an illegitimate daughter of the Yun Family. Her mother was a martial heroine, very unrestrained by nature. Back then, when Yun Family’s second master was an official in Shu, he met Yun Que’s mother, Lan Lian; the two fell in love at first sight. The second master, being romantic and irresponsible, spent a few years with Lan Lian as husband and wife in Shu. Later, when he got promoted and returned to the Capital, he shockingly abandoned mother and daughter and came back alone."
As Anning spoke, Xiao Yuan poured her some more tea and considerately took some pastries and placed them on her plate.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yuan himself was peeling chestnuts and nibbling on them one by one.
Anning glanced at him and continued: "Lan Lian brought Yun Que to the Capital only to discover that the second master already had a wife and children. In Shu, his affection was all a deception.
In a fit of rage, Lan Lian beat the second master to near death and threw Yun Que at him before leaving.
Not long after Lan Lian left, the second master passed away.
Later, the Yun Family found out that Lan Lian was a Miao woman and was adept at poisonous insect technique. When the second master was with her, Lan Lian had placed a poisonous insect in his body. This time, it was the poison that acted up and led to the second master’s oblivious demise.
Because Lan Lian caused the death of the second master, the Yun Family treated Yun Que very poorly, especially Second Mrs. Yun, who downright despised her. She was also unwilling to raise Yun Que, an illegitimate daughter, and ended up abandoning her.
Yun Que then mingled with the riffraff in the Capital for several years, picking up some of the martial arts that Lan Lian taught her. Later, being too lazy to work and because she was quite beautiful, she stayed in a brothel for a few years."
Despite her young age, Yun Que is very cunning, and moreover, Anning feels that Yun Que might also be versed in poisonous insect technique.
As Anning thought about this, Xiao Yuan also thought of it.
He looked at Anning: "Did you intentionally arrange for the little Emperor to encounter Yun Que?"
Anning nodded with a smile: "Yes, I want to see what the palace would become if Yun Que enters, and how the Empress Dowager would react to her?"
Just thinking about it made Anning feel particularly excited.
Yun Que reminded her of a TV series she had seen many lifetimes ago.
There was a character there, similar to Yun Que, but less cunning and not versed in poisonous insect technique. Yet even so, that girl was able to incapacitate the Empress, take away the Prince, and create havoc in the palace with her lone efforts.
Yun Que would be an upgraded version. By then, Yun Que alone might be enough for the Empress Dowager to handle.
Anning smiled, watching through the window as Emperor Jianwu, having finished his wontons, was reluctant to leave and was laughing and talking with Yun Que.
As he was leaving, Emperor Jianwu seemed to be asking Yun Que where she lived. Naturally, Yun Que wouldn’t say she lived in a brothel, so she used hand gestures and foot movements to give the Emperor an address.
Anning’s lips curved into a light smile, aware that Emperor Jianwu had fallen into Yun Que’s trap.
Only after Emperor Jianwu had left did Anning look at Xiao Yuan: "I would like you to facilitate more interactions between Yu’er and those generals under the Prince’s command. Yu’er is now learning martial arts with me. In another year or two, with his martial skills alone, he will be able to win the generals’ genuine respect."
Xiao Yuan smiled: "There’s no need to wait another year or two. Even now, the generals hold the Princely Heir in high esteem. They all say that with the Princely Heir, the Prince has nothing to worry about for his future. With such a young master, we are indeed spared much effort."
A glimmer of joy appeared in Anning’s eyes.
She thought for a moment and then added: "I will tamper with the Prince’s food and drink, causing him to be ill for some time. You should take the opportunity to consolidate power, and also get Yu’er more involved in government and military affairs."
Xiao Yuan actually thought the same, but Anning spoke up first.
Xiao Yuan felt that Anning and he were truly of one mind.
"Good."
He agreed: "Think of a way to get the Empress Dowager to move out for a while, to give the little Emperor and Yun Que more time to interact and properly cultivate their affection."
Anning tapped on the table: "I have this plan in mind as well. Don’t worry, the Empress Dowager will hide away soon."
She picked up her teacup, finished the water in it, and then got up to leave.
Xiao Yuan didn’t see her out, continuing to sit by the window watching the people coming and going on the street.
Anning, after leaving the tavern, didn’t return to the Prince Mansion but instead went to a Silver Tower.
There, she picked out several pieces of jewelry and afterward bought some snacks before finally taking a carriage back to the mansion.
Back at the Prince Mansion, Anning distributed the snacks to Helan Zhi and He Zhenyu, then rested for a while before starting to work on her medicine concoctions.
She personally went to the storeroom to fetch some medicinal herbs and prepared the medicine alone in her room.
By evening, Anning had concocted two types of medicine.
She stowed these away, not planning to use them just yet.
There was another matter she had to attend to.
A few days later, in Shoukang Palace, the Empress Dowager quietly asked Nanny Qin who was approaching softly: "Has there been a message from Xiao Lu?"
Nanny Qin lowered her voice: "Reporting to Empress, Xiao Lu has sent a message. The former Princess Kang wanted Xiao Lu to serve in the study, but Prince Kang was unwilling, so Xiao Lu was commanded to follow Princess Kang. According to Xiao Lu, Prince Kang treats the Princess very well, allowing her to have her way in everything. He dines with the Princess every day and is also very good to the Princely Heir and Commandery Princess. The family of four dines together every evening, and Prince Kang even tells jokes to the Princess."
Before Nanny Qin could finish, the Empress Dowager’s expression changed.
She slightly squinted her eyes, then said to Nanny Qin: "Go ask Prince Kang, say that I want to bring Lanzhi into the palace for a few days, and also let Lanzhi spend more time with the Emperor."
Nanny Qin took the orders and left.
Xiao Yu stepped forward to serve the Empress Dowager.
She massaged the Empress Dowager’s shoulders for a while and, seeing that the incense was nearly burned out, added some more.
The Empress Dowager, feeling comfortable from Xiao Yu’s massage, grew drowsy.
She was resting with her eyes closed on the couch when Prince Kang followed Nanny Qin over.
Seeing the Empress Dowager in the beauty of her mid-day nap, Prince Kang’s heart skipped a beat, feeling a trace of desire.
He moved a little closer, the Empress Dowager opened her eyes, smiled at Prince Kang, and then sat up: "You’ve arrived."
Prince Kang also smiled.
After sitting down, he heard the Empress Dowager say: "I wish to bring Lanzhi to stay with me for a few days, partly to keep me company, and also to let her spend more time with the Emperor. Rest assured, I will certainly treat her well."
Prince Kang looked troubled.
He glanced around. The Empress Dowager gestured for Nanny Qin to lead the servants out.
Prince Kang then said: "It’s not that I am unwilling, but truly... the Princess and I are having some disagreements these days, and she clings to Lanzhi all day, not letting her out. I... really have no solution."
Prince Kang would never admit that he had been beaten and was scared, that he couldn’t overpower Anning and had no way of bringing Lanzhi to the palace.
The Empress Dowager misunderstood.
She thought Prince Kang was indirectly refusing to marry Lanzhi to the Emperor, feeling that now Prince Kang must be very close to the Princess, deeply loving both children, and thus unwilling to let them enter the palace.