Madam Xu knelt in the proper manner, kowtowing. "This humble subject greets Your Majesty, Emperor Yun."
Xue Zining stepped forward and said, "Miss Li is probably not suited to work in the palace. Madam Li, please take Miss Li back with you."
Madam Xu trembled all over and looked up, meeting the clear yet cold gaze of the Empress. "Your... Your Majesty..."
"Madam Li, the Minister of Personnel, what do you find amiss?" Xue Zining asked, raising an eyebrow.
Madam Xu lowered her gaze and said, "This humble subject obeys the decree."
She looked at Li Yaoqin, who was shaking her head. Madam Xu walked over and whispered, "Yao'er, let's go!"
"Mother..."
"Yao'er, with so many people here, do you want everyone to witness the Li Minister's mansion becoming a laughingstock?"
Li Yaoqin trembled all over. She raised her head and saw the inscrutable expressions of the ladies present.
She lowered her head, and when she raised it again, she was calm and composed. She slowly stepped forward, curtsied, and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your patience and understanding towards this humble subject these past days. I will pray for Your Majesty day and night upon returning home."
"Then I shall accept Miss Li's kind sentiments," Xue Zining said faintly.
Li Yaoqin rose and helped Madam Xu out. As she passed Xue Jingyun, she glanced at the person by the Empress's side. She knew that in this lifetime, she would not let go; this temporary parting was just that.
After Li Yaoqin left, Xue Zining excused herself, claiming to feel unwell. The ladies present understood perfectly that the Empress did this merely to make Li Yaoqin retreat.
They themselves were witnesses to this game of chess.
Appearing here meant they stood in opposition to Li Sinian, the Minister of Personnel. However, it now seemed the Empress had played a superior hand, especially considering the relationship between Emperor Yun and the Empress was not one that ordinary people could interfere with.
As long as Emperor Yun was present, Changjiu Kingdom would undoubtedly belong to the Empress.
Unless Emperor Yun himself rebelled one day, no one could contend with him.
Madam Xu and Li Yaoqin left the palace and got into the carriage of the Minister of Personnel's mansion. Madam Xu looked at the silent Li Yaoqin and sighed. "Yao'er, don't blame your mother for not helping you. In such a place, I couldn't disregard the reputation of the Minister's mansion."
"Mother, don't worry, Yao'er knows what is important." For her and the mansion's reputation, the mansion came first.
However, she remembered the faces of those ladies, and if there was an opportunity in the future, she would repay them one by one for the humiliation today.
"Yao'er, listen to your mother and give up on that unrealistic person, won't you?" Madam Xu said softly.
Li Yaoqin looked up at Madam Xu upon hearing this. After a long moment, she said, "Mother, this is only the beginning. How can you already concede defeat?"
"Yao'er... don't you understand today? Wanting to snatch someone from the Empress's hands is simply impossible."
Today, Madam Xu realized that the Empress was not the weak and incompetent ruler of rumors, but a mastermind. It seemed she held everything in her hands, moving the pieces as she pleased, while they were merely pawns.
Seeing Madam Xu's dejection, Li Yaoqin slowly said, "Mother, in my heart, there has never been failure, nor is anything impossible. I do not concede defeat, nor will I admit it voluntarily. The Empress is indeed a formidable opponent, but I am not some mere sheltered lady. She has her schemes, and so do I."
"Yao'er, why can't you listen to your mother? Isn't living a peaceful life good?" Madam Xu found her daughter's thoughts terrifying, so terrifying that they might overturn the world.
"Being a good wife and mother?" Li Yaoqin asked Madam Xu, her expression unreadable.
"Is that not good? A woman's ultimate destination is to be a good wife and mother," Madam Xu replied.
"Mother, that is your way of thinking. I do not wish for it," Li Yaoqin shook her head.
She wanted to be an eagle of equal standing, free and unrestrained. Being a good wife and mother was not to her liking.
"Yao'er, don't be ruined by your father's ideology..."
"Mother, if you cannot agree with my views, then please do not dismiss them so readily."
The carriage suddenly stopped. Li Yaoqin was the first to lift the curtain and get out, walking directly into the mansion.
Madam Xu got down from the carriage, sighed, and also entered the mansion.
After entering, Li Yaoqin went directly to the study and walked towards the inner chambers.
Soon, a servant from the mansion stopped her. "Eldest Miss, the Master is resting."
"I want to see my father," Li Yaoqin said coldly.
The servant looked troubled. "Eldest Miss, the Master is indisposed at the moment."
"Indisposed? Is something wrong?" Li Yaoqin asked.
The servant appeared awkward. "Eldest Miss, please return."
Li Yaoqin frowned and was about to inquire further when she suddenly heard a strange sound from within. Her body stiffened. Seeing the servant's flushed face, she turned to leave and said, "I understand. I will come back later."
Leaving the study, she saw Madam Xu looking worried, wanting to come in but hesitating. For some reason, she felt like smiling.
Seeing her emerge, Madam Xu breathed a sigh of relief. "Yao'er, your father didn't say anything to you, did he?"
Li Yaoqin looked at Madam Xu and smiled. "What do you think Father could say to me?"
"Yao'er, don't be angry if your father scolds you. Many things have happened recently, and your father is very anxious."
"Is that so? But I feel Father is not very anxious. After all, if he can still be in the study with Concubine Liu engaged in intimate activities at this hour, it hardly seems like a matter of anxiety."
Madam Xu trembled all over and stared at Li Yaoqin. "What... what are you talking about?"
"If Mother doesn't believe me, she can always go in and ask. Father's attendant is guarding the door. I'm tired, I'm going to rest." Li Yaoqin said, then turned and left.
Madam Xu's legs weakened, and she took a step back. She instinctively wanted to step forward, but she still lacked the courage.
At that moment, a young woman walked out of the study. Madam Xu's lips twitched as she saw her. "You..."
The woman walked over, her face beaming. "Madam, you are here."
"How did you get here?" Madam Xu was furious.
Concubine Liu smiled. "Madam, your question is most peculiar. Of course, I came because the Master asked me to. Otherwise, how would I dare? Madam's rules are strictly followed by me."
Madam Xu's face turned pale with anger. Concubine Liu smiled, curtsied, and said, "Madam, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave. I am feeling a bit tired."
"Wait..." a voice called out. Concubine Liu froze, then looked up to see a figure approaching her.
Recognizing the person standing before her, she also received a slap across the face.
"You..."
"As a concubine, how dare you retort to Madam? Concubine Liu, are you not afraid of this young lady punishing you?"
"Eldest Miss..." Concubine Liu was somewhat flustered. She was not afraid of Madam, but she was truly afraid of the Eldest Miss.