Chapter 262 Coquetry

Words : 1463 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

Yongning Palace.The Empress Dowager lounged lazily on the phoenix couch, letting the palace maids massage her legs. A palace maid quietly walked in, leaned towards Nanny Li, and whispered a few words. Upon hearing that the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion had entered the palace again— Nanny Li’s face became very long. Thinking of Su Jin, Nanny Li couldn’t forget the thirty boards she received. Every time she entered the palace, it suffered a round of disasters. Just yesterday, her visit caused the Empress and Princess Shouning to be punished by the Emperor to copy palace rules. Today she’s here again! The Emperor once said she could treat the Imperial Palace like her home, and she really took it seriously! It’s fine to come, but she creates some trouble every single time. Nanny Li glanced at the Empress Dowager, waved her hand, and let the palace maid withdraw. When the Empress Dowager raised her hand, the palace maid stopped massaging. Only then did Nanny Li say, "Empress Dowager, the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion has entered the palace again." This news was reported too late. She had just spoken when a little eunuch entered from outside saying, "Empress Dowager, Eunuch Fu is here." Nanny Li was startled. The Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion had gone to the Imperial Study to find the Emperor. Eunuch Fu then came to Yongning Palace. Could it have something to do with the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion? Nanny Li felt a bit panicked. The Empress Dowager frowned tightly and said, "Let him in." Eunuch Fu walked in. He respectfully greeted the Empress Dowager. "Greetings, Empress Dowager," said Eunuch Fu. "You may rise." The Empress Dowager picked up a tea cup and gently fiddled with it, "What brings you to me, Eunuch Fu?" Eunuch Fu wore a smile on his face. "Yesterday, the Empress Dowager helped the Emperor reward the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, but who could have thought she’d clumsily destroy the land deed for the six hundred acres of good land you rewarded her," Eunuch Fu replied truthfully. "She couldn’t remember where those six hundred acres were located, and didn’t dare to come to you, so she went to the Emperor." "The Emperor sent me to inquire, so we could issue a new land deed," said Eunuch Fu. Nanny Li’s eyes widened. Being of a certain age, her face was mostly lined with wrinkles, making her expression hard to look at directly. Eunuch Fu tried to keep his eyes on the Empress Dowager to avoid catching a glimpse of her. The Empress Dowager’s face turned grim. She placed the tea cup down heavily, making a sharp sound in the quiet hall as it hit the small table. Eunuch Fu felt his heart tremble for a moment. The Empress Dowager was angered. And no wonder, having suffered repeated setbacks at the hands of the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion. How could the Empress Dowager not be angry? It’s just that the Eldest Young Madam is so clever, shrewd, bold yet cautious that the Empress Dowager simply couldn’t catch any faults with her, having to swallow her anger again and again. Now, because of a negligence on the Eldest Young Madam’s part, she’s come to trouble the Empress Dowager. Is the Empress Dowager really that easy to trouble? Only the Emperor thinks it’s a trivial matter. The Empress Dowager sneered coldly, "The reward I bestowed, and the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion treated it with such disregard!" Eunuch Fu had nothing to say. "The Empress Dowager has rewarded countless people, but none have been like the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion!" said Nanny Li. "It’s just because the Emperor favors her!" Eunuch Fu didn’t know what to say. You all don’t understand the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion. Even if the Emperor didn’t help, she would have come to Yongning Palace. Without the land deed, those six hundred acres of good land would be as good as gone. She’s someone who—without it—would seize it; having it at hand, would she let it slip away? It’s gracious enough not to grab a few more ducks from others. Eunuch Fu looked at the Empress Dowager. "The Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion acted unintentionally, the Emperor agreed to help," said Eunuch Fu. The Emperor’s words are as good as gold. Empress Dowager, it’s up to you now. The Empress Dowager’s eyes flashed with a cold sneer. She looked at Nanny Li and asked, "Where are those six hundred acres of good land?" Nanny Li replied, "Fearing the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion would be impatient, the rewarded land deed was not registered in the records yesterday, and with it destroyed, this servant doesn’t know where those six hundred acres of good land are either." Eunuch Fu furrowed his brows tightly. "You may withdraw," said the Empress Dowager. The Imperial Study. The Emperor was reviewing memorials. Su Jin was sitting there drinking tea, while Xingxing was carefree and munching on pastries. Eunuch Fu came in, and Xingxing was eager to ask. But with her mouth full of pastries, she ended up choking. "Slow down," said Eunuch Fu. Su Jin stood up and asked, "Do you know where those six hundred acres of good land are now?" Eunuch Fu shook his head. Nanny Li, being an old hand in the palace and knowing that all rewards must be registered, she must have known. The Empress Dowager was utterly unwilling to help. Xingxing looked at Su Jin and asked, "Do we need to go find the Empress Dowager?" Eunuch Fu, "...." Going to find the Empress Dowager won’t help either. He went on behalf of the Emperor, and yet, the Empress Dowager didn’t give any face. Su Jin laughed. "Rather than us going to find the Empress Dowager, why not let the Empress Dowager come to us," said Su Jin. The Emperor, "...." Eunuch Fu, "...." Eunuch Fu silently moved to stand beside the Emperor. The Emperor’s expression turned dark. He was curious to know how she would let the Empress Dowager take the initiative to come to her. Su Jin beckoned a little eunuch over. The little eunuch glanced at the Emperor. The Emperor didn’t speak. The little eunuch shuffled over to Su Jin. "What orders does the Eldest Young Madam have?" The little eunuch’s voice was slightly trembling. "You spread the word to Yongning Palace that I pouted to the Emperor, and the Emperor is going to compensate me with six hundred acres of good land," said Su Jin. The Emperor, "...." Eunuch Fu, "...." Just a small matter, the little eunuch quickly hurried out. Eunuch Fu almost couldn’t stop himself from calling the little eunuch back. This mention will indeed alert the Empress Dowager to come. And come she will, in a fury. But this is not something that can be carelessly spread! Serving in the Imperial Study, if he spread this news, it would be true nine times out of ten. The Emperor lifted his hand to rub his forehead. Just after Marquis Dongxiang had taken a heap of rewards, his daughter came to dig him a pit... Su Jin looked at the Emperor and said, "Emperor, I won’t really ask you to compensate me with six hundred acres of good land." "There’s no harm in making it real," said the Emperor. "...." "The Emperor is really nice," Xingxing said happily. The Emperor, "...." Eunuch Fu, "...." Eunuch Fu held his head. Alright then. This wasn’t even a coquettish plea, and the Emperor was already in the pit. If the Empress Dowager doesn’t tell the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion where those six hundred acres of good land are, the Emperor will have to compensate her with six hundred acres. Su Jin sat down to continue drinking tea. Xingxing continued eating pastries. The two spoke in low voices, but the Emperor couldn’t focus on the memorials at all. After finishing a cup of tea and a piece of pastry, The Empress Dowager arrived. As everyone expected, the Empress Dowager’s face was ashen, boiling with anger. Immediately upon entering, she directly challenged the Emperor. "Emperor!" "I cannot control your favor towards the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, but even favor needs to be measured!" "I’ve already rewarded her with six hundred acres of good land, more than any general with great military achievements at the border." "She destroyed an imperial gift and should be punished. Considering her contributions to the army and since it was unintentional, I won’t pursue it, but compensating her with another six hundred acres, what is the meaning of this?!" The Empress Dowager’s voice was piercing.

Chapter 262 Coquetry

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