Chapter 40: Properly Settled

With this in mind, he struggled to suppress the hideous expression on his face, forcing himself to appear amiable. He offered a smile and nodded at Wen Qiao.

"Indeed, the lessons from the Grand Preceptor are profound. Even I sometimes have to read them multiple times to grasp their true essence. It is an exhausting endeavor for women to study such things. Fortunately, you young ladies only need to learn the basics from your tutors; otherwise, I fear many of you would be reduced to tears."

Listening to his repulsive remarks, Wen Qiao could not help but sneer inwardly. He was as arrogant and self-important as he had been in her previous life, convinced he was the most brilliant person in the world.

He looked down upon women, believing their only purpose was to serve their husbands, raise children, and manage the household. If not for the trump card she held, Xiao Minghe would likely not have spared her a second thought, let alone stand here speaking to her so calmly.

"The hour is growing late, and I am anxious to reach the Cining Palace to check on the Empress Dowager’s condition. I cannot keep you company any longer, Cousin. If you have anything you need, pray tell me now, or perhaps we can speak at length once the Empress Dowager’s health has improved."

Wen Qiao truly had no desire to waste more breath on this useless chatter. She only wanted to return and see how the Empress Dowager was faring.

Judging by the time, the Empress Dowager should be awake by now. She needed to observe her condition following the first session of acupuncture. If things were not going well, she would have to determine the next course of action immediately. She had no time to waste on Xiao Minghe’s empty, arrogant posturing.

Because Wen Qiao appeared so urgent—and in truth, the Empress Dowager’s health was indeed a matter of urgency—Xiao Minghe had little choice. Furthermore, since she invoked the Empress Dowager, it would be highly inappropriate for him to object.

The Empress Dowager was his own grandmother. Even if he did not care for her survival, he could only harbor such thoughts in private. If word got out, it would severely damage his reputation, and he would never risk putting himself in the line of fire.

Hearing her, he nodded, unable to continue the conversation. In truth, he had no real business with her; he had only wanted to exchange a few words to leave a lasting impression—or, as the saying goes, to seek validation. If she had urgent matters, he could not force her to stay without damaging his image in her eyes.

That was not his goal.

Therefore, from every angle, he had to agree to let her go.

Having realized this, he nodded and told her to return. Just as Wen Qiao felt as though she had been granted a reprieve and hurried toward the Cining Palace, Xiao Minghe called out to her again.

Seeing her impatience, he feared pushing her too far. He quickly adopted a pitiful expression and said, "Cousin, why must you be so distant with me? If it weren't for Aunt Changle always taking me along to relax in secret back then, I fear I would have grown up without a shred of warmth in my heart. I truly respect Aunt Changle, and I genuinely wish to be close to you as well. I have no malice; why must you be so guarded against me?"

Even if she had to feign compliance, Wen Qiao knew she had to play along to ensure her plans moved forward. She was still useful to him for the moment; otherwise, he would never have spoken to her with such feigned gentleness.

Moreover, while she did not fully understand the complexities of a man’s heart, she knew enough to understand that they often cherish what is harder to obtain. Yet, one could not be too aloof; a small, calculated concession was necessary.

"You are right, Cousin. I am always so bound by propriety that I assumed you were merely being polite. Since you have spoken so sincerely, I shall say no more. I will certainly make an effort to be closer to you in the future. Please do not worry, Cousin; I am simply deeply concerned for the Empress Dowager’s health. I meant no slight toward you. Once the Empress Dowager is significantly better, I shall personally come to apologize to you. The hour is late, and I know you are busy with your studies, so I shall delay you no longer."

Hearing this, Xiao Minghe finally wiped the nauseating, pathetic look from his face. Wen Qiao breathed a sigh of relief; she had been genuinely afraid she might vomit in his presence.

***

Upon arriving at the Cining Palace, Wen Qiao noticed the atmosphere was quite lively and the staff appeared relaxed. It seemed the Empress Dowager’s condition had improved, bringing about this noticeable shift.

Her heart lightened, though she remained anxious until she saw the Empress Dowager for herself.

"The Sixth Young Lady has returned! The Empress Dowager only just woke, and she was asking for you. Do hurry in and speak with her! I daresay the Empress Dowager cannot do without you now; the moment she cannot find you, she grows restless. Why, in the short time since she awoke, she has mentioned your name several times! Had you not returned, I truly feared she might have tried to get out of bed to go find you at the Shangshu Study herself!"

Before she even reached the bedchamber, she encountered Nanny Song, who greeted her with a warm, beaming smile. Wen Qiao could not help but laugh.

It was a wonderful feeling to be missed. In her previous life, she had never experienced it, but since her rebirth, the things she had once craved but could never attain were now flowing toward her in abundance. Had she made different choices in her past life, perhaps things would not have ended as they did. But that was the past; she was doing well enough now, and she pushed those thoughts aside.

If Nanny Song was in such high spirits, the Empress Dowager’s condition must be good. Nanny Song had served the Empress Dowager for decades and would never be so cheerful otherwise.

The bond between them was as close as sisters. If anyone were to suggest that Nanny Song might betray the Empress Dowager, not even the Empress Dowager herself would believe it.

In her past life, although Wen Qiao had not been close to the Empress Dowager, she had heard that when the Empress Dowager eventually passed away from her illness, Nanny Song had followed her into death, unwilling to remain in this world alone. Having never married or had children of her own, and with her original kin long gone, the Empress Dowager was truly the only family Nanny Song had left in the world. How could she not be genuinely devoted to the Empress Dowager’s well-being?

Thinking of this, Wen Qiao felt a sense of relief.

It was fortunate that Nanny Song had been at the Cining Palace all these years. She was intelligent and capable, and had protected the Empress Dowager well. Even with the concubines planting spies and plotting against her life, they had never succeeded. It was only through a rare lapse in Nanny Song’s vigilance that others had found an opening.

"It is all my fault for leaving. I should have been here so that she would see me the moment she opened her eyes. Thank you for telling me, Nanny. I shall go in to see her now."

Wen Qiao smiled radiantly. She always gave her full respect to those who truly cared for the people she loved, regardless of their gender. Besides, it cost her nothing to be gracious.

Nanny Song was known for her pleasant temperament and dedication, and she never acted entitled despite her status, which made Wen Qiao all the more willing to treat her with respect.

True to expectations, the Empress Dowager had heard Wen Qiao’s voice before she even entered the room. She had been on the verge of getting out of bed to find her, and had Wen Qiao not pushed the door open just in time to stop her, the Empress Dowager might well have reached the threshold.

The Empress Dowager was still weak from the acupuncture, and Wen Qiao did not support her moving about freely. She needed to rest and recover. Nanny Song had told her that the Empress Dowager was not one to sit still; even within the palace, she liked to wander about.

Even if she did not leave the Cining Palace, she would roam the rockeries and the small stream to feed the fish. While not strenuous, it was a significant drain on a woman of her age.

Wen Qiao could not risk letting her walk about in her current state. If anyone with ill intentions remained within the palace walls, a slip or a fall would be a catastrophe for the Empress Dowager’s health. That was why she was adamant about keeping her confined to her rest.

Seeing Wen Qiao’s troubled expression, the Empress Dowager chuckled and climbed back into bed, offering sweet words of concession.

"Oh, very well, very well. I am old, and I know my body is not as resilient as you young ones. I only thought to walk about because I felt a bit lighter today. If I lie in this bed all day, I shall grow moldy, and then I’ll have no energy to talk with my dear granddaughter! All right, all right, since you say I must rest, I shall listen to you. I wouldn’t want to upset you over such a small matter."

The Empress Dowager lay back down, and Wen Qiao finally relaxed, a look of pure, innocent joy on her face.

However, the Empress Dowager knew that had she not complied, the girl might truly have been hurt.

Under normal circumstances, she would never have granted such deference to anyone. But she loved Wen Qiao from the bottom of her heart and wanted the girl to feel at ease.

She had seen how tirelessly Wen Qiao had worked for her health these past few days—more than any of her own biological grandchildren had ever done. She had been bedridden before, and the princes and princesses would only stop by for a moment, offering empty pleasantries. No one had been willing to stay and keep her company.

The Cining Palace was dull, and the comparison was clear. How could she not love Wen Qiao’s sincerity?

Wen Qiao loved the feeling of being cherished, and despite her age, the Empress Dowager had the same need. Since Wen Qiao was genuinely devoted, she was more than happy to listen to her.

Furthermore, because Changle had died so young, the Empress Dowager had always felt a deep sense of guilt, and she poured all that repressed affection into Wen Qiao, hoping to find some measure of peace.

Once settled, Wen Qiao tucked the quilt around the Empress Dowager and urged her earnestly, "Grandmother, it is not that I wish to keep you bedridden. If you were healthy, I would be the first to encourage you to walk. But your body is in a fragile state, and now that you are finally showing signs of recovery, you must not overexert yourself. Your illness is not incurable; I am studying it further, and I promise that with the right treatment, you shall be well! Then, you may walk as much as you please, and I shall not stop you. Walking is indeed good for the health, but circumstances are different now. Please, endure this for a little longer. As soon as you are strong enough, I promise you shall be the first to be up and about."

Wen Qiao’s words were sweet and sincere, and the Empress Dowager felt a warmth spread through her heart. She was more than happy to listen to her.

She had only tried to get up because she had heard Wen Qiao’s voice; otherwise, she would never have been so restless.