All Hail Cousin Brother

Chapter 624: Brothers Fighting for a Daughter

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows slightly. “Go ahead!”

After hearing Old Madam Yu’s tearful complaint, she already understood what had happened.

Since Old Madam Yu had brazenly reported it to her, this matter couldn’t be fake.

However, the Empress Dowager wouldn’t only listen to Old Madam Yu’s words and still sent someone out of the palace to investigate.

Seeing Old Madam Yu’s tears, the Empress Dowager also sighed. “The Duke

Rong’s Residence is indeed too outrageous. Since the Princess Consort of Duke

Rong’s Residence has also entered the palace, I’ll listen to what she has to say. Old Madam, calm down.”

At this point, she glanced at the agarwood prayer beads hanging on Old Madam Yu’s wrist and recalled that before the previous emperor was alive, he valued Old Master Yu very much.

It was also because of this that she often invited Old Madam Yu into the palace to talk. She also made two strings of prayer beads and gave one to her.

Old Master Yu was patrolling the water disaster for the Imperial Court. On the way, he had asked the mudslide that had rolled down the mountain to be buried in the ground. That was why he lost his life.

When the previous emperor received this news, he was very heartbroken. “I’ve lost another good minister.”

From then on, the previous emperor took good care of the Yu Residence.

Thinking of the past, the Empress Dowager looked at Old Madam Yu again.

She used to be beautiful and straightforward, but after experiencing hardships, she was already old and pitiful.

Old Master Yu had lost his life for the Imperial Court. Old Madam Yu had been loyal and righteous for most of her life. Second Master Yu and the Xie family had also contributed greatly to helping the Imperial Court lift the sea ban. Eldest Master Yu had not made much progress in the Imperial Court, but he was considered diligent. The entire family was loyal and contributed greatly.

The matter of the Duke Rong’s Residence could not be covered up in public.

The Empress Dowager continued, “No matter what, Eldest Miss Yu almost ruined her reputation. Old Madam Yu suddenly fell ill and injured your body. Even the Duke Rong’s Residence can’t escape responsibility. I will definitely make a decision for you.”

Old Madam Yu knelt on the ground with a thud. “Thank you, Empress

Dowager.”

The Empress Dowager hurriedly said, “You’re not in good health, so don’t Imeel for no reason. Get up quickly!”

The little palace maid hurriedly went forward to help Old Madam Yu up.

At this moment, an eunuch came over to report, “Matriarch, Imperial Physician Hu is here.”

Old Madam Yu was a little surprised.

On second thought, she understood that Imperial Physician Hu was the Imperial Physician of the Imperial Academy of Medicine. Now that the matter of the Third Prince falling into the water had spread, Imperial Physician Hu would definitely have to return to the palace early.

Not long after, Imperial Physician Hu carried the medicine box into the inner hall and knelt down to the Empress Dowager. He was ordered to take Old Madam Yu’s pulse.

Previously, Old Madam Yu suddenly had a Yang problem. As she had received first aid and acupuncture and taken the incense medicine to treat it. She was fine now, but because she had not rested well, her symptoms had worsened.

Imperial Physician Hu prescribed a pill to relieve the symptoms and instructed repeatedly, “Don’t let your emotions intensify. You have to be calm and nourish your mind. Rest more and don’t tire out.”

The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes. It seemed that Old Madam Yu had really suffered a lot when she was unconscious in the Duke Rong’s Residence.

She had already taken a fancy to Old Madam Yu’s character. At the Flower

Festival in the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence, she had also found out that Eldest Miss Yu was a virtuous girl like Old Madam Yu. That was why she was moved.

In the past few years, there had been droughts of varying degrees everywhere in the country. This year, it was especially serious. She also had the intention to borrow Eldest Miss Yu’s family’s wealth and the Xie family’s channels to resolve the droughts everywhere.

However, she had never thought of tainting the good young lady of someone else’s family to secure the fourth prince’s concubine.

The fourth prince had a good personality. This was not considered random matchmaking and harming a good young lady.

However, now that something happened in Duke Rong’s Residence, it was not good to mention the marriage anymore.

Otherwise, wouldn’t it become a competition between brothers over a daughter? It would be considered a conflict between family members. If word got out, it would damage the dignity of the royal family.

At the thought of this, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but feel angry.

After Old Madam Yu took the medicine, she asked the little palace maid to help her to the side hall to rest. She only returned to the inner hall when the Princess Consort of Duke Rong’s Residence came over.

The Princess Consort of Duke Rong’s Residence was wearing heavy makeup and did not even apply any powder on her face. Just like that, her face was pale and her eyes were swollen as she knelt in front of the Empress Dowager to apologize.

As Old Madam Yu was present, she had already thought it through and avoided the main point. She did not dare to say anything else.

The Princess Consort of Duke Rong’s Residence Prefecture cried miserably. “Empress Dowager, it’s because I saw that Eldest Miss Yu was well-mannered that I had designs on her. However, our Brother Zhang doesn’t have the title of heir, nor does he have a position. How can he be worthy of Old Madam Yu’s meticulously raised eldest daughter? I’m just worried that if Old Madam Yu doesn’t say it, my daughter-in-law will be snatched away…”

Old Madam Yu was not surprised by this explanation. None of the old fellows in wealthy families who could last until their age were simple.

It was not rare for a wealthy family to use all kinds of methods to marry a virtuous wife for the next generation.

The Empress Dowager held a pink peony teacup and lowered her eyes, not saying anything.

Old Madam Yu only said that Fifth Miss Yin had lured Eldest Miss Yu to crepe

myrtle garden Eldest Miss Yu sensed that something was amiss and returned to the reception pavilion, not taking it seriously.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Eldest Miss Yu returned to the reception pavilion, a maidservant rushed over to report that the Third Prince had fallen into the water.

Old Madam Yu only explained what had happened in the reception pavilion, not daring to implicate the Third Prince. She did not mention anything about him after that.

The crepe myrtle garden was in the inner courtyard, so it was already inappropriate for an outsider to go to the inner courtyard. It was impossible for the Princess Consort of Duke Rong’s Residence not to know about this. Not to mention what happened to the Third Prince, the intentions of the Duke  Rong’s Residence to harm Eldest Miss Yu were obvious.

This matter could not be more obvious.

The Princess Consort was taking all the blame alone. This excuse could be maintained. As long as it did not implicate the dignity of the royal family, some things would be easier.

The Duke Rong’s Residence was still sensible.

The Princess Consort of Duke Rong’s Residence cried. “The old Princess Consort lost her temper and said that she wanted to send Fifth Miss to a nunnery. Who knew that our Fifth Miss was also a stubborn person? She actually took it too hard and hung her head in the house. The maidservant in front of her also knew that she couldn’t escape and died with her…”

If her master hung her neck right under her nose, the maidservant in front of her would definitely not survive. If she took the initiative to die for her master, she would also gain a good reputation for being loyal. The residence would also treat her family well.

Old Madam Yu i s hand trembled, and she felt suffocated.

Fifth Miss Yin and the maidservant in front of her were people that Yao Yao had interacted with and participated in this matter. Now that they were dead and there was no evidence, everything was still up to the Princess Consort of Duke Rong’s Residence to say.

Fifth Miss Yin had given up her life. The Duke Rong’s Residence had pretended to be pitiful in front of the Empress Dowager to hide the truth) so it could be considered an explanation to the Yu Residence.

Fifth Miss Yin was the daughter of a concubine, so she naturally couldn’t compare to Yao Yao.

Yao Yao’s reputation had not been damaged, but people in the Duke Rong’s Residence had lost their lives after all. The Empress Dowager had to show pity when she paid respects to Buddha.

The Empress Dowager said calmly, “Your Duke Rong’s Residence is really too outrageous..”