Yu Mingyue sat in the rocking chair in the courtyard of her manor, her feet swaying back and forth. She gazed up at the inky sky, a sense of profound dejection washing over her. She didn't even notice when Cui Shi approached.
"Yue'er!" Cui Shi gently placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"Mother, I am so sad," Yu Mingyue leaned into Cui Shi's embrace.
Cui Shi had also heard the news of Mo Yuxi's passing. They had been close since childhood, and Yuxi was like a daughter to her. Her death brought immense pain to Cui Shi as well.
"The departed are gone. Those who remain must live well, and live well for them too!"
Yu Mingyue nestled in Cui Shi's arms, nodding slightly without speaking. Yes, she could not remain lost in sorrow.
Yuxi did not wish to be buried in the imperial mausoleum. Helping her fulfill this wish was the most pressing matter.
Yesterday, she had refused Luo Lingyi again, likely offending her completely. This made any attempts to act within the palace even more difficult.
Yu Mingyue looked up at the starry sky. "Yuxi, if you can hear me, you must help me. I will surely fulfill your wish."
...
Mo Yuxi's meritorious birth of the little imperial grandson earned her the posthumous honor of a noble consort's burial in the imperial mausoleum. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau selected an auspicious date. After nine days of lying in repose at Jue Lai Temple at the foot of Phoenix Mountain, she would be interred in the mausoleum.
These nine days were the best opportunity.
Yu Mingyue had already instructed Li Fu to arrange for people to infiltrate the temple. With A Ying's assistance from the inside, they could execute a substitution at the opportune moment.
Everything was planned, but Yu Mingyue never anticipated the Mo family suddenly arriving with guards, claiming they wished to escort the Consort on her final journey.
The Mo family naturally desired their daughter's burial in the imperial mausoleum. Though Yuxi was dead, she had brought immense honor to the Mo family. As long as the little imperial grandson remained, the Emperor would not forget them.
Despite Madam Mo's affection for her daughter, it paled in comparison to the family's interests.
A Ying was extremely anxious. "My lady, the temple exits are guarded by the Jin Wu Guards and the Mo family's retainers. How can we transport my young lady's remains? If Madam discovers this, my life is of little consequence, but I fear we may fail to fulfill my young lady's only wish."
Yesterday, Yu Mingyue had used a sleeping potion provided by Su Mu to incapacitate the mourners and secretly switch Yuxi's body. She had intended to transport it out during the guard change using a vegetable delivery cart. However, Madam Mo arrived with guards and blocked the pre-arranged cart, disrupting all their plans.
"Do not worry. Li Fu has been thoroughly surveying the temple's situation these past few days. There is one area where the guards are not as strict. However, it may cause Yuxi some hardship." Yu Mingyue hesitated to resort to this method unless absolutely necessary.
A Ying choked back tears. "As long as my young lady can achieve her wish, what is a little hardship?"
"Very well. We will act tonight. You will be responsible for weeping loudly before the bier to detain Madam Mo."
The Mo family's guards recognized her. If things went awry, she could use her official status to assert authority. However, Madam Mo's presence would complicate matters.
Finally, as night fell, Yu Mingyue instructed Li Fu and two young servants to carry the luggage along the designated route.
"Stop!"
A voice suddenly called out from behind, startling the group.
Yu Mingyue turned to see Granny Jiang from the Crown Prince's consort's palace.
Although the Imperial Household Department had dispatched eunuchs to oversee the funeral rites and the Ministry of Rites had sent officials to assist, as the primary consort of the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince's Consort naturally had to send someone, even if it was merely for show.
"Granny Jiang!" Yu Mingyue stopped and gave a slight nod.
As a high-ranking official of the Great Wei dynasty, she was not obligated to bow to a mere granny.
"What is inside those boxes!" Granny Jiang asked impatiently.
She was a trusted confidante of Luo Lingyi's palace. After many years in the palace, she had become quite shrewd. She had already noticed that Yu Mingyue and the Crown Prince's Consort were no longer as close as they once were.
The political landscape of the palace shifted rapidly. Friends one moment could be enemies the next; she had seen it all.
"Just some clothing."
"Clothing? Does clothing require such large boxes? Open them. This old servant must inspect them." She then beckoned to the guards to open the boxes.
Li Fu instinctively shielded the boxes. Granny Jiang's sharp eyes immediately detected something amiss. Determined to escalate the situation, she raised her voice. "Are you perhaps trying to steal palace property during the funeral rites of the Consort?"
Consort Mo's successful delivery of the little imperial grandson had warranted a grand funeral. It was known that the Empress Dowager herself had lain in repose at this very temple. Such an honor for a Crown Prince's consort was extremely rare. The accompanying burial items were all precious treasures, and it was not impossible for someone to covet them.
"Absurd!" Yu Mingyue exclaimed, flicking her sleeve in anger. "This official was a close friend of Consort Mo. How could I possibly steal her burial items?"
"One can never be sure!" Granny Jiang retorted sarcastically.
Her intention today was to humiliate Yu Mingyue and, in doing so, avenge the Crown Prince's Consort. This would surely earn her merit.
"Sure of what?" a female voice called out from the corridor.
Yu Mingyue recognized the newcomer and inwardly groaned. If one Granny Jiang was already so troublesome, now Feng Yingying had arrived.
"Consort Feng!" Granny Jiang offered a slight curtsy. Before Feng Yingying could tell her to rise, she straightened up.
She was merely an unfavored consort. If her status were not sufficient, the Crown Prince would not have appointed her to preside over the funeral rites on behalf of the Eastern Palace.
Then again, this was hardly a pleasant task; it was quite inauspicious. Only a favored and esteemed consort would be spared such an assignment.
Feng Yingying slapped Granny Jiang across the face. "You lowly servant! Did I tell you to rise?"
She was known for her petulant and overbearing nature, and her relationship with the other consorts in the Eastern Palace was not good. However, due to her father and brother's influence, and her lack of ambition for favor, over time, no one bothered to confront her.
Granny Jiang was stunned by the slap. She knew of Consort Feng's temper, but she never expected her to dare lay hands on her. She was a person of the Crown Prince's Consort.
"You..."
"What 'you'? A lowly servant dares to look directly at this consort without proper deference? Jin Wu Guards, drag this old crone away and give her ten lashes!" Feng Yingying declared.
The Jin Wu Guards exchanged glances, unsure of what to do. Feng Yingying grew impatient. "What? Do you want me to report to the Crown Prince and have you all flogged as well?"
Upon hearing this, the guards hastily clasped their hands in salutation. "Your subordinate dares not!"
They then pulled the bewildered Granny Jiang away. This Consort Feng was notoriously overbearing, and they preferred not to provoke her.
After everyone had departed, Feng Yingying adjusted her silk scarf and looked at Yu Mingyue mockingly. "Yu Liu Niang, you are truly useless now. A mere incompetent granny managed to frighten you. Where has your former ferocity gone?"
She recalled how Yu Mingyue had once dared to throw her off her horse and then leave a bloody horse carcass outside the Feng family's tent. How had she become so timid?
Feng Yingying's rudeness had inadvertently helped her. As long as she didn't fly into a rage, Yu Liu Niang would endure her scolding today.
"Your Highness's majesty, this subject dares not offend." Yu Mingyue bowed respectfully.
Feng Yingying let out a cold snort. "Is that so? However, your furtive behavior is indeed suspicious. What exactly is inside these boxes?"