Chapter 682 - 460: You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

Chapter 682: Chapter 460: You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

Mrs. Pan and Song Qinghan were not on good terms, but this time she had a task in mind, working for Ming Fei. And since Song Qinghan’s relationship with Ming Fei had greatly improved recently, Mrs. Pan was amicable for the entire journey.

Song Qinghan now understood that if she wanted to have her husband wrapped around her finger, she needed to be capable in her own right.

She had swallowed her pride to submit to Song Yunzhao, so she was determined to reap the greatest possible reward. Now that her sister-in-law was showing goodwill, she knew it was because of her eased relations with Song Yunzhao. So, she dropped her usual sharp tongue and spoke amiably with Mrs. Pan.

Mrs. Pan marveled inwardly. ’This third sister-in-law has finally wised up.’

Their conversation along the way was pleasant enough, but neither of them mentioned Xu Mingying at all.

Mrs. Pan didn’t want Song Qinghan to know about her deal with Ming Fei, and Song Qinghan didn’t want Mrs. Pan probing into the details of her own arrangement with Ming Fei. They were friendly on the surface but guarded underneath.

Just like that, they arrived at the Imperial Awakening Temple. They were startled when they saw Xu Mingying. She was much thinner, and her eyes held a gloomy look that was rather unsettling.

"Where’s Mother? Why didn’t she come?" Xu Mingying demanded, clearly displeased.

Mrs. Pan smiled and said, "Xu Ji, please don’t worry. Mother is feeling a bit unwell, so she couldn’t come today."

Xu Mingying froze. "Unwell? What’s wrong with her?"

The smile on Mrs. Pan’s face faded slightly. She sighed and said, "After receiving your letter yesterday, Xu Ji, Mother was overjoyed. She wanted to come see you early today, so she stayed up last night preparing for the trip. But she stayed up too late, and when she woke up this morning, she felt dizzy. We had no choice but to call for a doctor and let her rest at home."

Xu Mingying’s brow furrowed deeply, and she pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

Song Qinghan glanced at Xu Mingying but said nothing, merely lowering her head slightly to think about what she would say later.

Mrs. Pan didn’t initiate conversation either. She had never liked this sister-in-law. Before entering the palace, Xu Mingying had often bad-mouthed her to their mother-in-law, causing Mrs. Pan no small amount of grief.

After a long silence filled the room, Xu Mingying, seeing no other way, finally looked at the two of them and asked, "The Empress Dowager is unwell. What is the Emperor’s decision regarding the Astronomical Bureau’s proclamation?"

This concerned her ability to return to the palace, and Qin Wanyi was dragging her feet. How could she not be anxious?

Hearing this, Mrs. Pan scoffed inwardly, but her face remained grave. "We did hear that the Empress Dowager suddenly fell ill. However, we don’t have the honor of visiting the garden to pay our respects, so we aren’t clear on the specifics of her condition. But for the Astronomical Bureau to be involved, I imagine..."

At Mrs. Pan’s soft sigh, Xu Mingying’s eyes lit up. "If my birth chart is suitable for attending to the Empress Dowager while she is ill, why has there been no news from the palace?"

Song Qinghan could barely contain her scorn. She kept her head down, not daring to look up until she had composed herself. Only then did she lift her head with a bewildered expression. "Xu Ji, who told you your birth chart was suitable for attending to the Empress Dowager? Wasn’t it An Fangyi?"

"What?" Xu Ji exclaimed in shock. "What does An Fangyi have to do with this?"

Song Qinghan pursed her lips. "How could it have nothing to do with her? Xu Ji, is it possible you were deceived? The news from Jincui Garden is that An Fangyi is the one attending to the Empress Dowager. I heard she moved into Changsheng Courtyard last night."

Xu Mingying shot Song Qinghan a glare, clearly disbelieving her. She turned her head to Mrs. Pan. "Sister-in-law, is this true?"

With a troubled expression, Mrs. Pan sighed and nodded. "I also heard it was An Fangyi. But Xu Ji, how did you receive news that it was you? You originally left the palace for a spiritual retreat to recuperate. Once you’re well, you can simply return. Why the need to do so under the pretext of attending to the ill?"

Xu Mingying fell silent. She couldn’t speak openly about this, of course. The moment she did, the truth of what she and Qin Wanyi had done would come to light.

For plotting against the Empress Dowager alone, Her Majesty could have her flayed alive.

Seeing Xu Mingying’s silence, Song Qinghan added, as if casually, "Xu Ji, don’t overthink it. Tending to the sick is an exhausting task. It’s a good thing An Fangyi is doing it; it saves you the hardship. Your retreat here at the Imperial Awakening Temple is peaceful and elegant, perfect for recuperation. In a little while, once His Majesty returns to the palace, you can simply petition to go back."

Song Qinghan made it sound easy, but Xu Mingying knew returning would not be simple. After all, she had left after offending the three concubines.

If the three concubines did not give their approval, she would never be able to go back.

Xu Mingying couldn’t just admit defeat. She looked at Mrs. Pan and said, "Sister-in-law, can you find a way to get in touch with Qin Wanyi and deliver a message for me?"

The person who had delivered her messages before hadn’t shown up again after the last time. Furthermore, she’d heard that several monks at the Imperial Awakening Temple had fallen ill and been moved away. She felt a deep sense of unease, as if something was terribly wrong.

She could not stay at the Imperial Awakening Temple any longer. She had to get back to the palace.

Mrs. Pan put on a troubled look. "I’m afraid I can’t. As you know, Xu Ji, Mother rarely takes me with her into the palace. Even when she does, I just follow her obediently. I have no real contact with Qin Wanyi."

Xu Mingying frowned. "Can’t you even think of a way?"

Mrs. Pan sighed. "Grand Tutor Qin has long since retired to his hometown. Everyone in the capital knows he offended His Majesty. Who would dare get involved with the Qin Family now? Besides, Qin Wanyi isn’t favored in the palace, and our families have no connection. If I rashly request to see her, I’ll certainly be watched. It’s not that I’m unwilling, but I fear my request card wouldn’t even reach her hands."

Seeing Mrs. Pan’s worried expression, Xu Mingying grew very disappointed, and her tone soured. "Our family still has dealings with the Duke Dingguo Mansion. In that case, Sister-in-law, go request a meeting with An Fangyi. That should be possible, right?"

"An Fangyi is attending to the Empress Dowager. I won’t be able to see her," Mrs. Pan said, looking helpless.

Xu Mingying was at a complete loss for words.

Song Qinghan was practically dying of laughter inside. ’So Xu Mingying has a day like this, too. I never thought my sister-in-law, who seems so honest and kind, could be so devastatingly effective at frustrating someone.’

’You really can’t judge a book by its cover.’

Seeing Mrs. Pan’s weak-willed expression only made Xu Mingying’s anger flare. She turned to Song Qinghan. "Then how about I ask you to help me, Third Sister-in-law? Since you’ve reconciled with Lady Ming, it should be easy for you to visit Jincui Garden."

Song Qinghan froze. ’Song Yunzhao was right.’ Unlike Mrs. Pan, she was direct. "Xu Ji, it’s not that I, your sister-in-law, am unwilling to help. But what I have with Ming Fei isn’t a reconciliation; she’s merely showing deference to my eldest paternal uncle. You’re asking me to go to the palace to see her, and for the sake of family, I am willing to make the trip. However, I can’t promise she will actually see me. Besides, what would you have me see Ming Fei for? Although she is one of the three concubines, Consort Shu is the one who manages palace affairs. If you need to see anyone, shouldn’t it be Consort Shu?"