Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress
Chapter 1354 - 1361: Fight Fire with Fire (5)

Chapter 1354: Chapter 1361: Fight Fire with Fire (5)

Cai Wei personally served the tea to the old madam and laughed, "Grandmother never comes to the Hall of Three Treasures without a reason; is there any advice you wish to give Cai Wei?"

The old madam slightly bowed and said, "Your Highness jests. You are now the mother of the nation; how dare I instruct you? It is just that there are a few words I am unsure whether to say or not?"

Cai Wei laughed, "Is grandmother about to discuss matters between Cai Wei and the Empress Dowager?"

The old madam replied, "Your Highness is wise, knowing already what I wish to address, and with that knowledge, there is no need for me to beat around the bush. I believe that although Empress Dowager Mo is at fault, she remains your mother-in-law. Sometimes, the Empress still should leave her some dignity. I know that none of these issues are your fault. Later, I will also go to persuade her, telling her to ease up and stop causing trouble every day for no reason!"

Cai Wei said, "If grandmother really can persuade the Empress Dowager, that would indeed be Wei’er’s fortune. You may not know, grandmother, but ever since Wei’er entered the door, the Empress Dowager has always looked down on me, either picking at my flaws or trying to trip me up, making my life miserable. Sometimes I have had no choice but to fight back, or else, who knows how far she would go!"

The old madam sighed and said, "Grandmother knows you are good-hearted. I ask you to consider grandmother’s feelings and not to quarrel with her. In fact, your mother wasn’t always like this. Before she was gentle and reasonable at home, but later, in order for our family clan to survive, she entered the palace. After over twenty years in the palace’s cutthroat environment, the constant intrigue has profoundly changed her, turning her cold and narrow-minded. You know that a person’s nature cannot be developed overnight, nor can it be changed quickly. Grandmother will try to persuade her to slowly transform. Will you promise grandmother to not let her lose face in public and to make allowances for her?"

At this point, tears welled up in the old woman’s eyes as she choked up saying: "In fact, your Imperial Mother has suffered a lot over these years. Ultimately, she, like you, had a person she loved deeply and could have married to live a happy life. However, to ensure our family clan’s survival and avoid revenge from Consort Jin, she bravely gave up her happiness to enter the palace, enduring hard times and perils alone in this unpredictable Deep Palace. Each day she faced countless schemes, and any carelessness could have led to her destruction."

"She wasn’t denied the emperor’s favor because she brought few bridal gifts or was not beautiful enough, but because she did not wish to fight for his favor. Her beloved was a young general guarding the frontier between Meng slaves and Great Jin. At that time, there were frequent conflicts between Meng slaves and Great Jin. After she entered the palace, one day, that young general went out alone for patrol and encountered a group of Meng slaves. A fight erupted and although the general killed many, he eventually fell due to exhaustion, beheaded tragically."

"As a general, he surely knew the dangers of patrolling alone; evidently, he knew of her situation in the palace and felt life had nothing more to offer, seeking his own death. After learning of this, your Imperial Mother fell gravely ill and nearly died herself. After recovering from this illness, her personality turned increasingly cold and indifferent."

"Over the years, she has fulfilled a daughter of the Mo family’s duties, maintaining the Mo family’s glory and status. Yet her inner torment remained unspoken, trapped within her, day after day, year after year. The suppression inside her heart has made her character increasingly strange and unappealing. Hence, under such heavy pressure, she often behaves excessively. Grandmother has witnessed the injustices against you and will speak to her gradually. But she has suffered for decades; grandmother asks you not to quarrel with this pitiable person. If she causes you displeasure again, come to grandmother, and I will speak to her, just don’t make her lose face in public again..."

The old madam, speaking painfully, began to weep profusely.

Cai Wei, listening, felt a surge of emotion!

She had never expected that Empress Dowager Mo had such a past. A young and beautiful aristocratic girl, with a beautiful love and aspirations for the future, sacrificed her lifelong happiness for her family’s needs, stepping into the ruthless Deep Palace. Over these past twenties years, she must have suffered greatly...

Her lover must have loved her deeply, knowing there was no future between them, he did not hesitate to die for his love. Such abiding and unwavering devotion commanded her utmost respect and deserved her regard!

Now, recalling the various past actions of Empress Dowager Mo, she found her less hateful and understood that those actions must have been the irrational responses of a woman whose psychology had been severely twisted. She was not only Nangong Yi’s mother but also a pitiable woman, deserving of her forbearance and sympathy!

Cai Wei said: "Grandmother, rest assured, from now on I will try to give in to Imperial Mother more, as long as she isn’t too overbearing, I won’t compete with her for superiority!"

Old Madame wiped her tears and gratefully said: "Grandmother knows you are sensible and understanding. Grandmother thanks you on behalf of the entire Duke Li Guo’s Mansion..."

That night, when Nangong Yi returned, Cai Wei told him the news of Ning Huaixiu entering the palace as a palace maid in three days. Nangong Yi frowned and said with disdain: "She wishes to enter the palace? Fine, but just place her in some corner where I don’t have to be annoyed by her presence!"

Cai Wei Laughed and said: "To truly crush her hopes, we must indeed keep her close to us. But don’t worry, I will make her back down knowing her place! Of course, that’s assuming you won’t develop feelings for her!"

Nangong Yi’s mouth twitched: "I would develop feelings for her? You think too highly of her. I never spared her a glance when I didn’t have you, this demoness. Now that I have you, why would I bother with her? Have you ever seen someone leave mountain and sea delicacies to eat swine feed?"

Hearing him compare Miss Ning to swine feed, Cai Wei burst out laughing and tapped his forehead, saying: "You rascal, here Miss Ning is deeply in love with you, determined to marry no one but you, yet you show no mercy or cherish for beauty, truly you have wasted her affection!"

Nangong Yi indifferently said: "What is she considered a beauty in your presence? At best, she’s just a living person with limbs intact and features in place!"

...

On the third day of the hunt, Brother Ying responded, "Master, I’ve found out who collaborated with Helan Qing and Tuotuo to assassinate you!"

Cai Wei said coldly: "Who is it?"

Brother Ying said: "It’s the miss from the Mansion of the national protector—Li Ruizhu!"

"Is it really her?"

Cai Wei sneered, she thought that after the Lice Gu incident, Li Ruizhu would quiet down and lead her life obediently. Unexpectedly, she was still causing trouble, and getting worse, even plotting to kill her, truly seeking death!

"Master, what should we do now?"

Cai Wei, laughing hehe, said: "Since this young miss likes killing people, let us treat her with a dose of her own medicine!"