Chapter 157 The Disappeared Madams (Part One)

Yun Shang was surprised. Lady Geng? The name sounded unfamiliar to her. Who was she?

Qin Yi noticed Yun Shang's confusion. She hurriedly explained, "Your Highness didn't know her. Lady Geng was the late Emperor's Lady. She died a long time ago. She was Lady Ming's sister, taken by the late Emperor as a concubine when he was the Crown Prince. But after their marriage, she failed to bear his child. Then the Li Clan presented Lady Ming to the late Emperor. Later, Lady Ming became pregnant. When she was merely 25 years old, Lady Geng suddenly fell ill, and died. Her death devastated the pregnant Lady Ming, who then miscarried due to grief. At the time, many praised their strong bond of sisterhood."

Yun Shang sneered, "Sisterhood? Once the Emperor took them both, they were no longer sisters." Lying on her bed, Yun Shang started to think over the anecdotes. She wondered what had happened between Lady Ming and her sister, but all entanglements had been buried. Regardless, someone had planted Lady Geng's confidants in her palace. Perhaps this person thought Yun Shang knew nothing about Lady Ming and Lady Geng's grudge, and wouldn't find out his or her plot.

After a long while, Yun Shang glanced at Qin Yi, and said, "What do the two madams do?"

Lowering her eyes, Qin Yi answered, "They are settled in the side hall. As they're both aged now, and versed in the etiquettes of the Palace, they're not in charge of laborious work. Instead, they teach the newly recruited maids."

"I see." Yun Shang blinked. That was a good position. It would be easy for the madams to cultivate their networks.

"Your Highness, how do you want to deal with them?" Qin Yi asked. She felt guilty as she had been negligent about the personnel change in Qingxin Palace. It was h

o Qin Yi. As she had guessed, seemingly, Li Fuyi was accompanying Lady Ming, but she didn't lose the Emperor's favor. Emperor Ning had only visited his ladies five times in the past month, and Li Fuyi was one of the lucky five.

Yun Shang thought for a while. She chose a plain dress, and asked Qin Yi to help her change. Then she headed towards Changchun Palace.

When Yun Shang arrived, she spotted Fuyi in Changchun Palace. She was absorbed in transcribing Buddhist texts. Fuyi's dress was simple but elegant, and her hair was tied on the top of her head with a plain silver hairpin.

Lady Ming sat beside her. Her eyes were closed, as if she was dozing. And the hall smelt of sandalwood, the incense of Buddhism.

"Your Highness, Princess Hui Guo has arrived." Madam Yu noticed Yun Shang. She quietly reported to Lady Ming.

Upon hearing that, Lady Ming opened her eyes, and glanced at Yun Shang. Yun Shang flashed her a smile, curtsied, and said, "The weather is getting warmer now. I tend to be lazy on hot days. Just now, I had a little plum syrup, and thought Your Highness might like its taste, and I haven't visited you recently, so I decided to bring some to you."