Reborn as a Happy Wife in a Rural Family - Chapter 273: Ms. Yang

Chapter 273: Chapter 273: Ms. Yang

Xiao Yunjing arranged for all the valuable items to be transported to Qiyang County. He planned to store them in Gu Qingli’s space, as that was the safest place.

The grain was stockpiled to supply the army, ready to be transported wherever needed.

「At this time, in the Imperial Palace of Beijiang Kingdom.」

After the court session that day, Xiao Yunfeng returned to his imperial study to find Xiao Han present.

“Why are you not at your studies?”

Now that Xiao Han was the Crown Prince, he had dedicated tutors to teach him.

“Royal Father, Imperial Mother said she wishes to return to Qinghe Village.” Instead of explaining his absence from studies, Xiao Han brought up Ms. Yang’s matter.

“Return to Qinghe Village? Why?”

Xiao Han pursed his lips. “Imperial Mother is unhappy.”

“’She is the Empress, and still unhappy?’” Xiao Yunfeng was clearly displeased.

Xiao Han remained silent. He desperately wanted to tell Xiao Yunfeng that while his mother was the Empress of the nation, his father had filled the harem with other women. How could his mother possibly be happy?

The Xiao family rules forbade men from taking concubines. But once he became Emperor, those rules were utterly disregarded. Even his grandmother supported this.

His Imperial Mother watched daily as those women vied for the Emperor Father’s attention, consumed by jealousy. She couldn’t find happiness, and her once-smiling face was gone. It pained Xiao Han to see her like this.

He was already fifteen years old and understood many things. Even though his Imperial Mother said nothing, he could tell she was unhappy.

His Imperial Mother often reminisced about their days in Qinghe Village when, despite their poverty, they were all together and very happy.

He had told his Royal Father, hoping he would understand, but evidently, he had not.

Seeing Xiao Han standing with his head bowed in silence, Xiao Yunfeng waved his hand. “Go to the Study Hall for now. I will visit your Imperial Mother once I’ve finished my work.”

Xiao Han nodded, a slight sense of relief easing his heart.

After Xiao Han departed, Xiao Yunfeng immediately made his way to Fengqi Palace.

「Inside Fengqi Palace.」

Ms. Yang was in the rear garden, planting vegetables. She had a small greenhouse built there to cultivate some vegetables. She was accustomed to eating vegetables she grew herself, so she had one built shortly after arriving.

Back in Qinghe Village, she had often helped Gu Qingli with such tasks, so she knew how to construct one.

“’Your Majesty the Empress, His Majesty the Emperor has arrived,’ a palace maid announced.”

Without even straightening up, Ms. Yang said, “Tell His Majesty I am here.”

She was just a common woman from the countryside; referring to herself with the royal ’I’ felt incredibly awkward.

The palace maid, aware of Ms. Yang’s temperament, hurried back to deliver the message.

When Xiao Yunfeng arrived, frowning, he saw Ms. Yang still bent over, tilling the soil. Seeing her dressed like a peasant woman, his frown deepened.

Xiao Yunfeng waved away all the palace attendants before stepping into the greenhouse, his face grim. In a low voice, he asked, “’You are not accustomed to palace life? You prefer Qinghe Village?’”

Ms. Yang stopped her work, resting the hoe against the earth. She turned to face this man who had become increasingly unfamiliar to her, raising an eyebrow. “’Indeed, I am not accustomed to it. I very much prefer life in Qinghe Village.’”

Xiao Yunfeng said gloomily, “’You can go back—lying down on a stretcher.’”

Since her arrival, Ms. Yang had repeatedly told Xiao Yunfeng he should not have become Emperor.

He had thought Ms. Yang would be overjoyed; instead, she had doused him with a basin of cold water.

Wasn’t everything he did to ensure his parents, wife, and children could live better lives?

Yet, in the end, apart from his own mother, no one else supported him.

That was why he had expanded his harem.

As a result, his relationship with Ms. Yang had deteriorated further.

Ms. Yang glanced at Xiao Yunfeng and said coldly, “’Should I die one day, I trouble you to send my body back to Qinghe Village.’”

“’Preposterous!’” Xiao Yunfeng flung his sleeves and stormed off.

No sooner had Xiao Yunfeng left than another palace maid arrived, summoning Ms. Yang to Cixi Palace.

Ms. Yang sighed, returned to her chambers to change into palace attire, and then proceeded to Cixi Palace.

Ms. Jiang, resplendent in elaborate robes, was seated in a position of authority. Her face tightened when Ms. Yang arrived. “’Did you quarrel with Yunfeng again?’”

Ms. Yang curtsied and pursed her lips, replying coolly, “’No, we merely exchanged a few words.’”

“’Merely exchanged a few words? Such airs you put on now! When His Majesty the Emperor came to see you, not only did you fail to receive him, you made His Majesty come looking for you!’ Ms. Jiang said, her eyes fixed sharply on Ms. Yang.”

Ms. Yang lowered her head, remaining silent. She knew that if she responded to Ms. Jiang, even harsher words would surely follow.

“’Kneel here. You may rise when you’ve realized your error.’ Seeing Ms. Yang’s silence, Ms. Jiang ordered her to continue kneeling.”

Ms. Yang knelt silently.

The palace maid who had accompanied her waited outside. When Ms. Yang didn’t emerge after some time, she scanned her surroundings and then quietly hurried towards the Study Hall.

BANG.

In her haste, the palace maid bumped into someone.

“’Where did this clumsy wench spring from? Do you not value your head, daring to collide with the Emperor Emeritus?’ a eunuch berated the palace maid.”

The palace maid, startled back to her senses, immediately dropped to her knees and kowtowed in terror. “’Emperor Emeritus, mercy! This servant did not do it intentionally!’”

“’So, it was intentional then?’ the eunuch pressed.”

“’Xiao Jiu, enough of your nonsense,’ Xiao Ce said, raising a hand to silence the eunuch.”

Eunuch Xiao Jiu bowed and stepped back, saying no more.

“’From which palace are you? Why are you in such a panic? What has happened?’ Xiao Ce asked gently.”

“’This… this servant is Xiao Xi from Fengqi Palace,’ the palace maid stammered. ’Her Majesty the Empress… she… she…’”

Xiao Ce frowned. “’Has the Empress Dowager punished Her Majesty the Empress again?’”

The palace maid kowtowed repeatedly. “’Yes! I beg the Emperor Emeritus to save Her Majesty the Empress!’”

To make Her Majesty the Empress kneel in such freezing weather… even if it didn’t kill her, she’d lose a layer of skin!

Xiao Xi had initially intended to seek out the Crown Prince discreetly, but she had unexpectedly encountered the Emperor Emeritus.

“’Absurd! Get up and come with me.’ Xiao Ce was livid. This old woman was becoming increasingly outrageous, really thinking she was all that!”

Xiao Xi was overjoyed. She scrambled to her feet and followed Xiao Ce towards Cixi Palace.

When Xiao Ce arrived, the vast main hall of Cixi Palace was empty save for Ms. Yang, who knelt alone. No braziers were lit either, and the palace was bitingly cold.

“’Go and help Her Majesty up,’ Xiao Ce instructed Xiao Xi, who was behind him.”

Xiao Xi hurried over and helped Ms. Yang to her feet.

“’Father-in-law.’ Seeing it was Xiao Ce, Ms. Yang curtsied to him.”

“’Return to your palace and have an Imperial Physician examine you.’”

“’Thank you, Father-in-law.’”

Ms. Yang curtsied once more before departing.

Seething with anger, Xiao Ce strode towards the bedchamber and kicked the door open.

The palace attendants inside heard the commotion and rushed out. Seeing Xiao Ce’s murderous aura, they were terrified and immediately knelt, remaining deathly silent.

“’What’s gotten into you now?’ Ms. Jiang snapped, waving the palace attendants away before rounding on Xiao Ce.”

“’It is you who is mad! What did our eldest son’s wife do to you this time? Making her kneel in this freezing weather… what, are you and your son trying to kill her? If you can’t stand her, if you don’t like her, then just have him divorce her! Why must you torment people so?’”

“’Look at her now! Does any part of her resemble the Empress of a nation?’”

“’Oh, and you think you do? So full of regal bearing?’ Xiao Ce narrowed his eyes, looking at his wife who, like his eldest son, had become a stranger. His heart plummeted. It hasn’t even been that long, and she’s already forgotten her roots.The way they were behaving, they would bring ruin upon themselves sooner or later.”

“’But of course! My son is the Emperor, after all!’ Ms. Jiang declared, her voice dripping with smugness.”

SLAP! Xiao Ce, without waiting for Ms. Jiang to finish, struck her heavily across the face.