Chapter 1074 - Who Manages the Imperial Household Department
Chapter 1074 Who Manages the Imperial Household Department
Madame Dong guessed it out. Later, she specially asked the shop-boy to inquire about it. When she was preparing to report it to Shao Wanru, Yujie happened to come over.
“Wei Dahai’s mistress?” This result surprised Shao Wanru.
“Yes, it was just my guess. Wei Dahai has been very meticulous about everything. If that woman had been a complete stranger, he wouldn’t have casually grabbed her to pretend to be me. That household was very mysterious, and its male master seldom appeared. I asked the shop-boy to describe Wei Dahai’s appearance. Sure enough, someone said it was him.”
Madame Dong said in detail.
“How long has he kept his mistress there?” Shao Wanru pondered over this for a while.
“I’ve specially asked about when they moved there. It was a few years ago. Although the male master was rarely seen, some people could spot him once or twice after a long time,” Madame Dong said. When she realized the woman might be Wei Dahai’s mistress, she deliberately told the shop-boy to get more specific information about them.
“Keep an eye on his mistress,” Shao Wanru said coldly. This clue was a pleasant surprise. Then, she added, “If there is anything unusual, send someone to report it immediately. As for the other things, do them in the same way as before. If Wei Dahai comes over, leave him alone. Mind your own business. If he asks about the shop, don’t tell him anything.”
“You can rest easy, My Lady. I know what you mean. If he asks, I’ll tell him that it has nothing to do with him and let him not think too much about it. Xiuer has already straightened out her thinking and is no longer on his side, saying her biological father had died early in her heart. Now, I feel assured,” said Madame Dong.
She worried about Dong Xiuer the most for fear that Wei Dahai would fool her. But when Xiuer overheard the conversation between Wei Dahai and her, she no longer had him in her heart. In the future, no matter what he said or promised, she wouldn’t believe him.
“Xiuer lives too close to you now. Let her move to another place. She can ignore him, but Wei Dahai is her father after all. It’s not good for her, the younger generation, to be rude. Her family can live on my estate outside the city for the time being. I’m afraid Wei Dahai might maliciously scheme against you and your daughter once he fails to persuade Xiuer.”
Shao Wanru was not as optimistic as Madame Dong, so she made arrangements, just in case.
Madame Dong immediately realized what Shao Wanru meant and nodded vigorously in approval. To express her gratitude for her immense practical help, Madame Dong was about to kowtow to Shao Wanru. When she realized she had completely ignored Wei Dahai’s evil character, her back was covered with a cold sweat. As Xiuer’s father, he was heartless to her. Ultimately, he might kidnap Xiuer and threaten Madame Dong with her.
Shao Wanru motioned Yujie to help her up and waved her hand, saying, “Madam Dong, you should be careful. Nothing serious will happen in the shop, but don’t go to places outside where there are few people. Whenever you go out, take some shop-boys with you. Wei Dahai may be more devious and sinister than you can imagine.”
Again and again, Madame Dong nodded and said, “My Lady, don’t worry. I won’t come out unless there’s something important. Even if I have to leave the shop, I’ll ask a few shop-boys to go with me. I will never act alone, let alone go to isolated spots. Wei Dahai is a real villain, a venomous one.”
It only worried her that Wei Dahai might deceive Xiuer, but little did she think that Wei Dahai would combine threats with promises. Moving out was the best way for Xiuer and her family to avoid potential dangers.
After giving Madame Dong instructions, Shao Wanru sent some people to go with Madame Dong and help Dong Xiuer move away. Then Shao Wanru invited over an old maid, the Nanny in-charge of Rui’an Great Elder Princess’s Mansion, who had been waiting in the side room.
Upon entering, the old maid in charge bowed to Shao Wanru and said, “Your Highness, my master wanted to come over to talk about it with you in person. But some guests happened to come over. Our master was afraid that you would be anxious, so she specially asked me to pay a visit and tell you about the affairs of the Imperial Household Department.”
“What do I need to know?” Shao Wanru asked.
“My master said the Imperial Household Department was in the hands of Duke Cheng’en, who arranged its affairs in the name of managing,” the Nanny in-charge reported with a smile.
The Imperial Household Department was in charge of Palace affairs. Though the person in charge had no real power in the imperial court, he enjoyed the second-ranking slack position, which was a high official rank. It was either royal descendants who controlled the Imperial Household Department, or people related to women in the imperial harem.
The Duke Cheng’en was never ordinary. He was the Empress Dowager’s brother, and could be regarded as the Emperor’s uncle.
“Is he the Empress Dowager’s elder brother?” Even though Shao Wanru knew it, she still asked.
“Yes. According to my master, Duke Cheng’en started handling its affairs many years ago. There was nothing significant that happened during this period. She didn’t know why you asked about it. If there is anything, please tell my master.”
The Nanny in-charge of Rui’an Great Elder Princess’s Mansion was obsequious to Shao Wanru.
“Who suddenly came to see Grandma?” Shao Wanru abruptly changed the topic and asked.
“Infanta Yuan’an and Ruiping Great Elder Princess. In the past, Ruiping Great Elder Princess was not very close to our master. Recently, for some unknown reasons, she visited my master frequently,” the old maid in charge answered.
Shao Wanru had an inspiration, “Why did they come today?”
“Nothing serious. They just wanted to inquire about your doctor because they heard there was a miracle-working doctor with remarkable medical skills in the Prince Chen’s Mansion. Infanta Yuan’an wanted the great doctor in your mansion to examine the wound on her face. But since it was inconvenient for you to receive guests, Ruiping Great Elder Princess brought Infanta Yuan’an to our master.”
The old maid answered cleverly.
The so-called miracle-working doctor in the Prince Chen’s Mansion was Qi Jue.
The Empress Dowager found this highly skilled doctor, especially for Chu Liuchen. On purpose, she let him live in the Prince Chen’s Mansion, which meant Qi Jue served exclusively for the Prince Chen’s Mansion. Because he was not an imperial physician in the Palace, he could not be summoned by others at will.
No matter who wanted to ask Qi Jue for treatment, they had to get Chu Liuchen’s consent. Since this excellent doctor oversaw all the medical records of Chu Liuchen, his importance was self-evident.
Chu Liuchen had been in poor health, so his medical records were kept out of reach of others. Beyond all doubt, this great doctor, with his unique value and importance, had superior status in the Prince Chen’s Mansion.
“Hasn’t Infanta Yuan’an recovered from the injury on her face?” Shao Wanru asked in confusion. According to what Infanta Yuan’an had said, Prince Zhou should have sent Doctor Qiu to see her.
“There seemed to be something wrong with her wound. I stayed outside just now and didn’t hear it clearly. They said her wound’s condition was not good and wanted to ask the miracle-working doctor of Prince Chen’s Mansion to look at it. My master meant that if Your Highness thought it was okay, they could see the doctor. Otherwise, they would have to drop the idea. But it wasn’t a good thing to help them.”
The Nanny in-charge passed on Rui’an Great Elder Princess’s message.
Though the two families were not close to each other in the past, they kept in close contact lately. Since Ruiping Great Elder Princess and Infanta Yuan’an had been so subservient, it was hard for her to refuse them. However, Rui’an Great Elder Princess was unwilling to put Shao Wanru in an awkward situation, so she just said those words.
Shao Wanru’s eyes darkened. It was indeed inappropriate for her to intervene in this matter. After thinking for a while, she said, “Go and tell my grandma that I’m indeed not feeling very well. Push their request away for the time being, and let’s talk about it later.”
She refused to receive guests with the excuse that she was in poor health. Even Rui’an Great Elder Princess seldom came over, let alone others. That was why Infanta Yuan’an didn’t go directly to her but to Rui’an Great Elder Princess’s Mansion first.
The two families appeared to have a good relationship, so they should go to Rui’an Great Elder Princess’s Mansion to sound out Shao Wanru’s view on this matter. If Shao Wanru agreed, they wouldn’t be afraid of being rejected at the gate.
The Nanny in-charge responded briefly. After conveying all the necessary information, she took leave of Shao Wanru.
“My Lady, if Infanta Yuan’an’s face hasn’t recovered yet, it may affect her marriage.” Qu Le came in with a few pieces of satin. She had just stood aside and heard the talk in the room. At this time, when the visitor left, she stepped inside.
“According to the schedule, it should be affected. When Infanta Yuan’an was in Palace, she trusted Doctor Qiu very much and didn’t even allow the imperial physicians to reapply for medicine. Doesn’t she believe him now?”
Shao Wanru muttered to herself.
“Doctor Qiu’s medicine might be useless!” Yujie curled her lips and said.
She appreciated doctors like Mingqiu Nun and would never like Doctor Qiu. No matter how fantastic his medical skills were, she despised such a doctor without medical ethics.
Wang Yishu died because of Doctor Qiu’s “superb” medical skills.
“My Lady, we can’t help Infanta Yuan’an. Who knows what medicine Doctor Qiu has given her? If she recovers, Doctor Qiu will take the credit. If not, our mansion will take the blame,” Yujie turned back and advised Shao Wanru not to get involved.
“My Lady, this matter about Infanta Yuan’an will be very tricky to handle,” Qu Le echoed.
Shao Wanru nodded, feeling a nameless feeling rising in her. “Could it be that Doctor Qiu would no longer treat Infanta Yuan’an? Why would she come to beg me?”
Nevertheless, there was no hurry at the moment. Her grandma would turn down this request, and she had closed the gate to visitors. Although she had gone out once, there were still rumors that she was feeling unwell. Infanta Yuan’an and Rui’an Great Elder Princess wouldn’t come to see her rashly. During this period, she lived a much quieter life inside the mansion.
At the moment, it was vital to focus on the Imperial Household Department.
“Go and bring Qing’er to me!”
Due to a sense of foreboding, Shao Wanru needed Qing’er to investigate Duke Cheng’en of the Imperial Household Department. What happened to the Empress Dowager in her previous life was probably related to her biological brother, Duke Cheng’en.
No one but Duke Cheng’en got off with a whole skin after the appalling tragedy on the Empress Dowager’s birthday.
If it had been someone else, his property would have been confiscated, and his entire family would have been exterminated. At least, he would have been dismissed from his post and could never be an official again. But Duke Cheng’en was the Empress Dowager’s brother, which could explain some things…
When Duke Cheng’en returned from the court, he casually strolled on the street. Not young anymore, he didn’t like sitting in the carriage all the time, so he often got out of the carriage on the street not far from home and asked the coachman to drive the carriage back first. Then, with his hands clasped behind his back, he strolled home, followed by one or two servants.
He walked unhurriedly and happily.
Duke Cheng’en knew his limitations. Though he was in charge of the Imperial Household Department, many things were done by his subordinates. Every working day, he only needed to present himself for the morning call and provide a few signatures.
When nothing major happened, he would go back to his mansion early. While strolling leisurely through the street, he enjoyed watching the goods in different shops along the way. Always smiling in a good mood, he looked pretty amiable.
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