While Cheng Hanlin was agreeing to the emperor’s proposal to choose a wife from the imperial clan, Qin Xiyi was in the imperial harem, paying her respects to the Empress Dowager.

This was the third time the emperor had extended an olive branch, and Cheng Mozhi’s uncharacteristic agreement delighted His Majesty.

At that moment, Qin Xiyi couldn’t spare a thought for him; her entire focus was on dealing with her shrewd and calculating grandmother, the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager had originally been at the Northern Palace, escaping the summer heat. It was said that not long after Second Princess Qin Luoke paid her a visit and returned, the Empress Dowager came back to the palace, and the first thing she did was summon Qin Xiyi.

Qin Xiyi felt that this grandmother of hers was far more difficult to handle than her own father, the Emperor, and what’s more, in her eyes and heart, there was only one granddaughter: Qin Luoke.

When Qin Xiyi was little, she often watched her grandmother holding the Second Princess, who was a year younger than her, cooing, laughing softly, and teasing her. Qin Xiyi would watch from the side, and from beginning to end, the Empress Dowager’s eyes never left the Second Princess.

At this moment, after a string of polite inquiries about her well-being, the Empress Dowager picked up her tea and suddenly spoke again.

「Du Xiu didn’t return with me. Her health wasn’t very good, so she resigned and went back to her hometown of Qingtian, which I granted. It’s just a pity about her good-for-nothing son, who somehow ended up seizing commoners’ land in Qingtian and was arrested by the authorities. I fear Du Xiu cried all day long and nearly went blind from it.」

Qin Xiyi’s heart gave a jolt, and she abruptly looked up.

She never would have imagined the Empress Dowager would actually use her wet nurse as leverage.

Qin Xiyi took a deep breath.

「Imperial Grandmother, is the marriage alliance in a month?」

The Empress Dowager’s eyes immediately lit up.

Qin Xiyi continued to toy with a pastry, without showing a trace of emotion.

「Consort Ying and my wet nurse, the Du family, all must be safe and prosperous.」

「Naturally. Xiyi, for you to be so understanding and righteous is truly a blessing for Great Zhao. You like these pastries, don’t you? Take some back with you…」

Qin Xiyi, however, suddenly stood up. The pastry in her hand was already crushed to crumbs, and with a casual flick of her wrist, she tossed them into the air.

「I have a preference for bitter tastes. Please forgive Xiyi for not being able to stomach sweets.」

Hanlin Cheng’s agreement to the Emperor’s choice of a wife from the imperial clan came while Qin Xiyi was paying her respects to the Empress Dowager in the inner palace.

This was the third time the Emperor had extended an olive branch, and Cheng Mozhi’s uncharacteristic agreement greatly pleased His Majesty.

At this moment, Qin Xiyi couldn’t spare a thought for him; her entire focus was on dealing with her cunning grandmother, the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager had been at the Northern Palace for summer retreat. It was said that shortly after Second Princess Qin Luoke visited her, the Empress Dowager returned to the palace, and the first thing she did upon her return was summon Qin Xiyi.

Qin Xiyi felt that her grandmother was far more difficult to deal with than her imperial father, and yet, in her eyes and heart, there was only one granddaughter: Qin Luoke.

As a child, Qin Xiyi often watched her grandmother holding the Second Princess, who was a year younger than her, cooing and teasing her with soft words. Qin Xiyi would watch from the side, and throughout, the Empress Dowager’s eyes never left the Second Princess.

At this moment, after a round of polite inquiries about her well-being, the Empress Dowager picked up her tea and suddenly spoke again.

“Du Xiu didn’t return with me. Her health isn’t good, so she requested to resign and return to her hometown in Qingtian, which I granted. It’s just a pity about her good-for-nothing son; how could he seize public land in Qingtian and get arrested by the authorities? Perhaps Du Xiu cried day and night, almost blinding herself.”

Qin Xiyi’s heart jolted, and she sharply looked up.

She never expected the Empress Dowager to use her wet nurse as leverage.

Qin Xiyi took a deep breath.

“Imperial Grandmother, is the marriage alliance in one month?”

The Empress Dowager’s eyes immediately lit up.

Qin Xiyi idly played with a pastry, showing no emotion whatsoever.

“Consort Ying and my wet nurse, Madam Du’s entire family, must all be safe and prosperous.”

“Naturally. Xiyi, for you to be so understanding of the greater good is a blessing to Great Zhao. You like these pastries, don’t you? Take some back with you…”

Qin Xiyi suddenly stood up, the pastry in her hand already crushed to crumbs. She casually tossed them into the air with a flick of her wrist.

“I have a taste for bitterness; please forgive Xiyi for not being able to stomach sweets.”