Just when Li Zi'an and Shen Tianshu arrived at Sanli City, an elderly woman was brought to Tian'en Temple.
She looked to be in her seventies, dressed very plainly, and even had a few patches on her clothes.
But her white hair was combed meticulously and fixed firmly on the back of her head with a wooden hairpin.
Her back was a little stooped, her legs and feet seemed a little awkward, and she walked a little slowly.
She was led all the way into the Zen courtyard, and when she came to the second courtyard, she saw female official Cheng Lan waiting in the corridor.
The old woman narrowed her eyes and looked at Ms. Cheng Lan, as if she remembered who she was, but she hesitated to recognize her.
It was the female officer Cheng Lan who came forward and said hello with a smile: "Mother Dong, long time no see."
"Cheng Lan?" Aunt Dong called out hesitantly, and then said with a helpless smile, "I should have guessed a long time ago that since you brought me to Huguang, there will be no one else except Prince Rui's Mansion."
"It's not easy to invite Aunt Dong, please come in." Cheng Lan smiled slightly and made an invitation gesture.
After hearing this, Aunt Dong raised her hand to lick her neat temples, straightened her collar again, and straightened her back unconsciously.
She followed Cheng Lan towards the house and seemed to be a different person in an instant.
This time she walked with her back straight, her steps neither fast nor slow, her upper body not swaying at all, and she looked well-educated.
Aunt Dong followed Cheng Lan through the hall, all the way back, and went straight to the Zen room in the backyard.
The decoration in the Zen room is very simple, with white smoke rising from the incense burner and a faint scent of sandalwood floating in the air.
Cheng Lan asked Aunt Dong to stay in the house for a while, then she entered the inner room and soon helped Concubine Fengrong out.
Although she had already been mentally prepared, Grandma Dong still trembled slightly when she saw Concubine Fengrong.
After Princess Fengrong sat down in the first place, she looked at Aunt Dong and said with some emotion: "I never thought that we would meet again in this life."
Aunt Dong looked at Princess Fengrong, and her mood was ups and downs.
"The High Princess still looks as young as she did in the palace."
"It's been so many years, and you're still an old monster at such a young age." Princess Fengrong immediately laughed when she heard this, "You can sit down too, we are all elderly people now."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Lan immediately moved an embroidered pillar for Aunt Dong to sit on.
Although Aunt Dong had already left the palace, she still habitually sat down by the side.
When the Queen Mother entered the palace, Aunt Dong was assigned to her side. Later she was trained to be her right-hand man, accompanying her to the throne and then to the Queen Mother.
So when she was in the palace, Aunt Dong was a witness to all the overt and covert fights between the Queen Mother and Concubine Fengrong.
Even back then, she helped the Queen Mother deal with Concubine Fengrong.
She stayed in the palace for most of her life. It was not until the current Holy Emperor ascended the throne that she was released from the palace because she was too old and returned to her hometown to take care of herself.
When Aunt Dong left the palace, the Queen Mother rewarded her with many things.
After returning home, I went to live with my nephew, and lived a comfortable life like this for more than ten years, until someone suddenly came to my door some time ago.
Not only did they search for the embroidered screen she had brought out of the palace, but they also directly controlled her and took her away from her hometown, and finally came to Princess Fengrong.
Could it be that Concubine Fengrong had been out of the palace for so many years and still held grudges for what happened back then, so she wanted to come all the way to seek revenge on her?
Aunt Dong felt that the Queen Mother had passed away, and Princess Fengrong was now living her old age in Huguang with her children and grandchildren around her. She could be said to have had the last laugh, so she shouldn't be so bored.
Just as she was thinking about this, Princess Fengrong suddenly asked: "The Queen Mother confused the blood of the royal family. The current emperor is not the son of the former emperor. Who else knows besides you?"
What?
When Aunt Dong heard this, she was like thunder. It had been so many years since the Emperor had been on the throne. Most of the people who had handled this matter were no longer alive. How did Concubine Fengrong know about this matter?
Concubine Fengrong didn't wait for her to react, and continued: "You don't know yet, but the embroidered screen you took out of the palace to keep in mind contains the secret edict left by the late emperor.
"When the late emperor died suddenly, could it be that your master saw his crime exposed, so he acted preemptively?
"After fighting in the palace for so many years, you should know what my temper is.
"The late Emperor treated me well when he was still alive, and we had many years of love as husband and wife.
"If there is really something fishy about his death, I will definitely investigate to the end and not let him die unjustly."
After hearing what Princess Fengrong said, Aunt Dong felt that her hands and feet were weak and she could no longer sit still. She slipped out of the embroidered pier and went to the ground.
I don't know how long it took, but she finally came to her senses, knelt down quickly, kowtowed to Concubine Fengrong and begged for mercy: "Concubine, I swear on my life that I really don't know about this.
"When the late emperor passed away, the old slave was staying with the late queen mother in the Royal Courtyard. He hurriedly returned to the palace after receiving the news.
"As for the secret order you mentioned, I don't know anything about it.
"If I knew that there was a secret decree hidden in the embroidered screen, even if I borrowed my ten thousand courage, I would not dare to take him out of the harem, let alone keep him by my side every day!"
After hearing this, Princess Fengrong did not continue to ask about the death of the late emperor and Xiuping. Instead, she changed the topic and said, "So when the late queen mother confused the royal bloodline, you already knew that the current emperor is not the biological son of the late emperor. Already?"
Aunt Dong collapsed on the ground, sweat sliding down her face, her clothes were soaked with layers of cold sweat, and she looked as embarrassed as if she had just been fished out of the water.
"My dear concubine, old slave..."
Princess Fengrong saw the struggle in Nanny Dong's heart and said in a deep voice, "Your master is already dead, do you still need to keep this secret from her?"
"Why do you think I know the secret of the embroidered screen? If this matter spreads, your master's reputation will also be damaged.
"You might as well tell me the truth. Although I don't care about your master's reputation, I do care about the late emperor's face."
Seeing that Aunt Dong was still silent, Princess Fengrong finally assured her: "I have no intention of pursuing your involvement in this matter. As long as you tell the truth about the matter, I can find a place for you. I will spend my remaining years peacefully and will not involve you in this matter."
Perhaps the last words finally hit the mark on what Mother Dong cared about most now, so she finally spoke slowly.
"Actually, the master did it very secretly when switching babies, and the old slave didn't know about it at the time.
"But after all, the old slave has been serving the master. I can't say that I know the master well, but I know enough to understand some things..."
