coobybook Chapter 167: Goals Aligned
Chapter 167: Goals Aligned
"If there really is a connection, Duke Su would not easily accept her." The Queen Mother murmured softly, the doubts in her heart still not completely dissipated.
Mother Zhou's eyes moved slightly when she heard this, and she continued, "However, when this old servant saw the portrait with her own eyes, waves arose in my heart."
As she spoke, she slowly pulled out an exquisite scroll from her sleeve, presented it with both hands, and handed it to the empress dowager.
As the scroll unfolds, a portrait of a woman appears on the paper. The delicate brushstrokes outline the character's gentle charm, but also reveal a hint of tenacity.
The Queen Mother stared at the person in the painting. Her originally calm expression gradually underwent subtle changes, and a hint of disbelief flashed in her eyes.
"This...how is this possible..." She murmured in a low voice, her tone mixed with confusion and shock.
"Empress Dowager, please be wise. The woman in the painting is none other than Miss Qinglan's personal maid back then!" Mother Zhou's voice was clear and firm.
The Queen Mother's heart suddenly shook, and a light seemed to flash before her eyes, making her dizzy. Her heart beat like a drum, and her thoughts surged like a tide.
It took her a long time to calm down, with complex emotions flashing in her eyes.
"Qinglan's maid actually hid her real name and became Duke Su's concubine, and even gave birth to a daughter. At that time, Qinglan was also pregnant... Is there any connection between them..."
The Queen Mother couldn't help but think of Su Rao's elegant and refined figure, and her voice trembled slightly with excitement: "Su Rao, could she be Qinglan's remaining flesh and blood?"
Although this idea is absurd, it seems possible due to the interweaving of various coincidences.
"Zhao is not favored in Duke Su's mansion. She lives alone in a remote courtyard with very few servants. If there really is a false pregnancy, with her inconspicuous identity, it is not completely impossible for her to conceal it." Mother Zhou's words were full of caution.
A trace of regret appeared on the Queen Mother's face. Recalling the way she treated Su Rao in the past, she was filled with self-blame: "If Su Rao is really Qinglan's blood child, and the only continuation of my sister in this world, I...how could I be so cruel to her?"
"Empress Dowager, this matter needs further investigation and you must not jump to conclusions." Mother Zhou reminded softly. She knew very well that without solid evidence, any hope might be dashed, and she did not want to see the Empress Dowager suffer greater disappointment because of her momentary hope.
"Even if she is the daughter of the maid, I should never treat her so harshly. The maid's loyalty to Qinglan is obvious to all."
The Queen Mother hesitated for a moment, then resolutely ordered, "Go, and make sure to get to the bottom of this. We must find out Su Rao's background."
Mother Zhou quickly responded, her expression full of determination.
……
At the same time, in the quiet palace, Su Rao paced back and forth anxiously in the room. She was trapped here by the sudden change, and even the eldest princess who had always loved her was helpless.
Her heart was filled with helplessness and confusion. Could she just sit back and watch her mother suffer in the cold imperial prison, with her life or death unknown?
Just when she was feeling extremely confused, there was a slight noise from the door suddenly, the door lock opened quietly, a ray of light came in from outside the door, accompanied by the sound of the door slowly opening.
Su Rao turned around suddenly and met the Queen Mother's gaze.
At this time, the Queen Mother was followed by two palace maids, who were holding plates of fragrant lunch in their hands, which formed a sharp contrast with the steamed buns that had already cooled on the table.
Su Rao's eyes wandered between the two, with doubts in her heart. Could this be another way of punishment from the Queen Mother, making her watch the delicious food but unable to touch it?
However, the Queen Mother's next words were beyond her expectations. Her tone was more gentle than ever before: "Are you hungry? Come, let's eat together."
This sudden change caught Su Rao off guard. It was as if the empress dowager in front of her was no longer the cold and distant royal elder, but the kind and amiable old woman in her memory, warm and familiar.
Despite this, Su Rao did not let her guard down. She sat down carefully, but was reluctant to pick up the chopsticks, her eyes full of vigilance.
Seeing this, the Queen Mother smiled bitterly with a hint of self-mockery, and she realized how harsh and ruthless she had been in the past.
"The food is not poisonous. Let me try it first and show you." As she said that, she really picked up the dish and took a few bites.
Su Rao then picked up the chopsticks half-believingly, but after only two bites, she lost her appetite due to the worries in her heart.
"My mother is in prison, and perhaps even a full meal is a luxury, but I am here enjoying them..." Her words were full of self-blame and helplessness.
"You said your mother was wronged?" There was a hint of inquiry in the Queen Mother's voice.
"Absolutely! Chen has always been dissatisfied with my mother and deliberately framed her. The Jinyiwei failed to distinguish right from wrong and acted rashly, which led to all this!" Su Rao's eyes were burning with anger and unwillingness.
"Since it is an injustice, I will not sit idly by." The Queen Mother's words were firm, which shocked Su Rao's heart.
This sudden change made Su Rao feel mixed emotions.
It was clear that not long ago, the Queen Mother was angry with the eldest princess because of her own affairs and imprisoned her here, but now she offered to help me.
What kind of turning point is hidden behind this?
Su Rao didn't have time to think about it. At this moment, she had only one thought in her mind - to rescue her mother no matter what!
What happened next was even more shocking.
The Queen Mother actually summoned Minister Wang for the first time. This minister held a very important position in the court and had always been a solid backer of the Queen Mother's camp.
When Minister Wang entered the palace, he felt uneasy.
The incident at the birthday banquet caused both the Wang and Liu families to fall out of favor, and he was always worried that the Queen Mother would have some grudge against him because of this.
Therefore, when faced with the empress dowager's summons, he behaved extremely humbly and respectfully.
"Your humble servant pays his respects to the Queen Mother, and wishes her good health and longevity." Minister Wang's words were full of sincerity.
After some polite exchanges, the Queen Mother got straight to the point. There was a hint of coldness in her tone: "I heard that a wanton thief has appeared in the capital recently, and the Jinyiwei are trying their best to catch him. Is this true?"
Minister Wang was startled. He had never expected that the Queen Mother would be interested in such a trivial matter. What if the Queen Mother found out that the portrait of the thief matched the target they were chasing privately?
He quickly adjusted his mood and answered calmly: "It is true. The thief is extremely arrogant. In order not to disturb the rich and powerful, the Jinyiwei will do its best to bring him to justice!"
"It is right to bring them to justice, but why make people panic and even arrest people without reason?" The Queen Mother's tone revealed obvious dissatisfaction.
"Arresting people without reason? I don't understand why the Queen Mother said that." Minister Wang pretended to be surprised, trying to hide his inner panic.
"Several families have complained to me, saying that the Royal Guards have been conducting wanton searches and arresting people without solid evidence!" The empress dowager's words were harsh, and it was obvious that she was quite dissatisfied with the matter.