The old madame asked for Ning Shu’s opinion because if this matter wasn’t dealt with properly, it would destroy the general’s residence.

  Insuppressible fury and disappointment showed on the old madame’s face, but she forced herself to endure it. She was rapidly turning the Buddhist prayer beads as she took deep breaths.

  Her son was actually doing something this irresponsible at this age? The old madame had felt a lingering shadow in her heart since the first time she had seen them ride on the same horse.

  If An You had yet to have taken a wife, then an imperial princess beccoming her son’s bride would definitely help her son’s future greatly. However, the current Princess Mingzhu would very likely bring a calamity so bad, the entire general’s residence would perish.

  The old madame forced her breathing to stabilize, then she asked Ning Shu, “Lingxian, how do you feel about this?”


  “This daughter-in-law’s heart is a mess right now, but this daughter-in-law is even more worried that something will happen to the residence. If Princess Mingzhu wasn’t an imperial princess of the third rank, this daughter-in-law would’ve helped An You arrange the marriage, but Princess Mingzhu is the child of Prince Yan, and this is actually happening while she’s still in her mourning period. The empress dowager will probably blame this on the general’s residence.”


  Ning Shu’s face was filled with worry and hurt. “This daughter-in-law had sent away An Yu as a precaution, but this daughter-in-law never thought that An You would actually be like this. This daughter-in-law never thought.”


  “Mother, what do we do?” Ning Shu kicked the ball back to the old madame. “This daughter-in-law has no idea what to do. There’s the general’s residence, An You, Princess Mingzhu, and Lingyun who’s friends with Princess Mingzhu.”


  The old madame started working through the prayer beads even faster until the string snapped and the round beads scattered onto the ground. The old madame abruptly opened her eyes. “We’re heading to the palace.”


  This was what Ning Shu was thinking too. Even if Princess Mingzhu wanted to run by herself to the battlefield, she couldn’t be allowed to do it from the general’s residence.

  Ning Shu returned to her courtyard to put on her third rank imperial mandate madame garments. When she came back out, the old madame had also finished changing into those garments and had gotten on the carriage.

  After sending a tablet into the palace, a short while later, Ning Shu supported the old madame and they started walking to the empress dowager’s palace.

  Once they greeted the empress dowager, the empress dowager started asking how Princess Mingzhu was doing. The old madame said respectfully, “Princess Mingzhu is doing quite well. It’s just that this subject is worried about not being able to look after her well enough and neglecting her.”


  The empress dowager said with a smile, “Mingzhu isn’t a picky child. We’ll have to trouble the general’s residence with looking after Mingzhu.”


  The old madame’s facial color dimmed for an instant.

  Ning Shu watched from the side as she wondered how exactly such illogical things could happen. Why should the general’s residence be responsible for looking after Princess Mingzhu?

  The old madame hesitated for a moment, then said, “Your Imperial Highness Empress Dowager, this subject is truly worried because this subject’s grandson, An Yu, is planning to consult a matchmaker soon. However, Princess Mingzhu is currently mourning for her family. This subject is worried that the joyous celebration would collide with Prince Yan’s departed spirit.”


  When the empress dowager heard this, she froze for a brief moment like it was only now that she remembered that Princess Mingzhu was mourning for her family.

  Ning Shu no longer even had any strength left to criticize this scenario. In this world, all that there was other than love was just love. Everything else could completely be ignored.

  The old madame said a couple more words to the empress dowager. When she saw that the empress dowager seemed a little worn out, she tactfully withdrew.

  From start to finish, Ning Shu didn’t say a word and just kept the old madame company.

  After leaving the imperial palace, the old madame’s back seemed to hunch over slightly with exhaustion.

  Ning Shu felt that this old madame was pretty strong.

  An You was just an unfilial son.