Chapter 554: Another Bracelet
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
When Xiao Juan returned to the bedroom, he realized that she was sitting on the bed, wrapped in a thick blanket. She kept yawning, looking very sleepy but unwilling to sleep.
Xiao Juan asked, “Why aren’t you asleep?”
Seeing him return, Yu Niaoniao immediately perked up and hurriedly said.
“I was waiting for you. Did Little Meng find anything?”
Xiao Juan briefly repeated what Meng Xizhou had said before taking out the pouch.
Yu Niaoniao eagerly took the pouch and opened it. There was an emerald bracelet inside.
She took out the bracelet and looked at it carefully. Her eyes widened.
“Isn’t this my mother’s bracelet?! ”
Xiao Juan asked, “Are you sure?”
Yu Niaoniao pointed at the inside of the bracelet and said, “Look here. There’s a pattern carved here. The jade bracelet you pulled out of the charred corpse’s hand earlier also has this pattern inside.”
Then, she turned the bracelet and pointed at a small crack.
“When I was young, I was naughty and accidentally knocked down my mother’s make-up box.
The jade bracelet inside fell to the ground. This crack had appeared at that time.
My mother even scolded me for this. It’s impossible for me to remember wrongly.”
The jade bracelet was a tribute. There was only one pair in the world.
One of the bracelets had already been taken away by Empress Dowager Deng. The other bracelet was buried with Madam Xie.
But now, it appeared in Yu Niaoniao’s hand.
Yu Niaoniao could not help but ask.
“Who is that Granny Li? Why does she have my mother’s bracelet? Could it be that someone dug up my mother’s grave…”
Thinking of this, she couldn’t sit still anymore. She lifted the blanket and was about to jump out of bed.
“I want to go back to Bashu. I want to see my mother’s grave!”
Xiao Juan quickly hugged her. “It’s so late. The city gate is already closed. You can’t get out.”
Yu Niaoniao was so anxious that she was incoherent. “My mother’s grave might have been dug up by someone. Could it be tomb robbers? Did they destroy my mother and stepfather’s remains? I want to go back and take a look. I can’t let their corpses be exposed in the wilderness!”
Xiao Juan hugged her tighter.
“Don’t be anxious. When I come back from the palace tomorrow, I’ll leave the Imperial Capital with you. Let’s go to Bashu together.”
“If there are really tomb robbers who dare to touch my parents-in-law’s grave, I will definitely catch them even if I have to go to the ends of the world.” Yu Niaoniao gradually calmed down.
As she held the iade bracelet tightlv, her heart was filled with worrv and uneasiness.
Usually, no matter how big the problem was, it would not affect her sleep, but tonight, she could not sleep.
As long as she closed her eyes, she would see the scene of Madam Xie and Feng Lianghan’s remains being dug up by grave robbers and thrown into the wilderness.
Back then, she had failed to protect Madam Xie and Feng Lianghan. This was already the greatest regret in her life.
If she could not even protect Madam Xie and Feng Lianghan’s remains, how could she have the face to live?
Xiao Juan could sense the uneasiness in her heart. He didn’t sleep either. He stayed with her quietly for the entire night.
The next day, at dawn, Xiao Juan and Yu Niaoniao changed into their gowns and rode the carriage into the palace.
Today was the first day of the new year. According to tradition, all the nobles, officials above the fourth-grade in the capital, and their main wives had to enter the palace to pay their New Year greetings to the emperor, Empress Dowager Deng, and Empress Wen.
Yu Niaoniao was in a low mood, but on such an occasion, she had to force a smile.
When Xiao Juan saw this, his heart ached.
Under the cover of his wide sleeve, he quietly held her curled hand and silently comforted her.
Yu Niaoniao prayed silently that time would pass quickly, faster…
Empress Wen brought a group of women to Biquan Palace to wish Empress Dowager Deng a happy new year.
The women tried their best to make Empress Dowager Deng happy. The atmosphere was very lively.
Among them, only Yu Niaoniao remained silent the entire time.
In the past, when she encountered such an occasion, she could still eat some tea and snacks to relieve her boredom. However, today, she was not in the mood to eat or drink. She only wanted to end it quickly and go home.
Madam Yang suddenly called her name.
“I heard that the Princess Consort of Lang County opened a theater. I think it’s called Qirui Garden. The opera there is very good. The Princess Consort of Lang County is so talented, and it’s such a good day today. Why don’t you sing something for Empress Dowager and the Empress to liven things up?” Her words immediately turned everyone’s attention to Yu Niaoniao.
Yu Niaoniao replied without thinking.
“I don’t know how to sing.”
Madam Yang pursed her lips and smiled. “Princess Consort Lang, don’t be humble. It’s just a few lines. Are you not even willing to give Empress Dowager
Deng and Empress Wen this bit of face?”
Then, she looked at the other women and asked inquiringly.
“Don’t you think so?”
The women did not mind watching the commotion and nodded in agreement.
“Yes, yes.”
Yu Niaoniao was already in a bad mood. After being provoked by Madam Yang, her tone was naturally not good.
“According to Madam Yang’s logic, the person opening the theater must know how to sing. I remember that there is a teahouse in Madam Yang’s business. There should be storytellers and singers in the teahouse.”
“Madam Yang, do you want to give us a story or a song?”
Madam Yang’s face was red and pale from her words. She wanted to retort but couldn’t. She was so angry that she was like a big hen that had exploded.
She turned to look at Empress Dowager Deng and Empress Wen and complained angrily.
“Your Highness, Her Majesty, take a look. I just want the Princess Consort of Lang to sing a scene to liven things up.”
“It was fine if she was unwilling to give the two empresses respect, but she actually used words to mock me!”
“How could a woman who sings the song be a respected person?”
“I’m a third-grade Madam conferred by the emperor. What right does she have to humiliate me like this?!”
As she spoke, she covered her eyes with a silk handkerchief and sobbed.
Empress Dowager Deng had always been gentle. Today was the first day of the new year, so arguing was not a good sign.
She was about to comfort Madam Yang and persuade her not to cry anymore.
Yu Niaoniao stood up and took two steps forward before kneeling down.
Yu Niaoniao said, “Everything is my fault. I spoke nonsense and hurt Madam
Yang’s dignity. I’ll go home and reflect on my mistakes.”
With that, she got up and turned to leave. Her speed could be said to be quite fast.
By the time Empress Dowager Deng reacted, Yu Niaoniao had already walked to the door.
Empress Dowager Deng quickly stopped her.
“Wait a minute!”
Yu Niaoniao sighed secretly. She was still too slow.
She had no choice but to retract her foot and turn to look at Empress Dowager Deng.
“What other instructions does the Empress Dowager have?”
Empress Dowager Deng said, “You can’t be blamed for this. Madam Yang is also responsible. If she hadn’t taken the initiative to provoke you, you wouldn’t have said such things.”
Empress Wen echoed, “The Empress Dowager is right.”
Madam Yang was speechless.
How did it become her responsibility?
Empress Dowager Deng said to Madam Yang, “Apologize to Niaoniao and this matter will be over.”
Yu Niaoniao waved her hand to indicate that there was no need. She was willing to bear all the responsibility alone. Let her go back and reflect on her mistakes!
Empress Dowager Deng was very relieved.
“Niaoniao has really grown up and is becoming more and more sensible.”
Yu Niaoniao was speechless.
She was tired, really!
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