suffering lies underneath?"
"She's been by His Majesty's side for nearly ten years, counting the time before he ascended the throne, and yet she's never been able to conceive. Who knows how many medicines she's taken to try to fix that? This year there were finally whispers of success, but just recently... it all mysteriously ended."
Afraid that Lu Wanning would be dazzled by the palace's outward grandeur, Madam Tao didn't hold back, even though her daughter was still unmarried. She spoke earnestly. "A miscarriage is extremely damaging to a woman's body. If not handled properly, it could make future pregnancies nearly impossible."
Her mother's words struck Lu Wanning like a bolt of lightning. She had been unable to understand why Madam Lin and Lu Wanyun wanted her in the palace, but now... things started to make sense.
Could it be that Lu Wanyun's recent miscarriage had harmed her body so badly that she might never conceive again? If the marquis household wanted an imperial prince carrying their bloodline—and if Lu Wanyun also needed one to secure her position—then perhaps they needed another girl from the family to enter the palace and bear a child for her.
But what would happen after the child was born? Would Lu Wanyun really allow the child's biological mother to live?
"She's such a powerful woman, and even she can't have things easy in the palace. If you were to enter it, I'd never sleep peacefully again. I'd just spend every day terrified you'd lose your life without even knowing why."
Madam Tao was still speaking, but Lu Wanning felt ice cold all over.
Noticing her daughter's pale complexion, Madam Tao thought she had scared her and quickly comforted her. "Don't be afraid, Ning'er. I won't let you enter the palace."
She said it with full confidence, but Lu Wanning wasn't so optimistic.
If Madam Lin and Lu Wanyun were truly determined to send her into the palace, they wouldn't give up so easily.
As the mother and daughter were still talking, the young maid Yangliu arrived from Madam Tao's courtyard.
"Madam, the Old Madam is asking to see you."
Madam Tao and Lu Wanning exchanged a glance. Lu Wanning said, "Could she be calling you over to talk about this? I'll go with you."
Madam Tao shook her head. "Your foot is already like this. Just rest—I'll go alone."
Seeing the worry in Lu Wanning's eyes, Madam Tao stroked her hair and reassured her, "Don't worry. I won't agree to it."
In the east wing of Jifutang, Madam Lin sat waiting for her. When Madam Tao arrived, she gave a subtle signal, and the two servant girls in the room withdrew.
Madam Tao greeted her with a curtsey and pretended to be clueless. "Did you call for me, Mother-in-law?"
Madam Lin gestured to the nearby chair, inviting her to sit. Setting aside her teacup, she spoke slowly. "Ning girl will be sixteen after the new year, won't she?"
"Yes, Mother. She's at the age where marriage should be considered." Madam Tao smiled. "I was just about to bring it up with you."
"My older brother from my maternal side has long wanted to arrange a match between Ning'er and his son, Yunjun. I delayed it because I thought Ning'er was still young, but it's no longer proper to keep delaying. Just a few days ago, he wrote to raise the matter again. I was planning to get your permission so I could agree to it, and then after Yunjun finishes the imperial exams next year, we can begin formal preparations."
When Madam Tao finished speaking, Madam Lin slowly shook her head. "That's exactly what I wanted to speak to you about. You can go ahead and decline your family's offer—I already have plans for Ning girl."
"Mother!" Madam Tao said anxiously. "My family may not hold a noble title, but my father is a renowned scholar, and my brother holds an official position. My nephew is incredibly gifted—he'll surely place high in the exams next year. Even if not the top ranks like Zhuangyuan or Bangyan, he'll certainly place among the second tier."
"More importantly, he's upright and not obsessed with women. He doesn't even keep any servant girls around—that kind of man is hard to find even with a lantern. If I reject this match now, where else can I find one better for Ning'er?"
"Besides, the two families are already halfway to an agreement. Refusing them now—how can I ever face my family again?"