Madam Shangguan found herself completely in her element among a group of ladies.
As soon as she broached the topic, everyone became deeply interested.
After she made some slight alterations to the dream and spoke vaguely about it, several people in the room had already changed their expressions.
"A celestial child?"
"The former Empress's cause of death was suspicious...? Wasn't it a sudden illness?!"
The group of ladies were stunned.
But where there are people, there is gossip.
As long as one person starts, others will continuously follow up!
Madam Shangguan hadn't even answered everyone's questions before someone with glinting eyes spoke up.
"A few years ago, I was a guest at the Meng Residence, coincidentally on the day the former Empress passed away. At that time, I saw that apart from grief, Madam Meng's face actually showed an expression of terror!"
Everyone was shocked and turned to look, realizing it was the Inspector's wife who had spoken.
The Inspector's wife used to frequently visit the Meng Residence, the home of the Minister of War. She didn't seem like someone who would lie.
"Why would she be terrified?" The ladies present who were mothers felt they had stumbled upon some juicy gossip.
Once this started, it was unstoppable. Some memories that seemed trivial at the time due to the passage of years suddenly came flooding back.
"Didn't the nanny the former Empress brought into the palace disappear shortly after returning to the Meng Residence?"
"I don't think I've seen that nanny again. Did she really return to the Meng Residence?"
Madam Shangguan's eyes suddenly began to flicker wildly. She turned to look at another lady beside her, "Qian Sister, over ten years ago, didn't you have a maid in your household who was from the same hometown as the former Empress's nanny?"
As soon as she said this, the eyes of all the women in the room lit up.
Lady Qian was taken aback, "Indeed, I didn't expect you to remember something about a mere maid."
Madam Shangguan slapped her thigh with an "Ah!" Unlike talented ladies who read books or those who bothered with educating their sons, from a young age until now, her favorite pastime had been chatting with other women.
Listening to others gossip was Madam Shangguan's greatest pleasure. Not only could she keep up with what others said, but she could also turn around and tell it to someone else.
Over time, she remembered some small details very clearly.
"Isn't it because life is dull? If it weren't for some interesting things happening in everyone's households, I'd be bored to death all day," Madam Shangguan coughed lightly.
"Qian Sister, that maid of yours even poured tea for me once back then."
"At that time, I chatted with her for a bit, and we happened to talk about the nanny by the former Empress's side. It was said that when this nanny was young, she loved to eat the meat close to the bone."
All the ladies in the room admired Madam Shangguan's ability to gather so much useless information from gossip.
But today, Madam Shangguan's talent for remembering gossip proved to be of great use.
Her mention of this stirred up Lady Qian's buried memories, "That nanny didn't return to the Meng Residence. I heard from my maid that after leaving the palace, the nanny took a carriage back to her hometown."
As Lady Qian spoke, she frowned, "But when she was almost at the estate, the carriage overturned into a river, and when the nanny was pulled out, she was already breathless."
"!"
"!!"
All the ladies in the room gasped. Those with weaker constitutions even dropped their cups on the table with a clatter.
Earlier, when Madam Shangguan mentioned the celestial child's dream and the suspicious circumstances of the former Empress's death, they had taken it as a joke. But now, they learned that the former Empress's nanny had also died mysteriously.
This matter was becoming increasingly complex!
Madam Shangguan sighed, looking very worried, "With the selection of concubines approaching, even if it's postponed for a year, it will still happen next year. What will become of our daughters who are waiting to be married?"
Suddenly, all the ladies in the room became concerned.
Unlike their husbands who had official duties and were familiar with state affairs, they didn't usually worry about such matters. However, they were very attentive to their daughters' affairs.
Now, prompted by Madam Shangguan, they all imagined their daughters or granddaughters entering the palace in the future, and if they were to end up like the former Empress...
All the ladies in the room shuddered.
"I don't know much about Empress Meng's situation, but Empress Liu's father was actually the teacher of my sister-in-law's elder brother. I'll go ask about Empress Liu's circumstances."
Empress Liu was the second empress who had died.
With this mention, everyone's thoughts immediately expanded.
"I don't have any familial connections to Empress Liu, but Empress Zheng, I practically watched her grow up."
Empress Zheng was the third empress who had died...
"My husband was also a student of the Liu family."
"I know Empress Liu's wet nurse."
Madam Shangguan nodded repeatedly, very satisfied with everyone's enthusiastic responses. But she quickly raised her hand and singled out a few people.
"Didn't your husband serve as a palace guard?"
"Didn't you hire a palace maid to tutor your daughter before the New Year?"
"Wasn't your father-in-law once the Crown Prince's teacher, frequently entering the palace?"
At once, the ladies around Madam Shangguan seemed to have received their own investigative tasks.
These tasks didn't need to be forced upon them.
Just mentioning it in this gossip session made the ladies eager to act, partly out of curiosity to know the truth, and partly out of concern for their own children's futures.
"Alright, Sister Shangguan, I'll ask my mother-in-law as soon as I get home today."
"That's easy enough. I'll have a drink with my husband and ask him when he's tipsy."
"Leave it to me. I'm very close to Empress Liu's mother. I'll write to her immediately..."
[Wow, Madam Shangguan is so impressive.]
Xiao Chuchu, observing from afar, couldn't help but admire her. [Her ability to gather gossip is too strong. Not only can she spread information from one person to a hundred, but she can also mobilize everyone to search for clues. She's really sweeping the melon field clean, determined to dig up every vine. I'm truly impressed.]
[Not bad. Tonight when Madam Shangguan dreams, I should praise her~]
Xiao Chuchu grinned.
[By the way, I should recite to Madam Shangguan the skill books I've exchanged, like forensics and autopsy techniques.]
Xiao Yunzhou and Liu Chaniang in the Jing Country palace pricked up their ears, becoming increasingly alarmed as they listened.
Their little princess truly had divine methods!
They hoped she wouldn't scare that Yuan State lady out of her wits!
...
Madam Shangguan was unaware that her courage was causing concern for the Emperor of Jing Country. On the contrary, she felt energized after a day of gossiping!
At night, seeing her Master Shangguan Ming bathing, burning incense, and getting into bed with prayer beads, Madam Shangguan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"Master, did the celestial child really enter your dream? What did she say to you?" Madam Shangguan wanted to know if she and her husband had dreamed of the same celestial child.
But she dared not directly tell her husband about her dream, as heavenly secrets should not be revealed.
Madam Shangguan remembered what the celestial child had said. She knew the heavenly secrets, but she had paid a price – actively seeking the truth, she had been busy all day!
She didn't dare to casually tell Shangguan Ming, who hadn't paid the price, for fear of shortening his lifespan.
But when she carefully asked, Shangguan Ming refused to answer.
"Just focus on organizing our grandson's full moon celebration at home. Don't ask about other matters," Shangguan Ming glanced at his old wife irritably. "I knew that when you said you dreamed of a celestial child last night, you were lying to me."
"What use is there in telling you about the great affairs of the world?"
Madam Shangguan immediately felt displeased and yanked the blanket off him, "Fine, fine, I'm not worthy of knowing! Go sleep in your study!"
"That won't do," Shangguan Ming firmly refused. "What if the celestial child is particular about beds? How can that be good? If I go to the study, she won't be able to find me."
Madam Shangguan rolled her eyes.
But that night, they fell asleep at the same time. Shangguan Ming chanted scriptures all night but didn't dream of the celestial child.
However, when Madam Shangguan woke up in the morning, she was refreshed and glowing.
"Master, I dreamed of the celestial child again. The celestial child said I'm more promising than you, so she decided to give me some proper guidance."
Shangguan Ming: "???" Talking nonsense so early in the morning! How could that be possible?
"Wife, tell me then, what clothes was the celestial child wearing?"
"I didn't notice that."
"Hmph, a pack of lies!"
"But Master, I saw the celestial book in the celestial child's hand, 'The Complete Manual of Coroner's Autopsy Techniques'."
"???"