She was helping you

He said that the Marquis of Bravery and Resolve had made no appeal to the emperor at morning court that day. There had been no movement at court.

Very well. Mud could not be plastered onto a wall.

Just then, Yun Yang brought her a letter. "My lady, this is a letter your maternal grandparents' family, the Gu Family, sent into the palace."

My grandparents? Wen Yunmian's heart softened, and she hurriedly opened the letter.

The letter had been folded rather carelessly, as though someone had hastily stuffed it into an envelope and entrusted it to a messenger bound for the palace.

When she saw her grandfather's handwriting, a long-lost familiarity washed over her. He had taught her to write, guiding her hand with his own.

Her grandfather's handwriting had always been firm and upright, yet now she could glimpse his anxiety in the strokes.

By the time Wen Yunmian finished reading, the corners of her eyes were damp.

Her grandfather and grandmother had heard Meng Chunhua's slander. They thought that although she enjoyed the emperor's favor, every step she took in the imperial harem was fraught with difficulty, and she might even be consigned to the cold palace. Anxiously, they had written to ask whether she was facing any hardships.

Although the Gu Family held only a minor fifth-rank office, they would marshal the strength of their entire family to protect her.

The letter ended with a single sentence: "Mian'er, don't be afraid."

Wen Yunmian was deeply touched. Meng Chunhua seemed utterly laughable to her. A few arrogant remarks from Wen Leyan had left that mother and daughter unable to tell north from south.

Meng Chunhua would soon learn who would actually end up in the cold palace.

Yun Yang had also seen the contents of the letter. She leaned closer, delighted. "Master Gu and the old madam still love you dearly, my lady."

Wen Yunmian lowered her eyes. Throughout her childhood, her parents had been on bad terms, and her mother had moved alone into the rear courtyard, giving no thought to her. Isolated and helpless in the Marquis’s Residence as a child, she had preferred to spend most of her time with her grandmother.

Her aunt and grandmother had raised her themselves.

Back when she had gained influence in the palace, she had wanted to advance her grandparents' family. But her grandfather and the others had refused to bask in her glory, fearing that doing so would put her in a difficult position in the palace.

Whenever she encountered difficulties in her previous life, her grandparents' family had done everything in their power to help.

Once favor and glory were heaped upon her, they had quietly stepped back, taking no share of those honors.

Surely this was what affection between family members ought to be.

The love she had never received at the Marquis’s Residence had been made up for by her maternal grandparents' family.

Wen Yunmian lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on the letter Xie Yunjian had sent, lying to her left.

Since her father was so useless, she no longer needed to support the Marquis’s Residence.

In this life, she would support her grandparents' family and help them soar into the clouds!

"Yun Yang, I'll write a letter. Have someone deliver it to my cousin in a little while." She would have to persuade that cousin of hers, who was far too unbendingly upright, as pure as a clear breeze and steadfast in his integrity.

Yun Yang promptly answered, "Yes."

Wen Yunmian wrote down the details of the flooding in Cloud City. She knew that putting such matters on paper would leave evidence that could be used against her, but at present she had no opportunity to meet privately with a man from outside the palace. Writing was her only option.

She trusted her cousin to handle the letter properly.

"Have someone you trust deliver this letter directly into my cousin's hands. It must not pass through anyone else's."

Understanding the gravity of the matter, Yun Yang took the letter and tucked it inside her robes. "I understand."

Wen Yunmian sat on the cushioned couch beside the window, resting her hand on the small table. Gazing at the snow-white scenery outside, she could not help thinking of her cousin's circumstances in her previous life.

In her eyes, her cousin had been a handsome young gentleman, as clear and open as the breeze and moon after rain, as graceful as fragrant orchids and a jade tree. Yet in her previous life, she had spent her years languishing in the imperial harem, dragged down by the Marquis’s Residence. Struggling to protect her own life and her son's, she had been unable to spare any attention for her maternal grandparents' family.

Thus, she knew little of what had happened to her cousin afterward. She only knew that he had harbored lofty ambitions but had lacked the means to fulfill them.

Throughout history, many court officials had been entrusted with important posts largely because their families had a favored consort, prompting the emperor to pay those families particular attention and elevate them.

Whomever the emperor wished to elevate would receive every favor and official post.

Thus, ability alone was not enough for an official seeking the emperor's regard at court.

Among officials, suppression operated at every level. Those powerful ministers would not allow anyone beyond their control to rise above the rest before the emperor.

Under their suppression, capable men had no chance to display their talents before the emperor.

Her cousin, moreover, did not know how to feign compliance or curry favor with powerful ministers. That was why his ambitions had remained unfulfilled.

By the time she held great power, her cousin had already died on the battlefield.

The Gu Family also had several younger male cousins, all highly capable. In her previous life, they too had moved away with the entire family, leaving the capital far behind.

In this life, she would do all she could to lift the Gu Family up. Her grandparents' family was her support, and she would be theirs in turn.

Inside the Gu Residence.

When Gu Weilan received the letter, he was practicing martial arts in the courtyard. Upon learning that it had come from his younger cousin, he hurriedly tossed his weapons to a servant and went over to take it.

He returned to his room and opened the letter. At the beginning, his cousin explained that the matter of the cold palace was merely a false rumor. He had only just breathed a sigh of relief when the rest of the letter plunged him into thought.

His long, finely shaped brows drew tightly together, and his stern face turned deeply solemn.

Only after quite some time did Gu Weilan take the letter to see his grandfather.

He knew that this letter was of immense importance, and that Mian'er had always been cautious. She could write in several different styles, yet she had not changed her handwriting this time. That alone showed how much she trusted him.

Before going to see his grandfather, Gu Weilan therefore concealed the letter carefully, letting no one catch sight of it.

Before explaining the matter, he dismissed the servants from his grandfather's study. Only then did he solemnly hand over the letter.

When the old man finished reading, his clouded eyes jolted with shock.

Floods and bandits?

Gu Weilan's breathing grew anxious. He knew Mian'er was not reckless. This matter could not have sprung from nothing.

"Grandfather, since Mian'er knew of this and told us, she must want us to bring it before His Majesty, go suppress the bandits and provide disaster relief, and save the people!"

The old man stroked his beard. "If things are truly as Mian'er says, then this matter cannot brook a moment's delay."

He continued, "Suppressing bandits and providing disaster relief in winter is already a thankless task. Moreover, the mountain bandits have long since stockpiled their winter provisions. If we attack them now, our chances of victory may be slim."

"So even if the officials at court know about this, no one will take the lead in raising it."

Gu Weilan nodded in agreement. "If the people truly face being plunged into deep water and searing fire, I am willing to bring this matter before His Majesty and go to Yunzhou!"

The old man considered the matter more deeply. "In truth, Mian'er's intentions run deep. Besides wanting to save the people of Cloud City, she also wants to lift you up."

After calming down, Gu Weilan had sensed this as well. His heart was filled with gratitude. "Mian'er also told me in her letter how to deal with those mountain bandits. I understand it all."

The old man knew his grandson's temperament well, and understood his granddaughter's delicate considerations.

After carefully explaining what would happen in Yunzhou, the letter offered only a few brief remarks on avoiding the dangers. From that, the old man could tell that his granddaughter likely knew how to break the impasse and handle the situation.

Yet she had not explained it in detail, out of consideration for Wei Lan's stubborn pride.

How could that rascal willingly accept credit simply handed to him? He would feel unworthy of it.

Thus, she had offered only enough guidance to let him avoid danger, take charge of the matter, and rely on his own abilities to suppress the bandits and control the flooding.