Wen Lang and I were shocked and quickly lifted the curtain to take a look. Xihua Gate had never been a palace gate for ceremonial guards to enter and exit. Moreover, it was at this time, unless…
"It's the Empress Dowager!" Wen Lang only took a glance and frowned.
I was also a little anxious." The Empress Dowager has returned at this hour. She chose Xihua Gate instead of Shenwu Gate. Could something have happened?"”
"There must be something." Wen Lang nodded.
"We can't enter now. It will take at least an hour for the ceremonial procession to finish. I'm afraid the sky will be bright soon.”
I looked at the long line and had no idea. Although the Empress Dowager's carriage had already entered, there were still many guards and items behind. Second Brother and Shi Ruiyao's official ranks were not high, so no one could stop the Empress Dowager's honor guard from letting us enter first.
We had no choice but to move the carriage to a relatively hidden corner and wait.
When the palace gate finally quieted down, the sky was already slightly bright. The carriage quickly entered the palace gate and stopped outside Fanghua Gate. Second Brother and Shi Ruiyao could only send them there and take their leave.
It was already dawn. The number of palace maids cleaning the rear palace in the morning had increased, making it difficult for us to move. However, Wenlang and I could not care less about this. In another moment, it would be the time for morning court, so we really could not delay it.
Wen Lang was also anxious. He pulled me around and jumped around. Even though he was very familiar with the direction of the rear palace and his footwork was good, the two of us finally returned to Jinghe Palace without any danger.
As soon as they entered Jinghe Palace's back door, they saw Chang Yuan waiting anxiously in the garden."Aiyo emperor, you're finally back, this servant was so anxious!”Huan Pei also came over to me in panic.
"We were stopped by the Empress Dowager's guards of honor. What happened?”
Wen Lang didn't stop and hurried to the inner court, asking a series of questions,""Doesn't the Empress Dowager need a few days to return? Why did he come back today? Why did you go to Xihua Sect?"
Chang Yuan trotted behind him." Your Majesty, you don't know this. When you left last night, there was news that the young Prince of Zhaocheng was critically ill. The Steward Nanny reported to Rong Wanyi. Master Wanyi didn't dare to make a decision and sent someone to look for the Emperor. This servant could only say that the Emperor had fallen asleep. Later, he summoned the imperial physician that very night, but somehow, the Empress Dowager received the news and returned from the Tianning Temple that very night. She arrived at the time of Yin, and the Renshou Palace had just sent someone to invite the Emperor. This servant boldly replied that the Emperor would go to court first, and after the court session, he would go to see the Little Junwang. Emperor, if you had come back a moment later, this servant's head would have been lost!”
I broke out in a cold sweat. Zhifan is sick! Such a big matter had dragged on for a night. Something might go wrong.
However, there was no time for me to think carefully. The most important thing was to get past the situation in front of me. I pulled on my ring and hurriedly instructed,"Quickly go and wait on the emperor to change his clothes. Tell the sedan outside to be prepared.”
In a flurry, she finally managed to send Wen Lang to the imperial carriage in time and knelt at the gate of Jinghe Palace to send him off. I let out a long sigh and said to Huan Pei, who helped me up,"Tell the people in the palace to be extra careful and not to speak nonsense. I'm afraid it'll be a big problem this time.”
Huan Pei was also worried, but she comforted him,"Young Lady is already a fifth rank concubine. Although it is against the rules to stay overnight with the Emperor, there are precedents. Even if the punishment is not very serious, right?”
I shook my head and didn't say anything.
I returned to the house and called Ring Bell to help me comb my hair. Just as I untied last night's bun, I saw Tao Yun come in and report,"Master, the Benevolence Longevity Palace has issued an edict that there is no need to pay your respects today.”
I waved her off and Huan Pei said,"Since that's the case, Young Lady should rest for a while. You must be tired after staying up all night.”
I nodded and told them to rest.
This sleep was extremely unstable, his heart was filled with longing, he kept turning left and right, but after four hours, he got up when Huan Pei brought in the meal. There was no news from the Palace of Benevolence and Longevity or the Palace of Qianyuan. I was always feeling uneasy and anxious. It was not until dinner time that I heard that the young king's condition had improved that my heart calmed down a little.
The sky was a little gloomy, and it was darker than usual. I hadn't slept well for a day and night, so I finally felt sleepy. I knew that Wenlang wouldn't call me on such a day, so I prepared to go to bed early. Just as I was about to change my clothes and remove my makeup, Huan Pei suddenly ran in."Young miss, Benevolent Longevity Palace's Nanny Sun came over and said that the Empress Dowager has called young miss over for a chat.”
She paused, her expression grave.”
My heart sank, and then I suddenly felt relieved."Where's Granny Sun?"
Ring Ring looked at me anxiously.”
I nodded and stood up to take a step forward. The two girls pretended to stop me."Miss! This…"
I smiled helplessly." That's the Empress Dowager, not anyone else. Can she eat me?" Don't worry, I'll be careful. I'll be back soon.”
Outside, Granny Sun bowed to me."Mistress Yu Pin."
"Nanny Sun, don't be so polite. I wonder why the Empress Dowager summoned ChenQie so late at night?”
"This servant isn't sure. Master Yu Pin will know once she goes with this servant.”
Seeing this, I didn't ask any more questions. I followed Granny Sun to Renshou Palace. She led me outside the temple hall."Please wait here, Mistress Yu Pin."
Seeing the Empress Dowager reciting scriptures in the temple hall, I nodded in acknowledgment and waited quietly in the courtyard.
The temple hall was green and quiet. A faint breeze blew past, bringing with it the smell of incense, making people subconsciously calm down and be pious.
After a while, the Empress Dowager finished reciting the scriptures and stood up."ChenQie greets Empress Dowager. Empress Dowager is blessed with good health.”
The Empress Dowager didn't say anything. She slowly walked to the door of the temple hall."Yu Pin, what do you think of this temple hall?”
I didn't know what was going on and didn't dare to answer randomly."The palace is quiet."
"Quiet Earth?" The empress dowager chuckled." Is it quiet, quiet, or…clean?”
I didn't dare to answer and just kept silent.
The Empress Dowager didn't seem to wait for me to say anything. She paused and said in an emotionless voice,""Yu Pin, did the emperor rest at your place last night?”
My heart skipped a beat and I quickly bowed."Yes, ChenQie knows her crime. ChenQie has crossed the line, please punish Empress Dowager.”
Obviously, the Empress Dowager did not want this answer."You accompanied me all night as a concubine. Although you crossed the line, it's not a big crime.”
Seeing that I remained silent, the Empress Dowager changed the topic."Yu Pin, the emperor wasn't in the palace last night. Where did you go?”
Although I had been worried for a long time, when the Empress Dowager asked this question directly, I was still shocked. What kind of person was the Empress Dowager? She immediately noticed my abnormality and stared at me with even more determination and coldness. I knew that it was useless to deny and explain. It was a sin to say it now, but it was also a sin not to say it. The first rule was not to expose Ruirong. She and Wenlang still had a great happiness and could not be ruined in my hands.
Having made up my mind, I wasn't afraid. I bit my lip and lowered my eyes.
The empress dowager saw my determination. After a while, she spoke indifferently and called my name,"Yu 'er, in the past, this widow thought that you were a good child who knew etiquette and relationships. There were many things that you just pretended not to know and let you do as you please. It's just that today I found out that you were also so thoughtful, it really disappointed aijia.”
When I heard this, I was very sad. Thinking of the past, I almost cried, but I didn't know how to say it. I only choked and said,"Yu 'er deserves to die!"
The Empress Dowager held Nanny Sun's hand and walked out of the temple hall. She came in front of me."Since you don't want to speak, you can think about it in peace in this quiet land.”
Then, she instructed Nanny Sun," Find someone to wait here. When she has thought it through, ask the people in the palace to bring her back."”
The Empress Dowager immediately left, leaving me kneeling alone in the courtyard of the temple hall.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Granny Sun returned and looked at me."Yu Pin master, this servant will say one more thing. Leaving the palace is presumably the emperor's intention. Even if master says it, the empress dowager will not do anything to the emperor. At most, it will be a punishment for not being able to persuade master.”
I bowed slightly." Thank you, Mother Sun. Yu 'er understands Mother Sun's good intentions. Please don't bother with ChenQie. There's no need for people to wait for you. Go and rest." ChenQie has already made up her mind and will let the Empress Dowager decide.”
Granny Sun sighed and shook her head. She didn't say anything else and turned around to leave.
The night was as cold as water, and the hard bluestone made my knees hurt. Every movement was heart-wrenching, so I simply gritted my teeth and held on. Gradually, I became numb. There was no pain, only coldness. The unlined garment on my body was far from being able to withstand the slight coldness of the autumn night. I told myself to be strong. A few hours passed in a flash. I had practiced martial arts for a few days, so of course I was much stronger than those weak women.
Listening to the sound of the night watch, Yin Shi's body became more and more upset. He felt that every bone in his body was shaking and tearing at his body. At this moment, the gloomy sky started to rain. There was no wind, thunder, or lightning. Just like that, it silently and without any warning, it poured down endless coldness, mercilessly revealing and intensifying my helplessness and insignificance.
When my clothes were quickly soaked, I finally cried out. I cried quietly and wantonly, weakly but firmly expressing a slight resistance. It mixed with the rain and quickly disappeared without a trace.# Daguan Review Passed: Daguan Time:111420183: 48PM #Cancel Review All: wdd201302 Time:111420185: 56PM #
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