"Emperor, are you going back or..."
Shen Quan dared not look at the expression on Yan Xiu’s face and tested the waters as he spoke.
Now, he felt sad for the Emperor, thinking that Lady Li would be punished and coming over with a worried heart, only to find Lady Li and the Empress Dowager chatting and laughing, completely ignoring the Emperor.
This, this would make anyone feel uncomfortable, let alone the Emperor?
Yan Xiu pursed his lips and stepped forward to follow.
Shen Quan: ...
"See, Your Majesty, these koi in your pool have turned into golden koi due to your good fortune, whoever gets in touch with them is sure to receive good luck."
"Oh, this little girl, such sweet words, always knows how to flatter," the Empress Dowager laughed heartily.
Li Yuyu giggled, saying, "Empress Dowager, may I feed the fish a bit longer?"
Feng Yin: ...
Chen Jing turned his head and smiled.
The Empress Dowager was momentarily stunned, then she too burst out in laughter.
This girl, really is something...
When Li Yuyu came out of Cining Palace, her delicate face bore a contented smile.
She had so much fun today.
Yan Xiu walked slightly ahead, but his peripheral vision kept an eye on whether Li Yuyu was keeping up with him. Whenever she slowed down, he would also slow his pace, always maintaining a distance where he could observe her and reach her at any time.
Thus, the two of them went to the Luaxin Pavilion.
"So, you say Lady Li not only went unpunished but also led the Emperor to the Luaxin Pavilion?"
In Yikun Palace, Princess Consort De had been restless ever since she heard that Li Yuyu went to Cining Palace, stationing people at the palace gate to find out how Li Yuyu was punished.
Who would have guessed the palace attendant would come back with such news.
"Are you sure you were not mistaken?" Princess Consort De confirmed again.
"Your Majesty, even if I were blind, I wouldn’t mistake the Emperor. The table at Luaxin Pavilion was set with dishes, delivered by Xiao Zhuzi from the Imperial Kitchen, there’s no way I could be wrong," Ji He said, bowing.
Princess Consort De suddenly felt faint and sat down on the chair clutching her chest.
"Your Majesty..." Lan Qin stepped forward to support her.
Princess Consort De gestured for silence and asked softly, "And from the Empress Dowager, did you hear anything?"
Ji He hesitated, "Your Majesty, I think it’s better if I don’t say."
"Speak, this palace is fine," Princess Consort De had a bad feeling.
"Yes," Ji He finally spoke, "I heard that after talking about Buddhism with the Empress Dowager at Cining Palace, Lady Li left. When the Emperor arrived, the Empress Dowager and Lady Li were at the fish pond. It’s said that the Empress Dowager was very pleased."
Very pleased...
Princess Consort De nearly ground her teeth to dust.
The Empress Dowager was her aunt. Her aunt being so friendly with Li Yuyu while she was infuriated by her, was she intending to abandon her niece?!
"Bang!"
Princess Consort De suddenly swept the tea set off the table.
All the servants in Yikun Palace fell to their knees.
The palace walls have ears, and news of Princess Consort De smashing the tea set in anger over the Emperor’s visit to Luaxin Pavilion quickly spread to all the palaces, even reaching Noble Lady Ying, who was confined at Yunmo Pavilion.
"It’s not the first time the Emperor has gone to Luaxin Pavilion, why is Princess Consort De so upset?"
Noble Lady Ying, rubbing her sore wrist after copying palace rules, asked nonchalantly.
"I don’t really know, maybe it’s because the Emperor ignored Princess Consort De’s many summons," said Yin Cheng as he ground ink.
"Humph, she thinks being one of the four consorts makes her special in the Emperor’s eyes?" Noble Lady Ying snorted, "If it weren’t for the Empress Dowager, would she even be Princess Consort De? Dreaming for the Emperor’s attention, serves her right!"