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"And the result? I have to watch my tone when speaking, behave with dignity and grace, help you manage a pile of problems in the East Palace, and on top of that, guard against a bunch of women who are scheming and manipulating."

The Empress said irritably.

Outside the door, Eunuch Li and Qing Ying heard the noise inside, exchanged a glance, and both felt a bit awkward.

Qing Ying looked at the sun outside the eaves: "The weather is particularly hot and dry today."

Eunuch Li took up the conversation, "How about, I take Mammy Qing Ying to have some herbal tea?"

Qing Ying: "Thank you for the trouble, Eunuch Li."

"Not at all."

Eunuch Li led Mammy Qing Ying to the Side Hall...

*

The Emperor, seeing the Empress so angry, hurriedly consoled her, "Empress, the grandchild is perfectly fine."

The Empress retorted, "If the Crown Prince hadn’t returned in time, would the grandchild still be fine?"

The Emperor explained, "I am not a negligent ruler; everything depends on evidence. Without evidence, how could I possibly take action against Lady Shen?"

The Empress snorted, "If Jinyu hadn’t intervened in time, wouldn’t you have believed the slander and taken action against Lady Shen?"

"Empress, in my position, the evidence was conclusive at the time..." The Emperor, noticing the Empress’s darkening expression, cleared his throat twice: "I mishandled this matter. Please do not be angry, Empress."

"How dare I be angry with Your Majesty? You are the ruler of the nation, and I still wish to live to see my grandchildren. Not like you, who already have grandsons and don’t care."

The Empress let down her sleeve and stood up to leave, but the Emperor grabbed her hand, "Where does the Empress intend to go?"

"Of course, I am going to see Lady Shen. Your Majesty may not care, but I cherish her deeply."

Seeing the Empress trying to leave again, the Emperor reminded her, "I am still ill."

"When the Emperor is ill, he should summon the Imperial Doctor. There are beauties by your side to serve you, and at the very least, there are eunuchs and palace maids. I, with my clumsy hands, will not trouble Your Majesty further."

Having said that, the Empress turned and left.

Watching the Empress’s retreating figure, the Emperor sighed, "So angry... it seems that I hold no place in your heart."

After leaving Yangxin Hall, the Empress learned that Lady Shen had returned to Hehuan Hall, so she went there.

When the Empress arrived, Xiao Jinyan was not there.

Shen Chuwei, with nothing else to do, was preparing medication when she heard Chun Xi standing at the door and calling out, "Young Mistress, the Empress is here."

No sooner had the voice faded than the Empress walked in.

Shen Chuwei put down the medicine in her hand, stood up to welcome her, "Empress."

The Empress scrutinized Shen Chuwei from top to bottom, relieved to see her unharmed, "I received a letter from Jinyu at the White Horse Temple and hurried back, glad that you’re unharmed. Otherwise, I would regret not taking you with me to the temple to offer incense."

Shen Chuwei smiled and said, "Empress, I am fine, all thanks to Prince Jinyu at the time."

At the mention of her son, the Empress’s eyes brimmed with a smile, "That child Jinyu, usually so playful, but when it counts, he’s very reliable."

Shen Chuwei nodded vigorously; at that time, only Xiao Jinyu was able to speak a few words to the Emperor. Others spoke almost without receiving his attention.

The Empress’s gaze fell on her stomach, which seemed bigger since before she left, "No discomfort in your body, right? The baby wasn’t frightened, was it?"

Shen Chuwei felt the Empress was even more anxious about her stomach than she was and shook her head, "The babies are very well, Empress need not worry."

"That’s good." The Empress patted her chest, looking uncomfortable, "The Phoenix Carriage was so bumpy on the road, I felt dizzy, and my stomach was upset. I could really go for something sour."

Shen Chuwei said, "I have ’Liu Liu Mei’ here."

The Empress looked puzzled, "Liu Liu Mei? What is that?"

"You’ll know in a moment, Empress." Shen Chuwei went to a small cabinet, opened the door, took out a jar, opened it, and handed it to the Empress.

"This is ’Liu Liu Mei’, quite sour."

The Empress’s eyes turned to the ’Liu Liu Mei’ in the jar, she took one with curiosity and placed it in her mouth. Without even biting, she tasted the sourness, and it alleviated the discomfort in her stomach. At the same time, the dizziness improved a bit.

"This ’Liu Liu Mei’ is not bad, tastes even better than candied fruit."

The Empress had to rush out this time and hadn’t prepared any candied fruit, ending up vomiting two or three times on the journey.

Before leaving, Shen Chuwei gave that jar of ’Liu Liu Mei’ to the Empress.

Concubine Xu and Lady Tao learned that Shen Chuwei had returned to Hehuan Hall and came to visit at the earliest opportunity.

Concubine Xu’s handkerchief fluttered all the way until she stopped at Hehuan Hall.

"Lady Shen, you have finally come out."