Page 97

The Empress withdrew her gaze and raised her hand to signal them to rise, looking toward the desk and noticing several books laid out, "Has the Crown Prince been reading early this morning?"

Xiao Jinyan: "Mother, yes."

The Empress walked with graceful and dignified steps to sit down in the chair.

Shen Chuwei knew that the Empress favored Lady Chang and also hoped that Lady Chang would become the Concubine to manage affairs in the East Palace, but Xiao Jinyan, out of concern for Lady Chang’s health, involved her in those affairs.

Most importantly, Xiao Jinyan’s actions caused many to misunderstand that she was highly favored.

In order to protect her own life, she silently stood behind Xiao Jinyan, her eyes lowered and expression demure, trying to minimize her presence as much as possible.

Yet even so, she still caught the sharp eye of the Empress.

"Lady Shen."

Shen Chuwei stepped forward, bowing her head slightly: "Empress Mother, your servant is here."

The Empress in the Imperial Garden had been quite upset by Concubine Yun, and now, half a year after the Crown Prince’s marriage, there was still no news—it was not only Concubine Yun who found it strange, the Empress did too.

She looked up at Lady Shen, her gaze first falling on her stomach. After serving in bed several times, why was there still no sign of pregnancy?

"Lady Shen, have you felt unwell recently?" she thought to herself: If she is, we must have the Imperial Doctor take a look; perhaps there’s news after all.

Xiao Jinyan: "..."

Shen Chuwei was somewhat surprised and flattered: "Your Highness the Empress Mother, your servant occasionally feels unwell."

As long as the Crown Prince doesn’t ask her to manage the East Palace affairs, she felt nothing uncomfortable at all.

Upon hearing she felt unwell occasionally, the Empress’s eyes sparkled for a moment, wondering, could it be that she is pregnant?

Xiao Jinyan glanced at Shen Chuwei’s flat abdomen and stepped forward to explain, "Mother, Lady Shen hasn’t fully recovered from the arrow wound she got while saving me, which is why she occasionally feels unwell."

The hope that had kindled in the Empress was thoroughly extinguished by the Crown Prince’s words. She had thought there was good news!

"On the way here, I encountered Concubine Yun. Yinyin is over two years old now, and he can even call grandmother now."

The Empress thought she had made her hint clear enough, only to hear the Crown Prince say, "If mother likes, she can take Yinyin to Fengyi Palace for a few days."

The Empress controls the six palaces, and Yinyin is her grandson; wanting to take him for a few days is nothing problematic.

But she is reluctant to do so.

He’s not her own son’s child, and it feels quite different to her.

If she really takes Yinyin, would not Concubine Yun’s nostrils flare up to the sky?

See, that’s all the ability the Empress Mother has.

Wanting to hold a grandson, she can only hold hers.

What about the Crown Prince? Can he let the Empress Mother hold a grandson immediately? Can he?

The Empress said with a cold face, "That’s Prince Cheng’s son, it wouldn’t be good for me to take him to stay in my palace for too long."

Inside, she couldn’t help but cry out: She wanted to hold her own grandchildren, preferably a pair of twins, a boy, and a girl, and she’d carry her grandchildren around the six palaces every day, making them jealous!

"..." Xiao Jinyan: "Mother has a point."

The Crown Prince hadn’t understood her hint, and the Empress was furious.

"You, Crown Prince, should also hurry up. Next year will be the year of your majority, and yet no child on your knee—what sort of image is that?"

Xiao Jinyan: "Your son will heed Mother’s teachings."

"You go on with your work, I’ll be returning now."

The Empress rose and left the East Palace, still surrounded by a substantial entourage.

After leaving the East Palace, the Empress suddenly stopped, turning her head to take one last look at the East Palace, feeling as if she had forgotten something important, but she just couldn’t remember what it was.

Qing Ying stepped forward and asked, "Empress Mother, what’s the matter?"

The Empress withdrew her gaze, "It’s nothing, return to the palace."

It wasn’t until she returned to Fengyi Palace that the Empress remembered her original purpose for going to the East Palace had been to hint to the Crown Prince to send her some appetizing snacks.

As a result, because she bumped into Yun Xianbai halfway, she forgot about it and only remembered the matter about holding her grandson.

It was all because Yun Xianbai, holding Yinyin in the cold weather to show off, made her forget this matter.

Qing Ying saw that the Empress was in a bad mood after returning from the East Palace. Indeed, it had been a long time since the Crown Prince’s wedding without any happy news, which greatly worried the Empress.

*

Shen Chuwei thought that there would be good food at Xiao Jinyan’s place, but she returned with five books instead, which Chun Xi was carrying, yet she would have to read them herself.

Chun Xi held the books, exuberant, "Miss, His Highness is valuing you more and more."

Shen Chuwei said listlessly, "What do you understand? I’m just a tool."

Chun Xi asked, full of confusion, "Miss, what is a tool?"

After pondering for a moment, Shen Chuwei said, "It’s like you need a spatula to cook, right?"

Chun Xi nodded, "Of course, how can you cook without a spatula?"

Shen Chuwei said, "Exactly, I am the spatula in His Highness’s hand."

Chun Xi’s eyes widened with sudden understanding, then with shock, "So His Highness already values Miss so much!"

Shen Chuwei: "..." This kid has been completely led astray by me~

Back at Xiyun Pavilion, Shen Chuwei leaned against the couch, eating the Sesame Sticky Rice Cakes Chun Xi had made, soft and delicious.

Chun Xi flipped open a book and glanced at it before asking, "Miss, which book do you plan on reading first?"

Shen Chuwei took a bite of the sticky rice cake, "Hand me one to have a look."

"Alright." Chun Xi happily handed over the book in her hands to Shen Chuwei.

Shen Chuwei, while eating the sticky rice cake, opened a page and looked down; the dense text made her feel sleepy.

When Chun Xi finished her chores and came in, she saw Shen Chuwei sprawled on the couch in a big "spread-eagle" position, her delicate face hidden by the book.

Even without seeing, she knew that her young mistress had fallen asleep.

She went over, moved the book away, covered Shen Chuwei with a blanket, and then withdrew to close the door properly.

*

Tao Chenghui hadn’t seen Lady Shen for some days and brought some snacks to Xiyun Pavilion.

Passing by Lady Xu’s Yixiang Hall, she saw Lady Xu coming out, apparently also intent on visiting around.

Tao Chenghui stepped forward and courteously greeted, "Is Sister Xu also going out?"

"Staying at home is boring; I’m going out for a walk." Lady Xu adjusted her hairpin and glanced at the food box in Ding Xiang’s hand, "Are you planning to go to Xiyun Pavilion?"

Tao Chenghui smiled and replied, "Indeed, I haven’t seen Lady Shen for some days, I’m going to take a look."

"You and Lady Shen get along quite well. However, I heard that the Empress intends to promote Lady Chang to Concubine and temporarily take charge of the affairs of the East Palace," Lady Xu whispered to Tao Chenghui.

Any slight movement in the East Palace was almost known to all.

Tao Chenghui was well-off; what Lady Xu knew, she naturally knew as well.

"Lady Chang is the Empress’s own niece; I believe Lady Chang can help His Highness relieve his burdens and worries."

"Sister Tao always knows the right things to say." Lady Xu gossiped again, "I don’t know what His Highness really thinks. I used to think Lady Chang was the most favored, but now, in my opinion, Lady Shen seems to be more favored."

Tao Chenghui waved her handkerchief with a light laugh, "Then where does Sister Xu plan to go?"

"I plan to visit Lady Shen in Lanyue Hall." It had been some days since Lady Xu had seen Lady Shen. With Lady Shen being favored, how could she pass up the chance to throw a few sarcastic remarks and relieve boredom?