Outside the great hall, two palace maids entered, one named Wanrong and the other Suo'er. Together, they invited the Empress to rest. It was late, and if they didn't sleep soon, dawn would break. Jin Jiali was indeed a little tired and went to her chambers to rest with the maids' support.
The next day, the weather was clear and pleasant, with a vast, cloudless sky, a gentle breeze, and cool, refreshing air that soothed the heart.
Word had spread throughout the imperial palace that the Emperor had spent the night at Huaqing Palace the previous evening and favored the Empress. Thus, early in the morning, the Grand Eunuch Qing'an was sent by the Empress Dowager to summon Liu Liu to Cining Palace.
Liu Liu had just woken up. Upon hearing that the Empress Dowager wished to see her, she quickly washed, applied light makeup, and changed her clothes. Once ready, she majestically led her entourage to Cining Palace.
In early autumn, before the gates of Cining Palace, the once abundant flowers had withered. Fallen petals scattered in the wind, their stems and leaves turned yellow, creating a desolate scene. Flowers could bloom again after they faded, but people could not.
A line of elegantly dressed palace maids stood before the palace gate, accompanied by several young eunuchs who bowed with smiles. The atmosphere surrounding them felt different today; everyone's face was beaming with joy. Or rather, they beamed with joy upon seeing her. What was the reason for this?
Liu Liu was utterly bewildered, still unaware of the sensational gossip circulating in the palace.
"Rise," she said calmly, leading Cui'er and Caixia behind the eunuch Qing'an into Cining Palace.
In the magnificent golden hall, the Empress Dowager, clad in a dark crimson palace gown and adorned with numerous pearls and jewels, appeared exceptionally dignified and luxurious. She smiled as she looked at Liu Liu, who stood below, and beckoned her closer.
Liu Liu took two slow steps forward. Noticing the Empress Dowager's ambiguous smile, she wondered what was happening. She slowly bowed.
"Liu'er pays her respects to Mother Empress."
"Rise, come sit beside me. I have something to ask you." Hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Liu Liu straightened her back, lightly lifted her plain skirt, and walked to the Empress Dowager's side.
The Empress Dowager's eyes crinkled with happiness as she took Liu Liu's hand, stroking her delicate fingers and speaking softly.
"Last night?" Before the Empress Dowager could finish her sentence, a young eunuch ran in, interrupting her. Her expression immediately turned displeased as she shot him a cold glance. "What is all this haste? What is it?" xxs壹贰
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Consort Shu and Consort De have come to pay their respects."
The Empress Dowager initially wanted them to wait outside, but considering that both women had been favored by her son, and might even bear royal heirs, her expression softened slightly. She waved her hand and said, "Let them in."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the young eunuch hurried out. Soon, two slender figures entered Cining Palace. The one in front was Consort Shu, Jin Jiali, whose complexion was somewhat haggard and her spirit notably low, appearing listless.
Following behind was Lou Sijing. Although in better spirits, her complexion was also not good. The two consorts entered to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and looked up to see the Empress also present.
A flash of jealous hatred immediately crossed their eyes before quickly disappearing, replaced by smiles on their faces.
"Your concubines pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress."
Seeing the poor complexions of the two women so early in the morning, the Empress Dowager understood the reason for their low spirits. It was indeed difficult for them; any woman would not feel good when her husband favored another. This merely showed their genuine affection for the Emperor.
"Rise and sit to the side."
Jin Jiali and Lou Sijing thanked the Empress Dowager and walked to the side to sit.
Liu Liu scanned them and noticed that Jin Jiali, who always paid great attention to her appearance, was somewhat disheveled. She couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with this woman. Her face, usually meticulously painted, today bore only a light dusting of powder, revealing her dark circles clearly! It seemed she had not slept well last night.
Looking at Lou Sijing, although her appearance was neat, there was a hint of indignation in her expression. What had happened to them? And this hostility was clearly directed at her. Had she offended them again?
Liu Liu didn't want to dwell on it. These women, day in and day out, she couldn't fathom what they were thinking about, and she couldn't be bothered. She turned her head to look at the Empress Dowager, who was holding her hand.
"Mother Empress summoned Liu'er?"
The Empress Dowager no longer looked at the consorts below. She certainly hoped that Liu Liu would give birth to a royal son, and then the Liu family would enjoy eternal prosperity. As a woman of the Liu family, she would have honored her ancestors. The Empress Dowager became happier the more she thought about it and spoke affectionately.
"The Emperor stayed at Huaqing Palace last night!"
"Yes," Liu Liu nodded. She didn't think much of it and casually agreed. Seeing the Empress Dowager's smile and the jealous eyes of the two women below, she realized where their thoughts had wandered. So, they all believed that it was just the Emperor and her, but it wasn't like that at all. The Emperor slept on the couch outside, and she slept on the large bed in the chambers.
Liu Liu couldn't help but purse her lips and smile slightly, but her action was interpreted by Jin Jiali and Lou Sijing as her proudly showing off.
"Mother Empress, actually last night..." Liu Liu wanted to clarify, but could she say that the Emperor slept on the sofa? No one would believe it if she did. For a moment, she was at a loss for suitable words, while the Empress Dowager and the two women below were all looking at her.
Liu Liu was contemplating how to best explain what happened last night. Seeing the Empress Dowager's excessive excitement, she truly feared disappointing her.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the great hall of Cining Palace, filling the space with golden light. The autumn wind swept by, gently swaying the curtains. Outside the hall, fallen flowers drifted past. Inside, three women, each with their own thoughts, eyed Liu Liu warily.
Suddenly, several palace maids rushed into the great hall in a panic, shouting, "Empress Dowager, it's not good, something terrible has happened!"
The Empress Dowager was in the midst of her happy thoughts, seeing Liu Liu's shy and bashful demeanor, which clearly indicated the Emperor's overnight stay at Huaqing Palace. Unexpectedly, her mood was spoiled by the approaching young maids. Her face immediately darkened, and with a cold expression, she ordered the young eunuchs standing outside the hall door.
"You damned things, coming to spoil my mood so early in the morning! Drag them out and give them ten planks!"
The young eunuchs outside the hall door immediately rushed in. The maids, in their panic, repeatedly kowtowed, crying, "Empress Dowager, spare us! Your servants have something important to report! The Princess is missing, the little Princess is missing!"
At these words, the Empress Dowager's face turned pale in an instant. She stood up quickly, her body trembling slightly. Liu Liu swiftly rose to support the Empress Dowager, staring coldly at the maids below, "How did the little Princess go missing? Where did she go?"
"Reporting to the Empress, the little Princess and her personal maid Luoyi are both gone. Only a letter was left, so we were frightened and came to find the Empress!" The maid spoke quickly and urgently, presenting a letter with both hands. A young eunuch stepped forward, took the letter, and handed it to Liu Liu on the high seat. Liu Liu took it and gently comforted the Empress Dowager, "Mother Empress, do not worry. Let's see what the Princess wrote in her letter."
The Empress Dowager nodded weakly and sat down on the phoenix couch behind her. Liu Liu opened the letter. In it, Feng Wu Yang's general meaning was that she was going out to roam the martial world, and she wanted to find a chivalrous hero she liked and bring him back to meet her Mother Empress.