Xing Lai was speechless.
Looking at Yu Jingchen beside him, he felt that his Majesty was a bit… well, tsundere…
Your Majesty, why can't you just go in openly? You are His Majesty, what are you doing on the roof now?
Yes, our dear Emperor has become a gentleman of the roof… Xing Lai rolled his eyes beside him. Is this comfortable? The most important thing is that you've come up, but why do I have to follow?
Yu Jingchen looked at the scene below. Nan Zhiyun and Nan Su were sitting together, with the Empress Dowager on the side, enjoying themselves harmoniously.
"Empress Dowager…" it was An Xin.
The Empress Dowager looked at her. An Xin did not speak directly but leaned towards the Empress Dowager's ear and whispered something. Hearing this, the Empress Dowager's eyebrows slightly raised, as if she was pleased about something.
Yu Jingchen was too far away to hear.
"What's wrong?" Nan Su asked.
"Nothing," the Empress Dowager replied evasively.
"The Empress Dowager seems to be in a good mood these days," Nan Su said to her.
"The whole family is together, so naturally, we are happy," the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
"The meal is ready, let's eat first," the Empress Dowager said, and then stood up with An Xin's support. Nan Su and Nan Zhiyun also got up.
This table full of dishes was specially prepared by the Empress Dowager for the imperial kitchen: "These are all your favorites. Today is New Year's, we must have a good reunion. The family should be together." The Empress Dowager beckoned them to sit down.
"Come, Yun'er, sit here." The Empress Dowager and Nan Su sat on either side, placing Nan Zhiyun in the middle.
Nan Zhiyun was not reserved and actually sat down between them. The people below began to serve the dishes, but… Nan Zhiyun looked at the person serving the dishes… Hmm, why did he look so familiar?
She frowned, trying to get a clear look, but the person's head was lowered, and he was wearing a hat, so she couldn't see. Nan Su noticed that his precious daughter's attention was elsewhere and looked over as well. Hmm? Isn't this…
Nan Su looked at the Empress Dowager, who ignored it.
After the people below had served everything and the tasting was finished, Nan Zhiyun watched as all those people withdrew, leaving only that one person behind.
Nan Zhiyun felt increasingly strange.
"Hey…" Nan Zhiyun spoke up.
The Empress Dowager and Nan Su both looked over.
"What's wrong? Yun'er?" the Empress Dowager asked.
Even His Majesty, who was in hiding somewhere, did not know what Nan Zhiyun intended to do.
"Empress Dowager, is this your palace attendant?" Nan Zhiyun asked the strange person.
The Empress Dowager chuckled softly upon hearing this, "I don't know whose it is."
Nan Zhiyun: "???" This did not look like ignorance, but… anyway, she just found it strange and couldn't help but look a few more times.
"Empress Dowager, are you doing this on purpose? You don't know who I am?" The person took off his hat.
Oh… the National Preceptor. Nan Zhiyun was stunned. How could it be the National Preceptor? How did he get in? Why was he at Cining Palace? And why was he dressed like this?
"I think you're doing a good job pretending, keep it up," the Empress Dowager said without even looking over. Nan Zhiyun felt that something was not quite right, the atmosphere was a bit strange.
Yu Jingchen, hiding in the dark, was also surprised to see Gu Yin here. How could Gu Yin be here? He had no idea, and it shouldn't be like this.
Cining Palace… in the entire imperial palace, his people had the least control over Cining Palace. It wasn't that he hadn't arranged for people, but it was so tightly sealed that it was generally impossible to infiltrate.
"Isn't it convenient for me to sneak in? I personally made sure these dishes were prepared," Gu Yin said. Nan Zhiyun and the others only then noticed that Gu Yin was also carrying something.
Gu Yin placed the items on the table, then took out new dishes, which were indeed some of the Empress Dowager's favorite dishes.
Nan Zhiyun's gaze became increasingly strange. This was not right…
"The presentation is quite ugly. Your cook doesn't look very good," the Empress Dowager commented.
Gu Yin: "…"
"This cook is called Gu Yin, Empress Dowager," Gu Yin said helplessly.
The Empress Dowager glanced at him and said nothing.
"Empress Dowager, it's freezing cold, and I'm a lonely old man in my residence. Can you be merciful and let me stay?" Gu Yin asked the Empress Dowager with a smile.
"Before you stay, change this outfit first." This was a sign of agreement.
"Yes, thank you, Empress Dowager, for your grace." Gu Yin immediately went to change his clothes.
Nan Zhiyun was dumbfounded, what was happening?
"Empress Dowager…" Nan Zhiyun wanted to ask.
"It's nothing, don't mind him, he's just like that," the Empress Dowager said.
Just like that? Is the National Preceptor usually like this? In Nan Zhiyun's eyes, the National Preceptor always seemed like an immortal, high and untouchable, and exceptionally aloof.