Chapter 26 She hit a brick wall!

"You're so smart, how could you not know?"

Empress Dowager Shen glanced at her and poked her forehead.

She truly loved this girl.

"Grandmother, please tell me!"

Shen Ruoli clung to Empress Dowager Shen's arm affectionately and pressed her face against it.

Although she suspected that Xie Xuanyin was behind it, she was not sure.

"The Empress is most opposed to your marriage to the Crown Prince."

Empress Dowager Shen put away her smile and leaned back on the chaise longue, saying slowly, "In fact, she once threatened me and the Emperor by going on a hunger strike. She didn't eat or drink for three whole days, didn't leave the house, and wouldn't see anyone."

Hearing this, Shen Ruoli was not surprised at all!

It is said that Empress Sun was unable to conceive for a time, and it was only after many years of marriage with Xie Yuanhe that she gave birth to Xie Xuanyin.

Even after giving birth to the seventh princess, Xie Jiaojiao, she still prioritized Xie Xuanyin.

As a result, Xie Jiaojiao's relationship with her older brother Xie Xuanyin was not very close.

"Although you've never been in charge of a palace banquet before, with me overseeing things, there won't be any mistakes! It's precisely because a foreign king is visiting the capital that I specifically appointed you to oversee the banquet. What a pity..."

Empress Dowager Shen sighed, shook her head gently, and swallowed back the words that were about to come out.

As long as Crown Princess Shen Ruoli can successfully host the palace banquet this time, her position as Empress will be a sure thing, and she can rest easy!

She... doesn't have much time left!

Empress Dowager Shen only wanted to pave the way for Shen Ruoli's future before this happened!

It's for the glory of the Shen family, and also for Shen Ruoli!

She was the one she was most worried about.

Empress Dowager Shen gently stroked the top of her head, her tone softening, "Li'er, the Crown Prince is just a little indifferent, but he's not a bad person at heart!"

"I'll rest assured if you marry him!"

She had a strained relationship with Empress Sun, her mother-in-law.

Therefore, he was not very close to Xie Xuanyin, his eldest grandson.

Because she knows how painful it is for a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to be at odds, she is now sparing no effort to resolve Shen Ruoli's future troubles—helping her build a good relationship with Empress Sun!

“He is a hundred times better than the King of Chu! That’s why when you came to me for help, I agreed immediately.”

Empress Dowager Shen no longer hid it from her, "Actually, even before you asked me for help, I had already intended to betroth you to the Crown Prince."

"It's just that you're too obsessed with the King of Chu; even I can't help but sigh!"

As she spoke, she sighed again.

Meeting her troubled gaze, Shen Ruoli felt both like crying and a little amused.

She used to be disliked.

Even her father and mother often complained that she was not as worry-free and steady as her brother, not as considerate and sensible as her eldest sister, and not as well-behaved and cute as her third sister.

Only Empress Dowager Shen loved her dearly, regardless of whether it was in her past or present life, and that love never changed!

She sniffed, her voice choked with emotion, "Grandmother has the best eye for people! From now on, if Grandmother takes a fancy to someone, just bestow a marriage upon me!"

"What? You want to leave the Crown Prince and marry someone else?"

Empress Dowager Shen was both amused and exasperated. "If the Crown Prince hears this, you'll be in big trouble!"

"Grandmother, I was just joking!"

Shen Ruoli hurriedly said.

joke!

If Xie Xuanyin heard these words, that man would surely tear her to pieces!

With Xie Xuansong as her "previous offender," she is already frantically trying to atone for her sins!

If there were another "Wang Xuansong" or "Li Xuansong," would Xie Xuanyin let her off easily?

"I'm just teasing you."

Empress Dowager Shen chuckled, "You seem to be in such a hurry; it seems you care a lot about the Crown Prince."

Yes, that's a good thing!

"Even for the sake of the Crown Prince, I want to ease the tension between you and the Empress. That's why I have a lot of confidence in you for this palace banquet! But the Empress has many concerns."

She put down her teacup. "Alright! Let's take it one step at a time! As long as you treat people sincerely, I believe they will like you."

The child she watched grow up would definitely not be a little rascal!

"But you must keep your distance from the King of Chu, and don't make any mistakes!"

Empress Dowager Shen spoke in a serious tone.

"Grandmother, don't worry! I've already hit a wall."

"It's good that you know."

After holding her hand and giving her some more detailed instructions, Empress Dowager Shen felt a wave of fatigue wash over her and then instructed Granny Liu to send Shen Ruoli back.

As soon as she left Shou Kang Palace, the smile on Shen Ruoli's face vanished.

Recalling the Empress Dowager's tone, which seemed to be "making arrangements for her death," her heart sank.

"Granny Liu, how has the Empress Dowager been feeling lately?"

Previously, she had devoted all her heart to Xie Xuansong and had never cared about the people around her.

Today, I finally noticed that something was wrong with Empress Dowager Shen!

Unexpectedly, she suddenly asked about Empress Dowager Shen's health. Granny Liu stiffened slightly, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes.

But she quickly calmed down and replied with a smile, "Your Highness, didn't you ask me that before? Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has always been in good health!"

"Yeah?"

Shen Ruoli stopped in her tracks.

Granny Liu had served Empress Dowager Shen for many years and knew the Empress Dowager's affairs best.

And she understood Liu Mama's personality quite well!

Seeing Liu Mama's shifty eyes and her reluctance to meet her gaze, Shen Ruoli became even more certain—her grandmother was definitely hiding something from her! And it was highly likely that she was ill!

They might even be quite ill!

"Since the Empress Dowager is in good health, why are Granny Liu's eyes red?"

Shen Ruoli stood with his hands behind his back, leaning slightly forward to stare into Liu Mama's eyes.

Granny Liu quickly turned her back and rubbed her eyes. "Just now, just now a little bug got into my eye! I'm fine, it'll be fine after rubbing it!"

"Rubbing your eyes too much will make them red!"

"Yeah?"

Shen Ruoli raised an eyebrow.

In the dead of winter, what kind of tiny insects would crawl into your eyes?

However, she did not expose Liu Mama's clumsy lie.

No sooner had she returned to the Crown Prince's residence than she instructed Runyue to summon the imperial physician on duty that day to the residence.

Upon learning that the imperial physician had taken Empress Dowager Shen's pulse this morning, Shen Ruoli began to probe indirectly, "Imperial Physician Zhang, I noticed today that the Empress Dowager's complexion was somewhat pale. I wonder what you found when you took her pulse?"

Physician Zhang kept his head down, making it impossible to see the expression on his face.

"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager suffered a headache last night and probably didn't sleep well, so she doesn't look too well today."

"Just a headache?"

"Yes, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's headaches are a chronic ailment! They are difficult to cure completely, and we, your humble servants, can only do our best!"

Shen Ruoli knew that Empress Dowager Shen had suffered a miscarriage a few days earlier when she was young, and that she had been suffering from chronic headaches ever since.

Although she still had doubts, she couldn't get anything out of Physician Zhang, so she had no choice but to let him go back.

Unexpectedly, as Physician Zhang retreated to the doorway, he suddenly looked up again, "Crown Princess..."

Compared to the seasoned and shrewd physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy, Physician Zhang was much younger.

Therefore, his innermost thoughts seem to be more easily revealed.

Physician Zhang hesitated, "Although His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Majesty the Empress have ordered me to keep quiet, I feel there is something I should let you know..."