Jiang Zhiyu took it, bowed and thanked him, then stood aside obediently.

emperor:"……"

He looked at the quiet group of Jiang Zhiyu with a slightly puzzled look, feeling that something was wrong.

Xiao Lingyu also looked at her a few times.

So quiet?

Didn't you even complain in your heart?

I feel strangely uncomfortable.

The empress dowager had no idea of ​​their thoughts. The more she looked at Jiang Zhiyu, the deeper the smile in her eyes became. In these decades, she had never misjudged anyone. The girl in front of her looked sweet and well-behaved, harmless, and very easy to control.

No wonder she has such superb medical skills, but has only now revealed them to the public.

The Queen Mother withdrew her gaze and it fell on Song Shiwei who was standing beside her.

Song Shiwei was also smart. Before the Queen Mother could speak, she said, "Your servant Song Shiwei greets the Queen Mother."

The Queen Mother nodded and said, "I heard from Yu'er that you are quite skilled in making incense. I have been having trouble falling asleep at night these past few days. Please come and make some calming incense for me."

Song Shiwei replied with a "yes," and then spoke softly, "Your Majesty, I still have many things I don't understand when it comes to making incense. I'm not as good as Sister Zhiyu."

As soon as these words were spoken, the emperor and Xiao Lingyu couldn't help but frown.

The Queen Mother naturally understood what Song Shiwei meant and said with a smile, "Oh? Zhiyu also knows how to make incense?"

A glint of pride flashed across Song Shiwei's eyes.

What does Jiang Zhiyu know about making incense?

But since I have said this, she must not admit that she doesn't understand, otherwise, it would be like she is refusing to please the Queen Mother. If she agrees, I will take the opportunity to suggest that they make incense together. Jiang Zhiyu doesn't know how, so she can only stand there. Then it will be clear who understands and who doesn't.

Jiang Zhiyu lied openly in front of the Empress Dowager, the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Even if the Emperor valued her and did not punish her, the Empress Dowager's favor for Jiang Zhiyu would disappear and she would dislike her. Correspondingly, the Empress Dowager would definitely praise and reward herself for making the incense.

Song Shiwei fantasized, with a slight smile on his lips.

Perhaps it was because so many things had gone wrong these days, and now that he finally had something he was sure of success, Song Shiwei couldn't hide his expression for a moment, and his smile was particularly obvious.

The Queen Mother looked at her, and her originally good impression of her suddenly dropped a few points.

To survive in this palace for a long time, in addition to being able to act, one must also seize the right opportunity. Although Song Shiwei seized the opportunity cleverly, it was a pity that he could not act.

Are you smiling like that because you're afraid that others won't know you're about to start plotting?

If Jiang Zhiyu was smarter, he could use this sentence to turn the tables.

Several people had different thoughts and were waiting for Jiang Zhiyu's answer. Seeing that she didn't speak for a long time, the emperor coughed lightly.

You've been plotted against, why are you still distracted?

Jiang Zhiyu, who was brought back to his senses by the cough, saw Song Shiwei who was laughing foolishly.

【What are you laughing at? 】

She blinked and said, "I wonder what you guys just said? The wind was so strong, I couldn't hear it."

She looked calm, yet a little shy, as if it were real.

The Queen Mother, who was sitting indoors and couldn't even feel the slightest breeze, said: "..."

The Queen Mother was speechless for only a moment, then said calmly, "I heard that Zhiyu can also make incense? Why don't you make some calming incense for me?"

Although it was a question, the Queen Mother's tone was very affirmative.

"Your Majesty, I don't know how to make incense. If you're having trouble sleeping, why don't you let me take your pulse?"

[Why is it so hard to fall asleep? Just use your big pectoral muscles as a pillow. You won’t know how soundly you’ll sleep!]

[You don't want a calming incense, you clearly want an aphrodisiac incense.]

The emperor had just taken a sip of tea when it suddenly "poofed" out.

The Empress Dowager was initially upset by Jiang Zhiyu's thoughtless refusal, but when she saw the Emperor suddenly lose his composure, she was surprised for a moment and feigned reprimand, "How are you serving me? Is the Emperor alright? Do you want to summon the Imperial Physician?"

Having said that, her expression and actions didn't show any intention of calling the imperial physician.

The palace maid knelt on the ground in panic, begging for mercy.

The emperor coughed and said, "It's nothing, I just choked a little." He waved his hand, signaling the palace maid to stand up.

There was a coldness in his eyes.

Of course he knew that the Queen Mother had several male favorites. Once this matter was exposed, the people would surely denounce the palace for its debauchery and immorality. He had originally planned to find someone to secretly deal with those people, in order to preserve his reputation and to intimidate the Queen Mother.

But he never imagined that the Queen Mother could be so licentious that she lied about being sick and used the name of calming incense to commit adultery!

Xiao Lingyu's eyes were deep and dark. Recalling the voice he heard in the Empress Dowager's palace that day, his face turned ugly.

Could it be that she...

The Empress Dowager had no idea what the two were thinking. After listening to the Emperor's response, she casually withdrew her gaze. Her tone towards Jiang Zhiyu was no longer as warm as before: "There's no need to take his pulse. It's not a serious illness."

Jiang Zhiyu stood back obediently.

Seeing that things did not develop as she expected, the smile on Song Shiwei's face disappeared. The next moment, the Queen Mother called her affectionately: "Shiwei, make some calming incense now and let me see it."

Song Shiwei was flattered.

Although things did not develop as he expected, the Queen Mother obviously disliked Jiang Zhiyu now, and instead had some favor towards him, which could be considered as achieving his goal.

She bowed, replied "yes," and then told the palace maid the ingredients she needed: "20 grams of cypress bell, 20 grams of jujube kernel, 10 grams of benzoin, 10 grams of cold water stone, 10 grams of asarum, 20 grams of Xanthium sibiricum fruit, and 10 grams of Angelica dahurica."

The palace maid wrote them down one by one.

"Just let her make the incense. Why keep me here? I want to go back."

Jiang Zhiyu stepped forward and was about to speak, but the Queen Mother spoke first, "Zhiyu is grown up now. Do you have a favorite young man?"

Jiang Zhiyu: “…Not really.”

Isn't that just bullshit? Twelve is old? What about thirty? Does that mean you're going to die of old age?

emperor:"……"

Xiao Lingyu's lips curled slightly.

"That won't do," the Queen Mother looked down at her. "Isn't your mother worried? At your age, an ordinary family would already have several children. You should reflect on yourself."

Jiang Zhiyu narrowed her eyes slightly. "What are you reflecting on? Why am I still single? Of course, it's because I'm lucky."

The Queen Mother's eyes widened, and her pupils seemed to tremble slightly.

The emperor picked up the teacup and took a sip.

He looked at the empress dowager with a look of gloating.

Tell me, why did you mess with her?

Since she took the position of Empress Dowager, she had never heard anyone refute her so bluntly. Her face immediately darkened, but although Jiang Zhiyu's tone was disrespectful, it could be regarded as an answer to her question and she did not say anything rude.

If I want to punish someone, I must have a crime, not to mention the emperor is here...