Chapter 389 The Mysterious Empress Dowager

The next day, the weather was fine.

Jiang Huan has been staying in Weiyang Palace lately, and it's practically growing weeds.

Having finally received permission from the imperial physician, she immediately rushed to the Imperial Garden like a wild horse, intending to take a good walk and get some fresh air.

She held her back and walked slowly. When she came to a pavilion, she saw several palace servants surrounding a person sitting in the pavilion. It was the Empress Dowager.

Jiang Huan paused, realizing she hadn't checked the almanac before leaving home.

She instinctively wanted to take a detour, but the Empress Dowager in the pavilion had already spotted her and waved to her, with a kind smile on her face that Jiang Huan had never seen before.

Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat, and goosebumps inexplicably rose on her back.

Wow, that smile is even scarier than when she's being insulted.

This is too abnormal. He was acting crazy yesterday, and today he's all smiles and kindness? Is the imperial physician's medicine really that miraculous?

Out of courtesy, Jiang Huan had no choice but to bite the bullet and walk over, bowing respectfully: "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager smiled and helped him up: "Get up quickly. You are pregnant, so there's no need for formalities. Come, sit next to me."

The gentle tone sent a chill down Jiang Huan's spine. She carefully sat down on half of her bottom next to the Empress Dowager, on high alert.

The Empress Dowager seemed oblivious to her discomfort, still smiling and speaking in a gentle tone: "The weather is nice today, it's good to come out for a walk. It's not good to stay cooped up indoors all the time. You look well, it seems you're taking good care of yourself."

"Thank you for your concern, Empress Dowager," Jiang Huan replied, while inwardly cursing.

Help! Is this really the Empress Dowager? Could she be possessed by something strange?

Didn't the Empress Dowager used to dislike her the most and wish she would disappear immediately?

What's with all this fussing and concern? It's giving her goosebumps.

Just as Jiang Huan was feeling extremely uneasy, pondering how to escape, Mingzhu arrived in a flurry of activity.

"Your Majesty, I've finally found you!" Mingzhu's voice preceded her arrival as she ran into the waterside pavilion, lifting her skirt.

But when she saw the Empress Dowager in the pavilion, she stopped abruptly, and the smile on her face froze.

She had heard about the chaos that erupted in Cining Palace yesterday. Now that Her Majesty was alone with the Empress Dowager, what if the Empress Dowager fell ill and injured Her Majesty?

Moreover, the Empress Dowager already dislikes the Empress, and she might use her illness as an excuse to settle personal scores...

The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. Mingzhu rushed forward, almost blocking Jiang Huan's path, and bowed to the Empress Dowager.

"Grandmother, Her Majesty should go back and take her medicine to prevent miscarriage. Let's not disturb you any longer."

As she spoke, she reached out to take Jiang Huan's hand and lead her away.

Jiang Huan inwardly applauded Mingzhu's bravery and was about to get up and take her leave when she heard the Empress Dowager speak again.

"It's Mingzhu! Look at you, you're all sweaty from running."

The Empress Dowager looked at Mingzhu with a gentle gaze, as if she were looking at her most beloved granddaughter.

"I am speaking with the Imperial Noble Consort. There is no need to rush. Come here, let me take a look at you. It has been a while since I last saw you. You seem to have lost some weight."

Mingzhu: !!!

Jiang Huan: !!!

The two froze simultaneously, exchanging a horrified glance.

Mingzhu has lost weight? It's been a long time since the Empress Dowager looked at Mingzhu with such loving eyes, ever since Mingzhu had a falling out with her.

Why would the Empress Dowager care about her weight?

She instinctively shrank behind Jiang Huan, stammering, "Thank you so much for your concern, Your Majesty. I'm fine, I haven't lost weight..."

The Empress Dowager seemed oblivious to the awkwardness between the two: "A girl should be a little plump to be blessed. Also, you should visit Weiyang Palace more often, chat with the Imperial Noble Consort, and relieve your boredom."

Jiang Huan and Mingzhu were once again stunned. Was this really the same Empress Dowager who used to guard against them so closely, fearing that they would "collude"?

Jiang Huan suppressed the urge to run away and forced a dry smile.

"Your Majesty is right. Well, it is indeed getting late. My medicine for preventing miscarriage is probably ready. I dare not delay any longer. Mingzhu and I will take our leave now!"

She dragged the still-petrified Pearl, hurriedly bowed, and fled in panic, her steps so fast it seemed as if a ghost was chasing her.

They didn't dare stop until the eaves of the pavilion were completely out of sight.

"Oh my god..." Mingzhu patted her chest, her face pale, and looked back with lingering fear. "I was so scared! Is Grandmother possessed? How could she say I've lost weight? She always complained that my face was round!"

Jiang Huan, clutching her pounding heart, nodded repeatedly, deeply agreeing: "That's right! She spoke to me so softly and gently, it gave me goosebumps. It was even more unsettling than hearing her scold me. This hysteria is too bizarre; it's like she's become a completely different person!"

A gentle knife, yet every strike is deadly!

She was more used to the old Empress Dowager who was always finding fault with everything.

As the two were patting their chests to comfort each other, still shaken, they looked up and saw Huo Lin and Shen Yi walking side by side from another palace path.

As soon as Mingzhu saw Shen Yi, the blurry memories of last night's drunkenness and the eerie dream of falling peach blossoms flooded her mind uncontrollably.

Her face flushed instantly, even her ears turned crimson, like a startled rabbit. She instinctively shrank behind Jiang Huan, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

How did she run into him? She thinks she fell into his arms last night, how embarrassing!

I can't see her, I can't see her...

Huo Lin saw the two women hurrying by from afar, his brows furrowed, and he quickened his pace.

He quickly walked to Jiang Huan's side and took her arm, asking, "What happened? Why are you in such a hurry? What if you fall?"

Jiang Huan was supported by him, and feeling the warmth from his palm, her still-shaken heart finally settled down a little.

She took a breath, pointed in the direction she had come from, and said with lingering fear, "Don't even mention it, I just ran into the Empress Dowager."

Huo Lin's eyes narrowed: "The Empress Dowager? She again..."

Jiang Huan could tell from his expression that he had misunderstood, so she quickly waved her hand, her expression complicated.

"No, no, he didn't go crazy or curse, he was just too scary."

She organized her thoughts and vividly described how the Empress Dowager kindly invited her to sit down and how she gently inquired about her well-being.

"...You have no idea how eerie the atmosphere was. Mingzhu and I wished we could disappear into the ground right there and then."

Mingzhu nodded frantically in agreement, her little face scrunched up: "Yes, Uncle, Grandmother actually looked at me with that nauseatingly affectionate look, it was terrifying!"

Huo Lin: ...

Seeing the two of them looking like they were facing a formidable enemy and still feeling lingering fear, Huo Lin's tense expression eased a little, and a hint of a smile even flashed in his eyes.

"The Empress Dowager's hysteria has not yet healed, and her mind is in disarray. She needs to recuperate. You don't need to panic so much, and you don't need to take it to heart. Just keep away from her and let her rest quietly."

Meanwhile, Shen Yi listened intently, fanning himself with a fan, his smile growing ever wider.

He looked at Mingzhu, who was hiding behind Jiang Huan and whose red ear tips were the only visible part of her face, and a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

Tsk, this little sparrow is quite frightened.