As Xie Zhaozhao bowed in greeting and everyone cheered, she carefully moved her foot under her official robes and stepped on Lu Feiyan.

Lu Feiyan understood, her face, which had been expressionless, now looked even more bewildered.

Although the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet followed the same procedures as in previous years, some parts were shortened, and it ended quickly.

At the end of the You hour (5-7 PM), the palace banquet ended, and the carriages of various mansions left the palace one after another.

Madam Xie also came today, but the seat she was given was quite far from Xie Zhaozhao's.

After the banquet ended, Madam Xie immediately had someone help her over to see Xie Zhaozhao.

Seeing that Xie Zhaozhao's body was already very heavy, her grandmother was heartbroken.

"You should stay in the mansion and rest properly..." The old man was unaware of the inside story.

Xie Zhaozhao smiled and said, "It's alright, Grandmother, don't worry, Zhaozhao is fine."

As the grandmother and granddaughter were about to leave the palace hand in hand, Liuli came to Xie Zhaozhao again. Seeing that the old lady Xie was also there, she smiled and said, "Old lady Xie, Grand Secretary's wife, Her Majesty the Empress invites you both to sit in the palace for a while."

Madam Xie felt sorry for both her daughter and granddaughter, so she smiled and said, "It's getting late. I'll go see Her Majesty the Empress. Let's talk about it another day, Madam Grand Secretary."

Liuli smiled and said, "Madam, Her Majesty the Empress just received the imperial decree. This is such a good thing. You should at least go over and say a few words, right? Don't worry, if it gets too late, just stay in the palace. It's safer here than outside."

Xie Zhaozhao knew she couldn't avoid it and didn't want her grandmother to worry, so she said, "Grandmother, let's go visit Her Majesty the Empress."

It would be a lie for Madam Xie to say she wasn't happy that her daughter had finally become empress after a lifetime of hardship.

Upon arriving at Xingning Palace, Empress Xie was overjoyed to see Madam Xie and Xie Zhaozhao. She excitedly pulled her two relatives aside and served them fine tea and snacks.

Madam Xie and Xie Zhaozhao greeted Empress Xie with the respect due to a subject to a ruler, and sincerely congratulated Empress Xie.

"Sigh, what's there to congratulate? It's just a matter of enduring the days in this cage." Empress Xie said with a faint smile while drinking tea. "I envy Zhaozhao, though."

Once you enter the palace, it's like entering a deep sea. Fine clothes and delicacies? You're just a caged bird. How can you be as lucky as Xie Zhaozhao, who has a man of high position and power all to herself?

Even the right to have children is schemed against and deprived of. What good is being an empress?

Madam Xie, feeling guilty, pressed her handkerchief to her eyes again: "Your Majesty the Empress has finally overcome all hardships. You are the glory of the Xie family. The descendants of the Xie family will offer incense to Your Majesty for generations to come."

Although Empress Xie did not leave any children, as long as the Xie family does not fall, generations of her descendants will continue to offer incense to her.

Xie Zhaozhao offered a few words of comfort, her smile faint.

Daughters of large families, aren't they all often caught in situations beyond their control?

If she hadn't been reborn, she and Grand Secretary Gu would probably be widows by now.

Empress Xie was used to it; she was well-mannered, and her emotions were unreadable, so there was nothing to criticize.

After exchanging a few words, Xie Anfeng personally came to fetch Madam Xie, joyfully congratulated Empress Xie, and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, the palace gates will be locked soon. I will escort my mother and daughter back to the residence."

Empress Xie, still not satisfied, said to Xie Zhaozhao, "After your grandmother goes back, you should stay in the palace for a few days. Keep your aunt company. Now that your aunt is the mistress of the harem, you can rest assured that no one will neglect you."

Xie Zhaozhao smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I may give birth at any time, so it would be better if I did not stay here, lest I defile Your Majesty's palace."

"Not at all! I've never changed the layout of the Wenhui Hall where you lived when you were a child. You can stay here as long as you like."

Xie Anfeng said, "His Majesty needs the Empress's care more, and Zhaozhao also needs someone to take care of her. Let's not cause the Empress any trouble."

Empress Xie was very dissatisfied: "Lord Xie is overthinking things. I've raised her for several years, and now that I miss her, I want her to stay for a few days. Is that not allowed? Besides, I'm not at ease with Gu Laosan not in the mansion."

Xie Anfeng tried to forcibly take Xie Zhaozhao away, but Empress Xie didn't want to talk to him anymore.

Xie Zhaozhao said to Empress Xie, "I am about to give birth and my body is getting heavier every day. I really cannot stay in the palace for long. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

Empress Xie said wistfully, "Then why don't you stay for one night?"

Just then, a report came: "Your Majesty, His Majesty has summoned you."

Xie Anfeng immediately said, "Then Your Majesty the Empress will go to take care of His Majesty, and I will take my mother and daughter with me."

Empress Xie was displeased: "Zhaozhao, stay here. I have something to say to her."

Having said all that, Xie Anfeng was at a loss.

Empress Xie said that Xie Zhaozhao must stay, otherwise she could not leave.

Imperial power was supreme, and there was no room for kinship.

Xie Zhaozhao smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Your Majesty the Empress."

Hua Zisheng remained smiling and didn't interfere, bowing and scraping as he said to Xie Anfeng, "Lord Xie, I'm sorry."

"It's alright, national affairs are more important."

Xiu Ning and a young eunuch obediently bowed and saw Xie Anfeng and Madam Xie out.

Xie Zhaozhao, along with Yuanyuan and Lu Feiyan, settled down in the Wenhui Hall of Xingning Palace.

The palace was decorated exactly the same as when Xie Zhaozhao was a child. The bed sheets and quilts had been replaced with new ones, and they smelled of sunshine after being washed and dried.

There were countless spies in the palace, so the three of them dared not say a word and simply settled in quietly.

Yuanyuan brought over a basin of hot water. Xie Zhaozhao had been standing for a long time today, and her feet were a little swollen. Yuanyuan gently massaged them for her.

Lu Feiyan walked around the entire hall, not missing a single corner.

After checking it over, she told Xie Zhaozhao, "No poison."

Empress Xie was invited to His Majesty's place by Hua Zisheng, and no one knows what happened, as she did not return for three days.

Xie Zhaozhao stayed in Wenhui Palace for three days in a row, with three meals a day, snacks and fruits provided. However, not only was Empress Xie absent, but Liuli was also not there.

On the third day, Xie Zhaozhao took Yuanyuan and Lu Feiyan for a walk around Xingning Palace and asked the eunuch Shuangxi, who had been assigned to take care of her, "Where did Her Majesty the Empress go?"

Shuangxi said respectfully, "Her Majesty the Empress is assisting His Majesty in handling state affairs."

"Handling state affairs?"

"Yes. His Majesty favors the Empress. After the deaths of several princes, His Majesty feared that state affairs would be neglected, so he asked the Empress to handle state affairs together."

"Since Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, please inform her that I am leaving the palace and will not disturb Your Majesty any longer."

"Her Majesty the Empress instructed that the Grand Secretary's wife rest peacefully in the Wenhui Palace. She will come to accompany Her Majesty after she has finished dealing with state affairs."

When will Her Majesty return?

"Well, Your Highness is busy. Madam, please rest assured and stay here. If you need anything, just tell me."

Xie Zhaozhao glanced at Shuangxi silently, but didn't say anything.

The order came from Empress Xie; there's no point in arguing with these servants.

Shuangxi left, Yuanyuan closed the door, and the three of them sat down. They all understood that Xie Zhaozhao was—being placed under house arrest in the palace!

Lu Feiyan whispered, "Madam, shall Yuanyuan and I go out to scout ahead?"

Xie Zhaozhao shook her head.

The palace is not an ordinary place; even if Lu Feiyan is skilled in poisons, she cannot use them.

The palace is teeming with martial arts masters; Yuanyuan's skills are simply no match for them.

But why did Auntie do that?