The palace maid who was sent returned quickly, bringing Chu Xiyue with her.

The moment Chu Xiyue saw Shen Yunjiao, a hint of fear flashed in her eyes, and for some reason, her abdomen suddenly felt a little sore.

"Xi Yue is here to greet her maternal grandmother."

After taking a deep breath, Chu Xiyue knelt down beside Shen Yunjiao.

Shen Yunjiao looked at Chu Xiyue's slightly trembling fingers and couldn't help but laugh inwardly.

Chu Xiyue is such a coward.

Indeed, one should not be too lenient with bad people.

They'll behave better if they're taught a lesson.

Chu Xiyue was naturally filled with fear of Shen Yunjiao, the pain from last time still vivid in her mind.

After being poisoned by Shen Yunjiao, she immediately summoned the imperial physician she trusted to examine her pulse upon returning to the palace.

However, the imperial physician diagnosed her with poisoning, but did not know what kind of poison she had been poisoned with, so he had no way to treat it and naturally could not find an antidote for her.

This means that every three months she still has to bow down to Shen Yunjiao and ask her for the antidote, just as Shen Yunjiao had said.

Therefore, now, for the sake of her own life, even though she hates Shen Yunjiao to the core, she must help Shen Yunjiao.

"Xiyue, why did you arrange to meet Miss Shen here?" the Empress Dowager asked calmly.

"Grandmother, I invited Shen Yunjiao here so that she could take me to the restaurants and markets of the capital. The palace is heavily guarded, and it is difficult for unauthorized people to enter. After much consideration, I think that meeting behind the Gonghua Hall is the most appropriate place," Chu Xiyue replied respectfully, her eyes lowered.

The Empress Dowager's probing gaze swept back and forth between the two of them for a while. Seeing that Chu Xiyue looked like she hadn't woken up yet, she slowly opened her mouth and said, "Then why is only Shen here?"

Chu Xiyue felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead, and her heart was filled with panic. She didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Shen Yunjiao remained calm, her voice steady and composed, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, perhaps Xiyue forgot the time we agreed upon, which is why she is a little late."

“Yes, Grandmother, I was playing around last night and drank a few too many cups of fruit wine with Consort Ye, so I forgot about it. It was my fault,” Chu Xiyue hurriedly replied, bending her body slightly and kneeling even deeper.

She secretly cursed Shen Yunjiao in her heart for dragging her into this mess.

The atmosphere became heavy and oppressive for a moment.

Empress Xiao tapped lightly on the carriage window with her nail guards, her face calm and profound. She narrowed her eyes slightly and then waved her hand, saying, "Alright, Xiyue, since you made an appointment but failed to keep it, you are so untrustworthy. You don't need to go out. Go back and copy the 'Women's Virtues and Precepts' a hundred times before you talk about it."

Chu Xiyue kept her head bowed very low, almost burying it in her clothes. She gripped the hem of her dress tightly with both hands and replied obediently, "Xiyue understands."

After a brief glance at Shen Yunjiao, Empress Dowager Xiao chuckled and said, "I find you to be quite clever and quick-witted, Shen. In the future, in your spare time, you might as well give your father some pointers and advise him not to focus his attention on things that shouldn't be focused on."

The implication was that Shen Zhizhang should avoid opposing the Crown Prince.

Shen Yunjiao naturally understood the Empress Dowager's meaning. She was just about to tell her father about this, so she simply replied, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will definitely convey Your Majesty's meaning to my father when I return."

Seeing that Lady Shen was so sensible and understanding, the Empress Dowager stopped making any further difficult remarks.

She gave a light snort, her voice revealing a hint of disdain, then lowered the curtain and instructed the palace servants beside her, "Let's go."

At a command, the carriage slowly started moving, and just then a gentle breeze arose, causing the curtains to flutter slightly.

Empress Xiao caught a whiff of a familiar fragrance.

This is clearly the unique scent of incense that Jin'er carries.

Empress Xiao loved making incense and was naturally sensitive to fragrances.

The incense used in Huaijin Palace was specially prepared by the imperial physicians, making its fragrance unique and unforgettable.

This fragrance was emanating from Shen Shi when she passed by.

Empress Dowager Xiao's mind went blank for a few seconds, and her eyes slowly darkened.

When Jin'er defied the imperial decree to refuse marriage, he said that he had a woman he admired.

Empress Dowager Xiao privately reviewed the records of the Eastern Palace and discovered that the Crown Prince had not slept with any palace maids, nor had he ever had any dealings with girls outside the palace.

The fact that Shen appeared here at this critical juncture and time certainly raises suspicions.

Could it be that Shen is the woman Jin'er has fallen for?

If that's true, then the Shen family is indeed audacious and presumptuous, daring to try and curry favor with the royal family.

Empress Dowager Xiao's face immediately darkened, becoming so somber that it was frightening.

That audacious Shen Yunjiao!

She absolutely would not allow such a notorious woman to exist beside Xiao Huaijin.

His grandson, a royal treasure with the noblest bloodline, how could he associate with such a lowly woman?

—

Shen Yunjiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief as the Empress Dowager's carriage slowly drove past.

The Empress Dowager was indeed dignified and cold; even though she had been a vegetarian and chanting Buddhist scriptures for a long time, her aura was still exceptionally cold.

But did she suddenly return to the palace to help Xiao Huaijin?

As Shen Yunjiao pondered, Chu Xiyue beside her suddenly spoke up: "What are you doing here so early in the morning?"

Seeing that she remained silent, Chu Xiyue nagged, "Did you go and bother your cousin again? How can you be so shameless and audacious? Aren't you afraid of being caught and thrown into a pig cage?"

Shen Yunjiao didn't even glance at her. She simply stood up, patted her knees, and said indifferently, "If you want to live, then talk less."

"You!" Chu Xiyue dared not speak her anger, but could only bite her lower lip in frustration and retort, "Grandmother is always meticulous, so it's no wonder she's already suspicious this time. Shen Yunjiao, if you drag me into this for no reason again, I will not help you or give false testimony for you."

"Fine, at worst we'll die together." Shen Yunjiao shrugged indifferently and said in a flat tone.

"What you're saying..." Chu Xiyue's expression was indescribable. "So, it's like you want me to be buried with you when you die."

"The choice is yours," Shen Yun replied with a charming smile.

Upon hearing this, Chu Xiyue nearly vomited blood in anger.

She twisted the embroidered handkerchief in her hand, and finally decided not to argue with Shen Yunjiao here.

Out of sight, out of mind, Chu Xiyue turned around and went back to the palace.

Shen Yunjiao ignored her.

After a night of activity, she felt a bit sluggish.

Not long after getting into the carriage, he drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up, I found myself back in the Shen Mansion.