Chapter 933

The following day, Huo Zhao entered the palace.

The place where Consort Xi now lives was personally chosen by the Emperor and meticulously maintained; it is very grand.

This was supposed to be a good thing, but Consort Xi didn't seem very happy, and even looked quite tired.

Huo Zhao stepped forward, about to bow, but Consort Xi waved her hand and said, "No need for formalities, please sit down."

Huo Zhao sat down as instructed, without saying a word.

Today, Consort Xi summoned her to the palace on her own initiative, so there must be something she needs to discuss.

However, Consort Xi remained silent, so Huo Zhao could only drink her tea while pondering Consort Xi's purpose in summoning her to the palace today.

It wasn't until Huo Zhao had drunk half a cup of tea that Consort Xi spoke: "I heard that you were orphaned at a young age. How did your adoptive parents treat you?"

Huo Zhao was taken aback.

Although she didn't know the reason why Consort Xi asked the question, she still nodded: "My parents treat me very well."

She has grown up safely and is even literate, all thanks to the careful guidance of Chen Zongwen and his wife.

Hearing her words, Consort Xi gave a bitter smile.

Other people's adoptive parents treat them so well, and then look at her.

Her biological parents were all scheming against her.

“I used to think that only the gifts from others needed to be repaid. I never thought that even the kindness my own mother showed me needed to be repaid,” Consort Xi sighed. “Huo Zhao, tell me, since you are a parent, why do you still have to scheme against me?”

Huo Zhao remained silent.

She didn't know.

Chen Zongwen and his wife never argued with her about anything.

Huo Yue and Zhong Jie felt nothing but indebtedness towards her.

Huo Zhao cannot truly empathize with Qu Ling's current predicament.

After leaving the palace, Huo Zhao returned to the Yunnan Prince's Mansion, where he saw Huo Yue and his wife, as well as Chen Zongwen and his wife, sitting in the front hall.

He was waiting for her.

Upon her return, Zhong Jie and Madam Chen stepped forward together: "How was it? What did she want you to do in the palace? Did she make things difficult for you?"

Seeing Huo Zhao standing there blankly, not knowing what to say for a long time, Madam Chen became anxious: "My child, if you've really been wronged, you have to let us know! We don't usually cause trouble, but we can't be afraid of trouble either!"

Madam Chen's suddenly raised voice pulled Huo Zhao back to reality.

She smiled and shook her head: "No, perhaps Consort Xi and Madam Qu didn't have a good talk yesterday. She called me over today just to talk about things between the mother and daughter, nothing else."

Hearing her say that, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"You little rascal, you're really going to scare me to death!" Madam Chen said irritably.

Huo Zhao took their arms, her eyes reddening: "Mother, Mother, you have been so good to me."

Only after entering the palace today did she realize that even someone of Qu Ling's background had such scheming behind her.

Qu Ling is still Madam Qu's biological daughter, yet she was still schemed against to this extent.

In comparison, she was so lucky to have Zhong Jie and Madam Chen; she was so much luckier than Qu Ling.

Seeing her sudden change in attitude, Zhong Jie and Madam Chen exchanged a glance and softened their tone: "Why are you saying such things all of a sudden? If we don't treat you well, who will?"

Huo Zhao blinked.

Perhaps feeling embarrassed that she was already so old and still crying in front of her elders, Huo Zhao subconsciously let go of her hand: "I'm not going to say anything more. I want to go back and rest for a while."

"Why are you running? Come on, we'll go back with you."

Zhong Jie and Madam Chen exchanged a smile and practically carried Huo Zhao back home.

Huo Yue and Chen Zongwen exchanged a glance.

Knowing that Huo Zhao was alright, the two went to play chess together.