"Oh? Su Su, you've come at the right time, we're one short for mahjong!" As soon as the Empress Dowager saw Qin Su, she shrank off the soft couch and ran over wearing thick white socks.

Granny Qin quickly walked to her side and whispered a few words to her.

The Empress Dowager frowned immediately, no longer mentioning the card game. She asked Qin Su, "What happened?"

What brings you here?

This struck the Empress Dowager as odd.

Normally, if there's anything she needs to do, she should go to the Empress or the Emperor.

It wasn't that she was shirking responsibility; it's just that everyone in the palace knew she didn't like to manage affairs, so naturally, people would go to the person in charge when something happened.

"Sit down and talk." She pulled Qin Su down to sit, and seeing that she hadn't brought the child, she asked, "Where's Yuanyuan?"

Qin Su answered truthfully, "Your Majesty, I had someone take Yuanyuan back with me."

The Empress Dowager nodded.

"What brings you to see me this time?"

To be honest, she was a little curious.

"Someone came to hold Yuanyuan earlier, saying that the Empress Dowager misses Yuanyuan." Qin Su handed the hot water bottle to the Empress Dowager to warm her hands, and then took the tea offered by the palace servants.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager immediately frowned, "When did I...?"

She seemed to understand something immediately, and sneered a few times, "So! You dare to scheme against me!"

"Go, send someone to investigate." The Empress Dowager was furious. Over the years, she had not managed the inner palace and had given all the power to the Empress. But who knew that someone would dare to plot against her now?

After all these years, the palace intrigue is finally about to begin, isn't it?

Thinking of this, she sneered repeatedly.

"Wait."

The Empress Dowager looked at Qin Su, not understanding why she had suddenly called a halt. However, she decided to listen to her and had Granny Qin stop for the time being, waiting for Qin Su to provide other results.

“That person was indeed from the Empress Dowager’s palace. Even Tao saw her enter Cining Palace.”

Before she could finish speaking, the Empress Dowager became anxious, "Susu, you know me. Even if I wanted Yuanyuan to be held, I would only let Granny Qin hold the child. How could I trust anyone else?" That was her only granddaughter!

Emperor Mingyang was a disappointment; he hadn't given birth to a single daughter all these years.

Now that she finally has a wonderful granddaughter, she cherishes her like a precious jewel.

Besides, she felt that Qin Su wouldn't feel at ease if it were anyone else.

Why did that person take Yuanyuan away? What were they thinking?!

Is this an attempt to harm Yuanyuan? Or is it a way to blackmail Qin Su and the others?

If it's just blackmail, that's fine, but what if it's detrimental to Yuanyuan?! She couldn't imagine that outcome.

How can such a small child withstand it?

This person's heart is despicable!

Qin Su comforted the Empress Dowager by bringing her a cup of water, smiling gently. "Your Majesty, I know your temperament. You would never harm Yuanyuan. I was just saying that the person was probably bribed by someone else. I still remember what she looks like. Let's find her first, but don't make a big fuss, lest we alert her."

The Empress Dowager nodded and decided to listen to Qin Su.

She knew very well that she wasn't good at political intrigue or palace drama, so she decided to listen to Qin Su instead.

"Take Susu to find that person. If she dares to resist, kill her on the spot!"

Granny Qin agreed.

The Empress Dowager was so angry that her chest heaved violently. She considered herself a kind person, but some people thought she was easy to bully and dared to mess with her.

Before long, a young palace maid was pushed in front of the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager smashed the teacup in her hand to the ground. With a "crack", the teacup shattered into pieces. The scalding tea made the palace maid shrink back repeatedly, but she dared not scream.

"This servant, this servant..." she stammered, terrified.

Qin Su said to the Empress Dowager, "This matter concerns the inner palace, so why don't we invite the Empress as well?"

The Empress Dowager nodded and instructed Granny Qin to go and invite them. Suddenly, she stopped Granny Qin and said, "Invite the Emperor and Prince Chen here."

The palace servants were terrified and shrank back, their eyes filled with fear as they looked at Qin Su and the Empress Dowager.

"Don't worry, I will give you justice," the Empress Dowager said to Qin Su, her anger still hard to subside.

Qin Su sat down and asked the palace servants to pour tea. She seemed even more composed than the Empress Dowager.

"Think carefully about what you're going to say later, otherwise, the crime of plotting to harm the imperial heir is enough to exterminate your entire family."

"...Yes, yes, this servant understands."

The Empress Dowager also sat down, her chest still heaving violently.

Qin Su replaced the Empress Dowager's teacup and said to her, "Mother, please calm down. Isn't Yuanyuan alright?" The person behind this should be found, but it's not worth getting the Empress Dowager upset over it.

Phoenix Palace.

The Empress was furious at the palace servants for their poor performance. It wasn't a big deal, so why couldn't they handle such a small matter?

"What a bunch of good-for-nothings! She's just a little bitch, and she can't even do this right!" Her eyes blazed with fury, and she smashed everything around her.

"I don't know what I've been doing raising you all; you're completely useless."

The palace maid kneeling at her feet had swollen, red cheeks, and the clear five-finger marks on her face were particularly grotesque.

"Your Majesty, Granny Qin from Cining Palace has arrived," a palace maid whispered to the Empress as she entered.

The Empress's brow twitched, and she immediately felt uneasy. "What is she doing here?"

Has what she did been discovered? No, that's impossible!

Or should she have someone kill her? With that thought in mind, the Empress decided to send Qin Mama away and then have that person killed.

That way, no one will know what she did.

When Granny Qin entered, she glanced around discreetly and noticed a palace maid in the corner with her head bowed excessively.

Did they get a lesson?

Granny Qin lowered her eyes, not intending to meddle, but she would keep this matter in mind.

The old woman bowed to the Empress and said, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has instructed me to invite Her Majesty the Empress to Cining Palace."

The Empress's brow twitched, and she immediately pressed, "Does Granny Qin know why Your Majesty has sought me out?"

Granny Qin gently shook her head, "This servant does not know."

Granny Qin was the Empress Dowager's dowry maid, and she had served the Empress Dowager for decades. Whether it was Emperor Mingyang, Prince Chen, or the newly born princess, they were all family to her.

It's outrageous that a daughter-in-law who is an "outsider" would dare to harm her offspring!

However, she had no say in this matter. Granny Qin didn't show anything on her face, but said, "Please rise and go, Your Highness. This servant will take her leave now."

The Empress descended the steps, grasped Granny Qin's hand, took off the exquisite jade bracelet from her wrist and gave it to her, saying gently, "I've always found Granny Qin kind and approachable, like an elder in my family. Could you perhaps offer me some advice regarding the Empress Dowager's matter today?"

She had just acquired that jade bracelet; it was such a good deal for this old woman.

However, if the Empress Dowager really sensed something, having this old woman inform her in advance would allow her to make plans accordingly.

It's alright, she'll have other opportunities to get this jade bracelet.

Thinking this way, the Empress felt more at ease.

But the next moment, her expression froze.