He Xue kept her head down; all she had to do was wait for it to end.

He Xue also felt a strong gaze on her. Although she didn't know who it was, He Xue knew it was definitely not someone like Rou Ze, because that gaze made her feel uneasy.

The Empress Dowager looked at He Xue, who kept her head down. Although she didn't leave Cining Palace, she could easily find out what was happening inside.

The reason why Consort Wuya was demoted and confined was probably not only due to her own self-destructive behavior, but also somewhat related to He Xue. She would never look down on someone because of their age.

She had heard that this girl always managed to deliver a fatal blow to Consort Wuya at crucial moments, leaving Consort Wuya powerless to retaliate.

Unfortunately, she didn't want another person with Tongjia blood to appear in the palace. She heard that the Crown Prince and this girl were quite close, and recently the Crown Prince had probably been going to Chengqian Palace quite often because of this girl.

Whether it was the Crown Prince who had feelings for this girl, or Consort Tongjia who had feelings for her, she would not allow such a thing to happen.

"Is that Suhetai's daughter?" the Empress Dowager asked Kangxi, pointing at Hexue.

“Yes, Grandmother!” Kangxi said, glancing at He Xue, who looked like a quail.

"Come to me!" the Empress Dowager said.

Before He Xue could even think about why Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang had specifically asked to see her, she hurriedly got up and knelt in the center, saying, "Greetings, Empress Dowager!"

"Get up and come before me!" the Empress Dowager said with a kind expression.

"Yes!" He Xue stood up and walked towards the Empress Dowager. He Xue was extremely nervous. She could feel that everyone present was watching her, and she disliked this feeling of being the center of attention the most.

When the Empress Dowager called out to He Xue, the Crown Prince's gaze was fixed on her. At that moment, he noticed that He Xue's face was red. Was the girl shy? He rarely saw He Xue shy.

"Grand Empress Dowager!" He Xue approached the Grand Empress Dowager, bowing her head.

"Lift your head up, don't be afraid!" the Empress Dowager said, holding He Xue's hand.

He Xue slightly raised her head and then quickly lowered it again.

"I remember when the Crown Prince took you to Cining Palace, you were just a baby! I never imagined you would grow up so fast."

"As expected of a member of the Imperial Concubine's family, she's sure to be a beauty in the future!" The Empress Dowager said, looking at Imperial Concubine Tongjia.

"Your Majesty flatters me!" Consort Tongjia didn't know why the Empress Dowager had specifically asked to see He Xue. She had been nervously fidgeting with her handkerchief, but upon hearing the Empress Dowager mention her, she immediately stood up.

"Grandmother, you don't know, this girl is too mischievous, unlike her cousin!" Kangxi said with a smile.

"It's good for them to be a little noisy; children should be lively and active!" said the Empress Dowager.

He Xue nodded as well, but after she finished nodding, she realized what she had done. Why did she nod like that?

He Xue secretly glanced at the Empress Dowager, hoping that the Empress Dowager hadn't noticed her.

The Empress Dowager couldn't help but chuckle at He Xue's little antics, "Your Majesty, this girl is truly amusing!"

"Did you nod just now because you thought I was right?" the Empress Dowager asked.

"Yes!" He Xue could only obediently reply.

"Then tell me why you think I'm right?" the Empress Dowager asked with great interest, wanting to know what He Xue could say.

"Your Majesty, I (I'm not sure how to refer to myself, so I'll just say I'm) believe that people should act according to their age."

"If someone is born with an air of premature maturity, and remains that way even in old age, and you can predict their future from birth, don't you think that's tragic?" He Xue asked the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager suddenly realized that Xue's words were not without reason. A person can always look the same, no matter when they are born. It's quite scary to think that someone who is born with an old-fashioned look is actually quite a frightening thing.

"What you said isn't without merit!" the Empress Dowager said with a smile.

Empress Dowager He Xuejian agreed with her point of view and immediately smiled.

The Empress Dowager pulled He Xue to her side and then took off a bracelet from her wrist. This bracelet was a jade bracelet with a solid green color, of excellent quality, and it was clear at a glance that it was a top-grade piece.

The Empress Dowager slipped the bracelet onto He Xue's wrist. "This jade bracelet was given to me by Emperor Taizong when I was conferred the title of Consort Zhuang. Now it is yours!"

"Your Majesty, this is far too precious! Xue cannot accept it!" Su Hetai quickly stepped forward and said.

"It's just a bracelet!" the Empress Dowager said nonchalantly.

"He Xue, hurry up and thank the emperor!" Su Hetai urged He Xue immediately when he saw that she was still in a daze.

"Thank you, Empress Dowager!" He Xue quickly knelt down and said.

Seeing the Empress Dowager's attitude towards He Xue, the Crown Prince felt that the Empress Dowager must like He Xue quite a bit, which was a good thing for him.

However, the Empress Dowager's next words left the Crown Prince confused about what she meant!