The next morning, in the Cining Palace, the smell of sandalwood was lingering.

"Your Highness, it's still early, won't you get some sleep?"

The Empress Dowager was dressed in an orange-yellow ancient satin gown, looking elegant and graceful. She took the hot tea and

"I haven't been able to sleep well these past few days. Concubine Chen's image keeps popping up in my mind. Why do you think that is?"

The head nanny said, "Your Majesty is so kind that she went to see the Imperial Concubine in person for the sake of the Su family's young master. I think she is not worthy of such an honor."

Although the Empress Dowager had a few strands of gray hair on her temples, her face was fair and tight, her brown eyes were charming, her nose was delicate and tall, and below it was a cherry mouth. It was not difficult to tell that she was a stunning beauty when she was young.

"Pick some rewards and send them to Concubine Chen as a token of my gratitude for her kindness. I haven't seen Jiangjiang in a long time. Did he go to the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion?"

"He left the palace the day before yesterday. He is very clever. No wonder your Majesty likes him."

The Empress Dowager smiled, "The other day this little fellow came, eating honeydew melon in his hands, and singing me a beautiful nursery rhyme. It's clear that the Imperial Concubine has been well-educated."

The image of Sheng Xiyan the day before yesterday appeared in my mind again.

"If Concubine Jia had the appearance and temperament of the Imperial Concubine, what would I worry about? It would be difficult to deal with her in the future."

As expected, a palace maid came in from outside to announce, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Concubine Jia requests an audience."

The Empress Dowager waved her hands hurriedly, "Just say I haven't woken up yet, don't let her in."

As soon as she finished speaking, Concubine Jia pushed aside the palace maid and walked in very quickly.

He knelt down in front of the bed and cried out:

"Aunt, being exiled three thousand miles away is such a hardship. We are going to a desolate place. I have been pampered since I was a child. How can I endure such hardship?"

The Empress Dowager said angrily, "What do you mean? What did your mother say to you?"

Concubine Jia hesitated and said, "Mother asked Luan'er to ask my aunt to ask the Emperor to let me stay in the capital to serve."

The Empress Dowager patted the golden sandalwood desk.

"Does she think the imperial court belongs to her family? She doesn't look for reasons why her son isn't well-educated, and instead just wants me to run around for her!"

"Auntie, auntie, please help me..."

The Empress Dowager shook off Concubine Jia's hand and said angrily, "Go away! Don't bother me anymore!"

"Empress Jia, please go back first and don't make the Empress Dowager angry again. She hasn't slept well these past few days."

The head nanny persuaded Concubine Jia to leave. The Empress Dowager stroked her chest and cursed:

"What a sin! I should have drowned her back then! Brainless bastard!

How big a deal is the plague? How much bigger is the murder of the imperial heir? At this critical juncture, how can I intervene? If I anger the emperor, I will be beheaded immediately!

Exile him for a year or two, and when things settle down, I'll find a chance to release him. Can't you bear this little hardship?"

The head nanny quickly patted her back to comfort her, "Your Majesty, calm down and take care of yourself."

Before noon, the palace maids from the Cining Palace brought rewards.

A box made of gilded agarwood, filled with rare antiques.

The handle is inlaid with three pieces of gold thread and is auspicious and auspicious, and the whole handle is shiny and smooth.

The water is blue, the clouds are red, the sky is blue, and the satin in the evening mist flows with precious light, shimmering and beautiful.

Sheng Xiyan picked up the plump and round South China Sea pearls from the brocade box and played with them in her hands. Next to her was a pure white mutton-fat jade bowl and two pairs of chopsticks made of emerald jade inlaid with red gold.

"The Empress Dowager is very thoughtful. I am very happy with these rewards."

"I'll take my leave."

It happened to be lunch time, and the deputy chief steward of the imperial kitchen personally brought a group of palace servants and came to Guanju Palace with exquisite food boxes.

The deputy steward bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, this is the meal we have carefully prepared for you to maintain your pregnancy. Please enjoy it."

Sheng Xiyan was leaning lazily on the couch. When she heard the words, she looked up and saw a plate of brightly colored spring rolls in the food box. She immediately became interested.

She picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, savoring it carefully, and said with a satisfied smile:

"The cooking skills of the imperial kitchen are really getting better and better. The taste of these spring rolls is just what I like. Come, give them a treat!"

The deputy steward quickly thanked him and said with a smile, "As long as your Majesty likes it. These spring rolls were made by Marquis Wu'an himself, and we servants are just helping out."

When Sheng Xiyan heard this, the jade chopsticks in her hand almost fell to the ground.

He was startled and his face changed slightly: "Marquis Wu'an? Qi Yan? He...why would he go to the imperial kitchen to cook?"

The deputy steward didn't notice her strangeness and continued to smile and say:

"In order to ensure that the Empress eats well, the Emperor specifically ordered Marquis Wu'an to go to the imperial kitchen to prepare meals for her. The Emperor's love for the Empress is truly envied by the world."

Sheng Xiyan's heart trembled, and her mind was thinking rapidly.

Xuan Ling actually asked Qi Yan to cook for her?

Suppressing the panic in his heart, he pretended to be calm and asked, "What do you mean when you say the emperor is struggling?"

"The Emperor even went to the Imperial Kitchen a few days ago and made roasted pigeons and steamed jade dumplings for Her Majesty!

The Emperor even injured his hand because of this. Unfortunately, the Empress said that the taste was not good that day. Did the Empress apply medicine for the Emperor?

When Sheng Xiyan heard this, she immediately felt extremely regretful.

She recalled that day when she was emotionally unstable during pregnancy and was very picky about the dishes Xuan Ling cooked, and even threw a tantrum.

She bit her lip and murmured softly: I... I didn't know that he had injured his hand and was still so willful. It's such a sin and it hurts Lingling's heart so much.

Just as she was blaming herself, a palace maid came in and reported, "Your Highness, the Emperor invites you to Yijing Garden at noon to enjoy the scenery."

Sheng Xiyan took a deep breath, pulled herself together and said, "I understand."

She stood up and ordered the palace maids to dress her up, and secretly made up her mind: Lingling, this time I will definitely coax you well and will never be willful again.

After lunch, Sheng Xiyan dressed up carefully, wearing a pink and purple peony brocade skirt and a flowery cape, looking charming and attractive.

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!