When Qiuju heard that her young mistress was frightened, she quickly suggested, "I'll go and invite a shaman to the manor tomorrow to perform a ritual to exorcise the evil spirits."
"Don't hire any shamans, they're all scammers. Your young lady was only scared at the time, but once she saw Gao Mu and Cang Yun, she wasn't afraid anymore."
Under Qiuju's persistent questioning, Jiang Shuyue made up a whole escape story and told it to her.
Qiuju wiped away her tears and sobbed, "From now on, I will stay by your side, Miss. I will even follow you into the outhouse."
Jiang Shuyue was both amused and exasperated by Qiuju's words.
He reached out and gently stroked Qiuju's high nose bridge. "Silly Qiuju, don't be afraid of everything. The Emperor has sent secret guards to protect me. Go back to your room and rest. Let this calming soup cool down before you drink it."
Jiang Shuyue's words were merely meant to comfort Qiuju. Deep down, Qiuju wasn't a pampered young lady born and raised here, so she naturally didn't need to drink that calming soup.
After a long day of travel, Jiang Shuyue went into her spatial dimension to sleep in order to relieve her fatigue.
The next day, Xiangyang sent Suisui back to the Jiang residence early in the morning.
Sui Sui hugged Jiang Shuyue's neck and said happily, "Mother, Sui Sui missed you so much! The Great Scholar said I don't have to study today and can stay home with you all day."
The "true scholar" mentioned by Sui Sui is not Zhen Jingxiu's grandfather, but Zhen Jingxiu's father, Zhen Shuo.
Everyone in the court knew that Zhen Shuo would become the true Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince.
Jiang Shuyue left the outside affairs to Qiuju and Lan'er to manage, and spent the whole day having fun with her son.
When Du Wenru learned that Sui Sui had returned to the mansion, she made her best pastries.
Looking at the exquisitely beautiful Sui Sui, Du Wenru was so fond of her that she couldn't bear to put her down. She looked at Sui Sui with eyes full of affection, her eyes shining with loving light.
Sui Sui also likes to stick close to her young great-aunt.
All departments in the palace were busy preparing for the Emperor's wedding.
All the ministers knew that the Emperor's wedding this time was actually a belated wedding ceremony.
The officials' wives were not idle either. Jiang Shuyue was the future empress, so how could they miss the opportunity to show their faces in front of the empress?
In the days leading up to the wedding, the Jiang family was visited almost daily by ladies and young women from noble families in the capital.
The retired emperor and empress dowager finally returned to the capital after a long journey.
The Emperor Emeritus had barely stepped into the Cining Palace when he eagerly asked, "Is Sui Sui in the palace today?"
"Sui Sui is attending classes at the Imperial Academy. Father, please go into the inner palace to rest. Sui Sui will be out of school in an hour. Father, there's no need to rush. From now on, you can stay in the capital and enjoy family life."
Yonghe had not seen his father, the Emperor, for a long time, and felt uneasy seeing the retired emperor who had lost weight.
Yonghe led the palace maids and eunuchs to welcome the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager into the inner palace, and then sent a palace maid to the Imperial Study to deliver a message.
In the imperial study, Lin Xiangzhi was reporting official business to Xiao Jingzhao.
After listening, Xiao Jingzhao picked up his pen and continued reviewing the memorials.
Seeing that Lin Xiangzhi was sitting to the side with no intention of leaving, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "Xiangzhi, do you have anything else to say?"
"No, Your Majesty, I have missed you dearly these past few days. I wonder if Your Majesty had a pleasant trip outside the palace?"
"Who said I went out of the palace to play?"
Lin Xiangzhi glanced back at the door, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously, "The Emperor dispatched so many Imperial Guards out of the capital, isn't it all to win a smile from the beauty?"
Xiao Jingzhao shot him a glare. "That's not true. I sent them out to fetch the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager back to the capital."
"Tsk tsk tsk! To take the beauty out for a trip, they even brought out the Emperor Emeritus. The Imperial Guards have all returned, but where are the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager?"
Before Lin Xiangzhi could finish speaking, Eunuch Ma walked in from outside.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager have returned to the palace. The Emperor Emeritus requests your presence."
"Okay, I understand."
Xiao Jingzhao smiled and looked at Lin Xiangzhi, "I didn't lie to you. Do as you please. I have to go to Cining Palace."
When no one else was around, Xiao Jingzhao and Lin Xiangzhi would often talk in a informal, conversational style, which Lin Xiangzhi had gotten used to.
He knew that the Emperor Emeritus's invitation to the Emperor at this time was definitely not a performance of filial piety.
He had a sudden inspiration. "Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus summoned you in such a hurry. Could it be that he wants to ask about Sui Sui?"
"Think about it again. If no one else were around, would the Emperor Emeritus praise you or...?"
In the end, Lin Xiangzhi decided to keep everyone in suspense.
Xiao Jingzhao pondered for a moment.
With Sui Sui not around right now, her father would definitely not be happy to see her and would scold her for not telling him about Sui Sui's existence sooner.
"Xiangzhi, you shouldn't have anything else to do today?" Xiao Jingzhao turned his gaze to Lin Xiangzhi.
Lin Xiangzhi shook his head with a sly smile. "Your Majesty, don't you even look at the time? This humble subject should go home. People shouldn't be treated like oxen."
As he spoke, Lin Xiangzhi stood up, making a gesture as if to leave.
Xiao Jingzhao quickly called out to him, "Wait, Mother Empress loves you the most. She will be happy to see you. Come with me to Cining Palace to welcome Father and Mother Empress back."
"It is inappropriate for your humble servant to visit the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager empty-handed. How about I prepare gifts and go to Cining Palace to request an audience tomorrow?" Lin Xiangzhi looked troubled.
"What's inappropriate about it? I'll go with you if I tell you to."
Xiao Jingzhao glared at him and strode out of the imperial study.
Lin Xiangzhi suppressed the upward curve of his lips and quickly followed.
Unsurprisingly, the retired emperor glared at Xiao Jingzhao fiercely upon seeing him.
"Greetings to the Retired Emperor."
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. It has been a long time since I have seen you two, and I miss you dearly."
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