The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "You're so good at making me happy. My last wish in this life is to see the Emperor continue the royal line before I die. Otherwise, I won't be at peace when I see the late Emperor."
As she spoke, the Empress Dowager glanced meaningfully at Consort Lan's belly.
Consort Lan's ears turned slightly red. She was silent for a few seconds before smiling and saying, "His Majesty is benevolent and filial. As his subject and concubine, I should naturally take His Majesty as my role model."
The Empress Dowager glared at her, but showed no displeasure: "No one knows a son better than his mother. I know what the Emperor is thinking. Fine, Zifeng, go and call Sangjiang over. See if she has come up with anything new."
"Yes, this servant will go right away."
The wisteria responded and left.
How could she not know what Consort Lan was thinking? Her niece had been thoughtful since childhood, but unfortunately, she was a woman. The Emperor had been going through mourning and the "Mars in the Heart" incident these past few years, so how could she not know what he meant?
Since he has taken a liking to that mulberry ginger, she should find a way to help him keep it.
She schemed her whole life but never truly made him happy, and she also quite liked that girl Sang Jiang, who seemed much smarter than Sang Ruo.
Sang Jiang and Sang Ruo soon arrived at the Empress Dowager's place.
"Your Majesty, I (your humble servant) greet you."
After the two of them bowed to the Empress Dowager, Sang Jiang curtsied to Consort Lan and said, "Greetings, Consort Lan."
The Empress Dowager nodded: "Get up. It's really kind of you to come and see me."
The Empress Dowager's second half of the sentence was directed at Sang Ruo. Since entering the palace, Sang Ruo had basically never come to the Empress Dowager's place except for the morning and evening greetings. The Empress Dowager originally thought that Sang Ruo had come to help, but who knew that Sang Ruo had always remained neutral. Although she would help Sang Ruo when it came to the Empress, she did not usually like Sang Ruo very much.
Sang Ruo smiled but didn't say anything.
Seeing that the atmosphere was getting a bit awkward, Consort Lan smiled and stepped in to smooth things over. She waved to Sang Ruo and said, "Sister, Fourth Miss, please come and sit down."
Sang Ruo smiled and took a few steps forward, with Sang Jiang following behind her.
"Sister, your nails are so unique!" Lan Fei suddenly grabbed Sang Ruo's hand and exclaimed in surprise, "How did you get those flowers on your nails?"
Sang Ruo looked down at her nails and said softly, "This was made for me by my fourth sister."
After she finished speaking, she looked at Sang Jiang, but since she didn't know whether Sang Jiang was willing to teach others, she didn't make a decision on her own.
Consort Lan looked at Sang Jiang and followed her gaze, saying, "I knew it! It's really quite unique. Fourth Miss is truly skillful."
The Empress Dowager was also drawn to them. She looked at the bright red kapok flowers on Sang Ruo's hand, which stood out against her milky white nail polish.
She couldn't help but take a few more curious glances.
Seeing that she seemed very interested, Sang Jiang lazily said, "If Your Majesty likes it, I can teach you the method, though it may be a bit complicated."
Upon hearing this, Consort Lan immediately smiled and said, "I don't have such skills. Why don't you teach Aunt Zifeng, Fourth Miss? I'll come and bother you again once she's learned it."
Seeing her say that, the Empress Dowager said directly, "Very well, Zifeng, you can learn from the Fourth Miss when you have time."
"This servant obeys, thank you, Fourth Miss."
"It's nothing, it's nothing." Sang Jiang waved her hand casually: "I wonder what kind of flowers the Empress Dowager would like?"
She could tell at a glance that it wasn't Consort Lan who wanted to get her nails done; it was just Consort Lan who spoke up for the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment and said, "Jasmine, I'm too old for those bright colors."
Sang Jiang nodded: "Then I'll trouble Aunt Zi Teng to have someone pick some jasmine flowers, wash them, and dry them."
"Alright, I'll go right away." Zi Teng said and went out to make the arrangements.
She could tell that the Empress Dowager was very interested in this, so she didn't delay and went straight to do it.
The palace maid paused in her wiping motion upon hearing Zi Teng's words...
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