Chapter 283: The Right Way to Open It
What do you think?
"It's getting late, we should head back."
"If you don't return soon, Consort Wan will begin to suspect your identity."
Hongyu repeated her original words, which saved her trouble; she didn't have to think about how to respond safely.
Bai Qiu was speechless for a moment, "They've become very shrewd."
"I have to learn something from you, otherwise you'll always manage to trick me into revealing your secrets without my knowledge."
After exchanging pleasantries, the two returned to their respective palaces. Upon receiving the news, Hongyu immediately went to the Empress Dowager's bedroom. When she lifted the curtain and went in, she saw Emerald sitting at the table, propping her head up with her hand and dozing off like a chick pecking at rice.
Emerald was a light sleeper and was immediately awakened by the rustling footsteps. She got up and saw that it was Red Jade. She sighed and sat back down, saying, "I thought it was the Empress Dowager returning."
"You haven't come back since I left?" Hongyu took off her thin cloak, shook it, and draped it over her arm.
"No, he's still in the Buddhist hall. It's been like this every day lately, I don't know what's wrong with him."
"I'll go take a look. You go back and rest first. I'll take care of you."
Jade couldn't hold on any longer, yawned and stood up: "Then I'll have to trouble you. If the Empress Dowager summons me, just come and call me."
"Don't worry, go ahead."
After much persuasion, Hongyu finally managed to convince the person to return home. She then left the bedroom and headed towards the Buddhist hall. From afar, she saw a faint candlelight shining through the window paper, scattering across the ground like falling frost.
"How's it going? Is everything alright?"
Before she could even open the door, the Empress Dowager was already inside, quietly asking questions.
"It wasn't exactly smooth sailing, but it wasn't too bad either. There's just one thing I don't understand."
"Ask away."
"Are you... really willing to help?"
"Haven't I made myself clear enough?"
"I understand, but I'm worried..."
"I'm not worried, so why are you? Don't stand outside, come in and talk."
Hongyu pushed open the door and entered, standing obediently beside the Empress Dowager as she watched her count the prayer beads one by one from beginning to end.
"I'm sorry to have troubled you these past few days."
“Jade has been handling everything; I haven’t done anything.”
"What I mean is, you've been caught in the middle between Prince Mu and me, it must have been tough for you."
The Empress Dowager put down her prayer beads, patted the back of her hand, and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
"You knew all along?"
"I know, I have sharp ears and keen eyes, what can escape my notice?"
Hongyu asked in disbelief, "Then why did you..."
"In the end, you are a good person and have never done anything to wrong me. The information you want is irrelevant."
"I'll turn a blind eye; keeping you by my side won't cause any harm."
The Empress Dowager smiled and shook her head, her expression very kind, but what she was thinking was truly unfathomable.
Hongyu lowered her head and remained silent.
"As I get older, I think more and more, and sometimes I get stuck on trivial matters."
But what's the point of dwelling on it? It just obscures the whole picture.
These words were laced with riddles, and Hongyu couldn't understand them, so she could only stand respectfully with her head bowed.
The incense burner at the base of the lotus flower emits wisps of smoke, unable to dispel the depth of the night.
...
In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Yuan Siyin had turned over three times and sighed five times.
Yu Shiyan sighed and reached out to brush the straw from her hair: "It's not like we're on the bed, why are you turning over so often?"
"Just because it wasn't on the tatami!"
Yuan Siyin suddenly sat up and slapped the straw beneath her hard, then lay back down and rolled over.
She must be doing it wrong.
When did she fall so low as to have no bed to sleep in and have to sleep on the floor with straw mats?
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