Song Yushu got up early, changed into her imperial robes, and was walking towards the front hall when she spotted Mo Yunhan hurrying by. She immediately called out to him.
"Yun Han, today Xiao Ran and I are going to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager..."
Before she could finish speaking, she saw the marks on Mo Yunhan's lips and her heart tightened.
"Did you stay in the backyard last night? Did you receive any medicine or soup?"
When his elders discovered what was happening, Mo Yunhan's face flushed even more.
"Aunt, things aren't as you think."
"You child, you still want to lie to me?" Song Yushu was extremely anxious. "You like her, and raising her is fine, but the royal bloodline is not to be trifled with. You're young and impulsive and don't know any better. If you leave behind a child..."
Mo Yunhan was about to explain.
Suddenly, two guards brought over Li Dou, who was struggling fiercely.
"Your Highness, he barged in from the backyard, looking menacing, and said he wanted to beat you up. We don't know how to do it. What do you think we should do?"
Upon seeing Mo Yunhan, Li Dou immediately shouted angrily, "You bullied my young lady! You're denying it! You're a bad person!"
Mo Yunhan frowned.
"Night Seven, you handle it."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Ye Qi hurriedly pulled Li Dou towards the backyard. Song Yushu thought for a moment and then called over his personal maid, Yu Tao.
"Go and take a look."
Yu Tao agreed and returned shortly afterward.
"Madam, Madam Jiang is unconscious and cannot get out of bed."
Song Yushu felt both ashamed and angry upon hearing this.
"Your Highness is really too..."
Yu Tao added, "This servant sounded out the situation, and it seems the Prince forced him..."
She was too embarrassed to continue.
At this moment, Yun Xiaoran came to pay her respects, and the two agreed to enter the palace together.
Afraid that she would feel uncomfortable if she heard this, Song Yushu quickly pulled her outside.
"Has Brother Yunhan gone to court?" Yun Xiaoran asked eagerly, craning her neck to look at the main hall where Mo Yunhan was.
"I've already gone."
As Song Yushu spoke, he gave Yu Tao a wink.
Yu Tao understood immediately and quickly gave the instructions: no one was allowed to mention what happened last night.
...
Song Yushu and Yun Xiaoran only learned when they reached the outside of Kunning Palace that the Empress Dowager had once again exempted them from the morning and evening greetings.
All the concubines bowed outside the gate and left, including the Empress and the Imperial Concubine.
Song Yushu was only a first-rank imperial consort, so naturally she was no exception.
Just as she and Yun Xiaoran were about to bow, Granny Gui came out.
"Madam Song, Princess Xiaoran, the Empress Dowager requests your presence."
Inside the bedchamber, the Empress Dowager's expression was still not good. She reclined on the chaise lounge and beckoned affectionately to Yun Xiaoran.
"Come to my side."
"Grandmother Empress Dowager".
Yun Xiaoran knelt obediently on the ground, her eyes red and her face full of worry, "Are you feeling better?"
"Seeing our Xiaoran makes me feel much better."
She gently patted Yun Xiaoran's arm with great affection, then looked up at Song Yushu.
"Will Zheng Qing be able to return to Beijing in a few more days?"
Zheng Qing is Song Yushu's husband and also Mo Yunhan's uncle.
Some time ago, I was ordered to escort the delegation to the Kingdom of Dayu.
Song Yushu hurriedly replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. According to the journey, it will take more than a month."
The Empress Dowager nodded. "When he returns, it's time to discuss Xiaoran and Yunhan's matter."
Yun Xiaoran blushed instantly.
"Grandmother, I will not marry and will stay with you for the rest of my life."
The Empress Dowager smiled and tapped her forehead.
"Your parents both sacrificed their lives for the Great Zhou Kingdom. Your grandmother and I are like sisters. I promised her that I would take good care of you. I know your feelings for Yun Han. Yu Shu, Xiao Ran is marrying into the royal family. You must not bully her."
Song Yushu was about to reply.
The Empress Dowager added, "And no other woman is allowed to displease her."
This statement has a hidden meaning.
Her heart skipped a beat. Thinking of Mo Yunhan's infatuation with the young concubine he kept in the backyard, she didn't know how to answer for a moment.
The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes slightly. "What, does Yun Han have someone by his side?"
Song Yushu had no choice but to bite the bullet and speak.
"Not really. You know, although Yunhan was raised by me, he has his own ideas about how to do things, and he mostly doesn't listen to me. But he's extremely good to Xiaoran, and I've seen that for myself."
"That's good then." The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered. "Xiaoran, your sister doesn't have this good fortune, so you must seize the opportunity."
Yun Xiaoran's expression suddenly changed. She had wanted to mention to the Empress Dowager about Mo Yunhan keeping a mistress, but upon hearing this, she quickly lowered her head to express her gratitude and did not dare to say anything more.
...
Jiang Qingwan slept for two days before finally recovering from her exhaustion.
Mo Yunhan didn't come over for the next two nights either.
Lian'er handed her the bird's nest porridge, which was at just the right temperature.
"Miss, are we moving out?"
Jiang Qingwan stretched her stiff shoulders, finished her porridge in one gulp, and then replied, "Why are you moving? Did they bully you and Li Dou?"
Lian'er shook her head.
"No, this servant is worried about you and the prince..."
She hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
Jiang Qingwan was still hungry, so she grabbed a plump white meat bun from the side and stuffed it into her mouth.
"Just say what you want to say."
Lian'er took a deep breath. "Miss, the Prince is indeed very handsome, and I understand that you might be attracted to him. But he has no intention of acknowledging you at all. He has tormented you to this state and yet remains indifferent. He is definitely not a good man. Moreover, he even broke into your room in the middle of the night. He is a lecherous man. You must not fall for him."
The memory of that night is vividly clear in my mind.
Jiang Qingwan could even feel the throbbing sensation of her lips being crushed.
The intertwining of the medicinal energy between their lips and tongues caused their bodies to tremble—it was truly wondrous.
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