Having said that, the Empress Dowager finally relented: "What you said makes sense; it was my oversight."
She was only halfway through her sentence, and before Song Xizhi could nod in agreement, she changed the subject: "Then we'll do this after you and Lord He have your child. That would be a double celebration."
As the Empress Dowager spoke, a hint of a smile appeared in her originally compassionate eyes: "There hasn't been any happy event in the palace for a long time, and I'm waiting for it now."
"When the time comes, I will definitely name this child."
One after another, they're all hoping she'll have a baby...
Oh my god, that's terrifying!
Song Xizhi also chuckled twice.
Amidst this harmonious atmosphere, Song Xizhi sensed an absurd and eerie feeling.
The soft couch beneath her and the square table beside her emitted a faint glow. Before Song Xizhi could figure out the two men's purpose, their purposeful warmth made her feel uneasy and uncomfortable.
Just then, a eunuch's voice suddenly came from outside.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"
As the heavy palace gates slowly swayed and creaked open, the candlelight was stretched into a narrow beam by the movement of the gates.
Song Xizhi looked in the direction of the sound and saw Pei Yunyi, dressed in a crimson robe, walking into the palace amidst the warm yellow candlelight.
His robe fluttered repeatedly with his brisk strides, and if you looked closely, you could see a dusty shoe print on the finely stitched robe.
He clearly said nothing and did nothing, but Song Xizhi only glanced at him, and his previously anxious heart suddenly calmed down.
Her stiff back finally relaxed considerably at this moment.
"Grandson pays respects to His Majesty the Empress."
Pei Yunyi bowed to the Empress Dowager with his back straight.
"Your Highness, this humble subject pays respects."
He Jingyan also stood up and bowed to Pei Yunyi: "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
The Empress Dowager hurriedly told him to get up, and asked with some surprise, "Crown Prince, why did you suddenly come here?"
Pei Yunyi stood up decisively and smiled, "I missed my grandmother, so I came here whenever I wanted, but I didn't expect that Imperial Physician Song and General He would be here as well."
Upon hearing this, He Jingyan immediately grasped Song Xizhi's hand: "The Empress Dowager misses Zhizhi, so we came. We were just talking about the lady's child and asking the Empress Dowager to name it."
Pei Yunyi stared at their clasped hands, not only not angry, but also smiled gently.
"I do look forward to the arrival of Judge Song's child; I imagine he will be as quick-witted as Judge Song himself."
Pei Yunyi smiled instead of getting angry. His cheerful smile seemed to come from the heart, which surprised He Jingyan.
It was as if some happy event had made him feel great.
Pei Yunyi waved his hand and ordered a eunuch from the Empress Dowager's palace to bring him a round stool. He then sat down next to the group and looked up at the people sitting there.
"What happy things are Grandmother and Imperial Physician Song going to talk about? Let your grandson listen and learn from Imperial Physician Song how to make Grandmother happy."
The Empress Dowager still wore a loving smile, but the veins on her temples twitched involuntarily.
With Pei Yunyi sitting there, the group chatted casually for a few moments before He Jingyan slowly stood up and took his leave.
Pei Yunyi still had a faint smile on his face, and he also stood up, saying that he wanted to see his good brother off out of the palace.
He Jingyan forced a smile, unable to bring himself to refuse, and could only have Pei Yunyi escort them out of the palace without leaving their side.
Song Xizhi stood at the palace gate, listening to the two's insincere conversation, and looked up at Pei Yunyi's face.
She wanted to share her discovery, but it wouldn't be appropriate to say anything in front of He Jingyan.
She was afraid he would become suspicious.
In the end, Song Xizhi said nothing and turned to leave the palace.
By the time the two returned to the Marquis of Anding's residence, it was already late at night.
Fortunately, she and He Jingyan did not live in the same room, so after the lights in the courtyard were turned off, Song Xizhi changed into a set of night clothes and summoned her personal guards, intending to secretly return to Huaqing Palace.
Song Xizhi was still worried about whether the hidden guards could lead her into the palace, but to her surprise, she encountered a familiar figure as soon as she arrived near the palace.
Moonlight filtered through the bamboo grove, a gentle breeze rustled the bamboo leaves, and a tall man leaned against a bamboo pole, sword in one hand, as if waiting for someone.
The scene before me seemed to transport me back to that night at Heyan Mountain in an instant.
Everything is clearly different now than before, but the person is still the same.
Song Xizhi hurriedly ordered the hidden guards to put her on the ground.
Song Xizhi staggered as his feet, which had been suspended in the air for so long, suddenly touched solid ground.
Before Siqin could help her up, the man under the bamboo grove was even faster. He used his lightness skill and arrived in front of Song Xizhi in the blink of an eye, supporting her wrist.
The man's hot palm touched his fingertips. Song Xizhi looked up and saw Pei Yunyi's face, and couldn't help but smile.
"Pei Yunyi, what brings you here?"
"Have you noticed the problem too?"
Pei Yunyi raised his eyebrows slightly, gazing at Song Xizhi's smiling face, and couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips as well: "What's the problem? I'm just waiting for you here."
Song Xizhi was still somewhat puzzled: "Waiting for me? How did you know I would come?"
The man's smile deepened, and his words carried a hint of ambiguity: "Because of the look in your eyes when you left."
Song Xizhi raised an eyebrow: "You can tell just from their eyes?"
"What if I hadn't come? Would you have had to wait here all night?"
Pei Yunyi's voice was low and husky, yet contained a hint of pride, sounding ambiguous in the quiet night: "But Madam still came, to have a secret rendezvous with me..."
Song Xizhi couldn't stand Pei Yunyi's attitude.
It seems that He Jingyan has become somewhat abnormal ever since he came back.
It gives off a... somewhat tea-like vibe?
Thinking about it, Song Xizhi couldn't help but punch the man in the chest again: "Just say what you want to say, stop pretending!"
"I've come tonight on serious business."
Before Pei Yunyi could speak, Song Xizhi continued in a solemn voice:
"The person who had private contact with He Jingyan was the Empress Dowager, but they pretended to have never met him before in front of me."
"Also... on the day I was assassinated in the palace, it was a eunuch from the Empress Dowager's palace who led me on a detour. If Zeng Yaxian hadn't arrived in time, I would have really lost my life."
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