Chapter 231
After returning from the Golden Palace, the old woman recounted the events there with a look of horror on her face, appearing dazed and confused, clearly quite frightened.
She immediately ordered someone to take him away and comfort him, and then sent someone to the Golden Palace as soon as possible.
The palace maid approached the Empress Dowager, her voice tinged with panic: "Your Majesty, the old woman has calmed down a bit. She told me that the Miss Liu whom His Majesty brought back to the Golden Palace looks remarkably similar to the late Empress from three years ago!"
No sooner had the palace maid finished speaking than the Empress Dowager's teacup fell to the ground and shattered.
The Empress Dowager ignored the teacup that had fallen to the ground, and instead looked directly at the palace maid, her face stern, and said, "Granny, did you see clearly how similar they are?"
Yesterday she thought it was a good thing that Xuan'er brought the woman back to the palace.
After the palace maid knelt down, she replied repeatedly, "Your Majesty, the old nanny was quite certain just now that Miss Liu's appearance is indeed extremely similar to that of the late Empress."
The old woman even used the phrase "not a fraction off".
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager felt a surge of anxiety. She murmured, "I thought Xuan'er had moved on, but I never imagined he would seek out a woman who resembles him to soothe his longing..."
At this point, a hint of disgust appeared in the Empress Dowager's eyes.
She guessed that the woman who looked similar was probably a "skinny horse" type, a woman with deep scheming and a penchant for manipulating people. When Miss Liu arrived, she would have to give her a good talking-to.
However, Xuan'er was so immersed in pain that it would be good to find a woman who looked similar to her.
After composing herself, the Empress Dowager instructed the palace maids to clean up the broken teacup on the floor.
Soon, a palace servant came to announce that Miss Liu had arrived.
"Send word," the Empress Dowager instructed the palace servants.
Wearing a veil, Shen Qingnian was helped into the hall by Xiaoju. She walked with her head down to the Empress Dowager, then knelt down and bowed respectfully: "This commoner pays respects to the Empress Dowager."
Her voice was light and neither humble nor arrogant, yet it made the Empress Dowager feel a strange sense of familiarity.
The Empress Dowager frowned, her tone stern: "Now that you've entered the palace and gained the Emperor's favor, you should openly remove your veil. Such petty behavior is truly unacceptable."
A woman who hides her face and manipulates people's hearts is truly no good woman!
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingnian removed the veil from her face. She still kept her head down. The Empress Dowager sat in front of her, and one could vaguely make out her somewhat familiar features.
"He does resemble the late Empress somewhat. Raise your head," the Empress Dowager commanded, narrowing her eyes.
Shen Qingnian looked up as instructed, and her face was fully revealed. She was now dressed in plain clothes, and her temperament was very different from three years ago, but her appearance was exactly the same.
The next moment, the Empress Dowager suddenly stood up and shouted, "Who exactly are you? Who sent you?"
She originally thought that this Miss Liu was only five or six points similar to the late Empress, but she never expected that they were exactly the same, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that they were made from the same mold.
Such similar-looking women must have been deliberately arranged by someone!
Shen Qingnian's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this. She kowtowed to the Empress Dowager and said, "Your Majesty, my name was Shen Qingnian three years ago."
The Empress Dowager felt dizzy and the palace maid beside her quickly helped her up.
The Empress Dowager paused for a moment before looking at the woman kneeling on the ground and coldly rebuked her: "Do you know what you're saying?"
The late empress's body is still in the Ice Palace, yet this woman claims to be Shen Qingnian. This is utterly ridiculous!
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