Chapter 81
She frowned at the kneeling palace maid: "How dare you..."
Before the Empress could finish speaking, Song Xuan and Shen Qingnian walked hand in hand into the hall, and the eunuch's drawn-out voice rang out: "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived—The Crown Princess has arrived—"
Shen Qingnian and Song Xuan walked up to the Emperor and Empress and knelt down to perform a grand salute.
The Empress's originally stern expression instantly softened. She glared at the kneeling palace maid and said, "Drag this servant away, lest she become an eyesore."
After saying that, she quickly added, "Qingnian, Xuan'er, please get up and be offered a seat!"
Shen Qingnian's gaze fell on the palace maid being dragged away, but she quickly looked away and obediently sat down on the stool.
"That palace maid is ungrateful, Qingnian, don't take it to heart," the Empress explained.
That palace maid wanted to show off in front of her, and she actually dared to speak ill of the Crown Princess in front of her. How dare a second-class palace maid talk about her master's affairs!
Shen Qingnian nodded gently, looking poised and obedient. She said softly, "It was my fault for being late today because I didn't keep track of the time. Please punish me, Mother."
She could roughly guess why the palace maid had been dragged away. If she wanted to have a safe pregnancy and give birth to a healthy child, she naturally needed to get along well with the Emperor and Empress.
If Song Xuan hadn't specifically instructed her this morning, she wouldn't have gotten up late. But it didn't matter; she was just being respectful, and Song Xuan would speak up for her.
As soon as she finished speaking, the Emperor on the throne spoke up: "It is because the Empress and I arrived too early. Although we are royalty, we are also family. Last night was your wedding night, and as elders, we can understand. Qingnian, you don't need to take it to heart."
Naturally, a girl chosen by one's own son deserves certain privileges, especially since the Crown Princess is a kind and virtuous woman, a renowned talented woman among noble ladies, and of good character.
Song Xuan, who was standing to the side, took Shen Qingnian's hand and comforted her, "You don't need to worry. I have already sent someone over to tell Father and Mother that we will arrive a little later."
He knew how much he had struggled last night, and if Qing Nian were to come to serve tea early in the morning, she would probably feel very uncomfortable.
"I've been through this before, so I'll naturally understand you and Xuan'er," the Empress said, blinking her eyes with a hint of mockery.
Her relationship with the emperor had always been good. She suffered a lot on her wedding night, and the fact that she managed to come despite her physical discomfort was already considered very polite.
Shen Qingnian blushed slightly, revealing her girlish charm: "Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty and Mother."
She had heard that the current emperor and empress were gentle, but she did not expect them to joke with her. She also recalled the disgust the man beside her felt when he mentioned the methods of noble ladies on the night of the Flower Festival, and she could understand why.
The emperor and empress had a better relationship than the masters and ladies in noble households, so it's no wonder that Song Xuan looked down on the methods used in the inner quarters.
At this moment, the palace servants had already prepared the tea. Shen Qingnian picked up the tea and knelt down beside the Empress. The Empress smiled and accepted the tea from her daughter-in-law with both hands. After taking a sip, she beckoned to the palace servants to bring a brocade box.
The palace maid opened the brocade box, inside which was a jade bracelet of excellent quality. This jade bracelet was different from ordinary bracelets. Not only was it inlaid with rubies, but it was also carved with gold characters and lotus flowers with gold edges.
The Empress smiled and said, "This was left by my mother. It doesn't have much value, but it's meant for my future daughter-in-law. Only my future daughter-in-law can wear this jade bracelet."
The lotus flowers here symbolize offspring. Now that you have entered the Eastern Palace, you must assist Xuan'er well and help him bear children as soon as possible.”
Royal offspring are of utmost importance.
Shen Qingnian smiled broadly upon hearing this and nodded in agreement, saying, "That's what my daughter-in-law thinks too."
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