After Nan Zhiyun finished dining with the Empress Dowager, Yu Jingchen sent someone to inform her of the arrangements for receiving the Emperor that evening. However…
"Yun'er will be staying here with me today, so she probably won't be able to serve His Majesty. You should ask His Majesty to find someone else." The Empress Dowager came out of the room and ruthlessly tried to get rid of Yu Jingchen's people.
The person who came naturally dared not argue with the Empress Dowager. After returning to Zichen Palace, he told Yu Jingchen everything.
The little eunuch who delivered the message thought he was doomed today, but to his surprise, Yu Jingchen only remained silent for a moment before telling them all to leave.
Cixi Palace
The Empress Dowager pulled Nan Zhiyun to sit down and asked with a smile, "What's wrong? Are you reluctant to leave? Do you want to go and accompany the Emperor?"
"No... but, Your Majesty, won't His Majesty be angry if we do this?" Nan Zhiyun didn't want the Empress Dowager to make things too ugly because of her and Yu Jingchen, after all, the Empress Dowager was the kindest person to her in the entire palace.
"Why should I care? Do you think he'll respect me if I don't do this?" The Empress Dowager said indifferently.
"Yun'er, from now on, you don't need to worry about the Emperor. Do whatever makes you happy," the Empress Dowager said.
Nan Zhiyun felt that since the Empress Dowager's return, she seemed to care about her even more than before. Perhaps it was truly because of some of the things she had encountered in the palace...
Nan Zhiyun didn't think about it any further and didn't leave Cining Palace that night. She stayed with the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager and Nan Zhiyun talked until very late. Moreover, the Empress Dowager had brought back quite a few interesting things this time.
"Everything you brought back this time is yours. We won't concern ourselves with the rest of the palace," the Empress Dowager said.
Nan Zhiyun was somewhat surprised. In the past, no matter how much the Empress Dowager doted on her, it was always just for show. She would bestow all the things she had upon the other concubines. She had some, but not all of them.
Not only that, but the Empress Dowager also said some strange things to Nan Zhiyun that night.
She said, "Yun'er, this time we're all okay... the whole family is okay."
Nan Zhiyun didn't understand. She nestled in the Empress Dowager's arms, just like when the Empress Dowager used to coax her to sleep when she was a child, and slowly fell asleep.
The Empress Dowager looked at the sleeping Nan Zhiyun, her eyes reddening: "So good." She touched Nan Zhiyun's face.
"From now on, I will protect you. We will no longer care about the emperor, nor will we seek wealth, honor, or power. When your father returns at the end of the year, I will discuss it with him, and we will be alright." The Empress Dowager gently stroked Nan Zhiyun's hair, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
The second day
When Nan Zhiyun woke up, the Empress Dowager was sitting on a soft couch not far away.
"Is our Yun'er sleeping well?" the Empress Dowager teased, and then walked over and sat down by the bed.
Nan Zhiyun blushed slightly: "Your Majesty, why don't you call me 'Concubine'?" Nan Zhiyun naturally hugged the Empress Dowager's waist. Perhaps this was the difference in how she interacted with the Empress Dowager.
"Yun'er is still the same as when she was little, she loves to sleep in, especially in the dead of winter. The concubines who come to pay their respects outside have been waiting for more than half an hour." The Empress Dowager smiled.
Nan Zhiyun was startled: "Greetings? Your Majesty the Empress Dowager..." Nan Zhiyun became embarrassed.
"It's alright, they wanted to come. I didn't force them. Since they're here, let them wait. You can take your time." The Empress Dowager didn't have the energy to deal with those people outside.
I was busy until after 11 PM today, so that's all for now. I'll catch up during the day, sorry!
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