The Empress Dowager's return this time was different from her previous returns, so not many people knew in advance. Everyone only realized that the Empress Dowager had returned to the palace when her carriage and entourage arrived at the palace gate.
When Qianxia woke Nan Zhiyun up, the Empress Dowager had already returned to Cixi Palace. It wasn't that Qianxia didn't want to wake her, but the Empress Dowager had specially sent someone to He'an Palace to say that she would call Nan Zhiyun over later, instead of her so early.
Although Nan Zhiyun didn't need to rush over, the other concubines in the harem didn't have the same treatment. It was said that after the Empress Dowager returned, the Noble Consort immediately summoned all the concubines to Cixi Palace to pay their respects.
It was snowing outside today, and the Imperial Concubine had thought that she and the other concubines would have to wait outside for several hours, just like last time. Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager didn't make things difficult for them today, and allowed them in after only a quarter of an hour.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager," the Imperial Concubine spoke first.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager!" The other concubines followed suit.
"No need for formalities, please sit down," the Empress Dowager said calmly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After they were all seated, the Empress Dowager looked at the Imperial Concubine.
"I am at ease knowing that the Imperial Concubine is now in charge of the six palaces. If you continue like this, you can hold this position for a long time. Just don't follow in the footsteps of the Wen family and suffer the same fate as her," the Empress Dowager said slowly.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will follow your teachings." The Imperial Concubine replied with complete obedience.
"Hmm," the Empress Dowager responded and then fell silent.
However... there are always people who say things at the wrong time.
"Huh, where is Consort Shu?" It's Consort Xian.
The Empress Dowager looked at Consort Xian, who gently covered her face: "Your Majesty, please don't be offended. I was also a little surprised not to see Consort Shu. I thought Consort Shu should have arrived long ago, but I didn't expect her to be absent. Could it be that she doesn't know that Your Majesty is returning to the palace today? But all the other ladies have arrived..."
"Consort Shu also returned to the palace today, so she naturally needs to rest. She will come to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager later, so Consort Xian need not worry." Consort Gui looked at Consort Xian.
Consort Xian continued, unwilling to give up, "As a palace concubine, staying out all night and playing wildly outside the palace, Consort Shu is still too young and doesn't know the rules of the palace."
"Does Consort Xian mean that I haven't taught Yun'er well?" The Empress Dowager's eyes were sharp.
Consort De gave Consort Xian a mocking look. "The Empress Dowager is here, and you're still criticizing Consort Shu in front of her? Are you out of your mind? Are you tired of living? Who doesn't know how much the Empress Dowager dotes on Consort Shu? Besides, weren't all of Consort Shu's manners personally taught by the Empress Dowager?"
As expected, Consort Xian was immediately frightened upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me, that's not what I meant..." Consort Xian immediately tried to explain.
"How dare you! You should kneel down to apologize to the Empress Dowager!" An Xin rebuked directly.
Consort Xian was always all talk and no action, but she was incredibly timid. Hearing these words, she immediately knelt down, still vivid in her mind how the Empress Dowager had dealt with those concubines last time.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I misspoke. Please forgive me!" What's the point of saving face these days? Survival is the most important thing.
"Consort Xian's mouth hasn't improved at all," the Empress Dowager said bluntly.
Consort Xian dared not speak.
"Copy the palace rules one hundred times. Finish copying them before the New Year. If you don't finish, you won't be attending this year's New Year's banquet. After you finish copying them, send them to He'an Palace and apologize to Consort Shu." The Empress Dowager's tone was cold, but it had an inexplicable sense of intimidation.
"Yes..." Consort Xian dared not speak any more rudely.
"You may all leave, I am tired." The Empress Dowager did not want to deal with them anymore, so the Consort had no choice but to lead them away again.
Yu Jingchen of Zichen Palace had also heard about the Imperial Concubine taking the other concubines to see the Empress Dowager today, so he naturally knew what the Virtuous Concubine had said.
So… our Consort Xian was punished with another hundred repetitions, still kneeling while copying. It's said that Consort Xian fainted upon receiving this decree; well… one can only say her mental fortitude is too weak.
When Nan Zhiyun woke up, it was almost noon. Before she could even process how she got back to the palace, Qianxia told her that the Empress Dowager had returned.
Nan Zhiyun was immediately delighted and wanted to see the Empress Dowager right away. She even complained a little that Qianxia hadn't called her earlier.
When Nan Zhiyun arrived at Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager had already ordered lunch to be prepared. Upon hearing that Nan Zhiyun had arrived, the Empress Dowager quickly had her brought in.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Nan Zhiyun bowed as she entered, her smile barely concealed.
"Oh my, my Yun'er is here. Quick, let me see her." The Empress Dowager got up, walked down, and took Nan Zhiyun's hand.
"Yun'er looks much better." The Empress Dowager pulled Nan Zhiyun to sit down with her.
"Your Majesty, I am well. Thank you for your concern. Your Majesty, I have missed you so much these days." Nan Zhiyun leaned against the Empress Dowager.
"I miss our Yun'er too." The Empress Dowager smiled kindly.
"Where has the Empress Dowager been these past few days? She hasn't sent any messages back," Nan Zhiyun asked.
"It's not important anymore. Now that I'm back, I'm not leaving again." The Empress Dowager avoided the topic.
"How have you been these days, Yun'er? Have you been bullied?" the Empress Dowager asked her.
"No, I'm fine." Nan Zhiyun seemed less reserved than before.
The Empress Dowager released Nan Zhiyun, who was somewhat puzzled.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager?" Nan Zhiyun looked at the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager held Nan Zhiyun's hand and looked directly at her: "Yun'er, how have you been getting along with His Majesty these days?"
"Your Majesty... is quite well," Nan Zhiyun replied.
"What does Yun'er think of His Majesty now?" the Empress Dowager continued to ask.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun didn't know how to answer for a moment; she seemed unsure of what the definite answer would be.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty gave this to me," Nan Zhiyun said, taking out the gold medal.
"He is capable of doing it." The Empress Dowager's expression remained unchanged.
"Since it's been given to you, then keep it safe." The Empress Dowager affectionately patted Nan Zhiyun's head.
"Your Majesty, I am afraid..." Nan Zhiyun suddenly spoke.
"What are you afraid of?" the Empress Dowager asked her.
"I don't know, I'm just scared." Nan Zhiyun was actually confused.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "If I were to say now that I would take you with me, along with A-Su, and the three of us would leave this capital forever, would Yun'er be willing?"
Nan Zhiyun was stunned.
The Empress Dowager saw through Nan Zhiyun's thoughts: "Yun'er is hesitant now, so during this period of time, Yun'er has changed her mind a lot, right?" The Empress Dowager was very patient.
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