Chapter 114 Before I leave this time, I must get this done
Meng Yan turned around and saw Empress Dowager Jiang looking at her with a smile, her eyes full of wisdom.
She felt a little embarrassed, lowered her head and smiled, "Nothing can be hidden from the Empress Dowager."
Empress Dowager Jiang smiled and said, "Mischievous girl, the moment you open your mouth, I know what you're thinking. However, Concubine Liang was indeed too rash this time. A few punishments would be in order." She frowned slightly as she finished speaking. "Since entering the Crown Prince's residence, Concubine Liang has always been gentle and virtuous. If not, the Emperor and I wouldn't have entrusted the care of the harem to her all these years. Now, why is her temper so much worse?"
Meng Yan smiled but did not respond.
Liang Chengbi, born into a prominent family and holding a high position, could not help but harbor aspirations for the throne. Seeing the position, once within reach, now increasingly out of reach, her impatience and, unsurprisingly, her blinding desires were unacceptable.
However, to this day, there's one thing Meng Yan still hasn't figured out. If Liang Chengbi coveted the throne, how could she have willingly given up the crown to Lin Yanrong in her previous life?
Even though Lin Yanrong had already won Lu Haozhi's favor at that time...
As soon as this thought came to her mind, Meng Yan suppressed it and didn't think about it any further.
Just at this moment, the palace maid brought up a plate of freshly boiled water chestnuts.
Empress Dowager Jiang then called Meng Yan over and said with a smile, "This is a new tribute from Jiaxing. It's called something called Shui Hong Ling. It's very tender and delicious. It's perfect for stewing with meat, or cooking it with snowflake sugar. Children will love it. I've already ordered a few pounds to be sent to Changchun Palace. I'll have the kitchen stew it for Doukou to eat this evening. Come and try some of it here with me."
Meng Yan listened and smiled.
Empress Dowager Jiang, descended from a prominent family in the south of the Yangtze River, was naturally well-informed. She had accompanied the late emperor during his rebellion, enduring hardships and tasting the local specialties of every region. Her only passion was food. Whenever she found something new, she would always think of saving a portion for herself. Traditionally, the annual gifts from the Hall of Mental Cultivation had been lavish gifts of gold, silver, pearls, and rare toys; however, those from Shoukang Palace were filled with a variety of ingredients and exquisite pastries. This time, the Empress Dowager had returned from her visit to Mount Tai to pray for blessings, and she had brought her several kilograms of pine flower candy.
She picked up a water chestnut, and with her deft little hands she moved it up and down, and in a moment she peeled out a white, tender and smooth fruit, which she placed on the gold-painted porcelain plate in front of the empress dowager.
Empress Dowager Jiang loved her being so obedient and filial. Meng Yan knew that playing tricks in front of the old lady was fine, and would please her. But if she went too far, she would be furious.
Meng Yan is always very careful in judging the right measure.
As expected, Empress Dowager Jiang finished a water chestnut, narrowed her eyes, and said with a smile, "Girls are the best. They are the most considerate of the old man's thoughts. When your grandfather served the late emperor, he often mentioned you, always showing off to me how smart and beautiful his granddaughter was. I thought, you can be so proud, sooner or later I will get this girl to be my daughter-in-law. And sure enough, you are here."
Empress Dowager Jiang had never said these words to her before.
Meng Yan's mind moved slightly, knowing that the Queen Mother was about to say something, but she still smiled.
But then Empress Dowager Jiang asked, "Girl, if I remember correctly, it has been seven years since you entered the Crown Prince's residence, right?"
Meng Yan nodded and said softly, "Seven years and four months."
Empress Dowager Jiang sighed, "You remember it so clearly, which shows that your life wasn't exactly comfortable. But little girl, I must warn you: everything in this world requires a perfect balance. Forcing perfection is not ideal. In life, most things are not as you wish. You must learn to deal with them and make adjustments."
Meng Yan felt heavy in her heart. She pursed her lips and said nothing, just peeling the water chestnuts silently.
Empress Dowager Jiang looked at her. Although she no longer had the youthful vigor of her past, she had gained a touch of mature charm after years of precipitation. She was blooming like a spring flower, which was the best time for a woman.
She had recently heard about the discord between Lu Haozhi and Meng Yan from Rong An and others. Although she still didn't know the reason for their disagreement, Empress Dowager Jiang could sense that this time they were no longer breaking up and getting back together as usual.
She had been entangled with the late emperor for half her life, and the pain she felt was only understood by her and the palace lanterns on Kunning Palace. She really didn't want these young people today to experience what she had gone through back then.
If the two of them were to become estranged, Lu Haozhi would never be happy again. Meng Yan was the one who asked for her to come, and he didn't want to see such a beautiful flower wither away silently in the deep palace.
After a moment, Empress Dowager Jiang smiled and asked again, "Girl, has Hao'er been treating you well recently? If not, tell me and I will teach him a lesson for you."
Meng Yan smiled gently and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Empress Dowager. The Emperor treats me very well. It's just that the war in the southwest is urgent, and the Emperor is busy with government affairs, so he has no time to take care of the harem."
This little mouth is really good at lying.
Empress Dowager Jiang said this inwardly, then smiled and said, "In that case, you should take advantage of this time to take good care of yourself. You are a doctor yourself, so you don't need others to tell you what to eat. It's been seven years, and you should give me a royal grandson."
This sentence was both a concern and an imperial decree, weighing heavily on Meng Yan's heart.
She knew exactly what the Empress Dowager was hoping for. In her previous life, as soon as she announced the good news, Empress Dowager Jiang had someone send her a pair of red gold longevity locks, saying she had better ones and would bring them after the child was born.
After her miscarriage, the old woman's temples suddenly grew many gray hairs overnight. According to the maids in Shoukang Palace, the empress dowager knelt before the Bodhisattva day and night, wondering if she had done something wrong to deserve the punishment bestowed upon the child.
Putting aside these past events, Meng Yan whispered, "I am incompetent and have disappointed the Empress Dowager."
Empress Dowager Jiang smiled kindly, "How can I blame you? This is all about fate." Having said that, she felt that the conversation was over, so she stopped talking and changed the subject to chat with Meng Yan about family matters. She then casually said, "This summer is getting hotter. Even though the Ministry of Internal Affairs sends me ice every day, I still feel uncomfortable living in this palace. It's not as comfortable as Shanghe Garden, which is nestled by the mountains and water. I plan to live in the garden for a while in the next few days and come back before the New Year."
Meng Yan knew that Empress Dowager Jiang was a person who could not stay still. Perhaps it was because she was used to traveling when she was young, so she smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager has grown old. She needs to avoid the heat in the middle of summer."
After sitting for a while, Meng Yan, thinking of Doukou, said goodbye to Empress Dowager Jiang.
After she left, Empress Dowager Jiang asked Zang Xiu, "You were watching this just now. What did you think?"
Zang Xiu replied, "Your Highness's temperament and personality are much calmer than usual. But I always feel that Your Highness is very worried and does not seem to be happy at all."
Empress Dowager Jiang nodded and sighed, "Even you can see it. It's ridiculous that Hao'er is still as blind as a blind man."
Zang Xiu smiled, "The Emperor is very busy, so it's possible that he can't take care of everything."
Empress Dowager Jiang shook her head and said, "Before I leave this time, I must get this matter settled."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
