Rong Qingqing almost swore.
The old woman's words sounded nice, but she was clearly just finding a way to punish her.
"Your Highness, please follow me this way." At this moment, Granny Lin stepped forward and said seemingly respectfully.
When Rong Qingqing saw the faint smile on Hua Yin's lips, she smiled slightly, looked at the Empress Dowager, sighed, and said regretfully, "Originally, I dared not disobey the Empress Dowager's order, but considering that the Buddhist hall is a sacred and pure place, I am afraid that my rashly going there would be a desecration of the gods."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's expression seemed to soften somewhat, and she nodded, "It's kind of you for the Empress to know. Just be more sincere when you get there later."
Rong Qingqing glanced at her, seeing her kind and gentle demeanor, as if she were a younger generation, and sneered inwardly. She slowly said, "Unfortunately, I will have to disappoint the Empress Dowager today. I have not been feeling well these past two days and have not yet recovered. It is really not appropriate for me to go to the Buddhist hall to copy Buddhist scriptures. I will have to disappoint the Empress Dowager."
A single, casual remark caused the Empress Dowager's expression, which had just eased, to immediately darken again.
Since they were all women, she naturally understood what she meant by feeling unwell.
It is indeed inappropriate for a woman to go to a Buddhist temple when she is menstruating.
But what a coincidence!
The Empress Dowager looked at her scrutinizingly.
Could this be an excuse she made to refuse to go to the Buddhist temple?
Rong Qingqing met her gaze calmly, without flinching or looking away.
The Empress Dowager frowned. In the past, this lowly girl never dared to look her in the eye and was always trembling with fear. How come she's become so bold now? And she's not easy to control at all.
The atmosphere remained tense when suddenly the chanting of palace servants could be heard from outside.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
Rong Qingqing was taken aback. Why was this guy here?
The Empress Dowager's expression stiffened for a moment.
Hua Yin's face lit up with joy as she looked outwards.
Soon, Xie Jingrun's tall and upright figure appeared by the door and walked in.
Madam Hua rose with a kind expression and was about to bow to him.
Hua Yin also got up.
Xie Jingrun spoke first: "Grandmother, cousin, you don't need to be so polite, please sit down."
Without stopping, he walked directly to Rong Qingqing's side, shook her hand, and quickly looked her over to make sure she was alright. Only then did he bow to the Empress Dowager and say, "Grandson has disturbed Grandmother."
Although the Empress Dowager harbored some dissatisfaction with him, he had been courteous and impeccable in his manners, so she softened her expression. "Your Majesty is being too polite. Lin Mama, quickly make Your Majesty a cup of tea."
"Yes," Lin Mama replied with a smile.
Xie Jingrun waved his hand and said, "No need to rush, I have to rush back to the Imperial Study to handle state affairs." After saying that, he stopped looking at the Empress Dowager and turned to Rong Qingqing, pinching her nose with his finger. "You promised to grind ink for me, but you ran here to slack off."
The gestures were intimate, and the helpless tone of his voice carried a clear hint of doting affection.
The Empress Dowager frowned instantly.
Did the emperor come all this way just to tell her how much he values Rong Qingqing?
What's so great about Rong Qingqing that makes him want to make this trip? Or does he think he's some kind of monster who can devour his empress?
No matter which one it was, it made the Empress Dowager feel uncomfortable, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything to criticize her.
This grandson is really something.
She hadn't forgotten the words he'd spoken that day at Yuxian Palace: "To be old and not die is to be a thief."
Knowing that she had angered him, she would no longer even offer him this superficial respect.
For a moment, the Empress Dowager was filled with anger and frustration. Her lips moved, but she couldn't utter a single word.
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