Lady Ding tensed up instantly. "The Emperor has summoned the Crown Prince to the palace? This... When should he enter the palace? What do we need to prepare?"
Eunuch Ji smiled and reassured her, "Madam, don't be nervous. His Majesty loves talent and used to frequently summon the top three scholars. Although the young master has not yet taken the provincial examination, he is a scholar from a military family who has achieved the 'minor tri-score' in the civil service examination. His Majesty attaches great importance to him, so he summoned him to the palace for a visit. There's no need to prepare anything; he can simply come with us to the palace. Rest assured, Madam, we know the young master's situation. Once he enters the palace, we will immediately arrange a sedan chair so that he will not be tired."
"Ah, this... please forgive my rudeness, it's not that I'm tired, it's just that it was a bit sudden... to enter the palace so soon?"
“Yes, let’s go to the palace now,” Eunuch Ji stood up from his chair. “Have the servants pack up and come with me. The sooner we get back to the palace, the better I can explain myself.”
Hearing what Eunuch Ji said, Lady Ding could only have Guan Shui change the young master into a new set of clothes and then leave with Eunuch Ji.
Ding led the group to see off Eunuch Ji and the others. Chen Mianmian walked at the back of the crowd and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, pulled Jiang Yinjin over.
"?" Jiang Yinjin.
The first rain and the first snow quickly became wary.
Chen Mianmian said, "Xiang Ning, you and Chu Yu and Chu Xue go to take care of Madam. I have something to discuss with the young mistress."
Liu Xiangning was surprised—no, Master wants to discuss this with the young mistress? What could Master possibly have to say to that vile woman?
Jiang Yinjin told Chu Yu and Chu Xue, "Listen to Aunt Chen."
"Yes, Miss." The two obeyed and quickly walked a few steps to catch up with the main group.
Seeing that the maids were all obedient, Liu Xiangning felt embarrassed to embarrass her master. She glared at Jiang Yinjin warily before following them.
Shen Mianmian continued to pull Jiang Yinjin behind a hanging flower gate before saying, "Do you have any particular premonition? For example, a good premonition or a bad premonition?"
Jiang Yinjin was dragged here, and to be honest, she was nervous.
After all, she had been kidnapped and abducted by Shen before, and even if she was beaten, she was powerless to fight back. But she never expected Shen to ask such a question.
"A premonition? No." I told the truth.
Chen Mianmian bit her lip, her face tense.
Jiang Yinjin also started to get nervous, "Do you have a bad feeling?"
Chen Mianmian's eyes were filled with resentment—Why are you pretending to be confused? Even if you don't know the content of the novel, you must know what happened in your previous life, right? In your first life, the cannon fodder prince never entered the palace.
Jiang Yinjin was a smart woman. Even though she didn't know exactly what Shen was complaining about, she could tell that it was. She stammered, "I...I really don't know! If I knew, I would definitely tell you!"
"Okay, sorry, I was being presumptuous." Shen Mianmian let go of her and prepared to catch up with the main group.
Jiang Yinjin grabbed her arm. "Wait, how about we make a deal? You tell me your secret, and I'll tell you mine."
“No,” Shen Mianmian refused without hesitation. “We can’t reveal our hand so easily. Besides, you and the prince are about to divorce, and you’ll have a new life from now on. We don’t need to get entangled with each other anymore. I’m not going to say anything more. I’m going to go after him.”
She shook off Jiang Yinjin, lifted her skirt, and ran away quickly.
Jiang Yinjin didn't dare to delay and quickly followed.
.
When Chen Mianmian caught up, she saw Bai Qingzhou preparing to board the palace carriage.
Bai Qingzhou stood under the carriage, turning his head to look around. When he saw Chen Mianmian's figure, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and reassured her with his eyes—Don't worry, I will be careful after entering the palace and will be back soon.
Chen Mianmian nodded – Okay, be careful on your journey.
Upon seeing the woman's response, Bai Qingzhou's pale, slightly weak face broke into a smile before she boarded the carriage.
Eunuch Ji also turned his head and gave Chen Mianmian a deep look before getting into the carriage.
A short while later, the motorcade slowly started moving and headed towards the palace.
Everyone thought that they could go back after seeing off the prince, but Shen Mianmian remained standing in the same spot, her eyes fixed on the receding carriage, her expression stiff.
Liu Xiangning asked, "Master, what's wrong?"
Chen Mianmian's mind was filled with Eunuch Ji's eyes. Those eyes... were very complex, so complex that they were difficult to analyze, yet they compelled her to analyze them.
Jiang Yinjin also looked at Shen Mianmian in astonishment. Ding asked, "Mianmian, are you worried? Don't worry, after you enter officialdom, you will often be summoned to the palace like this."
Shen Mianmian's eyes flashed suddenly, and then she said, "Madam, I want to ask you for a favor!"
Ding chuckled, "What is it? Tell me, why are you so startled?"
"Could I ask Your Highness to grant me a visit to the palace? Although he will be summoned to the palace after entering officialdom, the Crown Prince has not yet entered officialdom. He must not be ignorant of the rules and cause trouble. Besides, although the Crown Prince has recovered, he is still weak. This is his first time entering the palace. I beg Your Highness to help him."
The others didn't think much of it, only worrying because they assumed that Aunt Shen and the young master had a good relationship.
Jiang Yinjin, however, believes that the matter is not so simple.
Ding was both amused and exasperated. "Qingzhou was only summoned to the palace by the Emperor. What trouble could he possibly cause? Besides, we just gave Eunuch Ji a lot of money. Eunuch Ji will take care of him."
Seeing that the lady disagreed, Jiang Yinjin said, "Shen, I will let my father enter the palace. I will send Chuyu to find my father right away."
Chen Mianmian was taken aback—that's right, the two haven't divorced yet, and Minister Jiang is still the Crown Prince's father-in-law. He asked to see the Emperor because he was worried. Although it was awkward, it should make sense.
She couldn't help but cast a grateful glance at Jiang Yinjin, "Okay, I'll leave this matter to you."
Jiang Yinjin pursed her lips. "There's no need to thank me. I just don't want to owe you anything. We're even now."
She was referring to the fact that Shen Mianmian had introduced her to the King of Qin.
Those around were confused—what was all this about? When did the young mistress and Aunt Shen become so close?
Before Ding Shi understood, Li Mama understood first.
Li Mama whispered in the lady's ear, "Madam, go and beg Her Highness the Princess! Both Aunt Shen and the young mistress are worried, and... they really should have someone help them."
Ding was persuaded, "No need to trouble Minister Jiang. Mianmian, didn't you want to ask Her Highness the Princess for help? You and Xiangning go and say it's my request."
"Okay! Thank you, Madam!"
Overjoyed, Chen Mianmian didn't wait for the stable hand to bring the carriage over. She grabbed Liu Xiangning and ran straight to the stable.
After the master and apprentice left, Madam Ding asked Granny Li, "What exactly happened?"
Granny Li replied, "This servant does not know either."
As Jiang Yinjin watched the two figures disappear into the distance, a bad premonition belatedly crept into her heart, and her brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
...
One hour later.
Princess Ryan entered the palace.
She had thought that at this hour, the Emperor would summon Prince Bai to the Imperial Study, but she heard that the Emperor was at Yonggan Palace.
Yonggan Palace is the emperor's bedroom. Why would the emperor summon Prince Bai to his bedroom in broad daylight?
Princess Ryan couldn't understand it, but she still rushed over.
Upon arrival, she discovered that the palace servants would not allow her to enter the palace, and would not even inform her of her arrival.
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