"Get up, all of you." Even if the Empress Dowager was displeased, she couldn't punish everyone by making them bow. "Little Swallow, I clearly remember you were being confined to your quarters. What are you doing?"
“Your Majesty, this is a ball I found in the Ruyi Pavilion. I thought that the Princess was still under house arrest, so I brought it over,” Benjamin explained from the side.
“Oh, Benjamin, you’ve been in the palace for so long, you should know the rules. This ball is forbidden to be played with in the palace, it’s a forbidden ball.” The Empress Dowager frowned at Benjamin, who was always well-behaved, and said with displeasure.
The atmosphere is so tense right now.
The Fifth Prince stepped in to help Xiao Yanzi out of the predicament. "Your Majesty, although this is a forbidden ball, it hasn't been taken into the palace to play with."
"Oh, so according to Yongqi, anyone can play with this forbidden ball as long as they don't appear in the palace?" The Empress Dowager asked calmly, but her tone was angry.
"This...Grandson knows his mistake." Although Yongqi wanted to plead for Xiaoyanzi again, given the Empress Dowager's current state, he could only admit his mistake first.
"Little Swallow!" the old lady called out.
"Your Majesty," Little Swallow replied respectfully.
"Originally, I was planning to lift your confinement today, but seeing your behavior, I think you'll have to stay in confinement for a few more days," the Empress Dowager said deliberately, especially considering the large crowd gathered in the courtyard.
Looking at it this way, it seems that this little swallow simply loves freedom and dislikes being restrained, so you have to use what she cares about most to manage her.
"Erkang, Ertai, Yongqi, Benjamin, this is the princess's residence. It's not appropriate for you to keep going to the princess's place, is it?" The Empress Dowager spoke these words in a calm tone, leaving no room for argument.
"Yes, Your Majesty, we know we were wrong and will leave immediately," Erkang, Ertai, and Benjamin said in unison.
"The inner palace has its own rules. You men are all outsiders. It is extremely improper for you to sneak into the princess's residence, especially since the princess is still under house arrest," the Empress Dowager added.
"Yes!" What else could the crowd say but agree that the Empress Dowager was right?
This is the confidence that allows you to stand at the top of the food chain!
"Your Majesty, we respectfully bid farewell to the Empress Dowager, Princess Yong'an, and Princess Qing," the crowd said in unison.
I just stepped out of the gate of Shufangzhai.
The Empress Dowager couldn't help but remark, "The inner palace is becoming increasingly disorderly. No wonder the Empress looks so worried." The Empress Dowager herself had risen through the ranks of the inner palace, so she valued rules and regulations. The reason rules were made public was precisely to prevent anyone from breaking them.
"Your Majesty, you just need to take good care of yourself. Qing'er and I will go check on Auntie." An Ke said this deliberately. While watching the drama, she felt the Empress wasn't actually that bad. Although she wanted to kill Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi during the escape, it was Rong Momo who instigated it.
Rong Momo also felt sorry for the Empress and hoped that Yongqi could ascend the throne. The Empress's mistake was that she fell too deeply in love. In this harem, how much is deep affection worth?
"Very well, you can go and see for me in a little while," the Empress Dowager sighed and said helplessly.
“Yes.” Qing’er and An Ke exchanged a glance.
On the way, An Ke continued her tricks, trying to amuse the Empress Dowager. Indeed, the Empress Dowager was the most powerful woman in the harem. It was always right to please her.
After accompanying the Empress Dowager back to Cining Palace, Anke and Qing'er also prepared to pack up and head to Kunning Palace.
"This time when I returned to the palace, I felt that the Emperor's attitude towards the Empress was different," Qing'er said softly. But there was still a hint of worry in her tone.
“Right!” Anke said calmly.
"Why are you so calm today?" Qing'er asked incredulously. She looked up at the sky, then rubbed her eyes, trying to make sure the person beside her was really An Ke. Had she been switched at some point?
“So what if I’m not calm? My uncle is the emperor. It’s normal for the emperor to have three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines. Why should I go looking for trouble?” An Ke said calmly, then leaned close to Qing’er’s ear and said, “Besides, you were born into the royal family. You know how ruthless the royal family is, especially the emperor’s heart, which is the most unpredictable.”
"You're right," Qing'er said, expressing a deep sense of helplessness. Yes, she herself was born into royalty; she knew all too well. Yet, she couldn't escape it, couldn't struggle against it. She was like a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river, barely able to save herself. How could she expect to help others escape this quagmire?
Without the Empress Dowager, she would likely be just a helpless princess. If the Emperor remembered her, he would bestow upon her a title, allowing her to live with dignity and respect. If the Emperor forgot her, she would simply be a helpless princess in the Qing Dynasty. And such princesses were commonplace in the Qing Dynasty.
Thus, Qing'er dared not be careless, serving the Empress Dowager with utmost care every day. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager was well, and Qing'er regarded her as her only family. "So, what should we say when we go to Kunning Palace today? Should we just express the Empress Dowager's condolences?" Qing'er asked worriedly, her hands twisting the handkerchief in her hands.
"Once we get there, it's all up to me! Why are you so worried? I'm here for you!" Anke patted her shoulder, indicating that she was still trustworthy!
"Yes, how could I forget about you!" Qing'er was instantly amused by this gesture. Yes, An Ke was the variable in everything. As long as An Ke was there, there was nothing they couldn't handle.
They walked and stopped, enjoying the scenery along the way, chatting and laughing, until they finally arrived at Kunning Palace.
"This servant greets Princess Yong'an and Princess Qing. May Princess Yong'an and Princess Qing be blessed." Originally, Rong Mama was on her way to the kitchen when she happened to pass by the palace gate and saw the two walking in. She hurriedly came forward to pay her respects.
"Granny Rong, get up quickly!" An Ke bent down first and helped Granny Rong up. "Granny Rong, after so many years away from the palace, I still miss your cooking. I remember when I was little, I had a fever and couldn't eat anything, but I loved your pea flour cake. I didn't know that I would be lucky enough to have it today, since I'm here so suddenly." An Ke winked at Qing'er with a smile.
“Yes, Granny Rong, An’an kept talking about pea flour cakes when she was at Mount Wutai!” Qing’er chimed in from the side.
"Yes, it is my honor to be remembered by the Princess. I will go and prepare it right away." Granny Rong was old and easily moved to tears. She hurriedly wiped her eyes and turned to walk towards the kitchen.
Anke and Qing'er exchanged a glance and walked into the hall.
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