"Huh? Who is the Empress Dowager?" Little Swallow asked, holding the dewdrops in her hands, looking dazed.
After all, having come to the palace, the only people they had met were the Emperor, the Empress, and the concubines in the harem. They had never even heard of the Empress Dowager!
"Then why don't you hurry up and make the arrangements? Watch where you're walking next time." Yongqi used a combination of carrot and stick!
"Yes, yes. This old servant understands." Eunuch Pu led the group of eunuchs behind him and left hurriedly.
"Yongqi, you still haven't told me, who is the Empress Dowager?" Xiaoyanzi couldn't wait to find out who the Empress Dowager was, because so many people had started preparing in advance for her return to the palace.
Jin Suo's eyes lit up, hoping to find out more information for her young mistress.
"The Empress Dowager is the most authoritative person in the entire harem." Yongqi was interrupted by Xiaoyanzi before he could finish speaking.
"Isn't the most powerful person in the harem the Empress?" Xiao Yanzi said angrily. After all, since she entered the palace, she had been bullied and tormented by the Empress quite a bit.
"No, the most powerful person in the harem is the Empress Dowager. Because she is the Emperor's mother. Some time ago, she went to Mount Wutai to pray for the Qing Dynasty, and my mother went with her. I guess she will be back when we return," Yongqi said frankly to Xiaoyanzi.
"Isn't that your grandma? Why do you call her Empress Dowager?" Little Swallow scratched her head, completely baffled by the way the imperial palace addressed people.
"That's a long story..." Yongqi said to Xiaoyanzi and the others as they walked.
The sound gradually faded into the distance.
Before we knew it, the day to return to the palace arrived!
Consort Yu was overjoyed. Of course, her excitement was understandable; after so long without seeing her son, how could she not be longing for his return to the palace?
An Ke's mood wasn't so cheerful. After all, wearing platform shoes was really difficult! In modern times, she rarely even wore high heels; outside the palace, she could wear flat shoes. But back in the palace, she could only wear platform shoes.
These flowerpot shoes are so high! It's torture!
"Xingxing, you have to hold me tight in a bit! I can't let you embarrass me in front of so many ministers!" Anke instructed Xingxing beside him in advance.
When I watch TV, I only know about the scenes of welcoming the Empress Dowager. It was such a grand and spectacular affair! If someone had actually fallen flat on their face there, it would probably have been an unforgettable experience, something they'd remember for a lifetime!
"Don't worry, Princess, I will definitely take good care of you." Xingxing had grown up with Anke. If anyone knew the Princess's thoughts best, it would be Xingxing.
Then, Anke was dressed in a purple court robe and given a headdress.
Sigh! It was really not easy to survive in the Qing Dynasty. It was like having a flowerpot on your head and stilts on your feet.
After greeting the Empress Dowager and Qing'er, An Ke sat in her own sedan chair.
Heading all the way to the Forbidden City!
“Little Swallow, you should stay in your Shufangzhai. This matter is of utmost importance, so you'd better not get involved,” Erkang said from the side.
"But I also prepared a surprise for the Empress Dowager," Little Swallow said, dissatisfied.
“No, Little Swallow, it’s best not to present your surprise to the Empress Dowager on the day she returns to the palace,” Benjamin added from the side.
Although he hadn't had much contact with the Empress Dowager, he knew she was someone who placed great importance on rules. If Little Swallow messed things up, she would inevitably be punished.
"Okay, okay, okay. I promise I'll be wrapped up tightly in a quilt in Shufangzhai, not even a single hair will escape." Xiaoyanzi sat down angrily to the side.
Little Swallow's eyes darted around. In an instant, she made a decision.
Then, the four of them actually left without a second thought. They're incredibly carefree!
The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.
Hearing the hawkers' cries outside, An Ke knew she had arrived at the Forbidden City.
Anke was incredibly excited about what was about to happen. After all, she had felt tense when she watched that scene herself, barely daring to breathe. Now that she was about to experience it firsthand, of course she was incredibly excited.
"Princess, we've arrived!" Xingxing, who was walking outside, naturally knew where she was, so she reminded her princess from outside the sedan chair.
After all, the princess had taken a lot of snacks before getting into the sedan chair. I'm afraid she won't care about her image while eating them inside, so I'd better remind her quickly!
"Okay, I understand!" An Ke replied, quickly wiping her mouth, which was covered in pastry crumbs, with a handkerchief, and then straightening her palace attire.
"May Your Majesty enjoy peace and long life! May Your Majesty live a thousand years!"
An unanimous chorus of greetings could be heard even by Anke, who was hard of hearing.
So she got out of the sedan chair and, with Xingxing's help, walked outside.
Ah, the air outside is so fresh! It was so stuffy inside the sedan chair.
Seeing that Qing'er had caught up with the Empress Dowager, An Ke naturally wanted to follow as well, but her flowerpot-soled shoes were quite uncooperative and almost made her fall.
"Princess, please slow down, there's no rush!" Xingxing also had some martial arts skills, otherwise the two of them would have fallen together.
"Hmm," perhaps afraid of falling, Anke's steps gradually slowed down!
Because of this action, they directly missed the moment when the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were showing concern for each other.
"An'an, have you gotten used to things these past few days?" The Emperor looked at his niece with amusement.
I know this niece loves meat. But in Wutai Mountain, she'll probably be eating vegetarian food for a long time while accompanying the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty, I feel alright! I can handle it!" She couldn't say she was used to it. After all, she had lived in the palace for a period of time. An Keke knew the Emperor's thoughts.
If you get used to it, you might end up seeing vegetarian food on your dining table for a while.
"And don't come back. I'm still used to you calling me Imperial Uncle." The Emperor looked at An Ke with a smile. The Emperor also felt that this niece was a bit pitiful. After all, his younger brother had simply abandoned An Ke to the Empress Dowager and gone sightseeing with his own wife, clearly not wanting to take An Ke, this burden, with him.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The Emperor himself told her to address him that way, so of course she had to obey.
"Then you should stay here..." Before the emperor could finish speaking, a commotion arose below.
"Ah, you naughty horse, you ate my surprise, you ate my Purple Qi Comes from the East, don't run away..." Little Swallow was seen chasing after the horse while holding a plate of scattered Purple Qi Comes from the East.
The once orderly horse team was immediately scattered.
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