Chapter 85 Entering the palace?
If you think about it carefully, it was the first time that the two of them spoke so calmly, although she never smiled and even her tone was cold.
But for Xiao Yuan, it is also a progress compared to the past.
Shen Anan leaned against the carriage somewhat tiredly, with her long eyelashes drooping, not knowing what she was thinking about, but she didn't move.
Xiao Yuan stopped talking. He looked at her for a while, then looked away. The two of them fell into silence.
Some things should be done step by step, as too much is as bad as too little.
But Shen Anan was very upset because of Xiao Yuan's repeated tests.
She even began to suspect that this person had the same experience as herself, but if so, how could he condescend to ride in the same car with her?
All kinds of speculations arose in her mind, Shen Anan frowned slightly, and was in a bad mood because of the mention of the past.
Today doesn't seem to be a good day to go out, nothing goes as planned.
She didn't know how long she had been in a daze until Xiao Yuan asked Uncle Zhong to stop the car.
The curtain of the carriage was opened, and there were bushes and shrubs all around. It was obvious that they had not yet arrived in the capital. However, Qing'an and Ling Chenyi had already jumped off the carriage at Xiao Yuan's signal.
“This place is not far from the capital, and we still have some things to deal with, Miss Shen, please go back first.”
Xiao Yuan's voice could even be described as gentle.
Shen Anan was stunned for a moment, then looked up at Xiao Yuan.
Whether in the past or now, this man has never been so polite and courteous. Today... it is really strange.
"Yeah." She responded calmly and lowered the car curtain.
Through the car curtain, she even heard Xiao Yuan's voice telling Uncle Zhong to be careful, and a sense of weirdness grew in her heart.
But she didn't say anything, not even a greeting, and Uncle Zhong drove away.
Mo Xiang let out a long sigh and said, "Fortunately they had something urgent to do. If they really rode our carriage into the city and were seen by others, there would be some gossipy girls."
"Yeah." Shen Anan responded calmly, leaning against the carriage and closing his eyes to take a nap.
"Let's go, maybe if we hurry we can get back before dark." Ling Chenyi sighed, and his words sounded quite sarcastic.
Xiao Yuan glanced at him coldly and took the lead to walk towards the capital.
Ling Chenyi couldn't stand the boredom and asked, "What did you say in the carriage? Did you express your feelings? What did Miss Shen say?"
"Nothing was said." Xiao Yuan's dark eyes darkened for a moment, and he said in a calm voice.
"Tsk." Ling Chenyi sighed, looking at him with a look of disappointment, "I have tried my best to get you such a good opportunity, why don't you know how to make good use of it."
Xiao Yuan said nothing and glanced at him coldly.
He wasted his breath? Wasn't it him who risked his life to force his way in? Waiting for him to convince her, even if he talks too much, he might not be able to leave.
"What's that look in your eyes?"
Xiao Yuan ignored him completely. All he was thinking about was her reaction when the Lantern Festival was mentioned in the carriage just now.
His guess was confirmed, and he now had an idea of what to do the rest of the way.
"Master." A secret guard suddenly appeared in silence, speaking in a low voice, "Zhang Yeyang encountered bandits on his way back to the city. Our people investigated and found that they seemed to be Concubine Shen's men."
Ling Chenyi frowned, tilted his head to look at Xiao Yuan, and then asked, "Is he dead?"
"That's not the case. The bandits saw that there were people protecting us and that it was the carriage of the Yongning Marquis's Mansion, so they just left after a few moves."
"Got it." Ling Chenyi waved his hand and the secret guard retreated.
He tilted his head to Xiao Yuan and said, "Noble Concubine Shen really did everything she could to ensure your marriage."
This is because he knew that Shen Anan was going to get engaged to Zhang Yeyang tomorrow, so he just went all out.
Xiao Yuan frowned, but said nothing.
“But it’s also because you have planned it in advance, otherwise Concubine Shen’s method is indeed a permanent solution, and it is the most appropriate.”
She came to kill him, and Shen Anan hated her, and had nothing to do with Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan did not continue talking about this topic, but asked, "Has that person been sent away?"
Ling Chenyi nodded and said, "Let's go, but I won't be able to survive if I go back to the Western Region."
The royal family of the Western Regions took great pains to place people in the capital of Daliang. Now all the secret agents are dead, and he is the only one left to go back. It will not be easy for him to survive.
Xiao Yuan raised his lips in a cold arc, "Whether he lives or dies is his business. As long as he leaves the capital, I have done what I promised."
——
When Shen Anan arrived at the door of Shen's house, she keenly noticed that the atmosphere was wrong.
Her gaze was fixed on the bright yellow carriage parked on the side for a moment, and her almond-shaped eyes darkened slightly.
"Miss." Mo Xiang helped her get off the carriage. He also saw the carriage and frowned. "The carriage from the palace, could it be that the imperial concubine is back?"
"You'll know when you go back and take a look." Shen Anan retracted his gaze and walked into the mansion.
When he passed through the archway of the veranda and passed by the garden, he was stopped by the maidservant beside Madam Shen as expected.
"Girl, Madam asks you to come over."
Shen Anan raised her eyes and glanced at the little maid, but didn't ask any more questions, "Let's go."
"Yes." The little maid made way and let Shen Anan go first. When they passed this area and there were not many people around, the little maid whispered a reminder.
"Aunt Yu, who is beside the Imperial Concubine, came and said that the Imperial Concubine suddenly fell ill last night and wanted to invite you to the palace to serve for a few days."
Shen Anan frowned.
Just as her marriage fell through, Concubine Shen fell ill. How could it be such a coincidence?
Besides, there are imperial doctors and palace maids in the palace.
She nodded lightly and said, "I understand."
The little maidservant lowered her head respectfully and didn't say anything along the way. When they arrived at the Longxiang Pavilion, the little maidservant immediately lifted the curtain and invited her in.
The room was very quiet. Aunt Yu sat below Madam Shen with a worried look on her face. When she saw Shen Anan coming in, she immediately stood up and bowed, very respectfully.
Without any of the usual dissatisfaction or unhappiness, Shen Anan raised her eyebrows, nodded lightly, and greeted, "Aunt Yu is here."
“Yes, this old servant is here for the Imperial Concubine.” Aunt Yu carefully examined Shen Anan’s face, and did not see anything unusual in it, so she could not help but frowned.
Could it be that the group of people sent by the Queen failed to succeed?
If the scholar died, why is my cousin so calm?
"I heard from Madam that my cousin went out for something. I thought I would have to wait for a while, but I didn't expect you to come back so soon."
"It's cold today, there's nothing to do, so I came back early." Shen Anan heard her tentative intention, but she didn't understand her intention for a moment.
Aunt Yu nodded, glanced at Shen Anan’s expression calmly, and said along with the words.
"It is indeed cold. The Imperial Concubine has been ill since her miscarriage. She can no longer stand the stress. She gets sick every time the weather fluctuates between hot and cold."
Shen Anan expressed her concern for her daughter on her behalf, and it sounded very serious to Aunt Yu.
Madam Shen frowned and couldn't help but say, "Tomorrow is An An's engagement day. Tell the Imperial Concubine that you can let An An go to accompany her after tomorrow."
The government had already sent the news to the palace a long time ago. Concubine Shen had not been ill earlier or later, but she fell ill at this time. How could she not think too much?
"Well, Madam, the engagement date can wait, but the Imperial Concubine's illness can't wait. Before I came here, the Imperial Concubine even specifically asked the Emperor for grace to allow Miss Cousin to stay in the palace for a few days."
Mrs. Shen’s expression suddenly turned ugly.
This is not an invitation, it is clearly a coercion. The imperial concubine even brought up the emperor. What on earth does she want to do? ! ! !
"Madam, this matter... Your Majesty has already mentioned it to the Emperor. If I don't go, wouldn't that be..." She lowered her voice a lot, "Deceiving the Emperor?"
With a loud bang, Mrs. Shen slammed the table and stood up, her face furious, "Are you threatening my Shen family?"
Aunt Yu was a little scared by the aura of the mistress of the house. "I dare not. I am just... speaking the truth for the sake of the Shen family. Madam, please calm down."
Madam Shen snorted, flicked her sleeves and sat down, “An An is engaged, I have already given her the news.”
Seeing that Madam Shen was really angry, Aunt Yu became more respectful and careful, "Madam, it's not that the Madam is unsympathetic, it's really... the Madam has her own difficulties."
She glanced at the rest of the people in the room, and Madam Shen frowned, waving her hand for everyone to leave before Aunt Yu spoke.
"You know what's going on in the palace. Your Majesty is very favored, and I don't know how many people hate her. Every time your Majesty is sick, there are many people waiting for the opportunity to harm you. Your Majesty has no children, and there is no one who is loyal to her. Over the years, she has almost always escaped death."
"Madam, this year my cousin is back. Please, for the sake of our mother and our master, let my cousin go."
Aunt Yu was deeply moved and shed tears of helplessness and distress, which calmed Mrs. Shen's surging anger for a moment.
These words were indeed true. Although the Shen family had power, they could not extend their influence into the palace. As a court lady, it was not in accordance with the rules for her to stay overnight in the palace.
If the Imperial Concubine missed her niece, it would be barely acceptable for her to stay in the palace for a day or two.
Aunt Yu had told her a lot about the dangers in the palace. Her husband always said that she reaped the fruits of her own actions, but he felt uncomfortable in his heart and would feel uncomfortable for several days. He would not feel better until he knew that she was safe and sound.
"He was fine a few days ago, how come he is so seriously ill?" Mrs. Shen frowned.
Aunt Yu sighed, "It's an old habit left by the queen. It happens once a year."
Mrs. Shen fell into silence for a long time, unable to make up her mind.
"It won't delay that day, wait..."
"Mom." Shen Anan, who had been silent all the time, suddenly spoke up, "I'll go."
"But what about your engagement ceremony tomorrow?"
Shen Anan smiled gently, “Engagement is always less important than my aunt’s health.”
Madam Shen thought that it wouldn't matter if she waited a day or two, so she could just hold the engagement ceremony tomorrow and then go to the palace.
But Shen Anan has already promised Aunt Yu.
"Oh, okay. I'll thank you on behalf of the queen." Aunt Yu's face was filled with tears of gratitude.
After finishing her business, she left without staying any longer, but she still had a lot of doubts in her heart waiting for her to confirm.
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