"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager~~"
Granny Bai was a little reluctant to part with him.
She and Empress Xiao had been mistress and servant for over twenty years, their relationship having long surpassed that of blood relatives.
They are sisters, and they rely on each other.
In this harem, the two of them went through countless trials and tribulations together.
Originally, Granny Bai thought she would stay with Empress Dowager Xiao until the very end.
If she were fortunate enough to die before Empress Dowager Xiao, Empress Dowager Xiao would certainly not mistreat her.
If Empress Dowager Xiao passes away first, Granny Bai will not live on alone; she will be buried with Empress Dowager Xiao.
Besides loyalty and years of affection, it was also because she seemed to have no other intentions.
Her entire family died, and she never married and had no children.
She took in several goddaughters and apprentices in the harem, but it was mostly for psychological comfort; she didn't invest much emotion in them.
Granny Bai never imagined that she would leave Empress Dowager Xiao so soon.
"Go! Leave the palace. You are still young. You didn't have the chance in the past, but now that you have the chance to leave, go."
“Adopt a few children, or establish a godparent relationship; if all else fails, you can go to the Prince of Yan’s residence.”
Empress Dowager Xiao smiled and spoke softly to Granny Bai.
The Prince of Yan was the third prince.
Although the third prince was crippled, he was demoted to a county prince.
However, he was, after all, the emperor's younger brother from the same mother, and he also had an empress dowager as his mother in the palace.
In the capital, the powerful and wealthy did not dare to humiliate the Prince of Yan.
Granny Bai was Empress Dowager Xiao's personal maid, so it would be appropriate for her to retire to Prince Yan's residence.
Even though the Third Prince's personality has changed drastically due to his disability, he would not make things difficult for an old nanny.
"Or, you could reopen Huichuntang, take on a few apprentices, and pass on your family's medical skills."
Empress Dowager Xiao was genuinely concerned for Granny Bai and offered several suggestions in succession.
As for money and such, there's no need to specifically mention it.
As Empress Dowager Xiao's most trusted confidante, she would never mistreat Granny Bai when it came to money.
Empress Dowager Xiao had only one request: that Granny Bai agree!
Empress Dowager Xiao was able to fulfill Granny Bai's wishes within her own capabilities.
"Rejuvenation Hall?"
Granny Bai was a little stunned; this was her family's ancestral pharmacy.
During the Battle of Jiangling, all the shops and homes were burned down.
The home is gone, the family is dead, and the pharmacy has vanished.
Bai Guo changed her name, even abandoning her original surname.
It's not that she's forgotten her roots, but rather that she always feels she's let down her ancestors.
It wasn't until half a year ago, when she cooperated with Empress Dowager Xiao to poison the culprit from that year, that the mountain weighing on her heart seemed to be lifted.
"...Can I...can I still restore the Feng family's reputation?"
Granny Bai muttered to herself.
The eyes, which had always been as calm and still as an ancient well, finally began to shine.
Seeing this, Empress Dowager Xiao smiled and said, "Of course! You have medical skills and are not short of money. As a female official released from the palace, you will not be bullied by anyone after leaving the palace."
"The first half of my life was full of hardships, but the second half will surely bring happiness after all the suffering!"
Empress Dowager Xiao continued to encourage her.
Upon hearing the words "released from the palace," Granny Bai seemed to remember something and shook her head: "No! This old servant cannot open a pharmacy!"
She cannot restore her surname.
If people knew that she was the daughter of the Feng family of Xinglin, and that she was a highly skilled doctor, they might become suspicious.
Over the past two decades, she has done many things for Empress Dowager Xiao using her medical skills.
Especially the late emperor—
Although it's all in the past, no one suspects it!
But, even a wild goose leaves a trace as it flies by.
Once suspicion arises, a thorough investigation will always uncover clues.
Granny Bai must not let a little selfishness ruin the important matter and cost herself and Empress Dowager Xiao their lives!
"This old servant will leave the palace, buy a courtyard, and adopt a few little cubs."
"Like other elderly palace maids, she taught the children and did needlework."
She was wealthy and held the position of a lady-in-waiting to the Empress Dowager, so she couldn't possibly live too badly.
If you get tired of staying in the capital, take a stroll around.
When she was about to die, she returned to Jiangling, but her family's remains could no longer be found. Yet, she still wanted to return to her roots.
"...Fine, if you insist, then so be it!"
Empress Dowager Xiao's smile remained unchanged, but she secretly breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Granny Bai knew too many of her secrets, especially her expertise in medicine, which she absolutely could not let anyone know.
Logically speaking, the most effective way to keep a secret is to kill the person who knows it.
However, Granny Bai had been with her for over twenty years, and the bond between them was closer than that between parents and children.
Most importantly, Granny Bai was loyal and never thought of betraying her.
Now that the dust has settled and everything seems to be over, Granny Bai has not let her guard down.
Empress Dowager Xiao's few remaining soft spots were touched.
Fine, let her leave the palace and die peacefully in her old age.
Little did Granny Bai know, she had already narrowly escaped death.
If she were to be swayed by Empress Dowager Xiao and actually leave the palace to open a pharmacy, she would "accidentally" die within three days of leaving the palace!
...
On Empress Dowager Xiao's side, all the elderly people around her left the palace without incident.
However, Empress Dowager Ashina was facing some trouble.
"No! Others are one thing, but Fang Dafu is my chief eunuch. He has served me for over twenty years. I... I—"
Despite her frail health, Empress Dowager Ashina stood in front of Fang Dafu.
Fang Dafu also did not want to leave the palace.
In the palace, he was a respected "Fang Yeye" by all the palace servants; once he left the palace, he was just an elderly eunuch.
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