An hour later, Shui Liniang, disguised and wearing a kind and gentle face, led two palace maids and followed behind the princess. The group slowly walked towards the Huayun Palace, the imperial bedchamber.
"Princess, why are you coming at this hour? Her Majesty has already gone to bed. She has been feeling unwell these past two days and has been going to bed early. Princess, please come again tomorrow." The nanny beside the Empress blocked the doorway, preventing the princess and her entourage from entering, and also refusing to let anyone in to deliver the message.
Ye Ling'er lowered her eyes and suddenly raised her voice, as if she wanted the people inside to hear her, "Granny Chen, I heard that the Empress Dowager is not feeling well, so I had someone stew ginseng soup for her. The Empress Dowager usually has a poor appetite and is getting thinner and thinner. If she doesn't nourish her body, how can she recover? Please don't stop me, Granny."
Granny Chen paused, glancing at the princess with a complicated expression. Ever since the princess was found after being missing for more than a year, she had felt an inexplicable unease about her, as if something was amiss, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.
Just now, she subconsciously didn't want the princess to go in and see the empress, feeling that it would be bad if she did. But the princess is the empress's own daughter, how could she possibly harm the empress?
"Princess, the imperial physician is watching over Her Majesty's health, and this ginseng soup cannot be drunk indiscriminately." The nanny didn't know what she was struggling with. She had clearly decided to let the princess in, so why did she say such a thing as soon as she spoke?
Granny Chen was very conflicted.
"What do you mean by this, Granny? Would I possibly harm the Empress Dowager? You've been blocking me from going in to see her. What are your intentions? Now you're saying these things to try and frame me. I think you've forgotten who you are, and who I am."
Ye Ling'er maintained a very proper demeanor. Despite her small stature, she was mature and experienced, unlike a child, and more like a seasoned master of palace intrigue.
Chen Mama was not about to be questioned, so she quickly knelt down with a thud and slapped herself. "Princess, please calm down. It was this old servant who overstepped her bounds. I was too worried about Your Highness's health and spoke carelessly. Please don't take offense, Princess."
Just as Ye Ling'er was about to make another move, Shui Li Niang immediately gave her a warning look. Did she really think she was a princess? Getting down to business was the priority. Why was she arguing with an old servant?
Besides, this old servant is no ordinary servant. This old fellow was the wet nurse that the Empress brought to the palace from her maiden home as part of her dowry. Her status is extraordinary. Even if she is a servant, she is still the Empress's person. Without the Empress's permission, who would dare to do anything recklessly?
The commotion outside had already awakened the Empress, a light sleeper. Supported by her personal maid, she slowly rose and weakly spoke, "Long'er, is that Long'er? Chen Mama, please let Long'er in. I've missed her terribly."
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