The Empress Dowager did not want to see Xie Jingyan and Shen Wan, but in order to see them as soon as possible, she restrained herself and said, "Let them in."
The palace maid withdrew, and soon after, Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan went in.
Shen Wan had not seen the Empress Dowager for a long time, and she was quite surprised to see the Empress Dowager looking pale and haggard.
The two men paid their respects to the Empress Dowager.
Hearing the voices, the Empress Dowager turned her head to look in their direction. "It's kind of you to be so filial and come to see me."
The Empress Dowager pronounced the words "filial piety" with exceptional clarity.
If someone were truly filial, they wouldn't have knowingly sent the eldest prince and everyone from the Duke of Mao's mansion, whom she valued, to prison, even though they knew she couldn't be angered.
However, Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan noticed it but pretended not to hear it.
They've known for a long time that the Empress Dowager is biased and protective of her own.
If the eldest prince can repay kindness with enmity on the first day, then don't blame them for doing it on the fifteenth.
Moreover, they didn't resort to extreme measures to take revenge, nor did they retaliate in kind, which was already enough to save face for the Empress Dowager.
They weren't really concerned about the Empress Dowager; they were just juniors who felt it wouldn't be right not to come.
Xie Jingyan said calmly, "Empress Dowager, please take care of your health."
He looked at Doctor Tao and said, "Take the Empress Dowager's pulse."
Doctor Tao put down his medicine box, sat down, and took the Empress Dowager's pulse. He held it for a while before letting go.
Before Xie Jingyan could ask, Granny Zhao spoke first, "When will the Empress Dowager be able to see it?"
Doctor Tao looked at Xie Jingyan, who said, "Tell the truth."
Doctor Tao told the truth, "It is impossible to determine when the Empress Dowager will be able to see her. Her depression is causing damage to her internal organs. We can only use some medicine to relieve her depression. During this period, she must keep a cheerful mood. If she gets worried or angry, her condition will not only not improve, but will worsen."
Keep a cheerful mood...
Even Zhao Yuanzheng dared not utter those six words.
Because once it's spoken, the pressure will be put on the emperor.
King Cheng has disappeared and his whereabouts remain unknown.
The eldest prince and the Duke of Mao were imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's jail again.
How could the Empress Dowager possibly be in a good mood?
The Emperor cannot simply forgive the crimes committed by the First Prince and the Duke of Maoguo just to please the Empress Dowager. To disregard the Empress Dowager would be unfilial.
Dr. Tao went to write the prescription, handed it to Chief Physician Zhao, and then that was it.
Xie Jingyan and Shen Wanlai were only going through the motions, and said, "We won't disturb the Empress Dowager's rest. We'll come to visit her another day."
After exchanging greetings, Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan left.
However, as they left Shou Kang Palace, they ran into Princess Huyang.
Princess Huyang was also in poor health. The Empress Dowager was so ill that she had gone blind. As her daughter, it was no wonder that Princess Huyang was in a bad mood.
However, unlike the Empress Dowager, she didn't give Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan a friendly look. In fact, her eyes had an indescribable feeling, like... guilt?
Well, actually, yesterday Princess Huyang learned that Xie Jingyan had sent the First Prince and the Duke of Maoguo to the Ministry of Justice's prison. The Empress Dowager was so angry that she vomited blood and fainted, losing her sight. She was also very angry with Xie Jingyan, and in her anger, she scolded him a couple of times. Du Cheng'an happened to be in the mansion at the time and couldn't stand it, so he couldn't help but say, "Mother, this matter is not the fault of Prince Ling..."
Princess Huyang said angrily, "The Empress Dowager has fallen ill from anger, and you're still siding with Prince Ling?!"
Du Cheng'an said, "It's not that I'm siding with Prince Ling, it's just that I don't know, but this time the eldest prince almost killed Prince Ling and Princess Ling..."
Princess Huyang refused to believe it, saying, "How is that possible?"
Du Cheng'an said, "Your son would not lie to his mother. The smallpox in the Lingwang Mansion was caused by the eldest prince."
Even if Du Cheng'an hadn't said anything, Princess Huyang wouldn't have believed that the eldest prince she had watched grow up could be so ruthless and devise such a vicious method as using smallpox to harm people.
Even though the eldest prince was about to kill Prince Ling, Princess Huyang couldn't bring herself to say that Prince Ling should consider the Empress Dowager's health and not retaliate against the eldest prince.
Princess Huyang noticed Xie Jingyan's unease because she had wronged him.
Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan were unaware of these matters. The two greeted Princess Huyang, but Princess Huyang only said a few words before going to see the Empress Dowager.
Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan entered and left the palace in the same way.
However, they did not return directly to the Ling Prince's residence, but went to the Yan residence instead.
When the Yan family returned to the capital, the Ling Prince's mansion was ravaged by smallpox. The Yan family couldn't get in, and Xie Jingyan and Shen Wan couldn't get out. After finally being released from confinement, they went to the palace and then to the Yun family, but they still haven't seen them.
However, Shen Wan did not expect that today was the day when the Duke of Du's mansion was sending betrothal gifts to the Yan family. The carriage slowed down when it was still a street away from the Yan family.
The betrothal gifts were carried in sixty-four-bearer processions, with two bearers carrying the gifts together, creating a grand and impressive spectacle. This demonstrates the high regard that Princess Huyang and her husband held for their soon-to-be bride.
However, the betrothal gifts were to be delivered today, which was decided several days ago. If it had been in the last couple of days, Princess Huyang would definitely not have been in the mood for it.
The two bearers walked side by side, making it impossible for the carriage to pass. However, Shen Wan and Xie Jingyan were not in a hurry. The carriage only stopped in front of the Yan family mansion after all the betrothal gifts had been carried into the mansion.
Xie Jingyan helped Chen Wan down from the carriage, and the two walked up the steps. Yan Zheng, the eldest young master of the Yan family, came to greet them, followed by two boys who looked to be fourteen or fifteen years old. Upon seeing Xie Jingyan, they called out from afar, "Cousin..."
Shen Wan found them unfamiliar; she probably hadn't seen them before, or at most once or twice. She really couldn't recognize who was who.
In fact, Xie Jingyan didn't recognize them at first glance. When the Yan family had their accident, they were only seven or eight years old. They were young, and their appearances changed a lot. He could only vaguely make out three-tenths of their childhood features.
The two were delighted to see Xie Jingyan, their eyes filled with admiration. Yan Zheng said, "Don't just call him cousin, there's also cousin's wife."
The two hurriedly bowed to Shen Wan again, saying, "Greetings, cousin-in-law."
Shen Wan smiled in response.
Yan Zheng invited them into the mansion, and Shen Wan asked, "Where is Qing'er?"
Yan Zheng said, "She's shy and embarrassed to come out, so she's in her room right now."
“I’m going to see her,” Shen Wan said.
The Yan family steward then arranged for a maid to lead the way for Shen Wan.
Upon entering the inner courtyard, Shen Wan headed towards Yan Qing'er's small courtyard. As soon as she stepped inside, she heard Yan Qing'er's embarrassed and annoyed voice, "Big sister, if you tease me again, I won't talk to you anymore."
Shen Wan looked in the direction of the sound and saw two pretty figures chasing each other.
One of them was Yan Qing'er, and the other was Yan Yue, the eldest daughter of the Yan family. She was beautiful and only half a year older than Yan Qing'er.
The two girls were playfully fighting when they saw Shen Wan. They quickly stopped and resumed their dignified demeanor as well-bred young ladies, but their flushed cheeks betrayed them.
Yan Yue looked at the maid who had led Shen Wan into the courtyard and asked with her eyes who it was. She hadn't seen Shen Wan since returning to the capital. But before the maid could answer, Yan Qing'er said, "It's my cousin-in-law..."
Yan Yue never expected that the person in front of her was her cousin-in-law, Princess Ling, whom she had been looking forward to meeting.
She and Yan Qing'er quickly stepped forward and bowed to Shen Wan, saying, "Greetings, cousin-in-law."
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