Song Xibai originally thought that most people would be happy to be able to leave the palace, a place that confines them.
But to everyone's surprise, Feng Ying showed no joy whatsoever; instead, she was filled with terror.
"Your Majesty, please don't send me away... If I'm sent home, my father will surely give me away to someone else, or I'll die a violent death. Your Majesty, please..."
Feng Ying knelt down and was about to kowtow to Song Xibai.
Song Xibai quickly grabbed her.
"I was just asking casually. If you want to stay, then stay!"
Feng Ying stood up, tears still clinging to her eyelashes, and repeatedly expressed her gratitude.
Song Xibai rubbed his forehead.
Forget it, this girl hasn't experienced much and is still young. If this were modern times, she would still be in high school!
Since she doesn't want to leave, let her stay in the palace for now! We'll figure out a way to leave when she decides to.
However, this personality...
Song Xibai wanted to say something, but seeing her delicate and timid appearance, he swallowed his words and changed his mind.
"Since you're good at math, you can help me with the accounts from now on! There are countless old and new accounts in the palace; it'll probably take a long time to settle them!"
Hearing this, Feng Ying felt reassured and nodded with a smile.
Looking at her like this, Song Xibai had a strange thought: Why is she being treated like a little daughter...?
Upon closer reflection, considering her two lifetimes combined, she must be old enough to be her mother.
Song Xibai suddenly became very anxious about her age.
He subconsciously raised his hand and touched his face.
Yes, no wrinkles, still a young and beautiful face.
After settling Feng Ying and the others in, Song Xibai was finally able to rest.
Before she could even rest for two days, she received a joint greeting card, or rather, a memorial of greetings, from several princesses.
There were certain rules for women from outside the palace to enter the palace.
Originally, Princess Wu and the others were princes' wives. If the princes' mothers were alive, they didn't need to submit memorials in advance. They could enter the palace with just their waist tokens, with only time restrictions. However, a concubine could only give out one token.
After Yuan Shen ascended the throne, he brought out all the old rules and regulations.
In addition, since the princes' status has changed, the princes' wives can no longer freely enter and leave the palace. They must ask permission in advance, or, to be more formal, submit a memorial.
After thinking about it, Song Xibai realized that it had been a long time since she had seen Princess Wu and Princess Qin, so she agreed.
The next day at 9:00 AM, the four princesses entered the palace at the same time.
Song Xibai met them in the front hall of Changqing Palace.
After exchanging greetings, everyone took their seats.
Princess Qin's belly was noticeably protruding, indicating she was four or five months pregnant. Song Xibai noticed that her complexion was still good, but she seemed to have some difficulty sitting down, so he couldn't help but ask her a few questions.
"You're pregnant, why aren't you resting at home? This is something you can't be careless about. How's your pregnancy going? Are you feeling nauseous? Is there anything you particularly crave?"
Although the Princess of Qin was a little embarrassed, she still answered them one by one.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I don't feel nauseous much. Apart from getting tired easily, I don't have any major health problems."
Song Xibai then asked Yuan Qingshao.
Princess Qin is gentle by nature, but her daughter is very mature for her age. Although she is only six or seven years old, she already has the demeanor of Director Xiao. Now, she is the one who takes care of everything around Princess Qin.
Song Xibai was deeply moved upon hearing this.
Indeed, if parents are not ambitious, their children tend to mature earlier.
She still had a good impression of Yuan Qingshao.
The two women started talking about daughters, and Princess Wu and Princess Lu would occasionally chime in, creating a pleasant atmosphere.
Only the Princess Consort of Qi was a new bride, not yet married, and too shy to speak up, so she could only silently drink her tea.
The palace maid in charge of serving tea was a little nervous as it was the first time she had received so many princesses. She kept a close eye on their teacups and refilled them as soon as they were empty.
As a result, Princess Qi drank cup after cup, and soon felt her lower abdomen bloated. With a blush, she asked where the private room was.
Song Xibai hurriedly asked Lichun to take her to change her clothes.
Princess Qi was gone for quite some time before she returned.
As soon as she sat down, she apologized repeatedly. Song Xibai, of course, didn't mind, but he did ask Lichun to change the tea.
Just as the conversation was reaching its perfect climax, Princess Lu sighed.
"Speaking of which, it's been several months since the last time we all got together!"
Princess Wu recalled for a moment and nodded, saying, "Yes! The Imperial Concubine was not present at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, and Princess Qin was also unwell and did not enter the palace."
"Before that, wasn't it when Grandmother was seriously ill?"
Princess Qin also showed a thoughtful expression.
The Empress Dowager's condition is relatively stable, but she suffers from the aftereffects of a stroke. She is not very agile and her speech is not very fluent. Nowadays, she spends most of her time in the small Buddhist hall and does not see anyone.
It was precisely because of this that the fake emperor kept ignoring her, which allowed the Empress Dowager to safely weather the previous palace coup crisis.
Before Song Xibai's rank was determined, he hadn't traveled around or even formally paid his respects to the Empress Dowager.
Honestly, if they hadn't brought it up today, Song Xibai would have almost forgotten that the Empress Dowager even existed.
She thought to herself: Should I go and pay my respects tomorrow?
Although it might seem like a last-minute effort, it's better to be late than not to go at all!
The excuses are readily available; just say that you've been busy with palace affairs lately.
As Song Xibai was thinking, she heard Princess Lu and Princess Qi "explaining" the rules for paying respects to the emperor before entering the palace.
Finally, she sighed.
“My mother used to care about my grandmother the most. She would often tell me to copy more scriptures, because my grandmother liked them. I have more than a dozen scrolls of scriptures copied in my household, and they are quite tall all at once!”
She made a gesture in an exaggerated manner.
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