I felt like I was escaping from the jaws of a tiger, and I followed the old nanny in small steps toward the Cining Palace.
How could it be such a coincidence? Thinking of the absent Consort De, could it be that she was secretly helping me?
*
Zhuang Ning Palace.
De Fei was flipping through a copy of the Tea Classic when Xiao Ning trotted over from the doorway and whispered, "Mu Zhaoyi has been called away by the Empress Dowager."
De Fei was about to turn the page when she paused: "Someone tipped off?"
"It is said that someone saw Concubine Wang just returning from the Cining Palace."
"Concubine Wang?" Concubine De frowned slightly. "The Concubine Wang who once fell into the water and was saved by Concubine Mu?"
"yes."
"She's not as timid and silent as usual," Concubine De turned the page gently. "She's actually a strong-willed woman who knows how to repay a favor and dares to openly oppose the Empress."
"Well," De Fei said calmly, without any anger or disappointment on her face, "I didn't expect the Queen to actually accomplish anything."
"It's a good opportunity to see the Empress Dowager's attitude towards Mu Chenshuang now," Concubine De curled her lips slightly, "Is Your Majesty truly bewildered? We can test the truth by observing the actions of the mother and son."
Xiao Ning said nothing. Concubine De took a sip of tea and said, "I'll go to the Imperial Physician's Office to get some medicine later. After all, I'm using illness as an excuse to avoid Fengming Palace, so I still have to complete the show."
"Yes, I understand." Xiao Ning replied.
*
As soon as I entered the Cining Palace, I remembered the day when the Empress Dowager introduced Song Heng and Concubine De to each other. I suddenly felt that I might not be at peace here. I wondered if the Empress Dowager knew about Song Heng's plan?
The Queen Mother sat in front of the hall, her dark red headband inlaid with emeralds making her look even more majestic than usual today.
I bowed and said, "May the Empress Dowager be well."
"Yes," I heard the Queen Mother respond as usual, and the stone in my heart finally settled down. But I didn't expect to hear the Queen Mother continue to say, "Kneel down."
I was stunned, bent my legs and fell to my knees with a plop.
It seems that there will be a disaster today.
The Queen Mother looks approachable when she smiles, but truly intimidating when she doesn't.
I lowered my head in the spacious hall, only hearing the crisp sound of the tea lid gently hitting the ceramic cup. "Mu Zhaoyi, do you know what everyone in the palace is talking about lately?"
Some people said that Mu Zhaoyi in Chenxiang Pavilion was possessed by a fox spirit and had seduced His Majesty's soul; some people said that Mu Zhaoyi in Chenxiang Pavilion was arrogant because of her favor and trespassed into Chengqing Palace every day, delaying His Majesty from handling state affairs; some people said that Mu Zhaoyi in Chenxiang Pavilion had no etiquette and no respect for elders, and did not distinguish between superiors and inferiors when interacting with the emperor.
"I don't know, please tell me clearly, Your Majesty." I pretended to be frightened. I couldn't just confess all my "crimes" myself, because then I would be "knowingly committing a crime" and it would be a naked provocation.
"Hmph," the Queen Mother snorted softly, "I thought you were someone who knew when to advance and when to retreat, and knew your limits. I was wrong!"
"She has no knowledge of etiquette, is arrogant because of her favor, and seduces the king!" The Queen Mother's words were so loud and clear that each word seemed to hit me on the head.
Although I was mentally prepared, I still felt a little uncomfortable being pointed at and scolded like this.
I suddenly had an idea: If it weren't for Song Heng, Xiao Cui and Xiao Tao in this palace, who would be willing to stay here!
Immediately I was shocked by my own thoughts, and felt that there was an extremely contradictory and secretive self in my heart.
"You will kneel here," the Queen Mother stood up and seemed to no longer want to talk to me. "No one can ask you to get up without my permission."
I remained silent. Xiao Cui and Xiao Tao were still waiting outside the Cining Palace. I didn't know if they would be anxious. Song Heng must still be in the morning court. There must be many ministers in the court who would advise him.
As expected, everything has its pros and cons. As happy as she was when she was openly with Song Heng, she felt unwilling to accept the punishment alone now.
But the moment I thought of Song Heng, everything suddenly came to light. I was helping him, so what was the big deal if I knelt for a while?
A lack of patience will ruin great plans.
I don’t know if it was the Queen Mother’s negligence, but when she turned around and went to the inner room, she actually called away all the maids in the hall. I was the only one in the empty hall, kneeling in front of the phoenix chair.
Then no one would know even if I moved my body or changed my posture!
He looked around quietly and it seemed that there was really no one there; but when he thought of the Empress Dowager as the master of the front and back palaces, he was cautious and did not dare to move.
Suddenly, that thought popped up in my mind again: Maybe, maybe the Queen Mother really knew that Song Heng and I were acting, and it was just a pretense for outsiders to see?
There was a tinge of relief and surprise. Regardless, I'd better kneel down now: if the Queen Mother doesn't know the truth, I can calm her down this time; if she does, I'll be putting on a show that's as real as it gets.
I don’t know how long I knelt in the temple. My lower limbs had lost all feeling, as if I was just maintaining the same movement out of habit.
Suddenly I heard hurried footsteps behind me. It sounded so familiar that I knew it was Song Heng without looking back.
He squatted down in front of me and helped me up, his eyes filled with worry. The beads on his crown brushed against my face, making it itchy. "Can you get up now? I'll help you."
I shook my head and was about to say that it was okay and that only the Queen Mother could wake me up when I heard a shout from behind the screen: "Heng'er, stand up!"
Why do I have the feeling that the Queen Mother has been waiting here for Song Heng to come, and she always catches him.
I first let go of Song Heng's hand and whispered, "It's okay."
Song Heng turned and saluted the Queen Mother: "Mother."
Immediately, he turned around and lifted my shoulders, his words firm and powerful: "Come on, get up."
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