Xiao Bu and Ming Yu became alert and stepped forward to stop the palace maid.
The palace maid remained calm and curtsied, saying, "This servant greets Prince Gong and Princess Gong."
She then looked at Su Wanyan, who had lowered her eyes, and said, "Princess Gong, my lady invites you to the palace for a chat."
Su Wanyan's brow twitched slightly: "Your mistress? Who is your mistress?"
The palace maid lowered her eyes and said, "Empress Dowager."
Su Wanyan was stunned for a moment. Empress Dowager, Xia Yunshang?
Why did she summon her to the palace?
No, there should be an imperial edict to summon her to the palace. What's the point of intercepting her on the street like this?
Just as Su Wanyan was about to begin questioning, the palace maid interrupted her first: "Your Highness, Your Highness, I know you have doubts. May I speak with you in private?"
Su Wanyan and Yu Nanqing exchanged a glance. They were surrounded by ordinary people, so it was definitely not a place to talk.
After thinking about it, Su Wanyan agreed.
The group didn't go far, but came to a quiet alley. The palace maid was wearing a light green dress, and her hair was styled in the usual way for palace maids.
She bowed to Yu Nanqing and Su Wanyan again and said, "My name is Qingran. I am a palace maid in the Empress Dowager's palace. I have come here on the Empress Dowager's orders to invite the Princess Consort to the palace."
"The Empress Dowager wants me to enter the palace. What are you doing sneaking around like this? Where is the Empress Dowager's decree?"
The palace maid lowered her head, looking troubled, and pursed her lips, saying, "This is precisely why the Empress Dowager wants to see the Princess Consort."
Su Wanyan was even more confused and asked curiously, "What does that mean?"
Yu Nanqing, however, saw through the problem at a glance, her eyes narrowing slightly: "The Empress Dowager is imprisoned deep within the palace?"
If they weren't imprisoned deep within the palace, why would they need to be summoned in this way?
Su Wanyan was slightly startled and looked at Yu Nanqing: "Impossible."
The Empress Dowager was, after all, the birth mother of the young emperor. No matter how much power the Grand Empress Dowager held, there was no reason for her to be imprisoned.
Qingran replied helplessly, "Just as Your Highness said, the Empress Dowager... has no real power in the palace now. Even... even in the affairs of the harem, the Grand Empress Dowager does not allow the Empress Dowager to interfere."
Now that the young emperor has ascended the throne, the concubines who have given birth have all moved to the Palace of the Dowager Consorts, while the concubines who have not given birth, especially those of lower rank, have been buried alive with him.
The young emperor is not yet of marriageable age, so the harem should be in harmony for now. What is it that the Empress Dowager forbids the Empress Dowager from interfering in?
I'm afraid it's still the same old stuff from the previous dynasty.
“Even if you say that, I can’t help the Empress Dowager at all,” Su Wanyan said. “Besides, if what you say is true, how can you still leave the palace? Anyone who isn’t blind can tell you’re from the palace just by looking at your clothes. The Empress Dowager can find out by sending someone to investigate.”
"Today, during the palace's procurement, I managed to sneak into the list of procurement personnel to leave the palace and deliver the message to Your Majesty. Your Majesty..." Qingran suddenly knelt down: "The Empress Dowager said that if Your Majesty is willing to come to the palace to see her this time, she will definitely not mistreat Your Majesty in the future."
Su Wanyan frowned slightly, as if she understood: "You want me to request an audience with the Empress Dowager on my own initiative, rather than the Empress Dowager inviting me to the palace?"
The palace maid pursed her lips guiltily and immediately prostrated herself on the ground: "The Empress Dowager said that she will bear all the consequences, Your Highness can rest assured."
"..." This left Su Wanyan speechless.
What consequences will she have to bear? Right now, the Prince Gong's Mansion is the most powerful force in the capital. The Empress Dowager needs to carefully consider what she wants to do to the Prince Gong's Mansion.
Therefore, Su Wanyan couldn't figure out what was so appealing about the palace maid's words.
I have a feeling of being used.
If she were to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager on her own initiative, it would create the illusion that she has a very close relationship with the Empress Dowager.
Knowing full well that the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager were at odds, she could not allow the Prince Gong's Mansion to stand against the Grand Empress Dowager.
In just a few words, Su Wanyan suddenly understood why Xia Yunshang couldn't win against the Empress Dowager. Her ulterior motives were too obvious. She thought she was giving someone benefits, but in reality, she got nothing and it was all just empty talk.
The Xia family is outside the palace, while Xia Yunshang is inside. They can't help her much at all. Moreover, before the young emperor ascends the throne, the Empress Dowager has probably already gained the upper hand over the Empress.
"I will consider this matter carefully," Yu Nanqing said calmly, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger.
After saying this, Yu Nanqing took Su Wanyan's hand and left without looking back.
The palace maid wanted to call out to the two of them, but after opening her mouth, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
It is really not appropriate to make a fuss about leaving the palace today.
Su Wanyan glanced back at the palace maid, and Yu Nanqing, seeing her lost in thought, asked, "What's wrong?"
Su Wanyan snapped out of her daze: "I don't think the Empress Dowager will let this go. She will definitely find another opportunity to stop me in the future."
Yu Nanqing pondered for a moment: "There has been no news of her being imprisoned in the palace. If what the palace maid said is true, then the most recent banquet... was on New Year's Eve. If she wanted to see Yan'er, she would have sent someone to invite you that night."
Because of Emperor Yuanhe's passing, all grand banquets in the palace were simplified, and small banquets were prohibited. Therefore, even if the Empress Dowager wanted to hold a snow appreciation banquet, a grand banquet was not allowed.
The only chance to run into Su Wanyan was at the New Year's banquet held in the palace.
"If Yan'er doesn't want to see you, she can simply refuse."
Su Wanyan shook her head: "We had contact with the Xia family regarding the late emperor's matter, and the Empress Dowager was also involved. How can we just refuse to see them?"
"I will make the arrangements."
Su Wanyan smiled and said, "I know you will make proper arrangements, but if I keep making excuses not to see her, Xia Yunshang will not give up. It's good to go see her to find out what she's thinking and what she wants to do. Don't worry, I will handle things accordingly and won't let myself suffer."
Yu Nanqing tightened his grip on her hand: "Yes, I understand now that Yan'er has said that. However, if she makes things difficult for you, you must tell me. I'll take care of everything."
Su Wanyan smiled and took his arm: "Okay, okay, I'll take care of everything. I'm perfectly comfortable with you making arrangements."
She would never bother with this if she didn't have to.
The date for the military investiture was set for the Lunar New Year. During the morning court session on New Year's Day, the Empress Dowager would bestow honors and rewards upon the Dragon Flag Army and its soldiers for their meritorious service.
When the imperial edict was delivered to Prince Gong's residence, Su Wanyan looked at the list and her name was prominently listed after Yu Nanqing's.
As mentioned above, Su Wanyan performed exceptionally well in the East China Sea Campaign, demonstrating remarkable courage and insight. She also proposed the construction of a barbican, which earned her the deep affection of the barbican's inhabitants. After careful consideration by the Empress Dowager, she was granted the title of First-Rank Imperial Consort, and the imperial edict was issued on the first day of the first lunar month.
Tell Su Wanyan to prepare for her investiture at that time.
It was impossible for Su Wanyan not to be happy. Although the title of Imperial Noblewoman did not have real power, she enjoyed a salary from the imperial court, so she would also receive wages from now on.
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